Newswriting Buddy

So my Newswriting Buddy experience was sort of a complete failure.  I met with my partner once and we discussed her previous works and what she had problems with.  She said she had alot of problems with developing story ideas and I suggested that she attend TNH meetings and check out all of the billboards around campus, that there was always something going on around here. She didn't bring any stories with her so there was nothing I could really look over but told her to definitely send some to me.  After that meeting, I contacted her through e-mail a couple of times without response. I finally got a response in the last month of school and she said she had gotten surgery and was trying to stay up on all of her work.  I was unaware of the situation so I really didn't know how to handle the situation.  I told her that her other work came first but if she had some time to meet that it would be great.  I never heard from her again. She did apologize for being a dead beat partner and I said I definitely understood.  I feel like I failed as an editor but I feel it wasn't completely my fault. 

30 Minutes Until Deadline

Item: The cousin of one of the people who works in the IT department of your news organization works as a janitor at the Police Department. He calls the IT worker at work and tells her he just saw police take a young boy, an attorney and a woman who appeared to be the mother into an interrogation room. He overheard two police officers talking and gesturing toward the boy, identifying him as Jake Mahoney.

Do you use Jake’s name in the story? 
Yes, as a person of interest. When dealing with major crimes, his name can be used.

If yes, do you use the photo your photographer gave you?
No, I wouldn't use the photo yet, until it is confirmed.

If no, consider this -- the local television station in a special report on the fire confirms that Jake Mahoney has been identified as “a person of interest” in the fire.

Item: Your reporter learns the name of the source who talked with her reporter about seeing the kid throw something over the fence in the alley. The source says you can attritube the information to her, but only if you use an alias because she is an illegal alien and will be deported if police find out about her. You must promise never to reveal the name to anyone.

Do you agree to the use of an alias in your stories?
Yes. It is necessary to the story.

If yes, do you tell your readers why?
According to the Orlando Sentential Code Ethics, it is necessary to explain the situation to the reader, so yes.

If no, does that preclude you from using the information from that source?

Item: The boy confesses to setting the fire, but police do not release his name because he is a juvenile.

Do you identify him in your stories?
Because he is a minor, his name can't be used.
Item: Sally Jacobson dies of injuries sustained in the fire. The district attorney elevates the charges to murder and arrests Jake Mahoney. The murder charge means Mahoney will be charged as an adult and the trial will take place in open court.

Do you identify him now?
According to the San Antonio Express, "Don't name them unless they are accused of capital murder or a crime so heinous as to warrant their identification, or if the names have been released by authorities." So, no.


Item: In the boy’s confession, he admits he used gasoline that he had put in a 1-liter Mountain Dew bottle and dumped on the porch before lighting it. He tells police he threw it away in the alley. Police ask the public to help out in finding this key piece of evidence. They have looked and couldn’t find it in the alley. You’ve forgotten all about the bottle you tucked away in your desk several hours ago.

Now what?
It's considered a crime to take evidence from a crime scene, I would say hold on to the evidence.
Item: An editor suggests to you that the reporter be fired immediately for what she did.

Do you do that?
Probation

Item: The police show up in your newsroom with a search warrant, signed by a judge, permitting a search of the reporter’s desk and belongings for any notes or other communications, such as text messages and emails relating to the case.

Do you let them in?
Yes, you have to. The judge found probable cause to sign the warrant, so not letting them in is risking further trouble.

Item: Later, when the public finds out about a lot of this stuff, it is suggested that you resign.

Do you?
If it is in the best interest of the publication, yes.  It could lose readership if not. 

Day 2

                When the reporter brings the bottle back, the bottle needs to be turned into the police. I would send the reporter down to the station to return it.  This is a vital part in the investigation and now the reporter has gotten their fingerprints all over it. 

                For the photographer, there’s nothing that the paper can do with this picture yet because as the law said, you cannot incriminate a minor.  Also, there has not been a final conviction so putting that picture in the paper would be incriminating.

                The article can mention that the police have a main suspect and that the suspect is a minor.

                With reporter number 3, the writer can incorporate all of the narrative with Bob.  You can use the part about the fire and his wife and how she might not make it.  I don’t think that the writer could use the part about the kid, because that is also incriminating.  The writer can also use the quote from the Fire Marshall about how the fire is being investigating it as an arson.

                As for ethics and legal dilemmas, the article can still not talk about the boy as a suspect yet because it is both incriminating and the kid is a minor.  Beyond the obvious story stuff, the reporters should keep calling the police station for updated information and keep talking to everyone in the building and those in the hospital.  Send photographers to the scene to keep taking pictures of the damage. It is very tempting to incorporate quotes from Bob Jacobson about the boy, they could be saved for a later story after the boy gets convicted.  I still wouldn’t  use the quote about pouring gasoline and lighting him on fire.  That’s a little harsh and would paint the man in a bad light wile we’re focusing on the kid.

