Associated PressReporting HandbookCovering a Beat: Television

Chapter11

Who Wants to Insure a “Millionaire” Show?

By DAVID BAUDERAP Television Writer

The company that insures ABC’s hit game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” was suing to get out of its contract because it claimed the questions were too easy, putting them at risk of paying too much prize money.

What did insurer Goshawk Syndicate want them to do?

Regis

Goshawk said it needed assurances that “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” would ask harder questions and select dumber contestants.

Two “Millionaire” contestants – an Internal Revenue Service agent from Connecticut and a Miami attorney – correctly answered 15 questions and won $1 million. By contrast, no player on the original British version of the game show had ever won the big prize.

The multiple-choice questions were frequently easy in the early rounds. One contestant was asked which condiment is also known as a Latin dance, correctly choosing salsa over the other options: mustard, mayonnaise and relish.

Specifically, the syndicate asked for changes in the method of contestant selection and the degree of difficulty of the questions.

Since no changes were made since it first asked for them, Goshawk said, “substantial losses under the insurance are expected.”

Even if the show’s producers were to lose the insurance, it wasn't likely to effect ABC’s commitment to the series. It was airing three nights a week, and gave ABC bragging rights as the No. 1 network – with substantial advertising revenue.

That year, in fact, ABC announced it would air three special editions of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” during “sweeps.”

Meredith Vieira

Covering a Beat: Television David Bauder is a nice guy in a

cutthroat business. But it works for

him He remembers a reporter who used to yell at

people on the phone and what she probably missed by not being civil

Bauder covers the television industry beat. There are pressures – striving to develop sources,

master telecommunications, to beat other reporters and avoid being beaten.

Bauder stresses getting to know his sources. It takes a while. “You realize you're going to have some periods when you look ignorant and miss stories.”

He is always trying to meet key people. Sometimes he goes out in the evening to industry events not because he expects to get a story but because he might make an important connection.

The tip for the “Millionaire” story, though, didn't come from one of Bauder's sources. A reporter in the AP's Washington bureau knew a lawyer in insurance who heard the insurance company for “Millionaire” was trying to get out of its contract.

He used to cover politics. After 10 years of covering politics, he was

beginning to burn out because “there are so many stories that are the same year after year.”

“Television reflects life itself. Consequently, there are all sorts of stories you can do about things. You can write about it as a business, you can write about entertainment phenomena like 'Millionaire.’”

There are some similarities to politics: “Some of the people in the TV industry are very political and knowledgeable about how they are seen in the public light.”

It took Bauder about 45 minutes to write the story, with numerous telephone interruptions.

You don’t want a story like that to go out too late, where they’re going to miss putting it in the paper.

In his writing, Bauder makes a point of including enough background about each story. “You might assume that people know more than they know, which you really can’t do.”

Bauder is a fast writer, and he’s also prolific; there are days when he will write four or five stories for the national wire.

He enjoys writing on a deadline; he gets a real rush from covering the Emmy or Grammy awards.

“You’ve got to write through a story seven or eight times ... get it out really quickly, knowing that what you’re writing is essentially going to lead the coverage for the country.”

“I try not to get too worried about the stuff that's completely out of my control.”

What really bothers him is when he knows about a story – reads a report, attends an event – and misses an angle.

“I do like working beats,” he says. “I like having the defined set of responsibilities. I consider myself somewhat of a self-starter. I like to plan out stories that I like to do and be watching for things that are good stories.”

Associated PressReporting Handbook

Covering a Beat: Politics

Chapter 12

N.Y.C. Mayor Drops Out of Senate Race

By MARC HUMBERTAssociated Press Writer

Mayor Giuliani drops out of the Senate race against Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Marc Humbert was a school bus driver before he became an AP writer.

