Journalism Terms To Know

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 3

3. It's essence is a discipline of verification: -Journalists rely on a professional discipline for verifying information. -While there is no standardized code as such, every journalist uses certain methods to assess and test information to "get it right." -When the concept of objectivity originally evolved, it did not imply that journalists were free of bias. It called, rather, for a consistent method of testing information - a transparent approach to evidence - precisely so that personal and cultural biases would not undermine the accuracy of the work. The method is objective, not the journalist. -Seeking out multiple witnesses, disclosing as much as possible about sources, or asking various sides for comment, all signal such standards. -This discipline of verification is what separates journalism from other forms of communication such as propaganda, advertising, fiction, or entertainment.

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 8

8. Keeping news comprehensive and proportional -Journalism is our modern cartography. It creates a map for citizens to navigate society. -As with any map, its value depends on a completeness and proportionality in which the significant is given greater visibility than the trivial. -Keeping news in proportion is a cornerstone of truthfulness. Inflating events for sensation, neglecting others, stereotyping, or being disproportionately negative all make a less reliable map. The most comprehensive maps include all affected communities, not just those with attractive demographics. -The most complete stories take into account diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

What Are The Rights & Responsibilities of a Free Press According To The U.S. Constitution

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Ethical Guidelines on Visual Journalism according to The National Press Photographers Association's code of ethics

"Photographic and video images can reveal great truths, expose wrongdoing and neglect, inspire hope and understanding and connect people around the globe through the language of visual understanding. Photographs can also cause great harm if they are callously intrusive or are manipulated. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims in crime or tragedy. Intrude on private moments of grief only when the public has an overriding and justifiable need to see."

The Ten Elements of Journalism Intro

"The first among them is that the purpose of journalism is to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing". (pg. 9, Kovach and Rosenstiel):

Important Quotes Relating To Journalism & Democracy

-"The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing" (p. 17). -"It is difficult [and impossibly] to separate the concept of journalism from the concept of creating community and democracy" (p. 17)

Types Of Lead News Stories/Examples of Five Ws and H

-"WASHINGTON -- Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress yesterday that U.S. economic growth appeared to be slowing, heading off for the moment any need to raise interest rates. Wall Street responded with a cheer, sending stocks and bonds soaring." -"STRASBOURG -- The European Parliament voted Tuesday to ratify the landmark Paris climate accord, paving the way for the international plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions to become binding as soon as the end of this week." -The death of a man whose body was found early this morning at Fox Wood Apartments is being investigated by police. -A student is suing Green Hills College for $600,000 after being suspended for plagiarism.

Professional Ethos Of Journalism

-A journalist's mission is to serve the public by seeking and reporting the facts as accurately as possible. -Good journalists and scholars share a commitment to the same principle: integrity in their work. -Our ethos is: "tell the truth."

The Inverted Pyramid

-A style of writing most commonly applied to news stories in which the most important facts appear early in the story and less important facts later in the story

Profile Writing

-A type of feature writing. -Are based on a writer's newly acquired observations. -Take readers behind the scenes of familiar places or introduce readers to unusual places and people. -Provide information while at the same time arousing readers' curiosity. -Present scenes and people vividly and concretely through description, action, and dialogue. -Reveal an attitude toward their subjects and offer—implicitly or explicitly—an interpretation of them. -Create a dominant impression of the subject. Make a person linger in your mind.

Associated Press (AP) Style Guide on Race Related Coverage

-Black(s), white(s) (n.) Do not use either term as a singular noun. For plurals, phrasing such as Black people, white people, Black teachers, white students is often preferable when clearly relevant. White officers account for 64% of the police force, Black officers 21% and Latino officers 15%. The gunman targeted Black churchgoers. The plural nouns Blacks and whites are generally acceptable when clearly relevant and needed for reasons of space or sentence construction. He helped integrate dance halls among Blacks, whites, Latinos and Asian Americans. Black and white are acceptable as adjectives when relevant. -Black (adj.) Use the capitalized term as an adjective in a racial, ethnic or cultural sense: Black people, Black culture, Black literature, Black studies, Black colleges. African American is also acceptable for those in the U.S. -The terms are not necessarily interchangeable. Americans of Caribbean heritage, for example, generally refer to themselves as Caribbean American. -Follow an individual's preference if known, and be specific when possible and relevant. Minneapolis has a large Somali American population because of refugee resettlement. The author is Senegalese American. -The use of the capitalized Black recognizes that language has evolved, along with the common understanding that especially in the United States, the term reflects a shared identity and culture rather than a skin color alone. -Also use Black in racial, ethnic and cultural differences outside the U.S. to avoid equating a person with skin color. https://www.apstylebook.com/race-related-coverage

