Week 8 Abstracts

The Maynard Institute’s Newsroom Diversity Game

In this game, participants must pretend they are editors of a midsize daily newspaper whose goal is to bring staff diversity on par with diversity in the surrounding community by making a series of decisions. More points were awarded for the “best” decisions.

One scenario was that a managing editor position becomes vacant. We could choose between promoting the qualified white editor who already works at the paper, promoting the most ready minority editor who works at the paper, or conducting a nationwide search for the most qualified minority editor. According to the game, the best answer was to conduct a nationwide search, and the second-best answer was to promote the white editor.

I had chosen to promote the white editor first because I could imagine if I were in the white editor’s shoes. If I had put in my time at the paper and saw myself as a qualified for a vacant position, I would be offended if the paper conducted a nationwide search for someone else based solely on the color of their skin. If the paper conducted a search, it should be willing to hire the most qualified person, period.

Readers flummoxed by runaway headlines (2005)

This short article laments the ease with which copy editors fall into the habit of leaning on puns as crutches for headlines in a deadline crunch. The writer says there should be a two-pun maximum per section of the paper. While puns are easy fall-backs, he says the most memorable headline he ever read was “Police flummoxed by writhing raccoon,” a pun-less headline full of intrigue.

The article gave very little advice for creating good headlines other than avoiding unnecessary puns. It mentions that some stories with amazing headlines are disappointingly devoid of substance.

This article reminds me of a problem I have faced at work as a news editor. I will sometimes assign a story and work with a writer over several weeks to get it just right, only to see the story run in the paper under an inaccurate or misleading headline. I think it’s important for copy editors to read the story several times, if necessary, to get the facts straight before writing a headline. One suggestion for avoiding this inaccuracy is for editors to write a suggested headline on the story before sending it on to the copy desk. That way, the copy editor can get an idea of what the editor thinks is important about the story.

Newspapers search for Web headline magic (2007)

This article discusses techniques that online papers use for search engine optimization, or making sure that the search engine Web crawlers find their stories. Because of SEO, many clever or provocative headlines may have to be eschewed in favor of more boring but keyword-rich heads that tell explicitly what stories are about. While some papers have made major education initiatives to teach copy editors the art of SEO, the payoff, in the form of Web hits, can be huge.

In the words of The Poynter Institute’s Howard Finberg, who was quoted in the article, “How do you get eye-catching, interesting headlines that make people want to click but at the same time are relevant to search engines, which are nothing but dumb robots going around looking for keywords?” The answer, offered in the article, is to write longer headlines that offer more information while also grabbing reader’s attention.

In my experience with online journalism, I have found that the key to SEO is to include as many keywords as possible in the metadata at the top of a Web page, not necessarily in the page’s content itself. The article hints to this as well. For the coffee company story cited in the article, the metadata for the Web page would include words like “coffee” and “Starbucks.” Thus, Web crawlers would find the story regardless of the headline.

Pardon the puns: E-N headline writers told to play it straight (2006)

After a record nine pun headlines appeared on one day in the Express-News, editor Robert Rivard enacted a ban on puns. His complaint was that using puns often limits copy editors’ ability to be accurate and to reflect the tone of the story. With puns, stories are often inaccurately reflected in too lighthearted a way. (For example: “Border violence kills tourism.”) While puns can be accurate and appropriate, the all-out ban was intended to make copy editors think more carefully about headlines in general.

Like I said in my earlier abstract, I think headline writers should definitely be more careful to be both accurate and appropriate. I have experience as a copy editor, so I can appreciate the time and space constraints faced by copy editors as they work under a deadline. However, as a newspaper reader, editor and writer, I think copy editors should go beyond merely clever heds if they do not tell what is truly in the story. I support Rivard’s decision to ban puns on this premise.