His two loves – writing and politics

Government and Media in Conflict A working press seeks to know; a bureaucrat

seeks to preserve status quo and wants no interference

Skepticism with public policy Respect is the benchmark in the relationship

between reporter and official (bureaucrat) Any questioning of policy is seen as

adversarial

Adversary: (adj.): having or involving antagonistic parties or interests

Adversary (n.): one who contends with, opposes or resists; antagonist, enemy or for; an opponent in a game

The public is constantly watching to see if the press is either “too cozy” with the public sector or “too antagonistic.”

There is a constant juggling act for reporters to find what is an acceptable balance.

The relationships between reporters and public officials are shaped by the length of time they have dealt with one another, mutual admiration and the possible friendships that have resulted. Superiors also play a part, either pressuring the reporter one way or another.

A last variable – the reporter’s own experience, education and subconscious prejudices and biases – also plays a role in determining what is an adversary relationship.

A Natural Tension Ithiel de Sola Pool - Political Scientist

– To do his job he must grow close to politicians and win their trust, but his job is also to publicly expose them.

– To do his job, he must develop confidential relations with sources and protect those sources, but his job is also to strip the veil of privacy from everyone else’s business.

William L. Rivers - Journalism Scholar– The necessity for a challenging journalism does not

spring primarily from the fact that officials lie. They do. But far more often, the public is misled because well-meaning, high-minded officials really believe in their policies and programs … Such men cannot be expected to serve the public interest because their perspectives are so narrow – unless they are called to account by an independent press. These facts have led me to the conclusion that the proper role of the political reporter is that of adversary.

Irving Kristol - Political Scientist– You cannot have an adversary procedure that works

only one way. So, if media is an adversary to government, should the government be an adversary to media? I think it is as idiotic for the government to be an adversary to the media as for the media to be an adversary to the government.

Is Some Hostility Beneficial?

Report what the government says Find out if it is true Determine whether policy will work or if it

did work. While the press is a major instrument in

communication and policy-making, its role as agent of “cohesion” is open to question.

Other Reasons for Disagreement

Many factors intrude to create an adversary relationship – the manner in which a news story is written, the way it is edited and the play it receives in the publication.

Attempts to punch up a lead can result in unintentional but unacceptable bias.

The ‘Secrets’ of Government The lines are often blurred that certain

information should remain secret for the public security or welfare.

Government at all levels tries to keep certain information from public view.

The reporter who sits on the story risks the loss of credibility, and should ask:– Did lack of open debate on the issue effect the

public interest?

Allowing Administrative Convenience

In allowing administrative convenience, is the reporter acting in the public interest?

Is it important to the public to learn the identity of a potential administrator and his or her qualification before the mayor plans to announce it?

Will it make us lapse on more important issues.

How Far is Too Far?

The Pentagon Papers A delicate balance of tact and antagonism,

of cooperation and outright hostility. Although the Supreme Court ultimately

upheld the right of the press to publish the Pentagon Papers, and The Times resumed publication, the issue remains: How far is too far in the adversary relationship?

The Dangers of Cronyism

Enthralled by authority, reporters become sloppy. Some may even become press agents for the ones they cover … officially or unofficially.

The danger is always present the journalist will accept propaganda and press releases and publish with little or no reference to origin – and with little or no editing.

Booster or Watchdog?

If “booster” means running a story in the spring saying Mannington is a nice place in the spring, I see nothing wrong with that. But if it means covering up or ignoring a serious housing problem in the city for fear it might frighten away industry, that’s absolutely out.

Herbert T. Gans

Public Relations:Help or Hindrance?

They are paid for using their ability and ingenuity to the end that the interests they represent, whether it be a transit corporation or a visiting magician, appear before the public in a light which is favorable and pleasant, or at least in a guise as friendly as the circumstances will permit.

Stanley Walker - Editor

For many people, “public relations” has continued to mean the opposite of truthfulness and genuine substance; a “public relations ploy” stands for the disingenuous and manipulated effort. Some critics have obviously feared that skillful propagandists would hold too great a sway over public opinion at the expense of substance and rational discourse.

