Week 10: Journalism 2001Week 10: Journalism 2001

April 7, 2008April 7, 2008

Review of last week’s newsReview of last week’s news

Hard News:Hard News:(murders, city council, government, etc.)(murders, city council, government, etc.)– Major local storiesMajor local stories– Major national/international storiesMajor national/international stories– Major sports storiesMajor sports stories

Soft News:Soft News:(retirements, school programs, human interest)(retirements, school programs, human interest)– Local storiesLocal stories– National/international storiesNational/international stories– Sports storiesSports stories

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Next week we’ll review final projectNext week we’ll review final project– Bring copies of stories to upload to Bring copies of stories to upload to

eportfolioeportfolio

Sports story reviewSports story review More impressive stories!More impressive stories! Easier when have exciting game/match to Easier when have exciting game/match to

covercover Remember that the score is the “what Remember that the score is the “what

happened” for a sports storyhappened” for a sports story Quotes strongest high in storyQuotes strongest high in story Background information helpfulBackground information helpful Watch tenseWatch tense

– Team: its or their?Team: its or their? Style errors:Style errors:

– Time elementTime element– numeralsnumerals

CLOQUET, Minn. - The Duluth Denfeld boys’ CLOQUET, Minn. - The Duluth Denfeld boys’ hockey team fell just two goals shy of the State hockey team fell just two goals shy of the State Hockey Tournament, losing to St. Cloud Cathedral Hockey Tournament, losing to St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1 in the section 5A final before a capacity crowd 3-1 in the section 5A final before a capacity crowd at Cloquet Area Recreation Center.at Cloquet Area Recreation Center.

INT’L FALLS, Minn. – The International Falls INT’L FALLS, Minn. – The International Falls Bronco boys basketball team beat the Cook Bronco boys basketball team beat the Cook gophers 71-53 before a huge crowd Friday night gophers 71-53 before a huge crowd Friday night at the Falls High Gym.at the Falls High Gym.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – On a high from winning one of ST. PAUL, Minn. – On a high from winning one of the longest series against Minnesota State, the longest series against Minnesota State, University of Minnesota showed no weakness as University of Minnesota showed no weakness as they went on to beat St. Cloud State University 3-they went on to beat St. Cloud State University 3-2 on March 20, 2008.2 on March 20, 2008.

Upcoming storiesUpcoming stories

Sports Reporting AssignmentSports Reporting Assignment– Will review/rewrite story in class tonightWill review/rewrite story in class tonight

Community Journalism reporting Community Journalism reporting assignmentassignment– Final article due next week: April 14Final article due next week: April 14– Any problems?Any problems?

Feature Story Assignment:Feature Story Assignment:– Story pitch due: April 9Story pitch due: April 9– First draft due: April 21First draft due: April 21– Final article due: May 5Final article due: May 5

Feature story ideas from last Feature story ideas from last week!week!

End of year: Where students will live in End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobssummer, types of jobs

Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabikextension from Two Harbors to Biwabik

Spring hiking trails in areaSpring hiking trails in area UMD athlete profileUMD athlete profile Impact of tuition increaseImpact of tuition increase Summer grilling/foodSummer grilling/food Plays, cultural activitiesPlays, cultural activities Study abroad programsStudy abroad programs

Let’s brainstorm more feature Let’s brainstorm more feature ideasideas

Common jobs for students in the Common jobs for students in the summersummer

Play review/analysisPlay review/analysis Duluth resident reaction to LeatherheadsDuluth resident reaction to Leatherheads Nursing home residentNursing home resident Chinese student adjustmentChinese student adjustment Bicycle riders on Munger TrailBicycle riders on Munger Trail Duluth ZooDuluth Zoo AquariumAquarium

Chapter 24:Chapter 24:In-depth & Investigative In-depth & Investigative

ReportingReporting In-depth articleIn-depth article

– Goes beyond a basic news storyGoes beyond a basic news story– Detailed information on subjectDetailed information on subject– Investigative articlesInvestigative articles– Civic “watchdogs”Civic “watchdogs”– Months or years to completeMonths or years to complete– Need to remain focusedNeed to remain focused