For example, I recently edited a story about proposed legislation that would create a searchable Web site listing domestic violence offenders, similar to a sex offender database. I was quite unnerved to see the story in the paper the following day under the headline “Web site offers background check.” This headline implies the Web site already exists, which could seriously mislead readers, many of whom just scan the paper for pertinent information before tossing it aside.

Now, five days after the story ran in print, I can still find the offending headline in an online search of the newspaper’s Web site. This brings up another issue: Bad headlines live forever on the Web. That is, unless someone changes them. I think Web editors should encourage their staffs to revise past headlines that are inaccurate.

Story idea:

In national political campaign news, Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign aides have accused the Hillary Clinton campaign of circulating a photograph of him, wearing traditional Kenyan garb, including a white turban on his head. Clinton’s aides have responded by saying that Obama should be ashamed to view the photograph as a bad reflection on himself because wearing the Kenyan outfit is nothing shameful.

My story would include UF students’ reactions to the accusations, but only as a lifting-off point for a greater discussion on presidential campaign propaganda. I would start by interviewing the presidents of campus student groups that support Obama and Clinton to get responses to the latest smear campaign allegations. Then, I would talk to average students with no requisite level of political involvement to find out if they are influenced by political candidates on both ends of the political spectrum talking badly about their opponents. Particularly, do students receive e-mails bashing one candidate or another? Do they read negative comments made by candidates about other candidates and become confused? How do they sort through all of the campaign rhetoric and know whom to support?

I would also interview Dr. Linda Lee Kaid of the UF College of Journalism and Communications because she has done extensive research on televised political ads. I would ask her what percentage of advertisements are attack ads, as opposed to positive stance ads.

Week 7 Abstracts

How Do You Photograph the Amish? Let Us Count the Ways 

This article examined the approaches of several photographers following the murder of five young Amish girls in a Pennsylvania school. The assignment was more seen as more challenging than a typical grief situation because the Amish’s religious beliefs prohibit their photographs from being taken. Some photographers, especially local ones who may have to encounter their subjects again, asked permission each time they wanted a shot. Others shot first and asked permission second. Still others shot indiscriminately with the justification that they were on public land and thus had the right to photograph anyone else on public land.

 

I agree with LA Times photographer Carolyn Cole, who said she found another way to communicate the story without violating people’s beliefs and wishes, whenever possible. She said that even though she might get some professional criticism for passing up great photo opportunities, she put more value on telling the story sensitively.

 

Most photographers quoted in the article echoed the similar idea that even when there is a blanket prohibition on photographer, as there is with religious Amish people, the true test comes on a case-by-case and person-by-person basis. Each photographer said that very few people asked directly not to be photographed. This may be because police kept the media at a considerable, unobtrusive distance. But even in cases where the photographers talked with the people ahead of time, many understood that they were part of a news situation and thus were open to photography.

 

This brings up the question of whether a “news situation” warrants insensitivity toward another culture’s religious and traditional beliefs. What if, for instance, the Amish not only believed photography was a sin but also that it steals one’s soul? Would photographers still shoot first, ask later? Or not ask at all? I think the bottom line to remember is that the subjects are still people, and the rule of thumb should be to always ask permission before shooting openly. 

About Those Photos of Little Girls and Artillery Shells … 

This article discusses a couple of AP photos of Israeli little girls doodling on artillery shells that were bound for bordering Lebanon shortly after. The photos got much play in newspapers and blogs around the world. Some commentators used the pictures to rally around anti-Israeli sentiment. Other editors picked up the photos, presumably, because of their powerful juxtaposition of innocence with combat.

 

The Columbia Journalism Review asks editors to consider not only the emotional impact a photo has but also its ability to convey the context of a story. To do so, it contacted another photographer who had been at the scene of the controversial photographs. She said the girls and their parents had just emerged from days in an underground bomb shelter while shells crached overhead. A new army unit had come to town, and the dazed and scared group of people had gathered around the artillery, joined by no less than 12 photographers, poised to capture the perfect shot.

