Student Zone

On-line Writing Assignment #2
February 15, 2005
Kari McLean

Chapters 5 - 10 set the scene inwhich journalism is created. It describes in rich detail the changes in journalism that have occurred due to new situations and the conflicts that have arisen. This book stands, in part, as an indictment of current trends in the corporate world where journalism is produced. The authors discussed this in different ways throughout the book, showing how these situational realities bump up against the idealistic aim of a journalist. The elements are designed to help a journalist produce against these very real obstacles.

Some of the author's advice is about the ethical aspects of journalism. Some of their guidance is more technical in nature. Put together I think the authors describe the landscape and purpose of journalism fairly idealistically, but also quite accurately.

The authors draw a clear picture of how many obstacles to good journalism exist -- both in the larger realm and within the journalist her or himself. "Innumerable hurdles to good news that is accurate, fair, balanced, citizen-focused, independent-minded, and courageous." (p181). These chapters address big questions such as "What is news?" (p 163), "…why does the news so often fail?" (p149), "What, then, makes something journalism?" (p 95), and "…can we see the whole community in the newspaper or newscast?" (p165). In answering these questions and describing these hurdles, the authors also describe the elements of journalism as a means to overcome these hurdles to good journalism. Kovach and Rosenstiel make it clear that adherence to these elements will make good journalism that not only "reflect[s] community deeply" but also challenges the community's values and preconceptions (p143.)

These chapters and the acknowledgement portion of "The Elements of Journalism" also continue the discussion of journalism's place in a democracy. In the acknowledgement portion of this book, Kovach and Rosenstiel state on page 200, "journalists helped create the first amendment and then gave it its meaning. Their legacy imposes on us the obligation to accept the responsibility of a free and independent press and realize its promise to a self-governing people." Throughout their discussion of the elements, the authors return to this idea time and again. Due to the important relationship that the press has with democracy and its citizens, "ethics are woven into every element of journalism (p182). Speaking of the elements, Kovach and Rosenstiel state "They also hold the only protection against the force that threatens to destroy journalism and thus weaken democratic society." (p197)

The authors discuss the various obligations that news organizations, journalists, and citizens hold together and separately to create a strong democracy. Throughout the book, Kovach and Rosenstiel reinforce the concept of the journalist as an independent monitor of those in power -- stating that journalists must play a central watchdog role, and be, in James Madison's words, a "bulwark of liberty."

"News organizations are complex and hierarchical" (p189), "governed by the requirements of the production facilities" (p190), and are run by people who are, like all people everywhere, fallible. Events in the larger world impact news production and journalists. Mergers and buyouts are turning news organizations into just one part of a corporate conglomerate. News organizations are now just one of many cost centers inside a parent company, with a responsibility to meet or exceed budget expectations. Kovach and Rosenstiel warn that the press will be subsumed inside the world of commercialized speech unless we are all vigilant. The authors assert that "This is a threat to independent journalistic integrity and fact digging. (p126)

This economic reality can and does cause conflict of interest for a news organization on a daily basis. Kovach and Rosenstiel describe the journalist as caught between the job of serving the public interest and meeting the demands of the news organization's business function. Very often market research has dictated not enough information provided to some market segments and too much to others. The current environment has led, in part, to a sensationalizing the news, a blurring of the line between reporting and entertainment. What passes for news now might not be journalism. It might be opinion, commentary or infotainment -- news about celebrities, entertainers, or opinion instead of factual information about what our civic institutions are doing.

What now passes for true investigative reporting is the tabloid treatment of daily news The investigative reporting of today has very little to do with the tradition of the early 1900 "muckrakers," and the investigative journalists of the early 1970's. It does not "monitor the powerful nor give voice to the voiceless." This type of news is a betrayal of the public trust since the focus is no longer on what citizens need to take an informed part in their democracy. By not being true to journalism's purpose, the authors say, will lose the audience you seek to inform, those who want hard news. For those looking for entertainment, it won't be entertaining enough. "Winning back audiences through better storytelling is hard, time-consuming, and costly." (p155)

The authors present evidence that betraying journalism will fail as a business strategy. Citing declining viewership, Kovach and Rosenstiel state that "new technology expands the number of outlets and each organization watches its audience shrink." (p169) "If journalism has lost its way, the reason is in large part is that it has lost meaning in people's lives." (p177.) Kovach and Rosenstiel advise that journalists need to return to thinking of their audience as citizens, not as consumers or customers. They suggest using market research to "help journalists make judgements, not research that replaces their judgement." This research could be used for "Better understanding of changing tastes, needs, and trends in the community…" (p172)

"Newsrooms tend to be unruly dictatorships" (p183), but the newsroom also plays a large part in providing its journalists with an environment that demands good journalism. Kovach and Rosenstiel outline some guidelines to assist in the process of making good news.