Reporter as investigatorReporter as investigator

Dig beneath the surfaceDig beneath the surface Subject important, significantSubject important, significant Original work, not a handoutOriginal work, not a handout Go beyond the news releaseGo beyond the news release ““Smelling” a storySmelling” a story

Steps in gathering Steps in gathering informationinformation

1.1. Conducting researchConducting research– Introduces a reporter to the language of a Introduces a reporter to the language of a

complex topiccomplex topic– Helps reporters find sources from different Helps reporters find sources from different

storiesstories– Helps to formulate a list of questionsHelps to formulate a list of questions– Provides other articles written on the same Provides other articles written on the same

topictopic– Uncovers good/bad things to look for in Uncovers good/bad things to look for in

interviewsinterviews– Sources of information: Internet, newspaper Sources of information: Internet, newspaper

library, databaseslibrary, databases

2.2. InterviewingInterviewing– Talk to everyone you canTalk to everyone you can– Interview as long as you canInterview as long as you can– Ask sources for names of additional Ask sources for names of additional

sourcessources– Know the answers to incriminating Know the answers to incriminating

questions before you ask themquestions before you ask them– Use a tape recorder for in-depth or Use a tape recorder for in-depth or

particularly sensitive interviewsparticularly sensitive interviews– Interviews from the outside inInterviews from the outside in– Smoking-gun interviewsSmoking-gun interviews– Double-checks and triple-checksDouble-checks and triple-checks– Confidential sourcesConfidential sources

Writing an in-depth storyWriting an in-depth story

Finding the right leadFinding the right lead– Summary leadSummary lead– Lead block and nut graphLead block and nut graph

Use bulleted paragraphs to Use bulleted paragraphs to summarize findingssummarize findings

Use anecdotes and observationsUse anecdotes and observations Finding the threadFinding the thread Writing a first-person articleWriting a first-person article

Chapter 26: LawChapter 26: Law

First AmendmentFirst AmendmentCongress shall make no law respecting Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of the Government for a redress of grievances.grievances.— The First Amendment to the U.S. — The First Amendment to the U.S. ConstitutionConstitution

Reporters and their sourcesReporters and their sources

Shield LawsShield Laws– Statutory laws to protect reporters from Statutory laws to protect reporters from

revealing sourcesrevealing sources– Each state has different interpretationEach state has different interpretation– What does Minnesota have?What does Minnesota have?

Fair trial vs. free pressFair trial vs. free press

Conflict between First Amendment Conflict between First Amendment and Sixth Amendmentand Sixth Amendment– Sixth amendment: Rights of the accused Sixth amendment: Rights of the accused

to a speedy and public trial by an to a speedy and public trial by an impartial juryimpartial jury

Why would there be a conflict?Why would there be a conflict? Jury DutyJury Duty

Where to learn moreWhere to learn more

Minnesota statutesMinnesota statutes U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court Federal circuit courtsFederal circuit courts Online legal researchOnline legal research

LibelLibel

Libel: Communication of false Libel: Communication of false information that damages an information that damages an individual in his or her profession, individual in his or her profession, business or calling.business or calling.– Six requirements for libel action:Six requirements for libel action:

PublicationPublication IdentificationIdentification Defamatory nature of the storyDefamatory nature of the story Proof of falsityProof of falsity Proof of faultProof of fault Actual damage to reputationActual damage to reputation

““Red Flag” Words: Libel & Red Flag” Words: Libel & PrivacyPrivacy

adulteryadultery blackmailblackmail confidence confidence manman

drunkarddrunkard

AIDSAIDS blockheadblockhead corruptioncorruption ex-convictex-convict

alcoholicalcoholic booze-houndbooze-hound cowardcoward fraudfraud

altered altered recordsrecords

briberybribery crookcrook gambling dengambling den

Ambulance Ambulance chaserchaser

brothelbrothel deadbeatdeadbeat gangstergangster

AtheistAtheist buys votesbuys votes deadheaddeadhead gaygay

bad moral bad moral charactercharacter

cheatscheats defaulterdefaulter graftgraft

BankruptBankrupt child abusechild abuse divorceddivorced groveling groveling office seekeroffice seeker