 

These are the contextual details that are lost when a photo gets picked up to accompany a larger, less related story. I think it is important for editors to treat sensitive photos like this as their own story: They should question not only the accuracy of the photo but also the truthfulness. In other words, an editor can believe that the photo was taken when and where the caption says it was taken, but how much truth about the surrounding situation do these impersonal details convey?

 Readers question use of Lexington, Ky., crime scene photo 

After a young woman and mother of six was murdered, a Lexington paper ran a photo of a law enforcement officer photographing the dead body. The photo showed only the woman’s ankles and feet, still wearing sneakers. Readers wondered whether the photo was disrespectful to the dead woman and to her family and friends. They also wondered whether the photo would have run if the woman were a well-to-do white woman instead of a poor, minority drug user from a bad part of town.

Editors at the paper argued that since the murder was the latest in string of three over the past several months, the photo was a good visual reminder of the seriousness of crime. They said that sometimes, an impactful image speaks much louder than any story and that it’s just the jolt readers need to understand.

 

I think that images can be a great tool for conveying the horror of a situation, whether the situation is an isolated incident or a trend. However, I do not think the paper’s decision to run this particular photo in any way contributes to a solution for violence in the community. If the editor’s goal is to get readers to act or think differently in a way that will positively affect crime, I do not think running a picture of one dead body will accomplish the goal. If the accompanying news story is like most, it gave an accurate account of the body’s discovery—nothing more, nothing less. It would not give reasons for the string of crimes, nor would it offer solutions. Therefore, I do not think running a graphic photo is a substitution for a true analysis of the causes of crime.

 Story Idea: Woman of the Year 

UF’s deadline to apply to be Woman of the Year is March 3. I propose talking to Rachel Ebert of the Women’s Leadership Council to find out what makes a great candidate for the award. Last year’s winner, Adelle Fontanet, would make a great source as well. The story would give the history of the award and would profile a few of the past recipients. Mainly, though, it would be a great guide for UF women who want to apply and think they’re a great candidate. It would also give tips for those top five who go on to the interview portion of the application process. What are the judges really looking for?

 The online component would give profiles of winners of the award in recent years, and, depending on the award’s history, from long ago. It would include photos of each recipient, a list of their accomplishments while at UF, and what they’ve been doing since they graduated. If the award has been given only once before, this online component could be equally effective with the one former winner, Adelle Fontanet.  

Politainment

It’s nothing new to say that the media should focus less on politicains’ images and more on their issues, I’m sure. But I was particularly bewildered lately at the amount of coverage the presidential candidates receive on television’s evening entertainment shows, like “Entertainment Tonight.” A few weeks ago, one of the shows followed Hillary and Chelsea Clinton to a campaign rally, at which “Ugly Betty” star America Ferrara endorsed Clinton publicly.  Then, last night, a similar show (it may have been the same one–who can tell them apart?) ran a segment on Sen. Barack Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, calling her “glamorous” and comparing her good looks to Jackie Kennedy’s. 

I think voters have a hard enough time sifting through the rhetoric to understand the truth about politics without entertainment programs like this making them into fashion segments.  

Week 6 Abstracts

Word Watch: Allegedly Innocent Suspects:  

This article drills in some of the points made by both Dr. Rodgers and professor Ed Weston in his pubic affairs reporting class. A discussion of what language to avoid when reporting on crime is always helpful because the errors are so common in rough copy and in final drafts that make it online or in print. I never really understood the distinction between “suspect” and “criminal” until this article so clearly illuminated it for me. I especially like the part where it states that suspects may not necessarily be the criminals sought for a crime, and the criminals may be lucky enough to never be a suspect in a crime they committed. Therefore, reporters must be extremely careful to make the distinction before submitting their copy.

I also like the point raised about using the word “allegedly.” The point is to think about who is doing the alleging and to attribute to that person whenever possible. If you don’t know who is alleging a fact, then you probably have more reporting to do before you can start writing your story.

