Journalism Blog- Week 14

Chapter 14- Ethical Journalism

1. In this situation I would go out for the dinner and politely but firmly tell the source that I must pay for my own way in order to conduct my work ethically. There would no problem in this situation if the journalist paid their way and the source payed their, it is merely dinner. I would let the editor or my supervisors know where I am going, what I am going for and what I hope to achieve through the meeting, therefore they are aware of the situation.
2. I would write the story the way I feel the trip went. I wouldn't be concerned about losing future free trips from the same airline, especially if I had just experienced an awful trip (regardless of cost!). I would have to consult my editor regarding the consequences of a negative review in relations to losing the advertising contract. The power of advertising might just overcome my negative review. I would let the editor decide, but if it was up to me I would write a negative report!
3. I would admit the mistake and write an apology instead of taking a new angle. As a journalist, it is unacceptable to report inaccurately. I would tell the source of my concerns and if I lost the pay rise, it is my own fault in the first place!
4. Considering that your loyalties as a journalist lie with your employer, I would run the story. Though the girl’s situation is heartbreaking and will undoubtedly change her life forever, she committed the crime and should be responsible for her actions. This may sound cold hearted, but it must be considered if she would in fact feel the same desperation if she hadn’t have been court for her offences. This situation was only brought about by her misconduct and the journalist is not a councillor, all I could do is offer any assistance I can, but tell the girl I have to run the story because it’s my job to do so.

• FEATURE ARTICLE

When sorry seems to be the hardest word to print By Kendyl Salcito

http://www.journalismethics.ca/feature_articles/sorry_hard_to_print.htm

• What is global journalism ethics?Global journalism ethics aims at developing a comprehensive set of principles and standards for the practice of journalism in an age of global news media. New forms of communication are reshaping the practice of a once parochial craft serving a local, regional or national public. Today, news media use communication technology to gather text, video and images from around the world, with unprecedented speed and varying degrees of editorial control. The same technology allows news media to disseminate this information to audiences scattered around the globe. Despite these global trends, most codes of ethics contain standards for news organizations or associations in specific countries. International associations of journalists exist, and some have constructed declarations of principle. But no global code has been adopted by all major journalism associations and news organizations. In addition to statements of principle, more work needs to be done on the equally important area of specific, practice guidelines for covering international events.An adequate global journalism ethics has yet to be constructed.

A great website for all the questions/answers about journalism ethics is:

http://www.journalismethics.ca/index.htm

Journalism Blog- Week 13

Chapter 17- Perils of Defamation

1. Although legal fees would be a long and painful expenditure, I would stand by the decision to go to court. If she decided to sue then she sues. I think an apology is enough. If someone can't accept an apology then that is their own problem. I have never seen a full page apology and I can't imagine it would look very good in a credible newspaper. In fact, publishing the feature story would tarnish the newspapers reputation for accuracy.
2. No I wouldn't support it. Everyone, including public figures have and should have the right to defend themselves, and sue if need be, in the case of defamation. The media should not have the power to limit the rights of others.
3. I would say I would reveal her identity. At least in this way you have a defence on why you wrote the alleged 'defamed' part. The source should be accountable for giving false information to the media. If she has run away, then clearly she knows you would want to contact her. For legal purposes, I feel the identity must be revealed.

To limit exposure to defamation action and to provide protection if an action is initiated, the most common-sense approach is to work as though your articles will be published in the jurisdiction with the most stringent defamation laws. That approach will cover you if stories are run nationally or put on the web. Always ensure comment is fair and based on facts. Always strive for balance and accuracy.

