1. JOU 3117: Journalists Behaving Badly & Ledes
Assoc. Professor & SFNS News Director
Dan Evans
(m) | @EditorDanEvans

2. What we’re covering
Review of SPJ Code of Ethics > The four pillars of journalism
Ethics Workshop > Checking out what happens when ya try and cheat
Fantastic Ledes and Where to Find Them > How DOES this thing work anyhow?
In-class practice > Putting it all together. All fun all the time, no?

3. SPJ Code of Ethics The gold standard of journalism ethics

4. The Four Principles
Seek Truth and Report It Ethical journalism should be accurate and fair. Journalists should be honest and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Minimize Harm Ethical journalism treats sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public as human beings deserving of respect.

5. The Four Principles
Act Independently The highest and primary obligation of ethical journalism is to serve the public.
Be Accountable and Transparent Ethical journalism means taking responsibility for one’s work and explaining one’s decisions to the public.

6. Ethics Workshop Break into three groups

7. The Terrible Trio Jayson Blair - New York Times
Stephen Glass - The New Republic
Benny Johnson - BuzzFeed

8. Step 1 - Research Take 10 minutes to research your person
What did they do? What happened to them? What are they doing now?
What was the impact on their organization? On journalism as a whole?

9. Step 2 - Group Discussion
Discuss in your group your findings
Do you feel they were treated too harshly? Not harshly enough?
How did their organizations allow these issues to happen?
What did they do to make sure it won’t happen again? Do you think it’ll work?

10. Step 3 - Class Discussion
Each group will choose someone to present a three-five minute summary of their findings and opinions.
Rest of class — including those who dissented with their group’s majority feelings — can then weigh in.

11. The Lede First for a reason…

12. The Basics A straight news lede is a single sentence.
It is 35 words or fewer.
It is sourced
BUT does not use names
Information is presented in order of importance, not chronologically

13. Definition Alert!!
Source: A witness or expert who told you (the reporter) either facts or an opinion related to the news you are reporting. That is, NOT YOU!!

14. Sample Fact Sheet
Source: Deputy Bo Lolly of the Broward Sheriff’s Office
Information released today
Story is for the Miami Herald

15. Carl Hancock, 19, was arrested after a chase by deputy sheriff’s last night in Hollywood.
Deputy Bo Lolly told you he saw Hancock and another man on separate motorcycles on Airport Road.
Both were nude. He said when they saw his car, the two went in different directions.
Lolly caught Hancock three miles away. Hancock told Lolly that he and his friend had a bet to see how long they could ride nude without getting caught. He was wearing only boots and a belt.
Hancock was booked on suspicion of lewdness and driving without a license. He refused to ID his pal. (Source: Broward County Sheriff’s Department)

16. The Lede: What’s Important

17. The Questions…
Who
When
What
How
Why should I care?

18. Print Writing Tips
Print writing is done almost solely in the past tense.
When trying to determine what’s the most important, think about what you would tell your best friend.
In our class, that’s the only tense you’ll be using.
Unless it’s someone famous (or locally well known), names are generally not important for the lede.
AP Style is our Bible. Biggest issues for young journalists: numbers and titles. Learn them. Love them.
Avoid the verb to be

19. Carl Hancock, 19, was arrested after a chase by deputy sheriff’s last night in Hollywood.
Deputy Bo Lolly told you he saw Hancock and another man on separate motorcycles on Airport Road.
Both were nude. He said when they saw his car, the two went in different directions.
Lolly caught Hancock three miles away. Hancock told Lolly that he and his friend had a bet to see how long they could ride nude without getting caught. He was wearing only boots and a belt.
Hancock was booked on suspicion of lewdness and driving without a license. He refused to ID his pal. (Source: Broward County Sheriff’s Department)

20. What’s the most important?
Names?
Action?
Arrest?
Outcome?

21. Action!

22. A deputy said he gave chase to a pair of nude men riding motorcycles Monday night, arresting one near Airport Road.

23. Your Turn! Write a lede of 35 words or fewer from the handout

24. NewsU Module
Complete as much of the “Plagiarism and Fabrication” module as you can before the end of class time. Whoo! We’re done!

25. Homework Reading: Miami Herald and New York Times (daily).
News Quizzz Next Class!!
Practice:
Complete Lede Homework. Put the completed work in the Google Folder with your name by the start of next class! Add your name to the document so it reads like this: Dan Evans - Lede Assignment

26. Assoc. Professor & SFNS News Director
Dan Evans
(m) | @EditorDanEvans