One important guideline is to have diversity in the newsroom beyond gender, race, ethnicity, and economic background. The authors state the need for intellectual diversity, a diversity of perspectives, in order to serve the whole community. A journalist's "mission of enlightening" (p146), to news that "reflect[s] community deeply" but challenges the community's values and perceptions (p143). Journalists are also charged with voicing "their personal conscience out loud" and allowing others to do the same. An open atmosphere where there is an easy exchange of ideas that encourages journalists and others involved in the production of news, is an environment where "assumptions, perceptions, and prejudices" (p 181) will be challenged. The benefit of this is a place where diverse viewpoints can co-exist, where the news is consequently more accurate because it has a better chance of "reflecting the "increasingly diverse perspectives and needs of American culture." (p181) Journalists must always " Think about what the citizen needs are" (p173.)

Being watchdog, a "bulwark of liberty" is not always easy. Keeping in mind that "Journalism is the monitor of the powerful, give voice to the voiceless," helps ensure that a journalist includes not only anything their natural viewpoint gives them, but also the voices of the powerful elite and the voices of those impacted by those in power. One practical way of doing this is to make sure you speak to enough sources to achieve intellectual diversity, a diversity of opinion in your reporting. This diversity of sources beyond gender, race, ethnicity, and economic background will help reporters to make sure the viewpoints of the entire community are reflected.

For another, newsrooms should be driven by long-term interest, not just efficiency. The authors advise newsrooms to create an atmosphere that takes the right attitude, ease/approachability of journalists being able to voice their conscience. Journalists must be able to voice their conscience and encourage others to do the same. The authors quoted Bob Woodward as saying, "The best journalism is often done in defiance of management." (p183)

In some respects, reporters have a very clear job that includes a commitment to truth, fact-finding, a responsibility to get all the facts, verification of those facts, and setting those facts in context so that they are "informing rather than manipulating" (p98). Journalists must be careful that facts are not manipulated to sway public opinion, otherwise what they are doing is not journalism. At times, there are fine lines. It is at those instances when the journalist must rely on his own best moral compass.

The authors state that "journalism is an act of character "(p180), "a moral act" (p184). Journalists in the best sense of the profession call "attention to inequities in our system, connect people, create community." (p184) Kovach and Rosenstiel acknowledge the need for "journalism that recognizes and applies principles that help assure reliable, timely, proportional, comprehensive new to help make sense of our world and our place in it." (p192) The authors reiterate and expand upon the essential qualities a good journalist needs to have.

The journalist must ascribe to the "principles of truthfulness, an allegiance to citizens and community at large, informing rather than manipulating" (p98) and a responsibility to get all the facts and set them in context. Journalists should have "engaged independence," be a "committed observer." If they do have a relationship that could be perceived as a conflict of interest, full disclosure of this relationship is their responsibility. Their job is to "Build toward truthfulness" (p107) and to keep the public informed. Journalists "prize facts above all" and are diligent in factual digging and verification.

At the same time, "Journalism is storytelling with a purpose. That purpose is to provide people with the information they need to understand the world…but providing it in such a way that people will be inclined to listen." (p149) The practical strategies and techniques for innovative story telling (without foregoing the commitment to facts and verification) seem quite useful. Perhaps because I have a theater background, it seemed odd to me that a journalist wouldn't already think of the "who" in their story as a character, "what as their plot," and so forth. However, it was helpful the way the authors explained how that concept contrasts with the "traditional" way of using the 5 "W's" and the one "H."

Roadblocks to good journalism not only come from the larger realm of the newsroom and beyond, obstacles also arise within the journalist her or himself. Among them a reliance on formula and stereotype, ignorance, and laziness. Additionally, a journalist needs to be aware of her/his own shortcomings, lack of experience, biases, prejudices, and cultural blinders and to seek out other perspectives to help broaden their reporting to accurately reflect the news.

It is nearly impossible for a journalist to be detached about all of life's events, so having an internal recognition of the difference between being a "committed observer", an "engaged independent", and being a participant is important. Knowing when to draw that line helps makes good journalism. If a journalist has a relationship or a personal involvement which could be perceived as a conflict of interest, they are responsible to fully disclose this information so that the citizen can make their own judgement as to the perspective of the piece. This comes back to the integrity of the journalist and their primary commitment to the citizen.