Day 1:

     The two quotes from the two tenants cannot be used in the article.  The first tenant basically accuses the little boy of starting the fire.  By using this quote, this is might be falsely accusing someone.  If the person is innocent, the paper could be sued for libel.  The second quote from the other tenant talks about how the woman was beaten by her husband.  Just from this quote, you can't confirm that this is actually true.  Again, the paper could be sued for libel and would be damaging to the husband's character.
    After this, the reporters will need to talk to police, firefighters, and other witnesses.  They'll need to find out all of the information they can about the fire, how it started, and what's going to happen now.  Find out what the police are doing to find out who or what started the fire.  The reporter's will also have to talk to the dispatcher about the call from the woman who reported the fire.  Find out everything she said about it.  I don't think that including the part about the boy throwing something for reporters to worry about until the police say something.  If they report something untrue, it could look bad on the publication and could be libel worthy.
    We can't name any suspects until they are convicted.

Pulitzer Prize

  The Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting went to the Chicago Sun-Times for their series on the shootings in Chicago.

The writers really delve into the story and background.  They get a full sense of this Chicago community and how people are dealing with these shootings.  They gave readers a full comprehension of the neighborhoods and what they look like.  In the “Two years after murder, family still waiting for justice,” it talks about how the families are dealing with their losses and how greatly these tragedies have affected them.  Angel’s cousin and best friend have named children after him and how his brother looks to him for guidance in football.

            In the “’No-snitch’ code keeps shooters on the streets” story, the writer chronicles recent killings and then posts the question why police haven’t caught any of these killers yet and goes into discussion about the ‘no-snitch’ code.  The writer describes how victims die still refusing to tell police who they were murdered by.  It’s a very powerful story and keeps the reader fully interested in the story.  To combat this problem, there was a law passed to arrest anyone carrying a loaded gun in public.  People are being sent to prison and keeping more of these murderers off of the streets. “An ongoing wiretap recorded gang-bangers warning fellow gang members that the Valadez law could land them in prison for packing a gun.”  With this new law, the gang members are becoming more worried about getting caught and are being more careful.

            This story continues in the next article, “Police: Even while dying, teen won’t talk.”  “Unfortunately it’s almost a culture among the drug dealers and gang members, that code of silence, that ‘don’t snitch’ mentality that they not only have when they’re witnesses, but also when they’re the victims,” Riccio said.  This is such a disturbing statement and story and sends a powerful message about the culture of this community.  The writer discusses such extreme cases such as a girl being stabbed, doused with gasoline, and set on fire by her boyfriend.  The girl confessed to who killed her shortly before she died and the police were able to arrest and give her boyfriend a life sentence.  But in this Chicago community, this type of snitching is forbidden.

            This series deserved a Pulitzer because of the in-depth reporting and examining the reporter had to do to get this powerful set of stories. The writers examined every aspect of these communities and killings and the culture behind them.  They put themselves in the police’s, victims’, and killers’ shoes.  With this, they are able to get all sides of the issues.

Federal Budget Cuts

 With the federal budget cuts, being announced for the upcoming years, I believe that many angles and stories can be written in conjunction with these cuts.  These cuts will affect a wide variety of communities and and different aspects of society.  There are a couple of areas in the cuts that will greatly affect the Seacoast and these articles should focus on these impacts. One of the biggest areas being affected, in a positive way, with this cut is education.  There are a couple stories that can be written about this cut.

First, with these cuts, Pell Grants will be able to remain maximum which will benefit college students in the Seacoast area.  This story should focus on UNH and the students affected by this and how this is such a vital part of this cut.  Numbers are broken down in the NYT article, Obama Budget Raises School Spending and Keeps Pell Grant Maximum (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/us/15education.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=pell%20grants&st=cse) .


A second story that can be written along with the Pell Grant one, is one about how public schools in the Seacoast area, Portsmouth, Dover, Durham will be affected by the raise in school spending.  Where will this money be going? Who will benefit?


Another area being affected in this budget cut is foreign aid.  This will affect local humanitarian organizations in the Seacoast area.  Find a couple of groups in the area.  Reactions from the volunteers as they are gettig a 41% cut in funds. What this means for them. Refer to the article, Clinton Says G.O.P. Cuts Would Hurt U.S. Interests (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/us/politics/15congress.html?scp=4&sq=clinton&st=cse).


New Hampshire is known for being a very "green" state and another area being affected in this cut is energy.  A great deal of environmental protection programs are getting significant cuts.  How will Seacoast environmental programs deal with this cut? What this means environmentally for the Seacoast.  Who else is being affected?


Finally, one of the biggest areas involved with the cut is health care. What does this mean for Seacoast hospitals?  Local pharmacies?

Groundhog Day

With February 2nd rapidly approaching, people are beginning to get excited about the possibility of a shorter winter, especially with snow storms in the coming weeks.  This year, a preserved groundhog will be used since the usual one died last year and they have yet to find a replacement. This could be on the criteria it takes to find a new Punxsutawney Phil and why people are still excited to see a preserved groundhog.   There can be a history of how past Phil's were chosen and have a timeline. Who are the people that make this decision?  Where do these groundhogs come from? Do they think they'll have a real one next year? Has there ever been a fake one before?

This is the chance to jump on a new story with the change in tradition this year. A perfect opportunity for a different approach to a Groundhog Day story.