Basic Interviewing Tips For Journalists

-Come in with a plan. (Lay out the roadmap; "Long interviews can have three acts — know where you want to start, where you want to end, and how you want to get there.") -Write questions ahead of time, but prioritize conversation. (This is important! 10 questions-30 min. rule) -Just come out and ask the hard stuff. (The hardest questions to ask are often the best. " Save the personal, meaning-of-life, who-are-you-really-though, realtalk questions for the end. But ask them! People will answer!") -Embrace the silences. (Wait for the answer...often on a personal or sensitive topic, the best moments come when you let a question float a beat too long.) -Think in soundbites. (Get really juicy quotes that can be used across media platforms). -Play dumb. ("Explain it to me..." Be careful when you say this) -Keep the mic running after you finish. ("Listen. All the time.")

Responsibilities of Newsmakers

-Document and report the truth, esp. during crises. -Make choices about what will be published and when. -Be careful what photos/videos you use. -Be careful of what you say (unconfirmed news?) -Media organizations need to make sure that photographs they publish of such killers and their crimes do not contribute to their self-mythologization (to make someone or something seem great or heroic).

Theory of the Interlocking Public

-Everyone is interested, and expert, in something (involved, interested, uninterested public). -The diversity and magnitude of the public is its strength. -A mix of publics is usually much wiser than a public composed of just the elite or one segment of special interest. -The wisdom of decision-making by an interlocking public is embedded in the notion that government "by the people" means citizens have the duty to keep themselves informed. -Serving the interest of the widest community possible; not just elites.

Feature Writing

-Focus on a single person for your lead. -Tell the story through one person's eyes; this requires good reporting. -Focus on an incident or anecdote. -Retell a specific moment or scene for your lead. Show, don't tell. -Describe a setting as a way of establishing the theme of a piece. -End stories in memorable ways. Often it's good to use a quote. This is called a clincher.

The Wall Street Journal Formula (Examples)

-Freshman Food Fights/Anecdotal lead Example: Pizza and philosophy at midnight. Cheese fries and chitchat at 2 a.m. Psychology and popcorn for breakfast. That's college life, where sleep is cheap, calories abound and freshman math is as easy as counting to 15 - the Freshman 15. -Nut graphs: Those nasty 10 to 15 pounds that students tend to gain in the first few months of college have become as much a part of higher education as reading lists and blue-book exams. The Freshman 15 has been the topic of academic studies, nutritionists' newsletters and just plain talk among the college crowd. -Backup and Quotes from several sources begin here): "I think I've already gained it," said Vanessa Varvarezis, who has been a freshman at Villanova University for three weeks. "My parents sent me away with four bags of junk food, and it's almost half gone already," said Varvarezis, a tall woman with a broad smile and thin hips. . . .

News Reporting

-Getting the best obtainable version of the truth within the given time constraints -Trying to be as non-partisan as possible -Highlighting stories and issues that are important to the community being served -Providing accurate, interesting, significant, and relevant information through constant verification -We use the Inverted pyramid structure and a hard lead for basic news stories -The most important part of the story comes first, then context, quotes, background, reactions, etc.

Different Kinds Of Journalism

-Hard/Breaking News what's happening now/ issues of concern at the moment -Features ongoing issues- usually social, human interest; ones that touch the emotional core -Examples of Journalism: Business, Finance, Economics-Tech, Sports, Culture, Entertainment, Environments, Health, Opinion, Op-Ed

Kerner Report on Media Coverage of Minorities (1968)

-In response to the summer of uprisings in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the 11-member National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. -The commission on riots and racism asked: "What happened during the riots? Why did the riots occur? What could be done to prevent riots from happening in the future?" -Kerner Report 1968; demanded greater visibility for minorities. -The need for more minority reporters and editors in US newsrooms. -Media messages inform people's stereotypes -Negative attitudes come from the absence of regular, close interaction and hidden cultural influences. -The Kerner Commission concluded: "The press has too long basked in a white world looking out of it, if at all, with white men's eyes and white perspective. That is no longer good enough. The painful process of readjustment that is required of the American news media must begin now." -More background: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/1968-kerner-commission-got-it-right-nobody-listened-180968318/