The authors state "time is a luxury of which journalists today feel they have less and less." (p150) Too much work and tight deadlines can possibly endanger a journalist's ability to get all the viewpoints, to verify all the facts and set them in the appropriate context. The elements Kovach and Rosenstiel discuss are the means by which a journalist can safeguard their work and their integrity.

The authors write that "Citizens have a need for timely and deep knowledge of important issues and trends in our community, but we lack both the time and the means to access most of this crucial information." (p195). Because of journalism's primary responsibility is to the citizen, it is also necessary for the citizen to be able to make their opinion heard about what the journalists are presenting. Therefore, journalism must provide the public with a forum for criticism and comment. But citizens can only be truly a part of the community if they have all the facts as they come to light.

When citizens respond to information, a community discussion begins. People in power hear this discussion and the voices of the citizens. The information on citizen involvement was very important. I think, many times, citizens don't feel that they DO have a voice. The press is a very clear way to make that heard, and it can be powerful. Even if it is only the relatively small thing of helping a 7-year-old boy in Florida get his dog back from a Chicago attorney.

The "primary role of the forum, then, is to illuminate rather than agitate." (p145) Building a public forum of internet bulletin boards, chat rooms, talk radio, and more, Kovach and Rosenstiel advise a new relationship between journalist and the citizen where the audience is invited into the process in order to serve the interest of the citizens debate. (p191.) The forum must be for all parts of the community, not just the affluent or demographically attractive, and must provide facts. There is a difference between a debate with facts and antagonized "discussions" made up of mostly pure opinion. Recently, I heard on National Public Radio, a reporter stating that "People use Crossfire as a drunk uses a lamppost." Basically people use it to reinforce their opinion and don't examine in clear, neutral emotion, the facts.

But journalism's role in democracy not only means that journalists have a responsibility to citizens. It also means that citizen's have their own set of responsibilities: "set aside prejudice, keep an open mind, judge journalism on its ability to help citizen's take an informed part in shaping society.

The public interest has been compromised and/or betrayed so often by journalists, corporate conglomerates and special interest groups, that it has given rise to the emergence of media watchdog groups. The current situation is now so complex, that the public does not trust the press to monitor itself. The scope of these watchdog groups has expanded beyond public affairs and government to include corporations, non-profit agencies, and other organizations in which the public has an interest.

"Clarity of purpose and professional theory are more important than ever to journalists experienced and new, and to the citizens who want news they can trust." The authors conclude "Those who provide journalism must use these elements to steer an ethical course in their work." (p197) For both parties, Kovach and Rosenstiel have created the Citizen's Bill of Rights. These rights also detail a journalist's responsibilities to citizens. Adherence to this list of responsibilities and rights help journalists produce the best journalism and citizens to be the most involved citizens.

The authors deep commitment to the sacredness of democracy, my own feelings that particular government representatives manage to manipulate the press, and the reality that there is rarely enough time or money for journalists to do the best investigative public affairs reporting, it put me in mind of this quote that I have on my bulletin board:

"You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in their struggle for independence."
- Charles A. Beard (1874 - 1948) US historian

In some ways, the author's emphasis on the freedom of the press and the importance of journalism seems too great to consider at every moment. It also seems fraught with difficulties; particularly given the current trend of much of the public to take our hard-won freedoms and civil liberties so lightly. This devotion to our constitution gives me hope in some small way.

In conclusion, many times these elements seem very practical and doable. In other ways, they seem completely idealistic. There is no harm in being idealistic on one level, and having to "just do the work" on another. I think standards need to be set high so there is an ideal worth working towards. Tucking the ideal in the back of one's heart and mind, would serve as a guide to keeping a journalist's focus on the public interest, I think. Overall, I felt this book was extremely useful for both journalists and citizens alike in explaining the issues that news organizations and journalists face and the responsibilities they have to the citizens.

Benjamin Akol
Elements of journalism
Journalist goes about preparing coverage that is engaged but independent and relevant, based on the facts of journalist’s experience to report the situation. With my understanding, I belief that journalist use their moral values to report the news in the way that keep the interest of readers. And doing report, as a journalist, you need not to involved in a situation and therefore be trusted and be fair in judging situation. It is a part of moral values. But in the points of collision with editors, management and owner policy, moral values seems to be taken away by owner and management policy of making story balance for the public. So, at this mid-point, a journalist is too much squeeze and over control. How will the reporter service if he/she don’t have the right of the way he report the situation. I belief that individual reporter has right to have his/her own rule not to lost his/her job.

