Crime and the Courts Fair Trial Free Press Controversy

After reading to the “The Free Press-Fair trial Controversy”, answer the following questions.

1. What initial case created this controversy?  What other cases are related to the controversy?

2. What is a gag order?

3. What is a closed courtroom?

4. What amendments were used to argue for a closed courtroom?

5. What ruling did the Supreme Court make in 1981?

6. What states ban cameras?

7. What is off limits to reporters?

8. Overall, what is the media’s obligation to the public?

9. What limitations should the media have in Crime and the Courtroom?

News Stories from Photographs

Investigative Reporting

The tip- the sniff- suspicion- idea

Form a hypothesis-statement of truth- help focus your investigation

3 considerations

                        What sources?  What are my obstacles?  Who should I go to first?

                        What records? Are they public or private?

                        What is the most I can prove?  How long will the investigation take?

Sources

            Human sources:  Enemies, Friends, Losers, Victims, Experts, Police, People in trouble.

            Written: 

Public- Property records, Corporation records, Court records, Campaign and conflict of interest reports, Loan rec, Minutes and Transcripts.

Non public- Investigative files, PaST  arrest and conviction, Bank records, Income tax rec, credit checks

Writing the story- Get people into the story, Keep it simple, Tell the reader what the research means, Organize and suggest solutions.

Accidents, Fires and Disasters-Notes and Activity

Accidents, Fires and Disasters

NOTES

Moral Obligation

Problematic- complexity with no clear cut solution

Gathering of news in these situations may be problematic due to safety issues.

The media performs a public service by getting the information to the public rapidly and accurately so that they might avoid further damage and loss.  Also, the media watches over these situations to insure that government agencies are doing their job in serving the public interest.

In most of these cases there is nothing you can do to help. 

Most beginning reporters will do this kind of coverage.

Secure information at the scene

Accident- Info- objective

Names, Ages, addresses and conditions of the victims

Accounts of witnesses and police

When?

Where?

Why or how it happened-who was at fault, determined by the officials 

Fire- info- objective

Location of fire

Names ages and addresses of those killed injured or missing

Name of the buildings owner, or landowner

Value of the building and its contents

Whether the building or land was insured

Time/

Cause of Fire

Disaster-info –objective

Given an individual task of information gathering

More complex than the fire or accident because of the continuing threat and expansiveness of the range of effects

Process

How?

Question the person in charge

Find and interview witnesses

Find friends and relatives of victims

Interview victims if possible

Interview bystanders

Be sensitive to victims and families

Completing the reporting

Checklist of sources:

            Victims of personal injury

People who were involved but escaped injury

Victims of property damage

Neighbors and passersby

Relatives and neighbors

Rescue workers

Government regulatory agencies- local state and federal

Reporting the effects on people- continue to follow up on the story to see the long range effects of the human tragedy

ACTIVITY

Finding Fire, Accidents, Disasters and Crime News Stories

Internet Research

Journalism

Mr. Buyce

Instructions: 

Today

1.  Find 2 news stories (total) on the internet about a fire, an accident, a disaster and /or crime.  You should select stories that no one else in class has selected.  All students need to communicate about what stories they have found to insure that we all have different stories.  Repeats of stories in tomorrow’s presentation will result in failing grades.  (See the evaluation details on bottom of post.)

* Visiting any internet locations that are unrelated to this assignment or instructions will result in a zero for today, which I will inform you of at the end of the period.  This includes, but is not limited to, e mail and You Tube.

2.  Write all the information you think are the key elements of each story. 

3.  Write your own lead for each story from the information you have gathered. 

4.  Organize the information for a 2 minute presentation for each story. 

5.      Write/plan 2 presentations for tomorrow’s class.  Below is space for your lead, information and plan.

Story 1                                                                         Story2

A. Information                                                                        A. Information

B. Lead-                                                                      B. Lead-

C. Presentation Plan                                                    C. Presentation Plan

Tomorrow

6.  Present 1 story in class tomorrow for a project grade.

The grade will depend on the length (lasting 2 minutes), clarity of information, presentation skills and the originality of your story.

            If there are 2 other repeats (2 other students with the same story), you will receive a 50 as well as the others with the same story.  If there is 1 other student with the same story, yourself and the other student will receive a maximum of a 65 for a grade.  If your story is not the same as any other student’s story, you may receive anywhere from an F to an A, depending upon the substance and skill of the presentation. 

* Today’s class will be graded as in class work on your progress, according to the above directions.  Good luck.

Obit Notes

Obituaries

News Obituaries- Obituaries of people who are well known

Standard obits- handled by the advertising department, paid notices- require a large amount of space.  Usually these are written by the family, sometimes written by reporters at the request of the family.  Either way they cost money, varying from paper to paper.

The lead-

Time and Place of Funeral Services

Time of Burial

Visitation Time

Survivors

Date and Place of Birth

Achievements

Occupation

Memberships

                        Confirm spellings

                        Check addresses

                        Check birth date against age

                        Verify obituaries with mortuary or family

Check newspaper library for other stories about the person-be sure that you have the            right       person

The story is one of life, not just death- celebrate the deceased’s life- examples of dry and characterless obits- give them character and grace

Do not:  “loved ones”  “passed away”  “the departed”  “remains”- euphemisms and clichés

            “as a result of an operation”

            “suddenly”

            “an apparent heart attack” or

injuries “received”

            Religious terms- Catholics “celebrate

                                                Reform Jews worship in “temples”

                                                Orthodox worship in “synagogues

                                                Episcopal priest- rector not pastor

                                               

            Men are survived by their wife, not widow

Does- “following an operation”

            “died unexpectedly”

            apparently of a heart attack

            injuries “suffered”

Unit Test 1

Answer these questions in your own word file or write your responses on a sheet of paper; send it to my email or turn it in to me personally.

A.  Quotes and Attribution

1.  What are the key differences between quotes and attribution?  15 points

2.  Explain at least three problems with direct quotations? 15 points

B.  Leads

3.  Make a complete list of all of the different types of leads. Explain what each type of lead is used for- what is its purpose in terms of the type of story it is used for or the way the reporter wishes to organize their information.  Be as thorough as possible.  20 points

4.  What should be present in a good lead and how long should it be?  Why would there be exceptions to these requirements, clearly outlined in your text and notes? 10 points

C.  Media

 5.  What are the major differences between Newspapers and Magazines?  5 points

6.  Make a list of the path of an article- from the reporter to the copy desk chief 2?          15 points

D.  Interviewing

7.  Write a proposal for an interview of the most interesting personality, living or dead.  In this proposal, you must include:  the open and closed ended questions you will ask, what you will wear, how you will address your subject, where you will meet, how you will record the information from the interview, and how you will accomplish an interview in the first place.  Be as thorough as possible, as your preparation is crucial.  You must have at least 12 questions- try to move the interview from less direct questions to increasing directness without offending or insulting your subject in any way; the object is to get them to divulge as much pertinent information as possible.  Be invasive without them knowing it.  20 points