bigamistbigamist collusioncollusion double-double-crossedcrossed

herpesherpes

blacklistedblacklisted con artistcon artist drug abuserdrug abuser hit-manhit-man

hypocritehypocrite manipulatemanipulate rape/rapistrape/rapist stool pigeonstool pigeon

illegitimateillegitimate mental illnessmental illness scamscam stuffed the ballot stuffed the ballot boxbox

illicit relationillicit relation mobstermobster scandalmongerscandalmonger suicidesuicide

incompetentincompetent moral moral delinquencydelinquency

scoundrelscoundrel swindleswindle

infidelityinfidelity mouthpiecemouthpiece seducerseducer takentaken

informerinformer Neo-NaziNeo-Nazi sharp dealingsharp dealing thiefthief

insider tradinginsider trading paramourparamour shystershyster unethicalunethical

intimateintimate peeping Tompeeping Tom slackerslacker unmarried motherunmarried mother

intoleranceintolerance perjurerperjurer smooth and trickysmooth and tricky unprofessionalunprofessional

Jekyll-Hyde Jekyll-Hyde personalitypersonality

plagiaristplagiarist smugglersmuggler unsound mindunsound mind

kept womankept woman pockets public pockets public fundsfunds

sneakysneaky unworthy of creditunworthy of credit

Ku Klux KlanKu Klux Klan price cutterprice cutter sold influencesold influence vice denvice den

liarliar profiteeringprofiteering sold outsold out villainvillain

MafiaMafia prostituteprostitute spyspy fawning fawning sycophantsycophant

Classes of libelous wordsClasses of libelous words

Words imputing the commission of a Words imputing the commission of a criminal offensecriminal offenseAvoid:Avoid:

John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday for murdering Sally Smith Tuesday night.for murdering Sally Smith Tuesday night.

Better:Better:

John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday in connection with (or in the investigation of) in connection with (or in the investigation of) the Tuesday night slaying of Sally Smith.the Tuesday night slaying of Sally Smith.

Words that impute infection with a Words that impute infection with a loathsome communicable disease of loathsome communicable disease of any kind that would tend to exclude any kind that would tend to exclude one from society.one from society.Is this news?:Is this news?:

John Doe, who was elected Wednesday John Doe, who was elected Wednesday to be president of the local chapter of to be president of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was treated last summer for a venereal treated last summer for a venereal disease, the Daily Bugle has learned.disease, the Daily Bugle has learned.

Words that impute inability to perform, or Words that impute inability to perform, or want of integrity in the discharge of, duties of want of integrity in the discharge of, duties of office or employment.office or employment.Don’t write:Don’t write:

Public school groundskeeper John Doe is unfit by Public school groundskeeper John Doe is unfit by temperament and intelligence to adequately temperament and intelligence to adequately perform his duties, sources who wish to remain perform his duties, sources who wish to remain anonymous said Wednesday.anonymous said Wednesday.

Words that prejudice a particular person in his Words that prejudice a particular person in his or her profession or trade.or her profession or trade.Don’t write:Don’t write:

Attorney John Doe, who will represent the widow in Attorney John Doe, who will represent the widow in the embezzlement case, is the most incompetent the embezzlement case, is the most incompetent lawyer in town, according to courthouse observers.lawyer in town, according to courthouse observers.

Defamation by implicationDefamation by implication

Implication created by the reporter’s Implication created by the reporter’s organization of facts.organization of facts.John Jones was seen entering the Shady John Jones was seen entering the Shady Oaks motel yesterday with a woman. The Oaks motel yesterday with a woman. The motel is located in a known prostitution motel is located in a known prostitution area.area.

QuotationsQuotations

Reporter/news medium must assume Reporter/news medium must assume responsibility for the statement if it is usedresponsibility for the statement if it is used– The fact that information was provided by a The fact that information was provided by a

source does not necessarily mean that it is source does not necessarily mean that it is correct.correct.

– Beware of off-the-record tips passed along by Beware of off-the-record tips passed along by sources, even high-ranking officials or law sources, even high-ranking officials or law enforcement officers.enforcement officers. Don’t write: Police said that the alleged crook is in Don’t write: Police said that the alleged crook is in

custody.custody. Instead: Police said that the man charged with the Instead: Police said that the man charged with the

crime is in custody.crime is in custody.

