Tuesday, May 17, 2011
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.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
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.
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.
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