Truth In Journalism

-Journalism's first obligation is to the truth (But Why?). -History of news; importance of truth in civilization, information societies. -Appeal to mass audiences, yellow journalism, realism, accuracy. -How do journalists get to and report the truth? (interviews speeches, fact-checking, but also metaphors and whatever is 'newsworthy' that day') p. 55 -"News and truth are not the same thing....The function of news is to signalize and event" (Make people aware of it). "The function of truth is to bring light to hidden facts, to set them in relation with each other, and make a picture of reality upon which men can act" (W. Lippmann, 1922, Public Opinion) -"The disinterested pursuit of truth is what sets journalism apart from all other forms of communication."

Professionalization of Journalism

-Journalists should acquire a 'scientific spirit' of verification (Lippmann) to persuade audiences of the accuracy and fairness of information. -Question: "Why should people believe/trust/act on the information we provide?" -Does the public think journalists are 'objective' in their methods? -Does it matter what the public thinks?

The Five W's and H

-News writing strives to answer "The Five W's and H:" that is, Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. -Good leads answer as many of these questions as possible in a single sentence. -In other words, keep your lead short. -A good lead provides all the information the reader requires in just a few words. -Ideally, a lead should be between 25 and 40 words. -Keep It Simple -Don't clutter up the lead with unnecessary adjectives or adverbs. Only discusses one idea. -Write in Active Voice -Avoid all forms of the verb "to be." Common exceptions include writing about fatalities ("two people were killed Thursday") and when discussing police activity ("two people were arrested"). -Structure Your Lead Properly -Put your most crucial information at the very beginning of the sentence. Not following this practice is called "burying the lead."

Media convergence

-Plan for coverage of stories in print, broadcast and Web media. -Interactive elements; audio, video, graphics important in online and mobile stories -Tweet your stories, incl. header and picture. -Example: Washington Post and New Yorker Digital Storytelling

Journalistic Truth (Chapter 4)

-Premise: Citizens depend on accurate and reliable facts. -Sorting out truth together with the public (it is a process: stripping information of any attached misinformation, disinformation, or self-promoting bias, and then letting the community react, commentary). -Ideally, the search for truth becomes a conversation. -In news reporting, esp. breaking news, accuracy is most important (during this time public attitudes are formed: threat/concern/advantage?). -Impacts of digital age on journalistic truth: 1. Speed might lead to errors in fact checking 2. Growing orientation toward commentary and argument. -Also: more information might make truth more difficult to find; not a direct relationship.

Gatekeeping Metaphor

-Role of the Authenticator: working with audiences and technology to make sense of what the public should now, make it useful, take action on it. (Example: All Sides.com) -Role of the Sense Maker: to put news and events into context and turn information into knowledge. -Bear witness to events: Covering events or topics that no one else is covering, paying attention, (Not just when there is a crowd, but keep records!) -Watchdog role: Investigative reporting! -Also additional roles include: Intelligent Aggregator (Curator) Forum Leader, Public discussions Empowerer Role Model (for gathering news, publishing) Community Builder

SPJ Code Of Ethics (2019)

-Seek the Truth and Report It -Minimize Harm -Act Independently -Be Accountable and Transparent

The Wall Street Journal Formula

-Soft lead (anecdotal, descriptive, narrative) -Nut graph (focus of story, explaining the issue/problem) -Backup for lead and nut graph -Supporting points (quotes, facts, anecdotes) -Developments (causes/effects, explanations, points of view) -Circle kicker (anecdote, description, future action related to lead)

Feature Writing (The Lead)

-The beginning of the story must pull the reader in. -The first sentence must make the reader want to read the second sentence. -The lead may or may not contain a hook, a detail that draws in the reader's attention. -Some good feature leads include: Narrative Descriptive Striking statement Punch or astonisher

International/Multicultural Experience as an asset in journalism (language, viewpoints, relationships, networks of people across the world) Part 2

-The role of journalists in covering multicultural society is important. -Through choices of stories, angles & sources, media can contribute to the public's understanding and/or articulate problems regarding 'hot' issues such as integration, immigration, political correctness. -However... Media research shows that the portrayal and presentation of ethnic minorities in the press, in general, is skewed and inadequate. -Media can stimulate our tendencies to imagine, exaggerate, misunderstand group differences -Therefore: Media researchers agree that journalists play a significant role in the construction of national identity - journalists construct an image of reality. (This, too, is an added dimension to the media's social responsibility).