I must start this response by stating that Elements gave me a different perspective on how much a journalist can handle when it comes to she or he reporting on something that they despise and that goes against her or his beliefs. Elements makes note of a particular case of an NBC News Correspondent for the show “Dateline.” John Hockenberry was asked to do a special report on the show Dateline about the discrimination towards handicapped people in the workplace. The report consisted on how some companies prefer to hire a person without a disability with the same qualifications as those of a disabled person looking to be hired. It is also quite impossible for a journalist to split himself in half and become two persons at the same time, one that follows his ideologies and another that must follow the rules of his profession, journalism. In my opinion, this profession requires that one must put every single feeling towards anything aside, just as Hockenberry when he made that report on handicapped discrimination. I am sure that at some point he felt humiliated by the show’s producers on which he was reporting on.

Biases are everywhere, it is impossible to turn the page f a newspaper and see that a conservative thinker is going to bash George W. Bush, president of the United States, for his terrible economic policy. In fact, there are some so called journalists that get paid not to do so. Critics of the Media have always categorized it as liberal, every word written in papers such as the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and other cities’ newspapers where the habitants tend to have a record of voting for candidates with a liberal ideology are considered to be nuisance to the world of journalism. That being that the reporters of such and similar publications are only out there just to praise those who are governing the country in the “wrong” direction.

We may all believe that newspapers, radio show hosts and news anchors may all be telling the entire truth and the background or every person involved in the story to all the citizens, when in fact all they report is what they believe it is convenient for one to know. In Elements it is stated that reporters would never get themselves into trying to give very much detail on the background of whatever or whoever the report is being focused on.

Whether it is political or sociological issue, journalism has always played a major impact in how citizens will feel about a new proposed law in congress or how vicious a robber might be portrayed on the evening news. How scared one would be walking down the street thinking that one could be a next victim of a similar crime. “Abandoning the principle of independence . . . by arguing from one side of the other” (Kovach and Rosenstiel 109) might cause to get rid of the public’s attention on the news because not a lot of people might not agree with the views of the journalist.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the reader of this material will learn to understand the elements of journalism in due time. Journalists have a responsibility to the citizens that they serve, and more importantly, they have a responsibility to produce relevant stories that engages the reader and compels them to either, a) make an informed decision, or b) become motivated to find out for themselves more on the issue.

The Elements of Journalism in all creates a world that is full of ideals and functions that are only possible in a perfect society. A society that is void of bias, a world that represents the truth. We do not live in such a world, but to know what the standard is and to attempt to achieve it is what every professional journalist should do.

Page 134 begins to reflect a theme that runs throughout the book. “[T]he great agencies of mass communication should regard themselves as common carriers of public discussion.” Again, this is another ideal. This idea that the media creates and carries on a public discussion is a far cry from that which we do today. Everyone is too concerned with the other things that get in the way of living like, “What will my boss think- What will my sponsors say if…etc.” The time has come to actually allow the media to perform its function as a watchdog for the people and not allow these protective measures impede the flow of truthful information. I want very much for this world and its inhabitants to act as they should. If the people are afraid to speak their minds, then the people’s minds can be persuaded into doing almost anything. This is what the malicious manipulators want, and we are just lying around, dazed in a cloud of entertainment and gluttony while our freedoms are being stripped away.

The sixth principle of the press is as follows: Journalism must provide a forum for public criticism and comment. Yes! Finally an ideal mentioned in this book that I can see actually happening in this day and age! Wait, no, I don’t think so. I mean, there are places on the internet that people can post their views and opinions on stories and events and they can complain or praise until they are blue in the face about whatever topic they have, but where is the opportunity to have these issues resolved? Where are the policy makers and the people that are interested in representing the people? Not around my neighborhood, nor on my computer.

A journalist’s responsibility to display comprehensive and proportional work was noted in the reading. Just like the sensational maps that everyone bought before they knew the world was flat, a beautifully written story that does not have an ounce of fact is called a fabrication. Stories in newspapers should both contain fact and should be proportioned with an equal amount of spice to gain the reader’s attention and draw them closer to identifying with the piece. Nowadays, I can see the attention getting and I do believe that there are good, hard-hitting facts out there, but one has to know where to look and have the patience to look all day to find it.

