Transcript Written by Robert Haiman, president emeritus and distinguished

Week 12: Journalism 2001
November 28, 2005
Review of last week’s news
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Hard News:
– Major local stories
– Major national stories
– Major international stories
Announcements
Tonight: AP style quiz
 Last guest speaker next week:
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– Susan Latto, UMD Public Relations Director
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Journalism internship meeting:
– Wednesday, Nov. 30 at noon in Kirby 323
(across from the Dining Center)
– Attendance mandatory if you want academic
credit for your spring internship
Bob Nygaard story review
Another overall good job!
 Fewer style errors:
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Titles: When do you use Sports Information Director?
Months: When do you abbreviate?
Spelling
Internet
Attribution strongest after a quote
 Avoid stating question before a quote
 Quotes good: but need transitions
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The Sports Information Director for the University of
Minnesota-Duluth talked to journalism students on
Monday regarding his job and the changes in his
profession he has experienced.
The UMD Sports Information Director talked to a UMD
journalism clas about his job and his background in the
field of journalism on Nov. 21.
The Sports Information Director of UMD shared some of
his experiences and advice with UMD journalism
students Monday evening.
A UMD Sports Information Director and Duluth native
has found the internet to be a useful tool in promoting
and reporting on UMD Athletics.
Deadlines for major stories
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Speech/News Conference/Multicultural
Reporting Assignment
– Final article due today: November 28

Feature Story Assignment
– Story pitch due: Last week
– Final article due: December 12

Final Project Due: December 19
– Will review tonight
Feature story assignment
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Story pitch due: November 21
Final article due: Monday, December 12
Length: No more than 800-1,000 words
– Need at least three sources; list names, contact info at end of
story
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Possible points: 50
– Photographs: No set amount of extra points, but if you believe
digital photos would enhance your story, send them!
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Review:
– Chapter 9 on Features
– November 14 lecture
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Any challenges?
Chapter 26: Ethics and Fairness:
Responsibility to Society

The Fairness Movement
– American Society of Newspaper Editors:
Journalism Credibility Project
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Three-year, $1.2 million project: 1997-99
1998: Focusing on the problem
– Surveyed 3,000 Americans, 1,714 working journalists
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1999: Developing and testing solutions
Journalism Credibility Project
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Six major reasons credibility is declining:
1. Factual errors: spelling, grammar
2. Inconsistent respect and knowledge of
readers and their communities
3. Journalist bias influences stories
4. Sensational stories
5. Newsroom values conflict with priorities
6. Public who have experience with the news
process are the most critical of media
credibility
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Key findings of 1999 tracking research
– Fundamental public perceptions of credibility
haven’t changed
– Efforts to improve credibility are applauded.
– Errors can be forgiven, but confession is
required.
– Absent explanation, motives will be
presumed.
– For newspaper’s efforts to make any
difference, they must show in the pages of
the newspaper.
Best Practices for
Newspaper Journalists*
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Newspapers are unfair when:
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They get the facts wrong
They refuse to admit errors
They won’t name names
They have ignorant or incompetent reporters
They prey on the weak
They concentrate on bad news
They lack diversity
They allow editorial bias in news stories
They can’t admit that sometimes there’s no story
* Written by Robert Haiman, president emeritus and
distinguished editor in residence at the Poynter Institute;
Part of the The Freedom Forum Free Press/Fair Press
Project
The Media and the Public
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Criticism of the press
– Media Critics
– Ombudsmen: “middle person”
 Objective newspaper employee who listens to
complaint from readers and, when justified, passes
them on to the appropriate reporters or editors.
 Organization of News Ombudsmen
Code of Ethics
Associated Press Managing Editors
Association
 American Society of Newspaper Editors
 Society of Professional Journalists
 Associated Press Sports Editors
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Ethical Issues
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150 daily editors surveyed on ethical issues
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Fairness and objectivity
Misrepresentation by reporters
Economic pressure
Privacy versus the public’s right to know
Conflicts of interest
Anonymous sources
Gifts
Compassion versus policy
Journalistic arrogance
Ethical dilemmas

A reporter for a 15,000 circulation daily covers
city and county government. Each day, she
dutifully makes her rounds: the police
department, the county sheriff’s office, the clerk
of the court, the city engineer’s office, the city
clerk’s office, etc. During the holidays, three of
her regular sources give her gifts: a small box of
chocolates, a novel and an inexpensive pen and
pencil set. Should she accept the gifts?
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The wife of the education reporter for a 25,000circulation daily in a community of 40,000
decides to run for city council. The education
reporter is not involved in coverage of city
government issues or in coverage of the city
council. The managing editor calls the reporter
into his office. The managing editor tells the
reporter that he has two choices: persuade his
wife to drop out of the political race or resign his
job because of a potential conflict of interest. Do
you agree with the managing editor?
Minneapolis Star-Tribune
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Kate Perry: The Reader’s Rep
Washington Post

New ombudsman with Minnesota ties
Portfolio
Store academic information on your
Electronic Portfolio. Each student has 100
mb of storage.
 Let’s start building your portfolio

Susan Latto Guest Speaker: 12/5
Due today: Write three questions and email them to:
[email protected]
 Susan Latto Biographical Information:
– 1963 UMD graduate
– UMD Director of Public Relations, 1996-present
– Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Greater Downtown
Council, Duluth, 1984-1995
– Account Executive and Creative Advertising Writer, WAKX FM and
KXTP AM Radio, Duluth, 1979-1984
– Freelance television and radio on-air talent and writer, Duluth
– Private tutor and homebound instructor, Duluth Public Schools
– Secondary English and Speech Teacher/Debate Coach/Drama
and Forensics Director, Duluth Public Schools and San Diego,
California Public Schools
Egradebook

Doublecheck assignments correct in
egradebook:
– http://www.d.umn.edu/egradebook
Late Assignments:
If you haven’t made arrangements to
complete late assignments, you receive no
points.