Definition of "Journalism"

-Traditionally defined as bringing the news of the day (material of current interest or importance) to an audience. -However, news or journalism is only one part of what is called media. -Journalism is not the movies, book publishing, public relations, corporate communications, television sitcoms, radio talk shows, websites (with the exception of newspaper websites), or any other sub-divisions of mass communication.

International/Multicultural Experience as an asset in journalism (language, viewpoints, relationships, networks of people across the world) Part 1

-Traveling or spending time in another culture has a way of causing your own preconceptions about that culture — or those people — to fall away. It opens your eyes to reality as you might never have seen it. -Humility as a reporter: Willing to learn, ask good questions, be respectful. -One mission of journalism is to critically investigate the powerful and give voice to the powerless. -Journalistic sources in a multicultural society; diversity in age, gender, race, ethnic background, outlook, partisanship, suggested solutions. -Diversity is important for both broadcast and print/online reporting.

Journalism Of Verification

-Walter Lippmann, 1920, "There can be no liberty for a community which lacks the information by which to detect lies." -Lost meaning of objectivity? Skepticism that people can be 'objective' at all, free from bias/prejudice/motifs. -In journalism, the method is objective, not the journalist itself. -Think of defining 'objective reporting' in terms of thoroughness, accuracy, fairness and transparency. (p.101) -Not: "The view from nowhere" (J. Rosen) -Since the 1920's, American journalists and scholars have struggled to develop a consistent and objective way to test information (free of bias).

Journalist's Social Responsibility

-What is the media's social responsibility? -How should journalists take personal responsibility for their actions and strive to be honest, in particular as they engage with their editors, colleagues, their sources and the public?" -Journalists have a personal and professional responsibility. -This personal responsibility is tied to journalists' moral conscience; i.e. what kind of actions do they take? And what kind of person they want to be? (Note: Exercising conscience is not always easy, yet, it is arguably the most important asset or skill a good journalist has). -The authors advocate for "a culture of honesty" in news sourcing, production and publishing. Intellectual Diversity means to strive for a great number of voices and ideas; it is the opposite of an echo chamber or partisan agenda. -Lastly, citizens, too, have a responsibility. -Journalists today need "to provide citizens with the tools they need to extract knowledge for themselves from the undifferentiated flood or rumor, propaganda, gossip, fact, assertion, and allegation the communications system now produces." (Kovach and Rosenstiel, 2015).

News Values

-What makes a story "newsworthy"? 1. Timing: if it happened today, it's news, if it happened last week, it's not; with 24-hour news access, "breaking" news 2. Significance: how many people are affected. Proximity: the closer a story hits to home, the more newsworthy it is. 3. Prominence: when famous people are affected, the story matters (i.e. car accident involving your family vs. a car accident involving the President) 4. Human Interest: stories based on emotional appeal; written to amuse or to generate empathy, particularly entertaining, quirky, or offbeat (also: pets!)

Euphemisms

-Words or expressions that are deliberately used to communicate vague, obscure, and comforting meaning (esp. in political contexts and speech; also in PR) instead of direct truths. Examples: "mischaracterization" or "mistake" instead of "lie"; "alternative facts" instead of "false statements"; "tender age shelters" instead of "prisons for children"; "collateral damage" instead of "civilian deaths" etc. -Avoid using them when reporting the news

What is Journalistic Truth?

1. It is practical, not philosophical. 2. It is based on getting the facts right, but it is more than that. It is making sense of the facts. 3. This making sense of facts is a process. (Early reports focus on getting facts straight; then late stories focus on analysis and making sense of the facts & impacts developments).

Setting up a basic profile feature(Outline)

1. Anecdotal lead / often descriptive or narrative format (you describe a scene, an action, or use a quote) 2. Introduce their accomplishments 3. Make them human, make us relate 4. Describe physical appearance 5. Focus on the setting of interview 6. Life philosophy? Struggles? Surprises? 7. Use great quotes strategically (direct, interview or through secondary research) 8. End on a quote -Remember: Focus the profile. What is the underlying theme of this person's life? -Write, edit, review.