Defenses against libelDefenses against libel

Conditional defensesConditional defenses– Privilege of reporting: Fair, accurate Privilege of reporting: Fair, accurate

reporting of official proceedingsreporting of official proceedings– Fair comment and criticism: Applies to Fair comment and criticism: Applies to

opinions about matters of public concernopinions about matters of public concern– Neutral reportage: Report charges made Neutral reportage: Report charges made

by one responsible person or by one responsible person or organization about another when both organization about another when both parties are involved in a public parties are involved in a public controversycontroversy

Absolute libel defensesAbsolute libel defenses

Statute of limitationsStatute of limitations– Two years in MinnesotaTwo years in Minnesota

TruthTruth Privilege of participantPrivilege of participant

– Participants in official proceedingsParticipants in official proceedings Consent or authorizationConsent or authorization Self-defense or right of replySelf-defense or right of reply

Partial defensesPartial defenses

Publication of a retraction: Clear Publication of a retraction: Clear admission of erroneous reportingadmission of erroneous reporting

Facts showing no gross negligence or Facts showing no gross negligence or ill willill will

Facts showing that the reporter Facts showing that the reporter relied on a usually reliable sourcerelied on a usually reliable source

The actual malice standardThe actual malice standard

The New York Times ruleThe New York Times rule– New York Times Co. v. Sullivan: 1964New York Times Co. v. Sullivan: 1964

Supreme Court: To collect damages, a public official Supreme Court: To collect damages, a public official would have to prove the defendant acted with “actual would have to prove the defendant acted with “actual malice;” knowledge that it was false or with reckless malice;” knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.disregard of whether it was false or not.

– 1967: Supreme Court said that public figures, in 1967: Supreme Court said that public figures, in addition to public officials, also have to show addition to public officials, also have to show actual malice to recover libel damages.actual malice to recover libel damages.

Bottom line:Bottom line:

More protection from libel action if More protection from libel action if plaintiff is a public personplaintiff is a public person..

Libel in cyberspaceLibel in cyberspace

Distributor vs. publisherDistributor vs. publisher 1996: Communications Decency Act1996: Communications Decency Act

– Protects online service providers from Protects online service providers from liability for publication of defamatory liability for publication of defamatory materialmaterial

Checklist for dealing with Checklist for dealing with libellibel

Be aggressive – but don’t take foolish Be aggressive – but don’t take foolish risksrisks

Be fair – keep an open mindBe fair – keep an open mind Seek advice if you are unsure of your Seek advice if you are unsure of your

turfturf

Journalism EthicsJournalism Ethics

““But I thought you were . . .”But I thought you were . . .”– When a source doesn't know you are a rWhen a source doesn't know you are a r

eportereporter– http://journalism.indiana.edu/http://journalism.indiana.edu/

resources/ethics/handling-sources/but-i-resources/ethics/handling-sources/but-i-thought-you-were/thought-you-were/

Out-of-Class AssignmentsOut-of-Class Assignments

Due today: News Release rewrites!Due today: News Release rewrites!– Email: Email: lkragnes@d.umn.edulkragnes@d.umn.edu

Due April 14: Red Lake Cartoon Due April 14: Red Lake Cartoon Reaction articleReaction article

In-Class AssignmentIn-Class Assignment

Editing classmate storyEditing classmate story– Make changes, give to reporterMake changes, give to reporter– Editing form returned to me: Worth 5 Editing form returned to me: Worth 5

pointspoints Rewrite sports storiesRewrite sports stories

– Using all of the editing suggestions, Using all of the editing suggestions, rewrite/edit your storyrewrite/edit your story

– Email final copy to: Email final copy to: lkragnes@d.umn.edulkragnes@d.umn.edu Worth 5 pointsWorth 5 points

– Stories will be posted on class websiteStories will be posted on class website

EgradebookEgradebook

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

If grading tonight:If grading tonight:215 and above: A215 and above: A190-214: B190-214: B165-189: C165-189: C140-164: D140-164: DLess than 140: FLess than 140: F

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