Defamation Checklist- Journalists should:

• Never make assumptions and never guess anything.
• Take clear, accurate notes. Where possible, record interviews and note date and time.
• Never argue with someone being interviewed. Claims of malice might later be made. If someone attempts to engage in an arguement and it involves a sensitive story that might attract a writ, make notes of the conversation as quickly as possible, date them and have an idependent person sign them.
• Ensure every side of an issue is sought. Strive for balance from the top to the bottom of the story. Readers should not be able to work out what a reporter thinks from reading a story.
• Get primary documentary evidence wherever possible.
• Handle complaints with care. Do not make any confessions or admissions. Discuss the matter with the editor or chief-of-staff.
• If someone refused to return telephone calls, ensure careful records are kept to show these attempts were made. Make a note of the date and time each call was made and note the name and position of the person who took the call. In difficult cases also send emails seeking an interview, keep copies of them. This will provide a record to help protect a reporter accused of failing to seek balancing comment.
• Be mindful that a process of 'discovery' in a lawsuit means you may be asked to produce notebooks, tape recordings, letters and other documents. Ensure that not only are your records are in good order, but also that you have not recorded the names or other contact details of any confidential sources whose identities you have agreed to protect.
• Check and double-chech spelling of names, and that dates, times, numbers, ages and titles are correct.

Journalism Blog- Week 13

Chapter 13- Online news

1. Media companies need to ensure that the journalists working for them are properly prepared to be able to multi-skill and work across multiple mediums. What is the point of employing convergence if your journalists are merely producing average work across several mediums, when it may be more beneficial to the reputation of the company for the journalists to produce outstanding work in one medium? Indeed the quality of the work may be better if only one medium is utilised. The company must weigh up what is more important to them in terms of reputation, quality, efficiency and the type of journalist they want in their company before expecting their news room to become converged.
2. If the person concerned refused to work on both mediums, I would suggest that their chances of staying with the company would have taken a severe dive. Many journalists and indeed journalism students of the future are becoming more multi-skilled and efficient working across mediums. The basic news values and essence of journalism remain no matter what medium is being used to communicate the message; it is the delivery and type of language that must be flexible. Several courses may be offered in the TAFE system, specific colleges and universities that the journalist in question should be able to take in order to gain confidence across both mediums.
3. No, I don’t think convergence is just a fad, I think it is the way of the future for not only journalism but for many other careers as well. New ways of communication are continuously being established and news media must keep up to date with these in order to reach the maximum amount of people. In saying that, however, I do believe that traditional news mediums such as newspaper and radio still have significance and considerable worth in the modern media climate.
4. Australia's media is already dominated by three main owners : Fairfax, Packer’s Nine network and News Corp. They already have the power to inject their own agendas in media programs, and I think if the laws were relaxed, non commercialised media and alternative programs will be eliminated all together.
5. I think the future of radio, television and the web may be similar to the way it is now. The radio has the advantage of constant, portable news updates and headlines that may be consumed whilst completely another task. The internet similarly possesses the advantage of speed and constant updates, however is more restrictive in the manner in which it may be consumed. For example, I can listen to the radio all day whilst I am driving to different locations, but may only get on the internet a few times during the day via a computer or mobile phone. So whilst the radio maybe perceived as a more traditional method of communication, it continues to have a place in news media. The internet is obviously becoming more popular amongst media organisations but is limited in some respects in that there is so much information available, it can be difficult to find relevant and/or factual news. I believe television will always have a significant place in media as its methods of showing news through pictures combines the modern audiences need of visuals and explanations.
6. Yes, I think it should be. The media environment is becoming increasingly multi-dimensional and it would hold journalism is good stead to be able to show a potential employer that they are confident, skilled and efficient in a variety of tasks crossing numerous news mediums. Even if, as a journalist, students are only required to report in one area, it is no harm to possess the relevant skills to branch off into other areas. Being prepared for multiple mediums can only be a good thing for journalism students.
7. Yes I believe society is already at that point. There are so many things we couldn't do without it. Take applying and getting into university for example! And our reliance on the blackboard website. The internet provides an easy alternative for communication and we can communicate with people all over the world. We can access news from all over the world, watch video clips, share files. I think it is such an integral part of our lives these days. We are a society dependant on technology.