Although it is probably painfully obvious that I will need more time to fully understand the contents within the pages of The Elements of Journalism, I feel that once I do gain the “big picture” the responsibilities of a good reporter and the techniques that must be leveraged for success will come as second nature. I appreciate the knowledge that is represented in this book and do recommend it as the first step towards a greater understanding in journalism.

Chris Saylor
2/15/2005
While The Elements of Journalism supplies us with the ideology behind an effective media, it offers very little concrete application of this ideology to the media. Kovach and Rosenstiel instead offer countless examples of instances where The Elements were misinterpreted or lacking (Willey/Matthews interview p.131, Lewinsky/Walters interview p.150, NBC’s “Waiting to Explode?” p.182). Kovach and Rosenstiel spend a generous portion of the book pointing out how gray the recessed areas of journalism actually are in semi-conclusive thoughts like, “Unfortunately, [the] concept of intellectual diversity is also difficult for managers. The tendency… is to create newsrooms that think like the boss.” (p.189) and, “As interesting as these new efforts are, they have to be considered fragile and embryonic. The…ability to draw an audience depends on getting the attention of for-profit media outlets…” (p.127). With such ambiguity of application, the book can be more frustrating than helpful. The reader is left asking questions like, “Okay, I know I need to balance and understand all sides, but how do I achieve this?”

The answer is hiding on the cover of the book. “What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect”. The point of Kovach and Rosenstiels’ abstractions is simply to be present in the minds of journalists and the citizens they serve. The Elements of Journalism serves as a checks/balances handbook for the citizen and the journalist, and the final verdicts are held up by moral balance and intuition. In a lecture on February 10, Ortiz compared the separation of church and state to the separation of ads and editorial. This is accurate, and illustrates my point. ‘We must separate church and state’ is an idealistic abstraction, but it’s one that is constantly being narrowed down. As long as we, as journalists and citizens, keep these nine principles in our sights, we will learn through muscle reflex to keep getting closer and closer to the mark.

Kovach and Rosenstiel introduce their book as a collection of principles that had lost importance in modern media. It is my belief that the book’s mission is achieved as long as there is an obvious strive toward the ideal journalism. If the media strives for perfection, it will consequently become more perfect. I’m tempted to add an uplifting end to this entry and ask my peers not to be overwhelmed by the book’s abstractions, but that would contradict my point. Be overwhelmed. Realize the weight of these disciplines and try your best to carry them.

“Civilization has produced one idea more powerful than any other- the notion that people can govern themselves. And it has created a largely unarticulated theory of information to sustain that idea, called journalism. The two rise and fall together. This book is an attempt to articulate that theory.”(p.198)

“Elements” by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel really opened up my eyes to some of the responsibilities of being a journalist. I’ve always felt, and this book points out very well, that Truth is most important in journalism. But it also pointed out many of the difficulties that go along with bringing the truth to the reader. Some forces of pressure can be globalization and conglomerations. At this point can be when the journalist is faced with his or her own ethics and morals. A great example of this is the way Carol Marin dealt with the news that Jerry Springer would be delivering the commentary at the end of the broadcast (p 185). Rather than stand by and watch her newshow “degenerate into sleaze” she resigned “I think a journalist is someone who believes in something that they would be willing to quit over.”
The chapter on “Engagement and Relevance” I found very interesting because Kovach and Rosenthiel touch on how “journalism is storytelling with a purpose.” (p. 149). An example that really stands out is how journalists can “re-think elements of the news” (p.156). A newstory doesn’t have to be frozen in time. Roy Peter Clark describes this as “Who becomes character. What becomes plot. Where becomes scene or setting. Why becomes motivation or causation and finally How becomes narrative.”
Overall, the message I got from “Elements” is that in order to be a journalist, not only is it important to bring the truth to the reader, but to maintain integrity and stay true to your own morals. Even if that means losing a paycheck.