Fours steps in the writing process

1. Conceive (the idea) 2. Collect (the information, do the actual reporting) 3. Construct (the story; write headline, determine the focus, then plan an order - topics, highlights, use keywords as transition, establish time sequence, block sources... ending) 4. Correct (Edit your work, check for accuracy, check all names, edit the pace, check grammar, cut jargon)

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 1

1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth: -Good decision-making depends on people having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. -"Journalistic truth" is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. -Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. -"Getting it right" is the foundation upon which everything else is built - context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. -Citizens encounter an ever-greater flow of data, they have more need skills for verification

The Intellectual Principles of a Science of Reporting

1. Never add anything that was not there originally. (Do not embellish; do not leave out information.) 2. Never deceive the audience (do not mislead them/make up sources). 3. Be as transparent as possible about your methods and motives. (How do you know what you know; who are your sources?) 4. Rely on your own original reporting. (Originality is critical!) 5. Exercise humility. (Double check; talk to experts; seek out context).

What Are The Qualities Of News? Part 1

1. Timeliness (An event that happened or is due to happen) in broadcast news "immediacy" 2. Proximity (An event may be of interest to local readers because it happened close to the community) 3. Unusual Nature (Out-of-the ordinary events, a bizarre or rare occurrence, or people engaged in unusual activities) 4.Human Interest (People like stories about people who have special problems or achievements, or who have overcome difficulties; also: pets) 5. Conflict (Stories involving conflicts that people have with govt. or other people are newsworthy, esp. local or national issues

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 10

10. Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news -The average person now, more than ever, works like a journalist. -Two things, however, separate this journalistic-like process from an end product that is "journalism." The first is motive and intent. The purpose of journalism is to give people the information they need to make better decisions about their lives and society. -The second difference is that journalism involves the conscious, systematic application of a discipline of verification to produce a "functional truth," as opposed to something that is merely interesting or informative. Yet while the process is critical, it's the end product - the "story" - by which journalism is ultimately judged. -Today, when the world is awash in information and news is available any time everywhere, a new relationship is being formed between the suppliers of journalism and the people who consume it. -The new journalist is no longer a gatekeeper who decides what the public should and should not know. The individual is now his or her own circulation manager and editor. To be relevant, journalists must now verify information the consumer already has or is likely to find and then help them make sense of what it means and how they might use it.

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 2

2. It's first loyalty is to citizens: -The publisher of journalism must strive to put the public interest - and the truth - above their own self-interest or assumptions. -Journalism provided "without fear or favor" is perceived to be more valuable than content from other information sources. -Commitment to citizens also means journalism should seek to present a representative picture of constituent groups in society. Ignoring certain citizens has the effect of disenfranchising them. -The theory underlying the modern news industry has been the belief that credibility builds a broad and loyal audience and that economic success follows in turn. (Technology may change but trust will endure)

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 4

4. Maintain Independence from those who they cover -Independence is a cornerstone of reliability. -On one level, it means not becoming seduced by sources, intimidated by power, or compromised by self-interest. -On a deeper level it speaks to an independence of spirit and an open-mindedness and intellectual curiosity that helps the journalist see beyond his or her own class or economic status, race, ethnicity, religion, gender or ego. -Journalistic independence is not neutrality. -While editorialists and commentators are not neutral, the source of their credibility is still their accuracy, intellectual fairness and ability to inform - not their devotion to a certain group or outcome. -In our independence, however, journalists must avoid straying into arrogance, elitism, isolation or nihilism.

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 5

5. Journalists serve as an independent monitor of power (watchdog role): -Journalism has an unusual capacity to serve as watchdog over those whose power and position most affect citizens. -It may also offer voice to the voiceless. -Being an independent monitor of power means "watching over the powerful few in society on behalf of the many to guard against tyranny," Kovach and Rosenstiel write. -Since the mid 1600's, the role of the journalist has been redefined from a passive stenographer to more a curious observer who would "search out and discover the news." -The watchdog role also means more than just simply monitoring the government. "The earliest journalists," write Kovach and Rosenstiel, "firmly established as a core principle their responsibility to examine unseen corners of society. The world they chronicled captured the imagination of a largely uninformed society, creating an immediate and enthusiastic popular following." -Finally, the purpose of the watchdog extends beyond simply making the management and execution of power transparent, to making known and understood the effects of that power. This includes reporting on successes as well as failures.

