Crime and punishment * obituaries

1. Hofstra University * Professor Vaccaro * JRNL 11 Crime and punishment*obituaries

2. Today’s roadmap • AP Style Quiz • Lecture on crime and punishment reporting • Lecture on obituaries • Go over Assignment No. 3

3. The basics • Police reporters cover vast array of news • Breaking stories • Features • Interpretative articles • Investigative reporting

4. The basics • Police reporting comes with • Crime • Accidents • Fires • Departmental activity • Departmental integrity • Other law enforcement agencies

5. The basics • Access • Police issues office press pass • Police provide access to crime reports • Names • Generally only used when someone is charged • Police blotters list all people arrested (though not formally charged) • Wording of stories • *Innocent until proven guilty • Attribution • Attribute all accusatory sentences and info

6. Things to think about • Victims: Get all names, ages, hometowns, info, etc. • Suspects: Names, ages, addresses • Cause of fatalities or injuries • Location of incident • Time of incident • What happened- the details • Arrests and charges filed • Eyewitness accounts • Play detective – think in their shoes

7. Homicide checklist • Lots of questions to ask … • Victim, identification • Time, date, place of death • Weapon used, where was it obtained? • Official cause of death or authoritative comment • Who discovered body • Clues; any identification of slayer • Police comments, motivation for crime • Comments from neighbors/friends • Any police record for victim; any connection with criminal activity • Consequences to victim’s family, others

8. Motor Vehicle Accidents • Speed, destination, and directions of vehicles and exact location at the time of the accident • Cause of accident, arrests, citations, damages • Victims’ use of required equipment, such as seat belts and bicycle or motorcycle helmets • Weather-related info • Alcohol-or-drug info • Rescue attempts • Hospital, end location of victim(s)

9. Burglaries and robberies • What was taken and the value of the goods? • Types of weapons used • How entry was made • Similar circumstances, and or odd conditions

10. Fires • Time fire started, time fire companies arrived, time it took to put out fire • Number of companies responding • Deaths, injuries, victims • Cause of the fire • Who discovered the fire, extent of the damage, insurance coverage • Smoke detector condition • Fire inspective record

11. Cautions • Double check everything … you can never be too sure. It’s sensitive material. • Juvenile records … usually are sealed and generally the press shy away from using this information for young offenders. • *Innocent until proven guilty

12. Other coverage notes • Campus crime • Check with university relations • Check with public safety • Remember they’re your peers • Fires • Find officer/chief/fire marshal in charge for comment • Stand behind fire lines for your safety • Courts and trials • Follow security protocols • Check if you’re allowed to have a phone or camera

13. Obituaries • Before interviews: do your homework and background checks • Make it lively, not dull and boring • Things to include … • Name – full name, with initials • Identification • Describe this person’s life in one brief phrase • The lead starts with that brief summary about their life/interests/impact • Age • Date and place of death • Cause of death (not always required) • Address: Hometown of person when they died

14. Obituaries • Background • Accomplishments, organizations, educational background, military background, major interests • Survivors • Names of immediate family members • Grandchildren mentioned by number • “He was survived by five grandchildren.” • Services • Specify time, date, location • Burial • Name of place and memorial info

15. Obituary structure 1 • NAME / ANNOUNCEMENT • Full name of the deceased, including nickname, if any • Age at death • Residence (for example, the name of the city) at death • Day and date of death (remember to include the year) • Place of death • Cause of death

16. Obituary structure 2 •  LIFE • Date of birth  • Place of birth • Names of parents • Childhood: siblings, stories, schools, friends • Marriage(s): date of, place, name of spouse • Education: school, college, university and other • Designations, awards, and other recognition • Employment: jobs, activities, stories, colleagues, satisfactions, promotions, union activities, frustrations,  • Places of residence • Hobbies, sports, interests, activities, and other enjoyment • Charitable, religious, fraternal, political, and other affiliations; positions held • Achievements • Disappointments • Unusual attributes, humour, other stories

17. Obituary structure 3 •  FAMILY • Survived by (and place of residence): • Spouse • Children (in order of date of birth, and their spouses) • Grandchildren • Great-grandchildren • Great-great-grandchildren • Parents • Grandparents • Siblings (in order of date of birth) • Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws • Friends • Pets (if appropriate) • Predeceased by (and date of death): • Spouse • Children (in order of date of birth) • Grandchildren • Siblings (in order of date of birth) • Others, such as nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws • Pets (if appropriate)

18. Obituary structure 4 • SERVICE • Day, date, time, place • Name of officiant, pallbearers, honorary pallbearers, other information • Visitation information if applicable: day, date, time, place • Reception information if applicable: day, date, time, place • Other memorial, vigil, or graveside services if applicable: day, date, time, place • Place of interment • Name of funeral home in charge of arrangements • Where to call for more information (even if no service planned)

19. Obituary structure 5 •  END • Memorial funds established • Memorial donation suggestions, including addresses • Thank you to people, groups, or institutions • Quotation or poem  • Three words that sum up the life

20. Assignment No. 3 • Gather info from news clips, magazines, online sources about a celebrity or prominent person who is STILL alive. • Write an obituary of 400 words • Include comments the person has made and comments about the person • Due Tuesday, Nov. 20! [Next class]

21. Next class • Tuesday, Nov. 20 • Assignment No. 3 is due • Lecture on profile/feature writing