Owen Gallalee
News Reporting & Writing
2/15/05
Response to Elements #2
Chapters 5-10 in The Elements of Journalism discusses the 6 other principles of journalism.
Chapter 5, Independence From Faction, focusses in on why it is so important that journalists maintain an independence from those that they cover. This is not to say that journalists can't have opinions on those they cover, but rather that a journalist should not have any ties or association with those they cover. Association with someone or some organization that a journalist is covering will lead to a sense of mistrust from the reader. If a journalist does have a strong personal feeling or bias about what they are covering they are obliged to state it to the reader to prevent any mistrust from the reader hearing about their bias afterwards
Chapter 6 discusses why journalists must serve as “an independent monitor of power.” This principle is also known as the watchdog principle, and has recently been threatened by corporate conglomeration. This principle is strongly believed in by journalists, but is sometimes misunderstood. Some journalists take it to mean “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable,” but it really means “watching over the powerful few in society to guard against tyranny.”(Kovach 114-15) The two definitions aren't far from each other, but the first is way too broad while the second gets specific. This is a very important principle, and it is what makes free press so important. The media has to have the right to uncover and report on an injustice or misuse of power without the fear of being reprimanded.
Chapter 7, Journalism as a Public Forum, is about exactly what it is titled. Journalism has to have a report and response format in order to make journalism a democracy. All forms of media that are used by journalists today can serve as a forum either by a citizen writing a response to a news article or by a citizen calling into a radio show with their opinion. The public forum of journalism is also important to corporations and people in positions of power because it allows them to find out the public opinions developing on a subject.(Kovach 135)
Chapter 8 is about the principle of engagement and relevance. “Journalists must make the significant interesting and relevant.”(Kovach 149) Journalism exists in the middle of these concepts because a journalist ,first, has to find the facts that people need to know, and then give a meaning to it that is relevant and engaging. For a good journalist to do this they first have to ask themselves the questions who is the audience for this story, and what do they need to know about this story. These questions can end up making a big difference because they will direct the story towards the citizen and away from any direct participant in the story, and this can lead to the audience being expanded rather than constricted.(Kovach 156)
Chapter 9 focusses on journalists making the news comprehensive while keeping it in proportion. The book uses mapmaking as a metaphor to what journalism is, and says that journalists who give a certain story more time and space because they think it will sell is just like a mapmaker showing England the size of Greenland because it is popular, and if journalist just reports what they “know to be true” without fact checking first it is just like a mapmaker that draws sea monsters in corners of the New World. The book goes on to point out that cartography is scientific while journalism is not, and that proportion and comprehensiveness in news is subjective because a big story to one citizen could be meaningless to the next.(Kovach 164, 168) This goes back to the principle of keeping the news significant and relevant because that will help a journalist decide how much coverage a certain story deserves.
The final chapter in The Elements of Journalism is about a journalist's responsibility to conscience. This is personal to each and every journalist and could vary depending on their ethics. In essence this principle is about a journalist standing up for what they believe in, being true to themselves, and not backing down regardless of what their editors say. According to the book, this principle is the most elusive, but it ties all the others together. A journalist has to have and exercise this principle in order for any of the others to work because without ethics a journalist is liable to report on anything even if it really didn't happen.
In response to the question, given “responsibility to conscience,” how does a journalist go about preparing coverage that is engaged (but independent), relevant first and foremost to readers, comprehensive, proportional, open to the public, and vigilant of power, the answer is simple. (well not really) For a journalist to do all these things one has to use The Elements of Journalism as a guideline. First, a journalist has to have no ties with what they are covering, and if they do have a bias they have to make the reader aware of this. Next, a journalists must decipher who their audience is going to be for this given story, and then figure out what facts are relevant and significant that their audience needs to know. A journalist then must gather all the relevant facts and data about a story even if they don't believe all the facts to be true. Their job with those facts is to figure out why some people do believe it to be true, and from there they need to form their definition of what the truth is about and behind this story. After a journalist has developed their story and come to their own conclusion about it they need to figure out how important this story is to the citizen and determine whether this story will only be a one time thing, will it have any follow-up, will it take up one column, or will it take up one page. Finally, a journalist must submit their story to the editor and hope its good enough to get published. If the editor denies it, but the journalist knows that the story is something the people have to know, they have to go back to the drawing board and re-work the story until their editor thinks its newsworthy and publishes it.