What Are The Qualities Of News? Part 2

6. Impact (Reaction stories to news events or news angles that affect readers have impact, esp. major national stories or tragedies; e.g. weather event, mass shooting) 7. Helpfulness (Consumer, health and other how-to-stories help readers cope with their lives and inform) 8. Celebrities (People well known for their accomplishments, entertainers, athletes, etc.) 9. Entertainments (Stories that amuse readers, make them feel good or help them enjoy their leisure time) 10. Issues or Problems in the Communities (These usually include qualities such as conflict and proximity).

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 6

6. Journalism provides a forum for public criticism and compromise: -The news media are common carriers of public discussion, and privileges can involve subsidies for distribution or research and development (lower postal rates for print, use of public spectrum by broadcasters, development and management of the Internet) to laws protecting content and free speech (copyright, libel, and shield laws). -The assumption that journalism - because of its principles and practices- will supply a steady stream of higher quality content that citizens and government will use to make better decisions. -Traditionally, this covenant has been between news organizations and the government. The new forms of digital media, however, place a responsibility on everyone who "publishes" content - whether for profit or for personal satisfaction - in the public domain. -The raw material cast into the marketplace of ideas sustains civic dialogue and serves society best when it consists of verified information rather than just prejudice and supposition. -Need to represent varied viewpoints and interests in society and to place them in context rather than highlight only the conflicting fringes of debate. -Journalism is more than providing an outlet for discussion or adding one's voice to the conversation. Journalism carries with it a responsibility to improve the quality of debate by providing verified information and intellectual rigor.

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 7

7. Keeping the significant interesting and relevant -Journalism is storytelling with a purpose. -It should do more than gather an audience or catalogue the important. It must balance what readers know they want with what they cannot anticipate but need. -Part of the journalist's responsibility is providing information in such a way people will be inclined to listen. Journalists must thus strive to make the significant interesting and relevant. -Quality is measured both by how much a work engages its audience and enlightens it. This means journalists must continually ask what information has the most value to citizens and in what form people are most likely to assimilate it. -While journalism should reach beyond such topics as government and public safety, journalism overwhelmed by trivia and false significance trivializes civic dialogue and ultimately public policy.

The Ten Elements of Journalism Part 9

9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience -Doing journalism, whether as a professional writing for a news organization or as an online contributor in the public space, involves one's moral compass and demands a personal sense of ethics and responsibility. -Because "news" is important, those who provide news have a responsibility to voice their personal conscience out loud and allow others to do so as well. They must be willing to question their own work and to differ with the work of others if fairness and accuracy demand they do so. -News organizations do well to nurture this independence by encouraging individuals to speak their minds. Conversation and debate stimulate the intellectual diversity of minds and voices necessary to understand and accurately cover an increasingly diverse society. Having a diverse newsroom does little if those different voices are not spoken or heard. -Having a sense of ethics is perhaps most important for the individual journalist or online contributor.

More Examples of New Leads

QUEENS, NY - Two boaters were killed and a third was injured Sunday when their small boat capsized in high winds and waves near Rockaway Beach, according to the NYPD. NEW YORK (AP) - Hundreds of birds migrating through New York City this week died after crashing into the city's glass towers, a mass casualty event spotlighted by a New York City Audubon volunteer's tweets showing the World Trade Center littered with bird carcasses. HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Crews on the water and on shore worked feverishly Sunday to limit environmental damage from one of the largest oil spills in recent California history, caused by a suspected leak in an underwater pipeline, officials said. WASHINGTON, D.C. - A COVID-19 vaccine might be available to Americans in summer or fall 2021, the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a Wednesday Senate hearing, citing the scope and complexity of the vaccine trials.

Off-the-record

• "Off the record" is the final level of attribution. It generally means a source's information cannot be used, but that is often misunderstood. Some people say they are speaking off the record when they really mean they are speaking on background. • Also, reporters and sources sometimes disagree as to exactly what "off the record" means. • The U.S. State Department's Office of Press Relations says reporters may not use off-the-record information in any way. • Snowball effect: Reporters, however, sometimes use off-the-record information as leads to other sources. Almost every secret is known by several people, sometimes hundreds of people. • Some reporters refuse to listen to off-the-record statements. Others see it as an opportunity to gain insight into official thinking. Or it may help them put the information they can publish in a more accurate context.

