Week 13: Journalism 2001Week 13: Journalism 2001

April 23, 2007April 23, 2007

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Tour of KBJR/KDLHTour of KBJR/KDLH

Today Show Duke InterviewToday Show Duke Interview Overall good job!Overall good job! Tips for improvement:Tips for improvement:

– Today Show needed in lead, or high in storyToday Show needed in lead, or high in story– Boys or men?Boys or men?– Katie Couric or Meridith Viera?Katie Couric or Meridith Viera?– Stick to past tenseStick to past tense– Quotes: blah blah,” he said.Quotes: blah blah,” he said.– Just use said – not stated, mentionedJust use said – not stated, mentioned– Avoid questions before quoteAvoid questions before quote– Who’s accuser? Need nameWho’s accuser? Need name– Charges dropped – instead of found innocentCharges dropped – instead of found innocent– Need background info!Need background info!

Today Reade Seligmann, one of the three former Today Reade Seligmann, one of the three former Duke Lacrosse players accused of rape, spoke Duke Lacrosse players accused of rape, spoke publicly for the first time since the three men were publicly for the first time since the three men were accused a year ago.accused a year ago.

Reade Seligmann, one of the three former Duke Reade Seligmann, one of the three former Duke University lacrosse players that were accused of University lacrosse players that were accused of sexually assaulting a stripper one year ago, spoke sexually assaulting a stripper one year ago, spoke out this morning on the Today Show about being out this morning on the Today Show about being found innocent.found innocent.

Former Duke lacrosse player Reade Seligmann Former Duke lacrosse player Reade Seligmann appeared on the Today Show this morning and appeared on the Today Show this morning and spoke publicly for the first time since him and two spoke publicly for the first time since him and two other teammates were accused of rape.other teammates were accused of rape.

One of the three former Duke lacrosse players, One of the three former Duke lacrosse players, Reade Seligmann, appeared on the NBS Today Show Reade Seligmann, appeared on the NBS Today Show on Monday to talk for the first time about being on Monday to talk for the first time about being wrongly accused of sexually assaulting a woman.wrongly accused of sexually assaulting a woman.

Chapter 13: ObituariesChapter 13: Obituaries Writing obits: A fate worse than death?Writing obits: A fate worse than death?

– Most highly read section of the newspaperMost highly read section of the newspaper– Each paper has different policies on obituariesEach paper has different policies on obituaries– Often front-page newsOften front-page news

Capturing the flavor of a lifeCapturing the flavor of a life– Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan– Shirley ChisholmShirley Chisholm– Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II– Bob HopeBob Hope– Rodney DangerfieldRodney Dangerfield

Often published free of chargeOften published free of charge

Typical content of obitsTypical content of obits Full nameFull name AddressAddress Date of deathDate of death Cause of deathCause of death

– How to handle suicides?How to handle suicides? AgeAge OccupationOccupation AccomplishmentsAccomplishments Time and date of services, visitation informationTime and date of services, visitation information Place of burial, memorial informationPlace of burial, memorial information Names of survivorsNames of survivors

In the newsIn the news

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling about U.S. Supreme Court Ruling about Wiccan symbols:Wiccan symbols:– http://www.startribune.com/484/story/http://www.startribune.com/484/story/

1138325.html1138325.html

Sources of informationSources of information

Funeral homesFuneral homes FamiliesFamilies Confirming informationConfirming information Avoiding hoaxesAvoiding hoaxes eHow: How to write an obituaryeHow: How to write an obituary

– http://www.ehow.com/how_3456_write-obituaryhttp://www.ehow.com/how_3456_write-obituary.html.html

Let’s look at some Let’s look at some obituariesobituaries

Minneapolis Star TribuneMinneapolis Star Tribune New York TimesNew York Times Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles Times CloquetCloquet Pine Journal Pine Journal

Ethics CaseEthics Case

Killing news: Killing news: Responsible coverage Responsible coverage of suicidesof suicides– http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/

gallery/Ethics/killnews.htmlgallery/Ethics/killnews.html

Sharing the community’s grief: Sharing the community’s grief: Little Rock news coverage of 3 Little Rock news coverage of 3 teenage suicidesteenage suicides– http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/http://www.journalism.indiana.edu/

gallery/Ethics/sharing.htmlgallery/Ethics/sharing.html

Chapter 27: Ethics and Chapter 27: Ethics and Fairness: Responsibility to Fairness: Responsibility to

SocietySociety The Fairness MovementThe Fairness Movement

– American Society of Newspaper American Society of Newspaper Editors: Journalism Credibility ProjectEditors: Journalism Credibility Project Five-year, $1.2 million project: 1990sFive-year, $1.2 million project: 1990s 1998: Focusing on the problem1998: Focusing on the problem

– Surveyed 3,000 Americans, 1,714 working Surveyed 3,000 Americans, 1,714 working journalistsjournalists

1999: Developing and testing solutions1999: Developing and testing solutions

Freedom Forum’s Free PressFreedom Forum’s Free Press/Fair Press Project/Fair Press Project

Major reasons credibility is declining:Major reasons credibility is declining:1.1. News coverage does not adequately reflect all of reality.News coverage does not adequately reflect all of reality.

2.2. Lack of news staff diversity leads to missing stories, Lack of news staff diversity leads to missing stories, failing to provide important context, or using language in failing to provide important context, or using language in stories that reflects unconscious prejudices and stories that reflects unconscious prejudices and stereotypes.stereotypes.

3.3. Reporters come to stories with preconceived notions of Reporters come to stories with preconceived notions of the story line and the roles different sources are to play.the story line and the roles different sources are to play.

4.4. Reporters lack expertise in the subjects they are Reporters lack expertise in the subjects they are covering.covering.

