Comments for Washington News Council http://wanewscouncil.org promoting fairness, accuracy, & balance in the news media Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:01:51 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Journalism Students take the TAO pledge! by Stephen http://wanewscouncil.org/2012/04/16/journalism-students-take-the-tao-pledge/comment-page-1/#comment-681 Stephen Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:01:51 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=3027#comment-681 Great news, John and Jacob! This is indeed a great way to get out the word and create understanding of the ethics and principles of journalism! Great news, John and Jacob! This is indeed a great way to get out the word and create understanding of the ethics and principles of journalism!

]]> Comment on Students nationwide sign up for TAO of Journalism program by Huckleberry Hart http://wanewscouncil.org/2012/02/27/students-nationwide-sign-up-for-tao-of-journalism-program/comment-page-1/#comment-646 Huckleberry Hart Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:29:03 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2894#comment-646 Excellent! Encouraging to say the least. Kudos! Excellent! Encouraging to say the least. Kudos!

]]> Comment on How to hold TV news stations accountable – a letter from reader Bill Santagata by Bill Santagata http://wanewscouncil.org/2012/01/18/how-to-hold-tv-news-stations-accountable-a-letter-from-reader-bill-santagata/comment-page-1/#comment-622 Bill Santagata Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:37:46 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2835#comment-622 I never called them newsreaders in my e-mails in my correspondance to them, nor was I ever condescending. I very politely asked if they would like to participate in this interview. They responded that they would. I thanked them, told them to please take their time, and not hesistate to ask me any questions they had. I also provided them with links to the original articles so they could get more context if they wished. I know these questions are involved and I would have been truly grateful for their assistance. Once I e-mailed the interview questions, I never heard back, even after one quick follow-up e-mail. The exception was one local newsreader who was very polite, seemed genuinely interested in my project, and gave me useful advice on contacting the heads of the news divisions directly (something I haven't had the time to do lately as I'm now back in school). I'd also like to add that there is nothing wrong with being a newsreader: it certainly requires talent such as public speaking skills and screen presence (as someone who participated in acting groups in college I know that acting is not at all as easy as it looks!). My insistance on calling them newsreaders is one of accuracy. According to by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in the "Elements of Journalism" there are 9 principles of journalism that must be met: "The first among them is that the purpose of journalism is to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing. To fulfill this task: 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." (http://www.journalism.org/node/72) Local news fails to meet at least those requirements that I set off by asteriks, and as the FCC found in "Information Needs of Communities" the lack of accountablitiy reporting puts us at risk of government corruption at the local level because the local media is failing in their job to hold them accountable. This is not holding up their duty "to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing." I therefore cannot consider the work that a newsreader performs in most instances to be "journalism." Whether or not it is futile to seek change: we won't know that unless we try first, now won't we? I think that most people have been so lulled into the eyewitness news format (as Richard Campbell states in the article I quote in the questions, the format has been relatively unchanged since the 1970s) that they can't conceive of local news as being anything other than it is presently. We should work to educate the public that there are other means of delivering news of local interest, and that they should stand up and demand more from the people who are licensed to broadcast on *our* airwaves. I never called them newsreaders in my e-mails in my correspondance to them, nor was I ever condescending. I very politely asked if they would like to participate in this interview. They responded that they would. I thanked them, told them to please take their time, and not hesistate to ask me any questions they had. I also provided them with links to the original articles so they could get more context if they wished. I know these questions are involved and I would have been truly grateful for their assistance. Once I e-mailed the interview questions, I never heard back, even after one quick follow-up e-mail. The exception was one local newsreader who was very polite, seemed genuinely interested in my project, and gave me useful advice on contacting the heads of the news divisions directly (something I haven’t had the time to do lately as I’m now back in school).

I’d also like to add that there is nothing wrong with being a newsreader: it certainly requires talent such as public speaking skills and screen presence (as someone who participated in acting groups in college I know that acting is not at all as easy as it looks!). My insistance on calling them newsreaders is one of accuracy. According to by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel in the “Elements of Journalism” there are 9 principles of journalism that must be met:

“The first among them is that the purpose of journalism is to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing.

To fulfill this task:

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.”

(http://www.journalism.org/node/72)

Local news fails to meet at least those requirements that I set off by asteriks, and as the FCC found in “Information Needs of Communities” the lack of accountablitiy reporting puts us at risk of government corruption at the local level because the local media is failing in their job to hold them accountable. This is not holding up their duty “to provide people with the information they need to be free and self-governing.”

I therefore cannot consider the work that a newsreader performs in most instances to be “journalism.”

Whether or not it is futile to seek change: we won’t know that unless we try first, now won’t we? I think that most people have been so lulled into the eyewitness news format (as Richard Campbell states in the article I quote in the questions, the format has been relatively unchanged since the 1970s) that they can’t conceive of local news as being anything other than it is presently. We should work to educate the public that there are other means of delivering news of local interest, and that they should stand up and demand more from the people who are licensed to broadcast on *our* airwaves.