Things I found interesting this week-

http://www.journalismethics.ca/online_journalism_ethics/speed_and_accuracy.htm

An opinion on Online news -

One of the greatest benefits of online journalism is its ability to reach millions of people almost instantaneously. But the pressure to keep news current – online within minutes of an event’s occurrence – can jeopardize the accurate reportingof even the most ethically-conscious journalist. Furthermore, the proliferation of news outlets – bloggers by the millions, of course, but also cable television, satellite television, web sites, and web broadcasts – has resulted in a multi-media race to get “the” story 24 hours a day. As the pace intensifies, so does the pressure to cut corners.

Journalism Blog- Week 12

Chapter 12- Broadcast Journalism

1. No I don't think it should be privatised. The ABC is the only free to air non-commercialised channel and without it I think television coverage will become standardised and bland. If the ABC was privatised then whoever owned it could set their own agenda. The textbook says "a poll in 2004 revealed the ABC was the second most trusted organisation in Australia." If it was privatised the ABC would become just another channel.
2. You should really hire on skill and experience, but you should also look at the current staff and maybe an extra male is needed to balance out the gender difference. It sounds terrible, and I usually don’t agree with things like this, but, honestly, you really need decent looking television reporters because this is the ‘face’ of your station. Thus I would probably hire the male. It does say two ‘strong’ job applications. Age is also another factor here. Although 38 is not ‘old’, a 28 year old could possibly be better suited to the position, especially if it meant on camera work.
3. This is a tough question, as each medium has positive qualities different from one another. I think I would have to say web, due to its interactive nature, which could give it the ‘edge’ on being the best communicator. The web allows for audience feedback and efficient, up to date news with the click of a mouse. I would then say radio and television. Radio because of its efficiency and speed of getting news out there and television because of its visual advantages. Newspapers are still a strong communicator, but in today’s technologically advanced world, a newspaper has to wait until the next day to get news out there.
4. Looking at the current federal election campaign so far, I think the media are focusing on the political issues of each party, but they are also giving particular attention to polls which show the preferred PM. It is usually Kevin Rudd. Thus, it could be argued that the media are focusing heavily on personalities of John Howard and Kevin Rudd, as I believe many voters want a change from Howard and want to see him gone.

These are a few points I found interesting in this weeks reading-

• A television news story may have a 20-second minimum but a maximum of 2 mins. Broadcast journalists must be more disciplined writers.
  

The Free TV Australia code-

• News and current affairs programs should be presented accurately and fairly
• News and current affairs programs should be presented with care, having regard to the likely composition of the viewing audience and in particular, the presence of children
• News and current affairs should take account of personal privacy and of cultural differences in the community
• News is to be presented impartially

The ACMA and industry codes of practice have no policies releating to one of the media industry's most controversial, commercially driven practices: checkbook journalism. Reading this shocked me. I think it devalues good journalism as those who end up with the story are the ones who can outbid the rest.

Key broadcast definitions-

• Voicer- This is what reporters write and speak themselves (voice-over). Usually around 30sec and from either a news event or in the studio.
• Actuality-This represents the 'actual' voice of the interviewee and/or natural sounds from a news event. Can last from 10-30secs.
• Grab-This is a comment from an interviewee ('soundbite' or 'talking head').
• Lead-This is the first paragrapgh of a reporter-scripted statement that set up the actuality or grab. It may identify and establish a context for the ensuing comments.
• Reader copy- A script read by the presenter.
• Talent-those being interviewed.
• Throw-The newsreader briefly introducing the reporter to the listener, or the reporter introducing an interview. It is related to the lead.
• Sign-off- 'tag'- completes the package with reporters giving their name and location.
• Worder-3 paragraphs, read by the newsreader, with no accompanying story visuals.
• Wrap-two or more stories packaged together. It is a voicer that may include one or more actualities as well as a studio-based intro. Usually around 45secs.