On background

• "On background," which is sometimes referred to as "not for attribution," means the reporter may quote the source directly but may not attribute the statements to the source by name. The reporter may describe the source by her position. Examples of attribution: "senior military officers with direct knowledge of the program" or "former Defense Intelligence Agency officers" who were willing to talk only on the condition that they not be identified. • When reporters use on-background information, they try to describe the source as fully as possible. To say the information came from "a government employee" is meaningless. Saying the source is "a member of the House Appropriations Committee staff" gives readers more information

On deep background/not for attribution

• "On deep background" is a variation of the backgrounder. This level of attribution is sometimes called the Lindley Rule, named after Ernest K. Lindley, a Newsweek columnist who used it during the Harry Truman administration to persuade U.S. leaders to discuss military and diplomatic affairs. • A source on deep background may not be quoted directly and may not be identified in any way. • A reporter must publish the information without any attribution or with a phrase like, "It has been learned that. . . ." or: "a government official" • Unless reporters have a high degree of confidence in the source and the information and the approval of their supervisors, they should stay away from information given on deep background. (This level of attribution is rarely understood by anyone else other than officials in Washington DC.)

Whistleblower

• A whistleblower is a person who learns of unethical or even illegal activity within their company or government, and reports or refuses to participate in it. (internal vs. external) • While whistleblowers aren't always famous, they do play an important role in holding companies and governments accountable for wrongdoing.

Key Points Of Covering Trauma

• Competition for breaking news adds chaos and possibilities for mistakes. Yet accuracy is SO IMPORTANT, esp. during crises/terror events. • Also: Need for Compassion and sensitivity of journalists covering or commenting. • Get information to reconstruct a chronology of events. • Use descriptive and narrative techniques. • Double check all information; initial reports and statistics will change quickly. • Provide sidebars, and highlight boxes, survival tips and add. information for your readers.

What Are The Responsibilities of Newsmakers?

• Document and report the truth, esp. during crises, accidents, wrongdoings, conflicts. • Make choices what will be published and when. (Ask yourself: what kind of actions do you take? And what kind of person or reporter do you want to be? Exercising conscience is not always easy, yet, it is arguably the most important asset or skill a good journalist has). • Do not inflict harm on victims or their families. • Be careful what photos/videos you use. • Be careful of what you say or print (unconfirmed news? what is the source?) • Media organizations need to make sure that photographs of killers and their crimes do not contribute to their self-mythologization.

Assessing the Credibility of Your Source Part 2

• How transparent is the reporting? Can the audience determine the sources of information and why they are good choices? • How does this source know this information? Could I confirm the source's information through government records, other documents, further reporting or other sources? • What is the past reliability and reputation of this source? • What is the source's motive for providing the information? What does this source have to gain or lose? Will this information make the source look better, worse, guilty or innocent?

What is Human Dignity In News Reporting

• Human dignity is innate by virtue of each human. • It is independent of a person's role in society, talents and weaknesses, and demographic profile. Each person is entirely unique and irreplaceable. • The persecuted, the degraded, the humiliated person has dignity. No one can strip a person of his or her dignity, even if they choose to ignore or violate it. • A person does not lose their dignity if they become more dependent on others, as the dignity of the person can be neither forfeited nor stolen. • A person continues to have dignity following his/her death and the dignity of the deceased person's loved ones who cherish his memory.

Media Ethics & Ethical Issues In Journalism Part 1

• Invasion of privacy: Reporters must consider the consequences of publishing photos of people or naming someone in an article. • Bias: Human beings cannot be purely objective. Journalism is the selection and presentation of facts and issues over others. But: Those who create content must attempt to be as fair and impartial as is possible. (Every issue has more than one side!) • Commitment to accuracy: Carelessness (or deceit) that leads to inaccuracy undermines the function of the press. Not publishing information is almost always better than publishing inaccurate information. Verification of data, sources, leads, scoop...esp. in online/digital first news environment.