]]> Comment on How to hold TV news stations accountable – a letter from reader Bill Santagata by pete delaunay http://wanewscouncil.org/2012/01/18/how-to-hold-tv-news-stations-accountable-a-letter-from-reader-bill-santagata/comment-page-1/#comment-589 pete delaunay Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:43:47 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2835#comment-589 Mr. Santagata's correspondence to the tv news directors in his area seems condescending and likely heard with a tin ear. Calling them 'news readers' would definitely put their backs up. While their TV news Emmy's for investigative reporting may come from 'tips' vs. investigation, and their stories superficial due to time constraints; trying to 'educate' them about content and important segments vs. features, teasers, house fires and fender benders is futile. Requiring them to disclose commercial messages that appear on air as news features is a slippery slope as 'corporate media sales people' take the reins of their news organizations. Pitching a story that has substance is fun and interesting to talk with real journalists about its value to readers. Having a media buyer orchestrate 'live shots' and showcase advertiser's good deeds in consideration for advertising spot investments crosses the line. The FCC needs to fix that... Mr. Santagata’s correspondence to the tv news directors in his area seems condescending and likely heard with a tin ear. Calling them ‘news readers’ would definitely put their backs up. While their TV news Emmy’s for investigative reporting may come from ‘tips’ vs. investigation, and their stories superficial due to time constraints; trying to ‘educate’ them about content and important segments vs. features, teasers, house fires and fender benders is futile. Requiring them to disclose commercial messages that appear on air as news features is a slippery slope as ‘corporate media sales people’ take the reins of their news organizations. Pitching a story that has substance is fun and interesting to talk with real journalists about its value to readers. Having a media buyer orchestrate ‘live shots’ and showcase advertiser’s good deeds in consideration for advertising spot investments crosses the line. The FCC needs to fix that…

]]> Comment on 13th Annual Gridiron Dinner a smashing success! by corey http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/12/21/13th-annual-gridiron-dinner-a-smashing-success/comment-page-1/#comment-561 corey Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:26:01 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2807#comment-561 This was an excellent event, great food, wonderful hosts and very funny roasters. The event raised money for Chihuly’s glass schools that provide a place for underprivileged kids to learn a skill that otherwise they never would have never experienced. The wine and food was delicious and the Theo Chocolate tasting dessert bar was amazing. We had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year! This was an excellent event, great food, wonderful hosts and very funny roasters. The event raised money for Chihuly’s glass schools that provide a place for underprivileged kids to learn a skill that otherwise they never would have never experienced. The wine and food was delicious and the Theo Chocolate tasting dessert bar was amazing.
We had a wonderful time and can’t wait for next year!

]]> Comment on The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission by Join The Carnival Of Journalism! « NABJdigital Blog http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/01/19/the-university-of-washingtons-center-for-community-and-civic-engagement-an-example-for-the-knight-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Join The Carnival Of Journalism! « NABJdigital Blog Tue, 25 Jan 2011 12:31:12 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2107#comment-284 [...] Washington News Council – The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission [...] [...] Washington News Council – The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission [...]

]]> Comment on The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission by brianglanz http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/01/19/the-university-of-washingtons-center-for-community-and-civic-engagement-an-example-for-the-knight-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-282 brianglanz Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:26:33 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2107#comment-282 Jacob, thanks especially for profiling Puget Sound Off, I'd not known about it and like a lot of their approach. OH on Twitter via new WNC Community member <a href='http://wanewscouncil.org/members/michvinmar/' rel="nofollow">@michvinmar</a> and also part of the #jcarn ... BS Detection 101: Why universities need to teach the new literacy | Regret the Error: http://bit.ly/iiY0vZ #pubmedia Jacob, thanks especially for profiling Puget Sound Off, I’d not known about it and like a lot of their approach.

OH on Twitter via new WNC Community member @michvinmar and also part of the #jcarn … BS Detection 101: Why universities need to teach the new literacy | Regret the Error: http://bit.ly/iiY0vZ #pubmedia

]]> Comment on The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission by A Confetti Carnival of Journalism #jcarn – The role of Universities… « Carnival of Journalism http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/01/19/the-university-of-washingtons-center-for-community-and-civic-engagement-an-example-for-the-knight-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-281 A Confetti Carnival of Journalism #jcarn – The role of Universities… « Carnival of Journalism Fri, 21 Jan 2011 17:05:05 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2107#comment-281 [...] Jacob Caggiano points to some of the interesting work being done in Washington (and also points to Jessica’s Common Language Project). Breaking down Knight Foundation’s specific recommendations we see how a few programs coming from The University of Washington are hitting some of them square on the head. [...] [...] Jacob Caggiano points to some of the interesting work being done in Washington (and also points to Jessica’s Common Language Project). Breaking down Knight Foundation’s specific recommendations we see how a few programs coming from The University of Washington are hitting some of them square on the head. [...]

]]> Comment on The University of Washington’s Center for Communication and Civic Engagement – An example for the Knight Commission by The Carnival Takes Off: #jcarn – The role of Universities… « RJI http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/01/19/the-university-of-washingtons-center-for-community-and-civic-engagement-an-example-for-the-knight-commission/comment-page-1/#comment-280 The Carnival Takes Off: #jcarn – The role of Universities… « RJI Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:37:41 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2107#comment-280 [...] Jacob Caggiano points to some of the interesting work being done in Washington (and also points to Jessica’s Common Language Project). Breaking down Knight Foundation’s specific recommendations we see how a few programs coming from The University of Washington are hitting some of them square on the head. [...] [...] Jacob Caggiano points to some of the interesting work being done in Washington (and also points to Jessica’s Common Language Project). Breaking down Knight Foundation’s specific recommendations we see how a few programs coming from The University of Washington are hitting some of them square on the head. [...]

]]> Comment on WOO-HOO! We met the Gates Foundation Challenge! by Steven A. Smith http://wanewscouncil.org/2011/01/19/woo-hoo-we-met-the-gates-foundation-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Steven A. Smith Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:24:39 +0000 http://wanewscouncil.org/?p=2069#comment-277 John, Congratulations. This is great news. Sorry to hear about the MNC, a pioneering experiment. But it is good news that the WNC can continue its work. Steve Smith John,

Congratulations. This is great news. Sorry to hear about the MNC, a pioneering experiment. But it is good news that the WNC can continue its work.

Steve Smith

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