Journalism Blog- Week 11

Chapter 11- Reporting for duty

1. This is yet another moral dilemma I would have trouble dealing with if I was placed in this situation. I believe this is a form of blackmail on the part of the policeman who said that no one would speak to me if our newspaper ran the story. However, I would have to listen to the advice (or orders) given by the chief-of-staff, as he is most senior and I would want to do what was correct by his standards. Although, in saying this, I would want to express my views and facts to the chief on the conversation had by myself and the policeman and inform him of this blackmail. But ultimately, I would respond in whatever way my boss wanted me to, even thought I know the events of the situation are wrong and unjust.
2. I would keep the story to myself. I couldn't handle having something like that on my conscience if she had committed suicide. It would be like risking her life for the sake of a story. Since the crime wasn't too severe I can't see how it would affect public interest if I didn't notify my newspaper. If possible, I would try and offer the lady help and point her towards a professional counsellor.
3. I would write the story. Celebrity cases such as these are very common these days! Just think of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Nicole Ritchie. Ofcourse people will make a big deal about the case for a couple of days but I can't see a story such as this destroying a career. As fabulous as money and a free holiday sound, I wouldn't give in to bribery.
4. I would report on the story mentioned in the question. If a juror feels comfortable to confide something like this in me, then he/she will probably be seeking justice. I would report on corrupt officers and the jurors as although the police in this case are corrupt, the media are not. It would be my responsibility to act as the fourth estate and it is definately in the publics interest to be informed about this case. As the textbook says, “a major omission is that we don’t report and analyse our justice system very well.” (pg. 251)

I found these points should be mentioned-

• If journalists accept the responsibility of informing the public they must first accept the importance of being well informed themselves. They should develop both general and specific knowledge from a wide variety of sources.
  The contact book, more than any other single object, represents everything and everyone a journalist knows on a professional basis. It is known as the ‘journalist’s bible’. It is extremely important to have in order to receive information about potential stories or even to investigate current stories further.
• Journalist’s other ‘assets’ should include-
  · Computer skills that include an ability to touch type
  · Shorthand to a minimum of 120 words per min
  · Knowledge of newspaper’s often complex telephone system
  · Access to a personal filing cabinet for ready access to reports and files containing articles you have clipped from newspapers and magazines relating to your particular round
  · A small radio with an earpiece or headphones to monitor news bulletins
  · A portable computer
  
• Good journalists learn to be flexible and manage their time and tempers throughout the news-gathering and writing process. Strategies are-
  Politely ending an interview that has outlived its usefulness
  Using the telephone as much as possible when pushed for time, as opposed to in-person interviews.
• Avoiding too much reliance on sound recorders, which can involve time consuming transcriptions and hunting backwards and forwards through an interview for direct quotes
• Asking each source, at some time during and interview, where he or she will be in the next few hours in case further contact needs to be made.
  
  It is important to know all Contempt of Court laws!!! A new court reporter will need to learn the rules of evidence, court etiquette, and the law and policy on the availability of court documents. A good relationship with police and prosecutors is necessary.

Journalism Blog- Week 10

Chapter 10- The story factory

1. Journalism is a hard industry in terms of ethical decisions. Should a journalist’s loyalty reside in the person that is providing them with the information, their employer or the public? Certainly it should always be in their reader’s best interest. If it is more relevant to publish the article a day later in terms of the newsworthy value of time than I publish it a day later. If it was a source that is constantly being used or is someone like the Police than I would also publish it a day later, if however, it is information that needs to be published straight away than I would disregard their request.
2. It is important that the public is made aware of the situation. I would run the story as it is in the publics interest, however I would do a follow up story on the workers who could lose their jobs. It is a difficult situation but you must remember that as a journalist you need to report the news and not let personal emotions get in the way. It is not the public relations practitioners role to dictate what a journalist includes in a story, so while they are a valid source, I would not listen to them about bad publicity.
3. This is difficult. As sub-editor it is your responsibility for any misrepresentations made by the paper. The excuse 'he sounded drunk' is not plausible if you make the wrong decision. I am honestly not sure what I would do. You could pull the story out all together... but then what makes front page? If you pull it out every other media outlet might cover it except you. If you leave it in and the 'so called' solicitor was telling the truth, the legal consequences of including the name could be huge.
4. I would write from the angle the editor suggests. They are senior in this argument and I wouldn't risk losing my job over something like this. I do understand that the police rounds officer is very experienced and would know the situation better than the editor might, but the editor chooses what gets published.

