THE BASICS OF JOURNALISMIleana OrozaJanuary, 2010

OUR DISCUSSION TODAY

Independence Verification

Fact checking Multiple sourcing

Responsibility and integrity

THE ELEMENTS OF JOURNALISM

Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.   Its first loyalty is to citizens.   Its essence is a discipline of verification.   Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.   It must serve as an independent monitor of power.   It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.   It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant.   It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.   Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience. Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news.

Tom Rosenstiel, Bill Kovach

3. The essence of journalism is a discipline of verification Defines objectivity, not as an absence of

point of view, but as utilizing a “transparent approach to evidence” Seeking out multiple sources Asking all relevant sides for comment Disclosing, whenever possible, all relevant

information about the sources “The method is objective, not the

journalist”

SEEKING OUT MULTIPLE SOURCES

INFORMATION COMES FROM PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE

BACKGROUND OF STORY CONTEXT

OBSERVATION SOURCES

SOURCING

THE QUALITY OF YOUR STORY DEPENDS ON THE QUALITY OF YOUR SOURCES

A GOOD STORY NEEDS A VARIETY OF SOURCES FOR INFORMATION FOR CONFIRMATION FOR AUTHENTICITY FOR AUTHORITY FOR TENSION FOR COLOR

YOU NEED A VARIETY OF SOURCES

PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES PEOPLE HAVE AGENDAS TO WRITE A RICHER, MORE NUANCED, MORE

INTERESTING STORY, YOU NEED A LOT OF INFORMATION AND CONTRASTING POINTS OF VIEW

TO SHARPEN YOUR THINKING AND FOCUS BY TALKING TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW

TO GUARD AGAINST HOAXES

SOURCES

DOCUMENTS PHONE BOOKS PRESS RELEASES GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS AND ARCHIVES CORRESPONDENCE (INCLUDING E-MAIL) VIDEOS INTERNET

PEOPLE

PEOPLE AS SOURCES

OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE CORPORATIONS NGOs

SOCIAL/CIVIC/RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS CHURCHES SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES POLITICAL PARTIES

PEOPLE AS SOURCES

UNOFFICIAL THOSE AFFECTED BY GOVERNMENT ACTION VICTIMS OF AN ACCIDENT OR CATASTROPHE “CLIENTS” OF ALL TYPES

YOU CAN FIND THESE SOURCES IN “THIRD PLACES” THAT YOU SHOULD FREQUENT AS A JOURNALIST

PEOPLE AS SOURCES

STRIVE FOR VARIETY POINT OF VIEW AGE ETHNICITY SOCIAL POSITION

WHO MAKES A GOOD SOURCE?

THINK STRATEGICALLY WHO WILL SUIT MY PURPOSE BEST?

WHO WILL HELP READERS IDENTIFY WITH THE STORY?

WHO CAN GIVE ME THE INFORMATION I NEED?

WHO IS LIKELY TO HAVE A GOOD ANECDOTE? AN UNUSUAL POINT OF VIEW? AN INTERESTING OPINION?

WHO CAN I REASONABLY GET?

WHO IS A GOOD SOURCE?

NOT ALL SOURCES ARE CREATED EQUAL. CONSIDER: BACKGROUND RELATIONSHIP TO THE STORY

EYEWITNESS? DIRECT CONTACT? PERSONAL TIES?

CONTEXT DOES HIS STORY MATCH WHAT WE KNOW?

WHO IS A GOOD SOURCE?

NOT ALL SOURCES ARE CREATED EQUAL. CONSIDER: RELIABILITY

LEVEL/DEPTH OF KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCE POSITION/PRESTIGE AUTHORITY

EG: NOT ALL JOURNALISTS ARE EXPERTS IN POLITICS ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE

DOES HE SPEAK CLEARLY? CAN SHE TRANSLATE TECHNICAL LANGUAGE?

WHY IS THIS PERSON TELLING ME THIS?

RELIABILITY CONFLICT OF INTEREST? TRANSPARENCY MOTIVES/BIASES

FINANCIAL IDEOLOGICAL WHAT DOES HE GAIN BY TALKING? WHAT DOES HE WANT TO HIDE?

CAN THE PERSON BENEFIT FROM MY WRITING THIS STORY?

WHY IS THIS PERSON TELLING ME THIS?

A JOURNALIST WHO DOES NOT QUESTION THE MOTIVES OF A SOURCE CAN FALL INTO A TRAP

A SOURCE CAN TELL YOU SOMETHING FOR HIS OWN BENEFIT, OR FOR THE COMMON GOOD. OFTEN, HIS MOTIVATION COMES FROM A COMBINATION OF THE TWO.

Leonard Ray Teel

Ron Taylor

WHEN EVALUATING UNOFFICIAL SOURCES, CONSIDER:

FEAR OF PRESS LACK OF EXPERIENCE

THE RASHOMON EFFECT VULNERABILITY/COST

PUBLIC SHAME LOSS OF JOB

4. Journalists must maintain an independence from those they cover

Independence is “a cornerstone of reliability”

Even columnists and editorialists must be fair, accurate and honest

Transparency is key

SPJ CODE OF ETHICS

JOURNALISTS SHOULD BE FREE OF OBLIGATION TO ANY INTEREST OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW. AVOID CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, REAL OR PERCEIVED. REMAIN FREE OF ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

THAT MAY COMPROMISE INTEGRITY OR DAMAGE CREDIBILITY FAMILY FRIENDS BUSINESS ACQUAINTANCES

REFUSE GIFTS, FAVORS, FEES, FREE TRAVEL AND SPECIAL TREATMENT

SPJ CODE OF ETHICS

JOURNALISTS SHOULD… SHUN SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT, INVOLVEMENT

IN POLITICS OR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS IF THEY COMPROMISE JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY

DISCLOSE UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICTS. DENY FAVORED TREATMENT TO ADVERTISERS

AND SPECIAL INTERESTS AND RESIST THEIR PRESSURE TO INFLUENCE NEWS COVERAGE.

BE WARY OF SOURCES OFFERING INFORMATION FOR FAVORS OR MONEY; AVOID BIDDING FOR NEWS.

ANONYMOUS SOURCES

THE PROBLEM: THEY WEAKEN A STORY THEY DAMAGE YOUR CREDIBILITY

IS HE LYING? IS SHE FLOATING A TRIAL BALLOON?

THEY MAKE THE READER SUSPICIOUS BIG TROUBLE IF THE STORY GOES TO

COURT

GROUND RULES

ON THE RECORD – Reporter can use all information provided.

NOT FOR ATTRIBUTION (A.K.A. “ON BACKGROUND): Reporter can use information but promises to protect the source’s identity during reporting and in the published story.

OFF THE RECORD: Information cannot be used in the story, even if the source is not identified

GENERAL POLICY

MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO GET THE SOURCE ON RECORD

DO NOT USE ANONYMOUS SOURCES TO MAKE NEGATIVE COMMENTS OR CHARGES

USE ANONYMOUS SOURCES ONLY WHEN YOU ARE CONVINCED THAT THE FACT IS OF OVERWHELMING NEWS VALUE AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO GET IT

TELL THE READER WHY THE NEWSPAPER HAS DECIDED TO GRANT ANONYMITY

ALWAYS GET EDITOR’S APPROVAL.

SOURCES

Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel: The Elements of Journalism

The Missouri Group: News Reporting and Writing

Christopher Scanlan: Reporting and Writing SPJ Code of Ethics at http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp PoynterOnline at http://www.poynter.org/