Alan R. Aucher - Public Relations Historian

Conflict and Cooperation Many public relations practitioners are

former journalists. Many have taken journalism courses They follow news and current events The journalist’s world, like that of the

public relations person, includes relationships based on mutual need and trust.

The Specter of Manipulation

Agenda Setting News Management Media Events Reporters must recognize and guard against

manipulative tactics, and not relinquish news judgment to advocates for a cause or organization.

Packaging the News

One-dimensional press announcements. The small operation falls victim most often. Video News Releases They succeed because they meet the press’

need. When public relations attempts to manage or

distort news content, the reporter must reject it.

Techniques of Manipulation

Spin Control Damage Control Pre-empting Bad News Controlled Timing Coaching Interviewees Exclusives and Leaks Staging and Pseudo-events

Exercising Sound Judgment

Do background research What is new? If nothing, it’s not news Always rework handouts Check facts and statistics Avoid canned quotes Avoid single-source stories Avoid pseudo-events

Don’t rely on a small circle of PR sources Do your own legwork whenever possible –

dig below the surface Attempt to understand the source’s motives Resist pressure to report incomplete stories Be cautious and skeptical

Building Relationships

Set ground rules, be even-handed Determine how much authority your public

relations source has Do not promise something you may not be

able to deliver Do not accept gifts in any form from PR

people – pay your own way.

Remember that PR people can be helpful and always remember to say “thank you”

You don’t want your source to lie to you, so don’t lie to your source

Explain why you can’t use certain information and accept and acknowledge receipt of special material, even when you can’t use it.

Avoid violating confidences, observe release dates

Access to Records and Meetings

Privacy and victim’s rights began to create an anti-press movement concerning public access.

Some public officials seized the opportunity to argue for less, not more, public access.

Freedom of Information tools have survived, however, and are very powerful reporting tools.

Freedom of Information Laws at Work

Despite the time-consuming correspondence and expense involved, FOI laws have proved essential to reporters trying to monitor the inner workings of government.

Studies show commercial users, public-interest groups, scholars and prisoners use FOI more than working journalists.

FOI Laws and Breaking News

The Rodney King incident FOIA responded within days after U.S.

Attorney General Dick Thornburgh announced a nationwide review of police tactics and brutality complaints.

Many cities had their own hook for localizing brutality complaints.

Loopholes and Exemptions

Personal information: Medical files, tax returns – could be invasion of privacy

Interagency communications that are not policy

Active law enforcement investigations Records of pending claims and lawsuits

Date

Freedom of Information Act RequestAgency FOIA OfficerAgency or Component NameStreet Address (see FOIA Contacts at Major Agencies)

Dear ________:

Under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552, I am requesting access to [identify the records you want in complete detail].

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me before filling my request. [or, Please send me the records without informing me of the cost unless the fees exceed $______, which I agree to pay.]

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of appeal procedures available to me under the law.

[Optionally: If you have any questions about this request, you may contact me by telephone at ______ (home phone) or _______ (office phone).]

Sincerely,

NameAddress

The Federal Act

Became law in 1966 Each agency is allowed to assess

“reasonable standard charges” for document searches and duplication.

Information can be exempted if the exemption is considered to be “in the interest of national defense or foreign policy.

How to File an FOIA request Determine what you want and who has it.

You’ll have to describe it to that agency. Computer data can cause difficulty Appeals should include a copy of the

original request and a statement that you are appealing.

Time allowance Costs Going to court – U.S. District Court

Open Meeting Laws

The scope and limit of open-meeting laws vary greatly form one state to another, but generally their intent is to make sure public bodies meet in public session.

The “Executive Session” Reasons: Discuss legal matters, personnel

matters and negotiations.

Sources of FOIA Information

Society of Professional Journalists: Annual FOI Report

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press University of Missouri: Freedom of

Information Center The Freedom of Information Clearinghouse,

Washington, D.C. Student Press Law Center, Washington, D.C.

The End