Here are a few things I thought were worth mentioning from the text-

• News organisation’s are assigning print, audio, web and video journalists to a story to provide output for radio, television, print and online. More journalists every year are realising the importance of multi-skilling and advanced computer training.

The Four-point Conley-Lamble Axiom of News-Gathering says:

1. The difficulty factor in news-gathering is proportional to its value.
2. The difficulty factor in news-gathering is proportional to a source’s determination to hide something.
3. The absence of difficulty in news-gathering is a hint that someone is selling something or wants something.
4. There really is no such thing as a free lunch. People who offer incentives or make threats in a bid to have a story published, or not, never have the public interest at heart.

• Australian journalists are facing major challenges to maintain quality against a backdrop of declining resources and an increasingly sophisticated public relations industry (Dickie 1999, p.21).
• 86% of journalists reported very frequent contact with PR practitioners and 31% of news stories were based ‘wholly or partly’ on media releases (p.214 textbook- survey).

The news hierarchy-

1. managing editor, or editor-in-chief
2. editor
3. deputy editor or associate editor
4. news editor
5. chief-of-staff, chief sub-editor, chief photographer/photo editor
6. journalists, sub-editors, photographers/artists

• The chief-of-staff is like a gatekeeper. They control the information received from the public and decide what stories should be followed/given to reporters or journalists.

Journalism Blog- Week 9

Chapter 15- Computer Assisted Reporting

1. As a journalist fresh out of university, it would be important to get a job that is going to last a while. I would take the weekly newspaper job as job opportunities are very competitive and if the other job falls through there is no guarantee that I would automatically get a job! I wouldn't worry too much about the pay because the value of the experience gained in an environment such as the newspaper is priceless!
2. I would conduct the interview regardless as although an email interview is not ideal, any information from the main source is helpful! As the journalist it seems your hands are tied in this situation!
3. This is unacceptable. I would raise my concerns with the editor or sub editor. Situations such as these must never happen. Plagiarism is such a huge ethical issue in journalism and shouldn't be ignored.
4. This situation has the potential to be extremely dangerous. I would not go and meet the mystery person. The fact they are on the run alone is enough to suggest illegitimacy with very little credibility! I would question informing the police about the meeting place and give them the email address.
5. I would do as much research as I could. Are these sites reliable? I would look into the six different publishers and the people who conducted the interview. Sometimes it is easy to recognise a source that is not reliable or academic, such as wikipedia.

A few things that I thought were interesting from this chapter were:

• CAR has revolutionalised news-gathering since mid 1990s. It offers journalists access to databases and other online information sources which were previously either unavailable, or whose release depends on the whim of public servants, media minders or politicians.
• Basic CAR includes email, discussion lists and using simple search tools. Intermediare CAR involves precision use of search tools, bookmarks, and assembling simple spreadsheets. Investigative CAR includes creating and analysing databases and spreadsheets, merging databases.
• The most important skills to acquire in relation to CAR are learning to know where to look.how to look and to develop an ability to assess the legitimacy or otherwise of what is found.
• Verifying online information is essential. The need to protect yourself is a big part of Journalism due to new defamation legislation.
• Government websites are great sources of valuable info. From them you may find dites within sites which is refered to as the 'hidden web'.