5.5. Trying to get corrections published or broadcast is an Trying to get corrections published or broadcast is an exercise in futility.exercise in futility.

Best Practices forBest Practices forNewspaper Journalists*Newspaper Journalists*

Newspapers are unfair when:Newspapers are unfair when:– They get the facts wrongThey get the facts wrong– They refuse to admit errorsThey refuse to admit errors– They won’t name namesThey won’t name names– They have ignorant or incompetent reportersThey have ignorant or incompetent reporters– They prey on the weakThey prey on the weak– They concentrate on bad newsThey concentrate on bad news– They lack diversityThey lack diversity– They allow editorial bias in news storiesThey allow editorial bias in news stories– They can’t admit that sometimes there’s no storyThey can’t admit that sometimes there’s no story

* * Written by Robert Haiman, president emeritus and Written by Robert Haiman, president emeritus and distinguished editor in residence at the Poynter distinguished editor in residence at the Poynter Institute; Part of the The Freedom Forum Free Institute; Part of the The Freedom Forum Free Press/Fair Press ProjectPress/Fair Press Project

The Media and the PublicThe Media and the Public

Criticism of the pressCriticism of the press– Media CriticsMedia Critics– Ombudsmen: “middle person”Ombudsmen: “middle person”

Objective newspaper employee who listens Objective newspaper employee who listens to complaint from readers and, when to complaint from readers and, when justified, passes them on to the appropriate justified, passes them on to the appropriate reporters or editors.reporters or editors.

Organization of News OmbudsmenOrganization of News Ombudsmen

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

Associated Press Managing Editors AAssociated Press Managing Editors Associationssociation

American Society of Newspaper American Society of Newspaper EditorsEditors

Society of Professional JournalistsSociety of Professional Journalists Associated Press Sports EditorsAssociated Press Sports Editors

Duluth News-Tribune PhotoDuluth News-Tribune Photo

Would you run the photograph?Would you run the photograph?

Ethical IssuesEthical Issues

150 daily editors surveyed on ethical 150 daily editors surveyed on ethical issuesissues– Fairness and objectivityFairness and objectivity– Misrepresentation by reportersMisrepresentation by reporters– Economic pressureEconomic pressure– Privacy versus the public’s right to knowPrivacy versus the public’s right to know– Conflicts of interestConflicts of interest– Anonymous sourcesAnonymous sources– GiftsGifts– Compassion versus policyCompassion versus policy

Journalistic arroganceJournalistic arrogance

Ethical dilemmasEthical dilemmas

A reporter for a 15,000 circulation daily A reporter for a 15,000 circulation daily covers city and county government. Each covers city and county government. Each day, she dutifully makes her rounds: the day, she dutifully makes her rounds: the police department, the county sheriff’s police department, the county sheriff’s office, the clerk of the court, the city office, the clerk of the court, the city engineer’s office, the city clerk’s office, etc. engineer’s office, the city clerk’s office, etc. During the holidays, three of her regular During the holidays, three of her regular sources give her gifts: a small box of sources give her gifts: a small box of chocolates, a novel and an inexpensive pen chocolates, a novel and an inexpensive pen and pencil set. Should she accept the gifts?and pencil set. Should she accept the gifts?

Is this libel?Is this libel?

Couple falsely accused of stealingCouple falsely accused of stealing

The wife of the education reporter for a The wife of the education reporter for a 25,000-circulation daily in a community of 25,000-circulation daily in a community of 40,000 decides to run for city council. The 40,000 decides to run for city council. The education reporter is not involved in education reporter is not involved in coverage of city government issues or in coverage of city government issues or in coverage of the city council. The coverage of the city council. The managing editor calls the reporter into his managing editor calls the reporter into his office. The managing editor tells the office. The managing editor tells the reporter that he has two choices: persuade reporter that he has two choices: persuade his wife to drop out of the political race or his wife to drop out of the political race or resign his job because of a potential resign his job because of a potential conflict of interest. Do you agree with the conflict of interest. Do you agree with the managing editor?managing editor?

Minneapolis Star-TribuneMinneapolis Star-Tribune

Kate Perry: The Reader’s RepKate Perry: The Reader’s Rep

Washington PostWashington Post

Ombudsman with Minnesota tiesOmbudsman with Minnesota ties

Tonight’s AssignmentTonight’s Assignment

Interview of Virginia Tech president Interview of Virginia Tech president on Sunday’s Meet the Presson Sunday’s Meet the Press

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Feature Story AssignmentFeature Story Assignment– Final article due: April 30Final article due: April 30

Final eportfolio project: Due May 7Final eportfolio project: Due May 7

Out of Class AssignmentOut of Class Assignment

Final news release rewrites!Final news release rewrites! 3 paragraph rewrites3 paragraph rewrites Due: Monday, April 30Due: Monday, April 30 Email to lkragnes@d.umn.eduEmail to lkragnes@d.umn.edu

In-Class AssignmentIn-Class Assignment

Meet the Press interview with Dr. Meet the Press interview with Dr. Charles Steger, president of Virginia Charles Steger, president of Virginia TechTech

Focus on the interview and reaction at Focus on the interview and reaction at Virginia Tech to the killingsVirginia Tech to the killings

Need to provide background informationNeed to provide background information Email story of 350-400 words by end of Email story of 350-400 words by end of

tonight’s class to: lkragnes@d.umn.edutonight’s class to: lkragnes@d.umn.edu

EgradebookEgradebook

Doublecheck assignments correct in Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook:egradebook:– http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebookhttp://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook

PortfolioPortfolio

Store academic information on your Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage.100 mb of storage.

Access Electronic Portfolio at: Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jspportfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp