Media Ride Along April 22, 2008

1) Diary of a Shift

 

9:30 – Every day, except Friday, Oglesby holds a meeting with the members of the editorial board, which consists of three writers, a cartoonist, a layout editor, and a reader’s liaison. Carl Hiaasen, a columnist who works from home, also contributes to the editorial section. During the meeting, the members offer ideas they can write about for the editorial section. Each member offers at least one idea, and each idea is discussed. The person who offers the idea also has to give background information, an analysis and an opinion line. About two or three editorials are published per day, and only one is published on Sunday.

 

 

10:30 – Board members go back to their offices to research editorials and being to write them.

 

12:00 – Oglesby has a conversation with David Landsberg, the publisher, directly, regarding content and layout of editorial section.

 

 

2:00 – Meetings are scheduled with people who want to interview with the board. The people range from legislators who want to talk about their bills, to the governor, to visiting ambassadors from Latin America and Israel.

 

 

4:00 – All editorials should be completed and sent to Oglesby for editing.

 

5:00 – Editorials are sent to publisher, who reviews them, puts comments on them, and necessary adjustments are made.

 

6:00 – Editorials are ready for publication.

 

3) Profile of an Editor – Joe Oglesby

 

            Oglesby joined The Miami Herald in November 1972 as a police reporter. He has held various jobs since, including working as a beat reporter, columnist, editorial writer and supervising editor.

            Born in Tampa, Oglesby began his journalism career with the St. Petersburg Times in 1970. In 1984, he won a Nieman fellowship and spent a year studying public policy. In 1995, he was named Managing Editor of The State newspaper in Columbia, S.C., and he returned to The Miami Herald in 1997 as Associate Editorial Page Editor.

            Oglesby graduated from Florida A&M University with a degree in English, and personally helped to build up the school’s newspaper. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing and fishing. He is married to Linda Blash and has two daughters, Joy, 31, who is assistant features editor at the Sun-Sentinel and Lee, 18, who is a freshman at Amherst College.

 

4) Copy of Ethical Policy

 

The Miami Herald’s Ethics Guidelines

 

We strive to deliver news and information that is fair, accurate and objective – and is perceived by others as such. We ask that you use your best judgment to meet its goal, that you act in good faith and that you always consider the best interests of The Herald.

 

Sometimes there are no clear answers or telling precedents to guide our decision. Many ethics situations can only be solved on a case-by-case basis. When in doubt, ask.

 

Ethics are institutional. This policy applies to Herald management just as it does to new reporters as ethics flow from the top.

 

The following are guidelines, not legal standards or statements of law, that answer important questions and confirm existing policies for issues ranging from anonymous sourcing to outside relationships.

 

USE OF ANONYMOUS SOURCES

 

Our policy, day in and out, is to identify sources. A name should be attached to every quote. Stories are more credible with names.

 

There are exceptional cases, however, when anonymous sourcing is the only means by which an important story can be published. In those cases:

• First, be sure the information is not available elsewhere. There is no need to run a story based on anonymous sourcing when the information is available in public documents or through other means.
• Before promising anonymity, be sure you understand the source’s motive or role in the story. This will help you gauge credibility.
• Before publishing a staff-written story based on anonymous sourcing, the immediate editor and a senior editor – the executive editor, managing editor or other designee – must approve. Thu, two levels of editors must approve the use of anonymous sourcing.
• Since confidentiality is granted on behalf of the newspaper, not an individual, it is the supervising editor’ responsibility to know, review and approve the use of confidential source information in a story. We’re in this together. The source should know this.
• When writing a story, make as clear s possible – without jeopardizing the source’s identity – the source’s position or motive. The public is entitled to as much information as possible to gauge source’s reliability. Explain why the source must be anonymous.
• Once the promise of anonymity is made, it is kept. This applies to both the reporter dealing with the source or sources, and the editors who approve their uses. Keep promises.
• Sources should know they’re expected to deal honorably with the newspaper. If the source knowingly gives false information for publication, the commitment to confidentiality dissolves.
• These guidelines should be explained to the source.

 

This policy involves instances in which we quote someone anonymously or attribute information to an anonymous source. That is different than having a tipster point The Herald to memos or other information that become the basis of a story. In those cases, the story is built upon memos or other information, not anonymous sourcing.

 

 

UNDERCOVER JOURNALISM

 

Avoid undercover or other surreptitious methods of gathering information except when traditional open methods will not yield information vital to the public.

 

Use of such methods, which can be important in very rare instances, should be explains as part of the story.

 

Undercover methods must be approved by two levels of editors.

 

 

CORRECTIONS

 

Mistakes should be corrected in a timely manner – immediately on the Web site and the next day in the newspaper, if possible. Errors of fact and misspellings that appeared in print should not be repeated in the published correction, unless it is vital for clarity. If a wrong photograph was used, the correct photo should run with the correction.

 

If a serious error occurs in a local obituary, re-run the corrected obituary in its entirety. Even errors of omission should be corrected, such as failing to disclose a story subject’s business or political connection to a topic we are writing about.

 

Corrections should be approved by a supervising editor or managing editor, and in exceptional cases, the executive editor and legal counsel. The Herald strives to correct all errors.

 

 

ATTRIBUTION

 

NEVER plagiarize. Give credit when you use the work of others. Readers expect work appearing in The Herald to be original. You shouldn’t, for instance, recycle work you published elsewhere and rpesent it as original in The Herald.

 

 

QUOTES, DATELINES AND GIVING CREDIT

 

The following guidelines are not intended to tell reporters and editors how to write stories; individuals make those decisions on a story-by-story basis. Rather, they drive home the point that we should be as clear as possible regarding who gathered the news, from where and how. The bottom line: Do not mislead readers of a quote’s context or origin.

 

Do’s and Don’ts of Quotes:

• While face-to-face interviews are often the best way to gather information, they sometime are not possible given deadline and distance restrictions. Do not imply you conducted a face-to-face interview if you did not.
• If it’s important to note that your quote came from a letter, or by some means other than a traditional interview, say that. For instance, if a story subject declines a sit-down interview but would respond only in writing, it’s important to make that distinction clear.
• Be diligent when using quotes received in e-mails, and make efforts to tell readers when you are using quotes obtained via e-mail. One, be sure the subject sent the e-mail, as opposed to a staff member, underling or someone else. E-mils are a quick, easy way to gather information; they also have potential for slip-up. We should be careful.
• If a quote is taken from a wire service, Web site, broadcast interview or other publication, the origin of the quote should be explained. Lifting a quote from a wire story or other publication without attributing it is dangerously close to plagiarism.
• We should always diligently seek out subjects of news stories to give them the opportunity to respond to allegations of wrongdoing.

 

Using datelines:

            Some do’s and don’ts:

• We do not put datelines on stories that are reported by phone from Miami.
• We do not put datelines on stories unless one of the reporters whose byline appears on the story was physically present in that location for the reporting of the story.
• A story that was anchored in Miami but dependent on reporting from one or more reporters may carry a dateline from the location where the reporting took place only if the reporter in that location is receiving a byline.

 

Reporters should not write stories in a manner that implies they were present for something when they were not or that they actually saw something they did not. If you are describing something because you saw it on TV, make clear that TV was your source. If a source tells you who was sitting how at a secret meeting, attribute the information to a person present at the meeting. A note: This is not meant to discourage a vivid reconstruction of events built upon dogged reporting. The point, instead, is that we should not mislead readers.

 

Use of Wires

 

We no longer use the generalized taglines, “This report was supplemented with material from Herald wire services.” Instead, information taken from a wire service, whether in a story that carries a Herald byline or one that carries a “From Herald staff and wire reports” credit line, shall be attributed to the specific wire service, agency, publication or broadcast outlet from which the information came. If more than one wire service is used as a source in a story, each should be credited. When appropriate, such as when a wire service provide a major component of the story, credit the service in the text of the story.

 

Crediting contributors

 

The purpose of a contributor’s tagline is both recognition of a reporter’s or freelancer’s work on a story, and notification that the information in the story was gathered by people other than those listed in the byline. If we insert local material into a wire service story, in addition to attributing such information to ourselves, the reporter who collected the information should get a contributing line.

 

 

 

 

MEALS, TICKETS, TRAVEL

 

As a general rule, we pay our own way. We also act with common sense.

 

The Herald pays for meals shared with news sources. It is acceptable to allow a source to pay – but only with the clear understanding you will reciprocate at a later time.

 

The Herald will pay, where appropriate, for the food of a staff member assigned to cover a news event. For political and charitable fundraisings, The Herald will not, by purchase of a meal ticket, contribute in any way to a campaign. The amount paid should be a reasonable estimate of the price of a similar meal at a restaurant.

 

Free tickets to movies, plays, sports events and other entertainment, for which admission is normally charged, shall not be solicited or accepted. There re exceptions: Private screenings or special press showings for which tickets are not sold to thee public; registration fees at seminars or convention attended with specific story coverage in mind; passes to special pres box facilities, provided photo galleries and other areas available exclusively to the press, these are used only by those assigned to cover the event.

 

Generally, The Herald will pay all transportation expenses incurred on assignment. In certain circumstances, such as use of military transit, staff member may accept free transportation if it is the only way to effectively complete the assignment. The executive editor should be advised of such situations.

 

Staff members invited to speak before a professional group may accept appropriate travel and meal expenses. Obtain prior approval from your department head.

 

Herald journalists shouldn’t accept honoraria (money or gift of more than token value) for making a speech or participating in any other way before a professional, political, civic or business group that is covered, or might be covered, by the newspaper. Exceptions to this policy should be made only with care and consultation with the executive editor. The test is whether that journalist, in accepting compensation beyond expenses from any group, could be perceived as then being compromised in covering that group.

 

 

GIFTS, BOOKS, RECORDS

 

Staff members will not accept gifts, samples or free services from source or anyone we write about. All gifts received, except items of insignificant value o $5 or less, should be returned through an editor’s office or routed to charity.

 

If it is impractical to return or donate a gift, such as an item that is perishable, the item can be shared throughout the office. In such cases however, the gift will not be kept by or used to the benefit of any one individual.

 

Books, records and tapes sent to The Herald for review are accepted as news releases and may e kept by the reviewer. Those not reviewed become property of The Herald for reference purposes, can be given or donated to charity.

 

OUTSIDE RELATIONSHIPS

 

Staff members should avoid outside activities that might compromise – or appear to compromise – the expectation that we are independent. That means staff members should not personally and publicly endorses political candidates or take part in political campaigns. You should not make contributions to political candidates or political parties, directly or indirectly.

 

No newsroom employee should run for political office. Nor should he or she accept appointment to a public agency or committee or take part in a public campaign if the activity could be viewed as a conflict.

 

From time to time, executives of The Herald and Knight Ridder serve on civic or other boards in the region. Beyond passing along news tips, the executives should play no role in the production of stories involving those boards, nor should they influence how those stories are handles. Herald executives or staff members with close personal or civic relationships with sources should not influence stories about those subjects, beyond passing along news tips.

 

When The Herald or Knight Ridder sponsors an event, and The Herald devotes news coverage to that event, we should make the sponsorship relationship clear to readers. Likewise, if a Herald executive or staff member serves in a position of authority on a local board or local issue we are writing about, we should disclose the relationship to readers.

 

 

BUSINESS & PERSONAL DEALINGS

 

Herald staffers must also avoid seeking special treatment because of their roles. For example:

• Staff members are not to use their positions with The Herald for profit, benefit or other advantage in any personal business or commercial transaction, or to cause anyone a financial loss. This applies to family, friends and acquaintance
• Staff members should not use their Herald connections, or Herald connections, or Herald stationery, to seek special consideration from private campaigns or public agencies to expedite personal business; obtain information or photographs for purposes other than those of the paper; or obtain tickets or other considerations free or at reduced rates no available to the public.
• Staff members may not enter into business or financial relationship with news sources. Members should not give gifts or take other actions that could raise questions about The Herald’s impartiality.
• Staff members with more than nominal corporate investments or stock holdings should not make news decisions that involve those corporations. If this is not possible, the potential conflict should be disclosed to the department head.
• Staff members should avoid investing in companies or industries about which they regularly make news decisions. Any such holdings should be disclosed to the department head.
• Staff members should not write, edit, photograph, illustrate or make news judgments about anyone related to them by blood or marriage or with whom they have a lose personal relationship. This does not apply to first person stories in which the relationship is clearly spelled out.
• If you are writing a significant story about a person or place you aare close to – such as an alma mater, for instance – it may be appropriate to disclose that in the story; at the least, disclose the connection to your editor.

 

IN HIRING, AVOID CRONYISM

 

Supervisors or department heads should not hire relatives or close personal friends; if a relative or close personal friend applies to The Herald, the hiring decision should be made by those not related to the candidate.

 

Supervisors should not assign subordinates to do work unrelated to The Herald.

 

Sources who re regularly quoted in The Herald – such as police officers, politicians or public officials – should not be paid to write guest editorials or columns without the express approval o the executive editor. This, of course, would not preclude anyone from writing an Op/Ed piece relevant to a current issue.

 

 

 

FREELANCING

 

Full-time newsroom staff members should not freelance for competing publication. Staffers should not freelance for individuals institutions they cover or make editorial decisions on.

 

Any freelance editing, writing, design or photography assignment by a full-time staff member should be approved by a department head. In freelancing, staffers should make clear to all parties they are working independent of The Herald.

 

When publishing material outside The Herald, whether in a freelance piece, a web log, or some other form, staffers should inform their supervisor if the material makes note of the staff member’s Herald affiliation.

 

 

PHOTO GUIDELINES

 

The primary purpose o this policy is to heighten awareness and to set down expanded guidelines regarding questionable picture taking and image altering practices. We embrace the following:

 

As photojournalists, we have the responsibility to document society and to preserve its images as a matter of historical record. It is clear that the emerging electronic technologies provide new challenges to the integrity of photographic images…in light of this…(we) reaffirm the basis of our ethics: Accurate representation is the benchmark of our profession. We believe photojournalistic guidelines for fair and accurate reporting should be the criteria for judging what may be done electronically to a photograph. Altering editorial content…is a breach of the ethical standards…

—National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics and the NPPA Digital Code of Ethics

 

 

The Herald should distinguish between a breach of photojournalism ethics and an editing decision on distasteful or disturbing photographs dealing with violence, war and social norms or etiquette. A handful of readers may threaten to drop subscriptions over a photograph they deem not worthy of their tastes or sensibilities. Most of those readers will return to the newspaper. However, the loss of credibility after a breach of photojournalism ethics is arguably unrecoverable.

 

 

• News photos – The Herald does not ‘stage’ news photos. We do not concoct such pictures and try to pass them off as reality. Subjects will not be manipulated, and no alteration of contact will be permitted. It is the individual responsibility of every photojournalist at all times to strive for pictures hat report truthfully, honestly and objectively. For example, items cannot be inserted or removed from a scene by the photographer.
• Feature photos – Heavy-handed intrusion by a photographer on a ‘found’ feature situation is prohibited. Example: Kids playing in the rain shouldn’t be asked to do anything specific for the camera. The photographer may find himself or herself unduly influencing a subject, directly or indirectly. The photographer should explain any manipulation or ‘directing’ of subjects to an editor. This does not extend to obviously controlled situations, such as portraits, etc. In the case of an environmental portrait of a person in their office, lab or other location, the photographer should stipulate in the caption that the photographer is controlling the person and event. For example, a doctor or researcher demonstrates a procedure for the sake of the photographer. A photo editor must follow through with the page designer and copy editor to make sure this I explained in the cutline.
• Photo illustrations – Originating desk editors and reporters must make every attempt to submit a photo assignment that allows the photographer to document an actual event relevant to the story. Any attempt to direct a situation and try to pass it off as an actual event is prohibited. Photo assignment editors and section editors must be vigilant about the integrity of the situation and not confuse fantasy for reality. The rare exceptions to the above include obvious photo illustrations, where the reader has no doubt a situation had been artificially concocted or set up for special effect. Such photos should clearly be labeled: Photo Illustration. An example would be the Dave Barry Gift Guide photos. Any extraordinary special effect that may be construed as reality should be explained in the caption, for instances, a multiple—exposure sequence of a lunar eclipse. In every case, the reader must be able to discern that the published image is an obvious illustration of an idea or theme. All photo illustrations, whether taken in a studio or at a location shoot, must be fully explained in the caption and labeled as a photo illustration.
• Relatives and friends – The use of Herald employees or immediate family members as models for photo illustrations or assignments should be discouraged whenever the model’s face can be seen or the model can be identified by some other distinguishable feature.

 

Digital alteration

 

• Acceptable – Nothing in this policy forbids technical enhancement of the image to provide an accurate reproduction of the original scene – if done so by means that do not alter the content or intent o the image.
• Acceptable – Techniques such as tonal adjustment, dodging and burning, retouching of defects such as dust spots or mechanical artifacts such as scratches and corrupt pixels are all appropriate – as long as they do not change the reader’s perception of the scene’s accuracy (as captured by the photographer).
• Not acceptable – No image which the reader may assume to be a literal and accurate representation o a scene may be altered or manipulated in any way that will change the content or the reader’s perception of the image. This includes removing or adding an element to the image; substituting or pasting-in any element from one image to another; moving, cloning or relocating elements within  given image, or manipulating tone, contrast or color to the extent that alters the sense of the image.

 

Photo illustrations

 

An obvious exception to the above rules are those images that the reader will clearly understand to be an artistic concept or creative illustration not intending to represent reality. Such an image, often an exaggeration, must be clearly labeled as photo illustration. Again, an example would be the Dave Barry Gift Guide or an illustration meant to depict a person’s emotion or feelings.

 

Practices of photography agencies, contributors and freelancers

 

Much of the photography published by The Herald is from wire service, freelance or other outside sources. This raises a number of concerns that must be addressed:

 

Verification – The editor receiving the transmission and the director of photography must validate the veracity of any questionable photograph before the photograph is considered for publication

 

Conflicts of interest – The Herald must also review and question outside partnerships any photography agency may have with the subjects and organizations they are covering for editorial purposes. The decision to alter contacts with any agency that may have a conflict must be made by the director of photography, managing editor/presentation and executive editor. An example of a possible conflict of interest: A photo company that takes pictures for publication and also maintains a partnership with a professional sports league. In essence it is serving two clients – news media organizations that subscribe to the service and the professional league. The arrangement appears as a conflict and could negate he objectivity necessary in covering sporting and non-sporting events.

 

The Herald must adhere to this policy when hiring freelance photographers who may have a conflict of interest in covering an event or subject. For example, a freelancer must alert the Herald when he or she ahs previously entered into a contract with association or organization the photographer is being asked to cover for the newspaper. The issue will be discussed with the freelancer and a determination will be made if there is a conflict.

 

Giving due credit – The Herald should also examine all, special outside photographs provided to the newspaper and review how this work should be credited. An example could be work from a photographer employed by a public entity that submits photographs to The Herald for publication. The Herald must make clear trough a credit line that the person supplying the photograph is also being paid to advocate and submit the photography to the media organizations. Example: A cruise ship or resort publicist. Such situations must be handled on a case-by-case basis to determine if there is a conflict of interest.

 

 

BACK-CHECKING STORIES

 

For years, it has been The Herald’s practice to back-check stories for accuracy.

 

This entails randomly selecting a few staff-written stories or photos a month and sending them to people quoted in them. The story subjects will be invited to comment on such aspects as accuracy and fairness. We will make clear to readers that this is a random selection process to help us ensure accuracy. Not an indication of concern over any individual’s work. If a story subject raises questions of fairness or accuracy, we will, of course, seek input from the staffers involved and take additional steps as appropriate.

 

This review shouldn’t worry any of us – and will signal those who come in contact with us that we care about these issues.

 

ETHICS COMMITTEE FOR THE FUTURE

 

The Herald intends to keep an ethics committee active even after this report. The goal is to have an impartial committee in place of individual staff members to turn as they encounter ethical dilemmas – whether they be questions over the handling of particular sources and stories, or more far-reaching issues about editorial decisions that may erode ethics within the newsroom.

 

The committee cannot and should not take the place of individual line editors who deal with difficult story questions on deadline. Rather, it should be empowered to serve as a sounding board and guide for issues that can be addressed off-deadline.

 

The committee membership will rotate every few years, and will include representation from different newsroom departments and bureaus.

 

 

A FINAL THOUGHT

 

This policy cannot serve as a crystal ball. We cannot anticipate every difficult situation or question sure to arise as we cover the news. Its goal is to offer common-sense guidance. The most important point: When in doubt, ask. Talk with your supervisor. If the situation warrants it, talk with the Ethics Committee.

 

Every staff member will be asked to verify in writing that he or she has read and accepted these guidelines.

 

 

 

THE LETTER:

 

Dear Mr./Ms._________________,

 

Credibility, fairness and accountability are important to us at The Herald. To assist us in maintaining the high standards we expect of ourselves in these and other areas, we randomly and routinely select staff-produced articles and photographs for comment by the people who were involved in their preparation. You are among those people and I would sincerely appreciate hearing back from you about that experience.

 

Attached to this letter is a brief questionnaire. Feel free to reply with as much detail as you’d like. Again, this random proves in no way implies concern with any individuals’ work, but rather is intended to help assure accuracy in The Herald. All of your thoughts will be shared with the journalists who were involved in preparing the article for publication.

 

Please mail or e-mail your replies at the addressed provided on this page. Thank you for your time and attention to this request and for your previous assistance.

 

 

 

Best regards,

 

 

 

 

Executive Editor

 

With enclosure

 

Story name:

 

Date of publication:

 

Reporter(s)/photographer(s):

 

1. Is your recollection of the interview consistent with the quotations of paraphrases attributed to you? Yes (__), No (__). Comments:

 

1. From your perspective, was the story an accurate and fair representation of the news event in which you were involved? Yes (__), No (__). Comment:

 

1. Did the headline – or, in the case of a photograph, the cutline – accurately represent the contents of the article? Yes (__), No (__). Comments:

 

1. Overall, what was your impression of the conduct of The Herald journalists with whom you had contact? Was it professional? Yes (__), No (__). Comments:

 

 

*********************************************************************

 

 

4) Further Analysis of Ethical Policy:

 

While The Herald’s policy covers numerous issues in great depth, while including specific examples in order to clarify meaning for its staff members, it neglects other issues, such as dealing with juveniles and other crime victims. While using a case-by-case system might be effective, the ethics committee should consider including specific guidelines in the policy, as the policy has not been updated since September, 2005. On the other hand, the guidelines on anonymous sources, remaining independent, business standards and photography are straightforward and are explained in a thorough manner.

 

In regards to accuracy, The Herald is adamant about fact checking and their random system of back-checking stories. The fact that sources could potentially be questioned about their interview with a journalist prevents and reduces the chance for reporters to fabricate facts and events.

 

 

5) Views of Ethical Policy:

 

Regarding anonymous sources, Editorial Page Editor Joe Oglesby believes that every newspaper, in general, should encourage its staff to not use anonymous sources, and that The Herald sometimes uses them too much. Also, when writing news stories, if a person’s name is mentioned, he believes that person must be spoken to before publication so that he or she can have the ability to refute anything said, if necessary or possible.

In providing his opinion and own personal philosophy of journalism, Oglesby said especially in editorial writing, opinion should be fact-based, and the story should offer rationale so the reader can get the point. In trying to remain objective, The Herald articulates the opposing point of view in an issue. This shows the readers that the newspaper understands their perspective, Oglesby said. “Our goal is to gain the respect of readers, not to win arguments.”

 

The diversity within the circulation area of The Herald is also important when discussing fairness and objectivity. “There are people who are Jewish, who are from Colombia, Venezuela, Cuba, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and when we show that we understand the world from their perspective, they appreciate the effort, even if they disagree with our position,” Oglesby said.

 

The diversity within the community also conflicts the balance between national and local editorials. The editorial board at The Herald does not try to artificially create a balance between local and national issues. “This is easy for us because of the diversity in our community. A lot of issues that may be national or international are, in fact, local for us,” Oglesby said.

 

 

6) Policy on:

 

Anonymous sources – In general, The Herald’s policy is to identify sources, and a name should be attached to every quote. However, they do have exceptions when anonymous sources can be used. It is important to note, however, that the policies only refer to quoting someone anonymously or attributing information to someone who wishes to remain anonymous. It does not apply to a tipster who points The Herald to memos or other information that becomes the basis of a story. As explained in the ethics policy, in those cases, the story would be built upon memos or other information – not anonymous sourcing.

 

Identifying juveniles of suspected crimes – The Herald does not identity.

 

Identifying victims of crime, especially rape and molestation victims – The Herald does not identity.

 

Fact checking – The Herald has a monthly back-checking system for looking for accuracy in its stories, which involves the reporters and/or photojournalists involved, as well as the sources.

 

 

 

 

 

7) Outside Influence on News Content:

 

Especially when dealing with the editorial section, a large newspaper such as The Herald supplies and receives many diverse views, and often times, public officials request to give their opinions about specific topics and supply counterarguments if they are depicted in a critical or negative light. Oglesby gave one example of how an editorial about the construction of the new transit system in the area criticized the city for wasting money and being corrupt. Consequently, the county mayor and commissioner called The Herald and invited Oglesby to lunch in order to discuss their viewpoints on the issue. “We will listen to anybody and give them the chance to refute criticism,” he said.

 

 

 

8) Training:

 

The Herald has internal training within each department, including workshops on computers, how to do sources, and basic computer languages. Every department has an allotted budget that is devoted to training its employees.

 

 

9) Editing Protocols:

 

The Herald does not have a written set of editing protocols, but it does have its own style manual. For Oglesby, when editing editorials by non-staff writers, he either accepts them or refuses them for publication, based on the information. When editing his staff’s work, he tells his writers to be clear, to use action verbs, be straight forward, and to not use sarcasm or innuendo. His policy on letters is that he will not publish a letter that is a personal attack. “I want to have a civic tone and engage the reader in a positive manner,” he said. When editing columns from other sources that are already edited to a particular style, he converts them to The Herald’s style.

 

Another protocol when editing the editorial section is that the opinion is always at the beginning, usually in the first paragraph. Then, an explanation is provided in order to understand how the writer arrived at his or her position. “We think this is a better approach than the traditional way of building up to a conclusion at the end of the editorial,” Oglesby said. “For one thing, people don’t have as much time for newspapers as they once did. They want to know what you think and why. We tell them that immediately.”

 

When editing editorials and deciding which ones to put in the newspaper, Oglesby looks for how the opinion is reached. “I don’t care if you have an opinion. Everyone has an opinion – it’s like having eyeballs. I just want to know how you reached your opinion with a clear and logical explanation.”

 

As far as photographs are concerned, The Herald has specific guidelines as to what is acceptable and what is not when altering digital photographs. Technically enhancing images in order to provide an accurate reproduction of the original scene, tonal adjustment, and retouching defects such as dust spots are acceptable, as long as content and intent of the image are not altered.

 

 

10) Pay:

 

Pay ranges depending on size and circulation of the newspaper and how long an editor has been with the venue. At a large paper like The Herald, a beginning editor earns between $ 35,000 and $40,000, and an assistant city editor earns between $ 75,000 and $80,000. An executive editor, on the other hand, earns about $200,000.

 

 

11) Convergence:

 

The Miami Herald’s online version is completely separate from its print version, and there are different stories in each, with some inevitable overlap.  The online version has a different editor, along with different staff members. There are also special features on the Web site, including a calendar of events, message boards, podcasts, and Web cams. All of the editorials, columns and letters to the editor that are published in print, are published online. The Herald is currently trying to find a way to publish all of the unpublished letters and many of the unpublished columns online as well. Unfortunately, it hasn’t found an easy way to do that as of now. “We get hundreds of columns and letters each week, but we are able to publish only a fraction of them in the paper. We have the capacity to put all of that information online. We just need to figure out a way of making it happen.”

 

 

12) Career Advice:

 

As an African American, Oglesby has worked his way up the journalism ladder as a minority, from being a police reporter to being one of the head editors at The Herald. His advice to young journalists starting their careers is that they shouldn’t necessarily study journalism in college. On the contrary, they should find a way to write while in college, whether for a local magazine, a newspaper, or whatever interests them. He believes that valuable additions to a newsroom are not those who have studied journalism, but those who are educated on other issues and “can bring something to the table.” He appreciates someone who knows about history, politics, philosophy, economics and can add a specific knowledge to a newsroom. Consequently, when looking at a resume and evaluating a potential employee, he doesn’t care that someone might have graduated with a 4.0 from one of the top journalism schools in the country, but rather that they have experience in the field, while having a wide range of knowledge in other areas of study.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reading Abstract – The Existential Copy Editor April 9, 2008

In today’s competitive workforce, to be successful in the world of journalism is particularly difficult. Ironically, a journalism degree is not even necessary in order to pursue a career in media. As such, students expecting to be successful right out of college are often disappointed to face the fact that beginning reporters and editors do not make high salaries. As a copy editor, it is often hard to gain the respect and praise in a newsroom. However, adopting an existential philosophy and being can benefit copy editors in a busy newsroom. As Susan Keith explains, copy editors have a vital role of being the last line of defense against errors. With existentialism; however, they also have the potential to serve as the last line of defense against violations of ethically challenged journalists to reject a “herd mentality” and embrace freedom and responsibility.

According to existentialism, humans must experience angst to experience the possibilities of life. Therefore, instead of feeling isolated in a conflicting niche as a journalist in society, existentialism allows a copy editor to take a leading role in their own choices and actions. In order to succeed as a copy editor, existentialism shows that one can not merely sit as a passive receiver of jobs and responsibilities, but must take matters in his or her own hands and be an active supplier of autonomy. The difficulty in being a copy editor is that potential and motivation are often hidden behind daily obligations and certain expectations. Copy editors are rarely allowed to create their own content or choose the topics they get to work on. An existential copy editor finds a way to demonstrate individualism by creating their own ethical standards and expressing himself.

Journalists are usually taught to be objective when providing information. What is interesting to note about an existential copy editor is that he or she rejects the idea that any human can produce a truly objective report, what Merrill called the “objective-neutralism” fallacy. Therefore, while copy editors are often taken for granted, existentialism can allow them to connect with the readers, and even perhaps making changes in their newsroom or the media field by volunteering for difficult assignments and embracing new technology. Existentialism can improve the difficulties that copy editors face because they will no longer be looking for the respect when wishing to advance – “the existential copy editor is an internally motivated steward of good journalism.” The existential copy editor is engaged and committed wholly and is not afraid of speaking out. If budding, young journalists adapted existentialism as their personal mantra, then they would challenge their superiors and contribute to a more diverse newsroom.

Reading Abstract – Week 11 March 25, 2008

Under the Getting Sued section of Dr. R’s Journalism Readings, many issues come up regarding the importance of editing blogger comments and the risks that come along with true, but harmful, information.

In “Assessing Legal Risks and Guidelines for User Comments,” Al Tompkins stresses the implications of having third parties post their own information on news Web sites. With the increased use of technology in reporting news and information, non-expert journalists have the ability to post their own opinions that may, whether they are aware of it or not, can bring defamation; invasion of privacy; misappropriation and right of publicity; and emotional distress. While the posted information from online users is not directly from a professional news representative, news outlets should hold users’ opinions to the same editing standards that they do their own work. Since the media are responsible for informing the public, any posted comment that gives what might be considered professional advice should be published cautiously and under strict scrutiny.

As a journalism student, I find it inexcusable that news executives hold a common belief that if they do not edit comments, they are more protected from defamation and or/libel claims than if they edit the feedback. If editors edited feedback they way they edited their own stories, then they would have the opportunity to increase their reputations and credibility. In addition, if users knew that their information would be under strict editing standards, then defamatory and false information could possibly be prevented.

“Dialogue or Diatribe,” is a clear example of the problems that come with including user feedback and comments on news Web sites. While the survey in the article shows that most newspapers do edit, spike or kill comments before they are posted, Ellyn Angelotti points out that a majority of newspapers that responded are the ones that approve comments before posting. As with most other surveys, there is a hole in the results; they are misleading because newspapers that don’t approve or kill comments before publication aren’t represented.

While user comments can carry legal issues, sometimes reporters and editors are the ones who dig themselves into controversial lawsuits. While reporting the truth accurately is one of the main tenants of journalism, “reporting the truth is not always popular,” as described in “Truth v. False Light.” When government officials abuse their power, they do not always welcome media attention when their acts are negatively reported in the news. While defamation suits are usually held to the same standard of evidence as false-light actions, there is a lower standard of proof for the latter in Florida. News organizations, unfortunately, can be sued even when the information reported is true and accurate. While the standards in Florida threaten the ability of the media to report the truth, it also demonstrates the importance of careful editing. Editors and reporters alike need to realize the implications of word choice; for example, the use of “a man shot and killed his wife” should not be used in a story about an accidental death. Especially with the use of the Internet, news is a constant, fast-paced source of information that lives on infinitely. Editors have an obligation to make sure that information is true, fair and sensitive to others. In the end, they will protect their readers and themselves.

Reading Abstract – Week 10

When using statistics, polls and surveys in news stories, writers and editors both need to understand the margin of error and the possibility of deception and inaccuracies that come along with reporting that uses numbers and math. In “Margin of Error,” Robert Niles explains the mathematical definition of and process of margin of error, as well its relationship to the standard deviation. The problem is that the average reader probably does not comprehend the basics behind arriving at the margin of error, so the numbers can be misleading for them. As we have learned in previous articles regarding journalists and mathematics, many reporters and editors don’t see math as being part of their job, and consequently, the average journalist is most likely not aware of the repercussions of reporting facts with the inclusion of margin of error. Perhaps stories regarding polls where margins of error and surveys play an active role, a clear explanation should be included so the reader can fully understand the significance and meaning of the story. If the reporter were responsible to include that explanation, misleading and deceptive information and assumptions could be prevented.

            Jack Rosenthal also demonstrates the possibility of misguiding readers when using surveys and statistics. When dealing with surveys in general, there is often researcher and participant bias, similar to how the actual news does not reflect the general population. When the media have such an important role in providing truth and accuracy, it is important that readers understand the clear messages and facts behind a story. Rosenthal uses the example of the American Medical Association, which reported “an alarming rate of binge drinking and unprotected sex among college women during spring break.” In fact, the report was based on 644 women who volunteered to answer the questions, and only 25 percent of them had actually ever taken a spring break trip. This report is a clear example of how readers can be brainwashed into believing misleading information. Journalists need to be extremely careful not to create a story out of inconclusive data simply to have a story.

            Additionally, Rosenthal explains how The New York Times issued an extensive paper on polling standards for editors and reporters. While all newspapers should do the same, they also need to include these standards and guidelines for their readers as well. Seeing an overabundance of percentages and statistics won’t have any true importance if the readers don’t understand their implications. When covering polls, the National Council on Public Polls recommends that journalists ask themselves 20 questions, including such questions such as who did the polls; who paid for the polls; and what questions were asked. In order to have information that reflects accuracy, journalists should include the answers to these questions in polling stories so that readers won’t fall into the realm of deception. It is important to understand that many readers are naïve, and it is the media’s role to educate and inform readers to their highest capabilities with fair and objective reporting. If polls and surveys continue to be reported and published with research biases, then the media will ultimately fail to fill that role in society.

 

 

 

Reporting on pro-anorexic Web sites March 18, 2008

This past week, I had to do a research paper analyzing the popular account of a topic compared to scientific and scholarly research. I chose to look at an article that reported on Web sites that promoted anorexia and unhealthy eating habits and behaviors. The sites mentioned provide users with an anonymous safe haven where they can normalize their disorder with others who can relate to them. While the information is valuable so that people can become aware of the dangers, there also comes an inevitable possibility that readers who may already feel insecure about their body images and may not already know about these Web-based communities may become curious and visit the sites themselves. Similar to covering suicides, covering such a controversial topic such as anorexia and disordered eating, there always comes the potential for a copycat effect. Journalists need to do their best in reporting such stories with appropriate tones, slants and omissions of facts. Unfortunately, “The winner dies,” which appeared in Salon, did not comply with the ethics and guidelines of traditional journalism. When the media are part of the social constructing process, journalists need to be careful of what and to whom they report. While Brown gives a detailed and accurate account of the Web sites, the article neglects to consider those that may be reading the article as a curiosity into the world of an anorexic. There are exact names and Web sites and links on the online article that allow users to actively search and browse the online communities, which paradoxically goes against the authorial intent. Similar to the pro-ana sites themselves, Brown’s article reinforces certain norms of body images through certain inclusions and phrases. She includes the “pro-ana commandments” and examples of extreme dieting tips, which are informative of what the sites contain, but there is no cautionary disclaimer warning readers or potential visitors that the behavior should not be condoned.

Furthermore, the article was not representative of the total population. Because of the western assumption behind eating disorders, there are many different social and cultural factors that affect body satisfaction in other cultures and races that professionals may not understand or fail to acknowledge. The article says that the pro-anorexic Web sites promote similar tips and advice to what you would see in “any women’s magazine.” However, Latinas and Black females do not have the same body ideals as what the mainstream culture in the United States tells them. Therefore, the reporter of the article is presuming that all women have the same ideals, and neglects the multi-cultural audience, failing to be objective and fair.

As research has shown, many studies are inconclusive as information is usually dependent on volunteers who wish to disclose their anorexic identities. For individuals who are part of minority cultures that don’t traditionally have the same values and body perceptions as the majority Western culture, many accounts go underreported and undiagnosed due to differences in causes and behaviors among different cultures. Consequently, as in many news publications based on statistics and surveys, the percentages used by Brown in the article can be misleading in that saying that 3 percent of all women have eating disorders in the U.S. These figures do not take into account the numerous unreported cases. While her facts come from a credible source, the average reader probably does not understand or is unaware of the factors that are behind the figures documented in the article. In addition, nowhere in the article does Brown mention male anorexia or the use of online forums by males, despite research and evidence that proves men do suffer from the illness as well.

 

Importance of word choice in the media: “elderly”

Throughout the semester, we have learned about the importance of meanings certain words carry. Reporters and editors need to take into account taste, sensitivity and accuracy when covering any story. While watching Nancy Grace, one reporter was talking about the recent news story of 800 dogs being captured in an “elderly” couple’s mobile home. Accordingly, Grace said to the reporter, “how old were they?” The reporter answered that they were in their sixties. Grace asserted that she wouldn’t consider that elderly and that using the word implies a different image. This is a clear example of how something so simple as an adjective used carelessly can bring a complete different connotation for readers and listeners alike. I doubt any 60-year-old listening to the story would consider themselves “elderly,” and editors need to constantly look for possible misleading information.

Starbucks training – real??? March 4, 2008

When browsing the many discussions posted on the blog pages of Poynter Online, I came across an interesting opinion regarding training sessions from numerous businesses, particularly Starbucks. One reader commented that the training was just a ploy for the media to advertise and explained why stores were reluctant to allow reporters sit in on training sessions, saying “If they wanted to train employees, you know how they’d do it? They’d send out instructions to each store, possibly a video tape, and employees would be told to take 10 minutes to watch it. Closing all the stores? Unnecessary. But it gets free advertising.” The discussion on Poynter was about the suggestion of taking time out in order to train newsroom staff, which I believe is a terrible idea, especially when time is money and society has moved into a 24/7 news world.

However, the Starbucks discussion does bring up questions about certain roles of the media. The media are supposed to be independent, but if a story like this simply is a way of advertising, how independent are they? Perhaps, editors should question the actual newsworthiness of a story before reporting on it. Any Starbucks enthusiast wouldn’t really care about a new training of employees and the company already is monopolizing the coffee industry. Secondly, if it was so important, Starbucks locations could have provided their own press releases explaining to customers why they were going to be closed for training.

Prince Harry Media Leak

In light of the recent criticism that the media have received regarding the leak of the fact that Prince Harry has been serving in Afghanistan from the Drudge Report, I believe that the media’s actions cross the line. The media often wonder why readers distrust them, and this is a clear example why. The media had a prior agreement with military defense to withhold the information. Not only does the leak bring up ethical concerns, but also legal ramifications as well. While Prince Harry is a public figure and does have a lower expectation of privacy, I don’t believe that there was any public benefit or newsworthiness in publishing the information. Under a democratic society, the media have stripped him of what we value most – liberty and freedom of choice. If anything, the publishing of the information puts individuals in harm’s way, considering it involves war and human lives. I really don’t think it would have hurt the media if they waited until Prince Harry was finished at battle to publish the story. If they could have waited, they probably would have a better story in the long run and greater positive feedback from readers. It would have been one thing if the media discovered on their own that the prince was in Afghanistan, but the fact that they went against the agreement is simply a portrayal of vindictiveness and loss of credibility on the media’s part.

Reading Abstract – Week 9

This past week’s readings bring up debatable and ethical concerns regarding the use of anonymous sources, as well as how sources should be protected and whether or not reporters should have a certain privilege when writing these kinds of stories. When the media often report on highly publicized governmental and criminal events, reputations and national security are things that are often at stake.