Who writes the news? As we continue to learn about the elements of journalism we need to create a structure of checks and balances to make sure that the people aren’t swayed by a particular point of view. Sure, there is the reporter; there are witnesses, sources, and the story. In the previous chapters we learned that the truth drives the story and the follow up of verification of the facts. Who is more credible; the reporter or the witness? How is that credit given to the writer or the witness? We have to keep in mind that Rosenstiel and Kovach had stated the credibility lies in the desire to inform others of the truth. Journalism is about exposing the truth and serving that truth to the public and making sure that the people is informed of what is going on behind closed doors. Journalists have to maintain as an independent entity, serve as an independent entity, and provide for public criticism. These elements go hand in hand as well as they should have a system of check and balances to make sure that they do not convey a certain persuasion.
When a reporter is writing a piece they should always remain independent and neutral to the piece. They have to write is to cause the public to create their own opinions and position on certain stories. They have to leave all of their differences and biases aside and write the story. When writing such a story the journalist should examine the problem and draw out all possible answers. They leave the issues open-ended as much as possible so they won’t appear to be leaning towards a certain standpoint. For the sake of the news the journalists should remain independent as much as they can.
In addition to being unbiased they have to also serve as an independent agent to help reveal any shady encounters that their audience might not have known about. They take on the role of a watchdog keeping a very close eye to any information that might have not been leaked to the public. They follow a certain code of ethics whether their method of discovering and releasing certain stories. They have to keep it in good taste in order to help feed the public’s interest. This inquisitive yearn leads to many forms of investigative reporting such as going undercover to help shape an opinion.
Which leads us into creating this public forum in which the citizens can speak freely upon certain topics. This creates the free speech in which the citizens can feel like they are a part of a democracy. The citizens are able to create a certain opinion or perspective. Opinions are driven and are based on facts; with the facts provided by the journalists the readers are subjected to draw their own conclusions. Many stories are written to leave and create their own public forum.
Many questions are left unanswered and open-ended this is where we are supposed to come to our own conclusion. We have the facts that are provided by the news and we have to wait for the final result to make sure that we understand the purpose of the story that is shared by the journalist. Like a jury trial we have to wait until all of the evidence is provided and we reach our final jurisdiction.

Brandon Bruner
News Reporting and Writing
B. Ortiz
Online Writing Assignment #2
2/15/05

The more I read this book, the more I feel like I'm watching The Matrix. Element has frustrated me in so many ways. I can't believe journalism is this complicated.

When you can be so called public enemy #1 for writing speeches and coaching elected officals, such as Walter Lippmann, George Will did!! If you need to make extra money do who is the world telling you not to feed your family, or stand up for what you believe in. Just because your a journalist doesn't mean you have close yourself.

The theory this book describes are for non-humans!!

Stacie Johnson
News Reporting and Writing
B. Ortiz
Online Writing Assignment #2
2/14/05

Where does opinion journalism fit? The answer to this question, according to Kovach & Rosenstiel, in the book, Elements of Journalism, Chapter 5, is “engaged independence”.

There is a “distinction between journalism of opinion and work of partisans delivering news… One is clear in its intent and remains committed to all the principles of other journalists. The other purports to be one thing, neutral, while using the language and form of balance to create something else, propaganda.” (Kovach, 102)

The key is whether one maintains allegiance to the core journalistic principles that build toward truthfulness and informing the public.

No rigid prohibition against any kind of personal or intellectual engagement will serve to guarantee a journalist remains independent from factions, political or otherwise. Good judgement is what separate the journalist from the partisan; be smart enough and honest enough to recognize that opinion must be based on something more substantial than personal beliefs if it is to be journalistic use.

Chapter 6 discusses investigative reporting in detail, making a point that all reporting is investigative, according to many journalists.

Kovach and Rosenstiel points out that the watchdog principle in journalism is misconstrued in meaning. It means “watching over the powerful few in society on behalf of the many to guard against tyranny”, as well as “making the management and execution of power transparent, but to making known and understood the effects of that power, implying that the press should recognize where powerful institutions are working effectively and where they are not.” Overuse and misuse is threatening its existence and effectiveness, currently, aiming more at gratifying audiences than toward reporting/reviewing public services.

There are three main forms used today: original investigative reporting—reporters themselves uncovering and documenting activities previously unknown to the public, usually resulting in official public investigations about the subject or activity exposed, and leading to changes in policy or action being taken on the parts of authorities on law breakers; interpretative investigative reporting—reporters develop from careful thought an analysis of an idea as well as dogged pursuit of facts to bring together information (usually more complex issues than in a classic expose) in a new, more complete context which provides deeper public understanding; and reporting on investigations—reporting is developed from the discovery or leak of information from an official investigation already under way or in preparation by others (usually government agencies).

There is a genre of investigative reporting that ignores most of the matters typically associated with the watchdog role of the press. Most of these new “investigative reporting” programs do not monitor the powerful elite and guard against the potential for tyrannical abuse—tabloid treatment of everyday circumstances; rather they tend to concern risks to personal safety or one’s pocketbook. The problem with this “new investigative reporting”, is that expose what is readily understood or simply common sense belittles investigative journalism.

Though all reporting involves investigation, investigative journalism adds a moral dimension. It involves casting light on a subject and making a more prosecutorial case that something is wrong. This is where journalists should be careful to have enough

This offers a challenge to the traditional organization of news, and suggests that if the old media abandon the watchdog role, others will make it up.