Sidebars and Mainbars in News Writing

• Newspaper editors like using mainbars and sidebars because for big news events, there's too much information to fit into one article. It's better to separate the coverage into smaller pieces, rather than having just one endless article. • Editors also feel that using mainbars and sidebars is more reader-friendly. Readers who want to get a general sense of what has happened can scan the mainbar. If they want to read about one particular aspect of the event they can find the relevant story. • Without the mainbar-sidebar approach, readers would have to plow through one huge article to try to find the details they're interested in. In the digital age, when readers have less time, shorter attention spans and more news to digest, that's not likely to happen.

On-the-record

• On-the-record" attribution means that everything the source says may be published and quoted directly, and the source may be fully identified by name and title. • Most information you are given will be on the record. People will tell you the details openly and allow you to quote their names and titles. • Examples: The politician making a speech, the witness describing a crash, the police officer reporting an arrest, the company chairman defending an increase in prices, all are usually prepared to be quoted and to give their names. • Reporters should try to keep as much as possible of every interview on the record (this can be negotiated at the start of the interview). This allows readers to see or hear the source's exact words and know who the source is.

Media Ethics & Ethical Issues In Journalism Part 2

• Plagiarism: Claiming others' work as one's own; Always credit other people's materials and ideas. This includes "borrowing" or downloading visuals from the Internet to use without permission with stories. • Anonymous sources: Although many reporters use anonymous sources, there are rules about when to use them. A reporter has to determine the information's value and whether is it possible to get it any other way. • Offending or distasteful content: It is impossible to run any story without offending, insulting or displeasing someone, but: do not offend audiences and be tasteful.

Sources & Levels of Attribution

• Primary Sources • Secondary Sources • Matchmaker or snowball technique of finding additional sources. • Public records / government sources, incl. federal documents • Statistics (crime, i.e. police department / weather, i.e. Check the National Hurricane Center / demographics, i.e. U.S. Census Bureau)

Sidebars and Mainbars in news reporting

• What Is a Mainbar? A mainbar is the main news story about a big news event. It's the story that includes the main points of the event, and it tends to focus on the hard-news aspects of the story. Remember the five W's and the H — who, what, where, when, why and how? Those are the things you generally want to include in the mainbar. • What Is a Sidebar? A sidebar is a story that accompanies the mainbar. But instead of including all the main points of the event, the sidebar focuses on one aspect of it. Depending on the magnitude of the news event, the mainbar can be accompanied by just one sidebar or by many. -Mainbars tend to be longer, hard-news oriented stories. -Sidebars tend to be shorter and often focus on a more service oriented, feature-y, human-interest side of the event.

Pitching a Story Idea for Print/Online Media

• When you submit a story pitch for a profile, or news story (in person or via email) think about any topic that you think might be newsworthy, relevant, original, and engaging. • For your story idea, try to choose an issue or potential topic or journalism beat (politics, business, sports, lifestyle/entertainment, health, travel, etc.) that you're already interested in, something based on a personal experience, or your expertise. It will make this project more rewarding and beneficial for you. Generally, your brief story pitch should answer these questions: • What is your story idea? (original angle, new information, relevance) • How are you going to do the story? (outline, structure, length, deadline) • Why can you write the story? (access to information, sources, expertise, background) • Always include a draft headline for your story to grab your editor's attention. • Include any links or research/articles that might help an editor or colleagues in understanding why this topic would yield a good print/online story.

Assessing the Credibility of Your Source Part 1

• Who is the source of this information? Is that clear to the audience, or might the source simply be the person reporting the news? • What would this source know? Does he or she have training in the area? A job title that would indicate knowledge? • When did the source get this knowledge? Recently? So long ago that situations might have changed? • Where did the source get this knowledge? Does he or she have a degree in this field? Training? Work experience? Was the source involved first-hand? If so, does this make his or her views more credible ... or less? • Why use this source? Does he or she have the necessary expertise to be trustworthy? Does this fill in a gap in the audience's understanding?

Writing Guidelines For Multimedia Stories

• Write short, clear sentences. Check for accuracy of all information, names, titles, locations, sources etc. • Write for readers who scan websites instead of reading thoroughly. • Write to the point; simple language, no euphemisms or embellished language. • State the most important information in the first two paragraph (should be viewed without scrolling down). • Write a clear headline and a summary blurb (summary of main idea of the story). • Limit each paragraph to one main idea. Keep paragraphs short (this is crucial for readability on small phone screens). • Work with boldface subheadings, especially in longer stories.