Week 10: Journalism 2001

1. Week 10: Journalism 2001 April 7, 2008

3. Review of last week’s news • Hard News: (murders, city council, government, etc.) • Major local stories • Major national/international stories • Major sports stories • Soft News: (retirements, school programs, human interest) • Local stories • National/international stories • Sports stories

4. Announcements • Next week we’ll review final project • Bring copies of stories to upload to eportfolio

5. Sports story review • More impressive stories! • Easier when have exciting game/match to cover • Remember that the score is the “what happened” for a sports story • Quotes strongest high in story • Background information helpful • Watch tense • Team: its or their? • Style errors: • Time element • numerals

6. CLOQUET, Minn. - The Duluth Denfeld boys’ hockey team fell just two goals shy of the State Hockey Tournament, losing to St. Cloud Cathedral 3-1 in the section 5A final before a capacity crowd at Cloquet Area Recreation Center. INT’L FALLS, Minn. – The International Falls Bronco boys basketball team beat the Cook gophers 71-53 before a huge crowd Friday night at the Falls High Gym. ST. PAUL, Minn. – On a high from winning one of the longest series against Minnesota State, University of Minnesota showed no weakness as they went on to beat St. Cloud State University 3-2 on March 20, 2008.

7. Upcoming stories • Sports Reporting Assignment • Will review/rewrite story in class tonight • Community Journalism reporting assignment • Final article due next week: April 14 • Any problems? • Feature Story Assignment: • Story pitch due: April 9 • First draft due: April 21 • Final article due: May 5

8. Feature story ideas from last week! • End of year: Where students will live in summer, types of jobs • Proposed North Shore Scenic Railroad extension from Two Harbors to Biwabik • Spring hiking trails in area • UMD athlete profile • Impact of tuition increase • Summer grilling/food • Plays, cultural activities • Study abroad programs

9. Let’s brainstorm more feature ideas • Common jobs for students in the summer • Play review/analysis • Duluth resident reaction to Leatherheads • Nursing home resident • Chinese student adjustment • Bicycle riders on Munger Trail • Duluth Zoo • Aquarium

11. Chapter 24:In-depth & Investigative Reporting • In-depth article • Goes beyond a basic news story • Detailed information on subject • Investigative articles • Civic “watchdogs” • Months or years to complete • Need to remain focused

12. Reporter as investigator • Dig beneath the surface • Subject important, significant • Original work, not a handout • Go beyond the news release • “Smelling” a story

13. Steps in gathering information • Conducting research • Introduces a reporter to the language of a complex topic • Helps reporters find sources from different stories • Helps to formulate a list of questions • Provides other articles written on the same topic • Uncovers good/bad things to look for in interviews • Sources of information: Internet, newspaper library, databases

14. Interviewing • Talk to everyone you can • Interview as long as you can • Ask sources for names of additional sources • Know the answers to incriminating questions before you ask them • Use a tape recorder for in-depth or particularly sensitive interviews • Interviews from the outside in • Smoking-gun interviews • Double-checks and triple-checks • Confidential sources

15. Writing an in-depth story • Finding the right lead • Summary lead • Lead block and nut graph • Use bulleted paragraphs to summarize findings • Use anecdotes and observations • Finding the thread • Writing a first-person article

17. Chapter 26: Law • First Amendment 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.— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

18. Reporters and their sources • Shield Laws • Statutory laws to protect reporters from revealing sources • Each state has different interpretation • What does Minnesota have?

19. Fair trial vs. free press • Conflict between First Amendment and Sixth Amendment • Sixth amendment: Rights of the accused to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury • Why would there be a conflict? • Jury Duty

20. Where to learn more • Minnesota statutes • U.S. Supreme Court • Federal circuit courts • Online legal research

21. Libel • Libel: Communication of false information that damages an individual in his or her profession, business or calling. • Six requirements for libel action: • Publication • Identification • Defamatory nature of the story • Proof of falsity • Proof of fault • Actual damage to reputation

22. “Red Flag” Words: Libel & Privacy

24. Classes of libelous words • Words imputing the commission of a criminal offense Avoid: John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday for murdering Sally Smith Tuesday night. Better: John Doe was taken into custody Wednesday in connection with (or in the investigation of) the Tuesday night slaying of Sally Smith.

25. Words that impute infection with a loathsome communicable disease of any kind that would tend to exclude one from society. Is this news?: John Doe, who was elected Wednesday to be president of the local chapter of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was treated last summer for a venereal disease, the Daily Bugle has learned.

26. Words that impute inability to perform, or want of integrity in the discharge of, duties of office or employment. Don’t write: Public school groundskeeper John Doe is unfit by temperament and intelligence to adequately perform his duties, sources who wish to remain anonymous said Wednesday. • Words that prejudice a particular person in his or her profession or trade. Don’t write: Attorney John Doe, who will represent the widow in the embezzlement case, is the most incompetent lawyer in town, according to courthouse observers.

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

28. Quotations • Reporter/news medium must assume responsibility for the statement if it is used • The fact that information was provided by a source does not necessarily mean that it is correct. • Beware of off-the-record tips passed along by sources, even high-ranking officials or law enforcement officers. • Don’t write: Police said that the alleged crook is in custody. • Instead: Police said that the man charged with the crime is in custody.

29. Defenses against libel • Conditional defenses • Privilege of reporting: Fair, accurate reporting of official proceedings • Fair comment and criticism: Applies to opinions about matters of public concern • Neutral reportage: Report charges made by one responsible person or organization about another when both parties are involved in a public controversy

30. Absolute libel defenses • Statute of limitations • Two years in Minnesota • Truth • Privilege of participant • Participants in official proceedings • Consent or authorization • Self-defense or right of reply

31. Partial defenses • Publication of a retraction: Clear admission of erroneous reporting • Facts showing no gross negligence or ill will • Facts showing that the reporter relied on a usually reliable source

32. The actual malice standard • The New York Times rule • New York Times Co. v. Sullivan: 1964 • Supreme Court: To collect damages, a public official would have to prove the defendant acted with “actual malice;” knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not. • 1967: Supreme Court said that public figures, in addition to public officials, also have to show actual malice to recover libel damages. Bottom line: More protection from libel action if plaintiff is a public person.

33. Libel in cyberspace • Distributor vs. publisher • 1996: Communications Decency Act • Protects online service providers from liability for publication of defamatory material

34. Checklist for dealing with libel • Be aggressive – but don’t take foolish risks • Be fair – keep an open mind • Seek advice if you are unsure of your turf

35. Journalism Ethics • “But I thought you were . . .” • When a source doesn't know you are a reporter • http://journalism.indiana.edu/resources/ethics/handling-sources/but-i-thought-you-were/

38. Out-of-Class Assignments • Due today: News Release rewrites! • Email: lkragnes@d.umn.edu • Due April 14: Red Lake Cartoon Reaction article

39. In-Class Assignment • Editing classmate story • Make changes, give to reporter • Editing form returned to me: Worth 5 points • Rewrite sports stories • Using all of the editing suggestions, rewrite/edit your story • Email final copy to: lkragnes@d.umn.edu • Worth 5 points • Stories will be posted on class website

40. Egradebook • Doublecheck assignments correct in egradebook: • http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook If grading tonight: 215 and above: A 190-214: B 165-189: C 140-164: D Less than 140: F

41. Portfolio • Store academic information on your Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100 mb of storage. • Access Electronic Portfolio at: https://portfolio.umn.edu/portfolio/index.jsp