 Abortion Distortions 

This article disproves arguments made by senators of opposing ideologies about the effect of Roe v. Wade on crime, suicide and deaths resulting from illegal abortions. Using statistics from the FBI, the authors show that claims by both sides are based on data that is either out of date or non-verifiable.

The lesson for journalists here is that when you talk to an “official” source, such as a U.S. Senator, don’t take any statistics or claims they spout off at face value. Ask the source, “How do you know?” Also, dig around for yourself, verify the stats with your own eyes. It is not our job as journalists to repeat whatever sources say without question. We must hold them accountable for the information they are trying to disseminate to the public. Remember, our first duty is to the reader.

 What the Mainstream Media Can Learn From Jon Stewart 

This article examines the success of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” a news satire program, and asks if mainstream journalists might be able to extrapolate some rules for success that might apply to more “objective” and “balanced” news. While no one says “The Daily Show” is a purely balanced program, some sources quoted in the article say that it is a more balanced presentation of news because it questions the politicians who say things instead of regurgitating their statements to the public. This technique is applied by other television newscasters as well, the article states, but their goal is truth telling, not humor. As these other newscasters have learned, I think what Jon Stewart has mastered is the art of exposing hypocrisy. usually by using video clips of politicians contradicting what they said in earlier clips. If regular journalists used such a powerful BS-meter, the public would benefit from the illumination.

Week 5 Abstracts

“Calling for Back-up” (2005)  

The main point of this Boston Globe article is that op-ed writers are often not held to the same rigorous standards as general assignment reporters when it comes to backing up assertions with hard evidence. The author cites a couple of high-profile examples of columns that seemed to make broad assertions while giving little idea of where the writer learned such “facts.”

I agree with the author’s suggestion that op-ed writers should include in brackets where they got their information so that editors can decide which assertions are truly valid. Chacón, the paper’s ombudsman, makes the point that op-ed writers are important arbiters of public opinion and the only writers at the paper who are allowed to draw conclusions in print. Therefore, their conclusions must be heavily sourced and completely defensible.

 “A Billion People Can Be Wrong” (2006)  

This article underscores the importance of checking the figures. In this case, “checking” does not merely mean running a few simple calculations to see if the sums match, but rather going back to the source to verify the truth of the figures.

While many news outlets report that a billion people will watch any given Super Bowl, a careful investigation of the facts revealed that the true viewing audience falls short by about 90 percent of that number. The gross misreporting is attributable to PR hype surrounding the game. What started out as a potential viewing audience of 1 billion becomes a guaranteed billion viewers as event promoters build a favorable buzz. Each news outlet that mimicked the inaccurate figure failed in its duty to verify the facts.

 “655,000 War Dead?” (2006)  

This article criticizes the methods used by a survey team from Johns Hopkins University that estimated the number of Iraqi civilian deaths at about four times greater than the figure arrived at by other similar studies. The author says that the sample size of respondents was much too small compared to the size of the Iraqi population and that surveyors failed to ask respondents any demographic information about themselves, precluding their ability to compare the respondents to the overall population.

The author warns that studies like this one have the potential to affect policy decisions for millions of people.  As editors, we should be aware of basic survey methods so as to evaluate the merit of survey results before printing them in our papers. I realize that deadline pressure may hinder our ability to thoroughly fact check; therefore, I would suggest imparting this knowledge to our reporters so that they can investigate methods while reporting on the results.  Case Study: “Violent Crime Increases in Gainesville”  

This story teaches us the value of knowing some basic math and knowing when to apply it. When you receive a story that is so full of figures and percentages, as this one is, first make sure that all numbers are both A. Necessary to the overall story and B. Well explained in context. For example, if the reporter says that the murder rate doubled, make sure he also mentions that it only doubled from one to two murders. Also, check all figures within the story against any accompanying charts or graphics. Finally, make sure any assertions in quotes are backed up by the accompanying figures. A “trend” is not really a trend unless you can back up your source’s assertions with hard statistics.