Washington Post national security writer Walter Pincus explains how he made his decisions regarding the Valerie Plame case and how other general guidelines should be used when using confidential sources in “Anonymous sources: their use in a time of prosecutorial interest.” When an administration official was talking to Pincus confidentially about a matter involving Iraqi nuclear activities, he told him about former Ambassador Joseph Wilson’s CIA-sponsored trip to Niger in 2002, which was set up as a “boondoggle” by Wilson’s wife, an analyst with the agency working on weapons of mass destruction.

With information from a confidential source, Pincus had a dilemma. He disclosed the information, but not the source, after Valerie Plame had been named by Robert Novak, who was under criminal investigation. Under certain circumstances, a government official’s disclosure of identity could be a violation of federal law. Receiving a subpoena in order to find out the identity of his source, Pincus refused. He believed that the identity should be withheld until he agreed to reveal himself publicly. With such vital information, Pincus behaved in a way that would abide by the ethical principles of journalism, safeguarding national security and credibility within the media. Pincus brings up an interesting perspective on reporter’s privilege in that he views it as something that is shared by the source and the reporter. Nevertheless, it is extremely risky for a reporter to pledge anonymity and for newspapers to publish information from anonymous sources, as information eventually lacks credibility and readers ultimately don’t know what to believe to be true. As seen in the movie “All the President’s Men,” the use of anonymity harms the media’s profession and diminishes the value of confidentiality given to the people who risk their jobs and reputation for what they believe is the moral thing to do.

One Poynter article by Ryan Pitts asks for the opinions of readers on confidential sources and reveals that “a significant number of readers say the media would be better off not using them, even if that means waiting longer for an important story.” One reader asserts that if a source is willing to give information, then they should be willing to be named, as it is far too easy “to hide behind the cloak of anonymity.”

A lot of times, it is understandable why a newspaper would choose to publish confidential information on a governmental or scandalous story, especially in the profitable business of being the first to know. Many times throughout history, the media have acted as a watchdog and a form of check and balance on the government through the knowledge learned through confidential sources. If the information can be confirmed, then they have succeeded in producing social change. If not, then their reputation, as well as the ones of the subjects of the stories, is tarnished indefinitely. Unfortunately, in today’s age of fast-paced technology and the rush of deadline, thorough reporting and fact checking is not as effective as it should be or once was. The only time information should be published from a confidential source is if the information is absolutely vital to the public interest or prevents harm, if the source is in a position to make the claims and to supply the information, and if there is no other way to obtain the information.

While the American public believes the media would be better without confidential sources, Rachel Smolkin’s article reveals that most agree that reporters should be allowed to keep a source confidential. Ironically, Americans endorse the watchdog role of the media in their role in acting within our democratic government. The use of anonymous sources, incidentally, is a journalistic tool that falls in to a very gray area. While they can be useful, they should be used sparingly and vigilantly, as no one can agree on the harms and benefits that come along the way.

 

Local Paper Description – The Miami Herald

            While the newspaper has a large percentage of non-white newsroom staff, the percentage has gone down since previous years. In 2005 the percentage was 43 percent, and in 2004 it was 63 percent. Ironically, the circulation areas have a non-white population of about 70 percent, while the county’s non-white population is about 80 percent, which clearly does not reflect the actual diversity in the newsroom.

 

Reading Abstract – Week 8 February 26, 2008

When editing a story prior to publication, even the smallest details, such as punctuation and word choice, can change a meaning. In “The Comma that Cost 1 Million Dollars,” Ian Austen describes how a phone company got out of a contract because of a cable provider’s careless use of punctuation. Commas are often small marks that are used for clarification and listing, but in this case, one comma completely changed the meaning of the main clause of the contract. This example shows how important it is for editors to have a watchful eye for grammatical slip-ups, especially when libel and defamation are issues when writing the news. Also, a misplaced comma can change a fact of a story, which would deter readers from the truth.

In “Who you callin’ ungrammatical,” Jan Freeman debates the use of “whom” in formal writing and print. She mentions the opinion of one linguist, who thinks that beginning a question with “whom” in contemporary, standard English would be unusual and bizarre. However, as traditional newspapers and the AP Style Guide tell journalists, “who” is always a subject, never an object. Freeman goes on to explain the ideas of using “whom” in a headline. Some suggest that it sounds too formal to grasp a reader’s attention and would use “who” instead. However, there are others who would use the proper English or simply change the headline to avoid the debate. While formal words, such as “whom” are not often spoken, it is important to keep the English language the way it was intended. If editors and newspapers were told that the difference between “who” and “whom” didn’t matter, then one can’t help but wonder what would come next. While using “who” instead of “whom” doesn’t confuse the reader, allowing it would make room for other exceptions that may not be as synonymous in meaning. Disagreement is beneficial in a newsroom, and editors and reporters need to debate such issues as the use of “whom” because there is a reason why the word exists in the English language. There needs to be editing standards so that errors and confusions don’t appear in news stories.

It is important for copy editors to notice the smallest of grammatical and organizational errors that others among the news staff may not. As Ann Auman describes in her article, copy editors are the “glue in the whole process of writing, editing and presentation.” They add quality and value to the final project. However, in today’s fast-paced news room, copy editors have been given more and more responsibilities with the advent of technology and online projects. Copy editors must look at a story as if it is the first one they will read at any given moment. Fresh, attentive eyes must catch any margin of error so that one hyphen, one article or one pronoun won’t hurt credibility or reputation.

 

Case Study – Grandfather charged in blaze that killed 3

            The headline of this story demonstrates how careful editors need to be before publishing a story. One needs to think carefully if there are any issues that may arise because of publishing one word over another. In this case, for an editor who doesn’t consider a fetus a human life, there would be no problem with the headline. However, for a reader who is a staunch conservative, pro-life activist, then problems will surface. It is best to choose headlines and words that remain neutral. For this story, a better headline would have been something like, “Grandfather sets blaze, charged with 4 murders.” This headline coincides with the facts of the story while avoiding the subjective opinions of how many people actually died.