Week 13: Journalism 2001 December 4, 2006

Announcements WDIO-TV Tour: Wednesday, 12/6 WDIO-TV Tour: Wednesday, 12/6 –Meet at 4:20 p.m. at station

WDIO-TV Directions WDIO-TV is located at 10 Observation Road between Arlington and Skyline Drive. WDIO-TV is located at 10 Observation Road between Arlington and Skyline Drive. –From UMD, take College Street north to Kenwood. –Turn right on Kenwood to Arrowhead. –Take a left on Arrowhead to Arlington (second stoplight). –Take a left on Arlington and go a few miles to Observation Road, which is about a mile past Central Entrance. –Take a left on Observation Road and go about a mile to WDIO, which is on the left in the shadow of the towers.

Speech/Multicultural Story Review Need attribution Need attribution –Strongest after direct quote –,” he said, she said. Third person Third person Style errors: Style errors: –Dates –Months –time –,”: comma inside quote marks –AIDS –Need first name –Doctor

Red Lake Cartoon Review Strong summaries Strong summaries What do you think? What do you think? Would you publish the cartoon? Would you publish the cartoon?

Cindy Finch Interview Review Remember to keep graphs short: Remember to keep graphs short: –One to two sentences, three max –One sentence lead still the strongest Avoid name in lead as a general rule Avoid name in lead as a general rule Style errors: Style errors: –Titles –Attribution strongest after quote –Academic degrees

A UMD graduate and current Agency Relations Manager for Woodland Hills, spoke at UMD Monday night. Cindy Finch started out as a student who “just wanted to graduate” and became the Agency Relations Director for Woodland Hills. At the University of Minnesota Duluth on Monday night, an agency relations manager from Woodland Hills spoke in front of a journalism class to share detailed information about her career, education, and writing experiences. Agency Relations Manager from Woodland Hills spoke with UMD’s journalism class Monday night about her career, past jobs, education and her volunteering experiences.

Chapter 13: Obituaries Writing obits: A fate worse than death? Writing obits: A fate worse than death? –Most highly read section of the newspaper –Each paper has different policies on obituaries –Often front-page news Capturing the flavor of a life Capturing the flavor of a life –Ronald Reagan –Shirley Chisholm –Pope John Paul II –Bob Hope –Rodney Dangerfield Often published free of charge Often published free of charge

Typical content of obits Full name Full name Address Address Date of death Date of death Cause of death Cause of death –How to handle suicides? Age Age Occupation Occupation Accomplishments Accomplishments Time and date of services, visitation information Time and date of services, visitation information Place of burial, memorial information Place of burial, memorial information Names of survivors Names of survivors

Sources of information Funeral homes Funeral homes Families Families Confirming information Confirming information Avoiding hoaxes Avoiding hoaxes eHow: How to write an obituary eHow: How to write an obituary –

Let’s look at some obituaries Minneapolis Star Tribune Minneapolis Star Tribune Minneapolis Star Tribune Minneapolis Star Tribune New York Times New York Times New York Times New York Times Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Los Angeles Times Cloquet Pine Journal Cloquet Pine Journal Cloquet Pine Journal Cloquet Pine Journal

Chapter 27: Ethics and Fairness: Responsibility to Society The Fairness Movement The Fairness Movement –American Society of Newspaper Editors: Journalism Credibility Project  Five-year, $1.2 million project: 1990s  1998: Focusing on the problem –Surveyed 3,000 Americans, 1,714 working journalists  1999: Developing and testing solutions

Freedom Forum’s Free Press /Fair Press Project Major reasons credibility is declining: Major reasons credibility is declining: 1.News coverage does not adequately reflect all of reality. 2.Lack of news staff diversity leads to missing stories, failing to provide important context, or using language in stories that reflects unconscious prejudices and stereotypes. 3.Reporters come to stories with preconceived notions of the story line and the roles different sources are to play. 4.Reporters lack expertise in the subjects they are covering. 5.Trying to get corrections published or broadcast is an exercise in futility.

Best Practices for Newspaper Journalists* Newspapers are unfair when: Newspapers are unfair when: –They get the facts wrong –They refuse to admit errors –They won’t name names –They have ignorant or incompetent reporters –They prey on the weak –They concentrate on bad news –They lack diversity –They allow editorial bias in news stories –They can’t admit that sometimes there’s no story * Written by Robert Haiman, president emeritus and distinguished editor in residence at the Poynter Institute; Part of the The Freedom Forum Free Press/Fair Press Project

The Media and the Public Criticism of the press Criticism of the press –Media Critics –Ombudsmen: “middle person”  Objective newspaper employee who listens to complaint from readers and, when justified, passes them on to the appropriate reporters or editors.  Organization of News Ombudsmen Organization of News Ombudsmen Organization of News Ombudsmen

Code of Ethics Associated Press Managing Editors Association Associated Press Managing Editors Association Associated Press Managing Editors Association Associated Press Managing Editors Association American Society of Newspaper Editors American Society of Newspaper Editors American Society of Newspaper Editors American Society of Newspaper Editors Society of Professional Journalists Society of Professional Journalists Society of Professional Journalists Society of Professional Journalists Associated Press Sports Editors Associated Press Sports Editors Associated Press Sports Editors Associated Press Sports Editors

Ethical Issues 150 daily editors surveyed on ethical issues 150 daily editors surveyed on ethical issues –Fairness and objectivity –Misrepresentation by reporters –Economic pressure –Privacy versus the public’s right to know –Conflicts of interest –Anonymous sources –Gifts –Compassion versus policy Journalistic arrogance Journalistic arrogance

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

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

Minneapolis Star-Tribune Kate Perry: The Reader’s Rep Kate Perry: The Reader’s Rep

Washington Post Ombudsman with Minnesota ties Ombudsman with Minnesota ties

Upcoming stories Feature Story Assignment Feature Story Assignment –Final article due: December 11 Final eportfolio project: Due December 15 Final eportfolio project: Due December 15

Amy Rutledge Guest Speaker: 12/11 Due today: Write three questions and them to: Amy Rutledge bio: Amy Rutledge bio: –Currently marketing executive at WestmorelandFlint, a Duluth- based advertising, marketing and public relations agency –From 1997 to 2005, assignment editor and news anchor at KDLH-TV in Duluth. Position eliminated after an ownership change –Prior to 1997, worked at KBJR-TV and KDLH-TV in Duluth and the CBS affiliate in Kalamazoo, Michigan –In 2001, received the UMD Chancellor’s Outstanding Media Award. –1991 UMD graduate, with a major in Communication and minors in Political Science and Journalism

Bob Nygaard Interview Story due 12/6 Story due 12/6 Worth possible 15 points Worth possible 15 points story to: story to:

Egradebook Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: –

Portfolio Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. Access Electronic Portfolio at: sp Access Electronic Portfolio at: sp sp sp