In Chapter 7, readers are introduced to the sixth principle or element of Journalism: “Journalism must provide a forum for public criticism and comment.”

“The forum-creating capacity is so pervasive that it informs almost every aspect of the journalist’s work, beginning with the initial report by which the journalist alerts public to an event or condition in the community. These reports may contain analysis that suggest potential impacts. Context may be provided for comparison or contrast, and accompanying editorials may evaluate the information, while columnists provide personal comments on the matter.” (Kovach, 135)

Journalism must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise built upon the same principles as the rest of journalism—starting with truthfulness, facts and verification.

Finally, the other element to understand about the public forum that the media must carry in the inclusion of the broad areas of argument—where most of public resides and where the solutions to society’s problems are found. The problem with the features of Argument Culture—diminished level of reporting, devaluing of experts, emphasis on narrow range of blockbuster stories, and emphasis on an over-simplified, polarized debate—tends to disenfranchise people from public discussion that media is supposed to support and is needed for their own survival.

The urge to comment replaces the need to verify and the need to report. Second, the new media forum tends to devalue expertise.

The press has a stake in that discussion being inclusive and nuanced, and an accurate reflection of where the debate in society actually exists, as well as where the points of agreement are.

The seventh principle in revealed in Chapter 8: “Journalists must make the significant interesting and relevant”; the discussion must become dialectic—engaging versus relevant.

Storytelling and information are not contradictory. They are two points on a continuum of communicating. Mostly journalism exists in the middle. The journalist’s task is to find a way to make the significant interesting for each story, and finding the right mix of the serious and the less serious that offers an account of the day. Journalism is story telling with a purpose, to provide people with information they need to understand the world. First challenge—finding info people need to live their lives; second—make it meaningful, relevant, and engaging.

History over longer term suggest that the organizations that tip toward the information end of the spectrum tend to prevail over those that tip toward the entertainment end, and winning back audience through better storytelling is hard, time-consuming and costly. Thus, the news industry tries to address flagging audiences with emphasis of concerns easier to manage, boosting marketing budgets, cutting costs, changing anchor people, or building a new set for the news.

Kovach and Rosentiel offer suggestions for journalist to counter this problem: “Journalists should ask, in any assignment, and audiences should be able to detect:
1. “Who is the audience for this story?” What different sorts of people have an interest in this subject, however passing?
2. “What do these people need to know about this to make up their own minds on the subject.”

These questions direct coverage toward the citizen—the audience first, away from interest groups, insiders, and other direct participants. They also may lead the journalism to a new set of sources, not found in old clips, and pull the coverage away from routines of the previous story.”

Character is the key to pulling people into stories, which is found, often, in minor details that make someone human and real. Recognizing that making the significant interesting is a fundamental principle and requires more reflection.

Chapter 9 discusses proportion and comprehension (the eighth principle) as they pertain to journalism.

When news organizations decided to market their publications or broadcasts toward a specific elite group in American, they ignored entire communities. “It left audiences poorly informed because so much was left out. This made citizens vulnerable to making poor decisions about contemporary trends and about their needs.” (Kovah, 168)

The reverse problem of offering too much detail to the specific demographic group was service. Stories became longer and more copious, pushing people toward radio and television, and pushing the next generations toward a disinterest in news altogether. Journalism must revamp to serve diverse communities, but as part of a whole community.

Though, in news, proportion and comprehensiveness are subjective, it is possible to pursue. The key is citizens believing that journalists’ choices are not exploitative (question of their credibility).

The consequence is the networks have moved significantly away from the hard news business. The nightly newscasts, too, have shifted to less reported news of the work of civic institutions to more entertainment and celebrity attraction.

What is the answer to resisting sensationalism and keeping the news in proportion? It is not isolating the journalist and the ignoring of the realities of the marketplaces. A better understanding of changing tastes, needs, and trends in the community is part of the answer. They need to return to the idea of “interlocking public”, as Al Rosenthal, former of New York Times, so eloquently stated.

Finally, in Chapter 10 it is discovered that journalism is an act of character, leading to the last principle: “Journalists have an obligation to personal conscience.”

This requires an open newsroom with diverse viewpoints, allowing people to challenge one another’s assumptions, perceptions and prejudices. This is in the effort to produce news that is accurate, fair, balanced, citizen-focused, independent minded, and courage is smothered. (Kovach, 181)

News organizations are complex and hierarchical environments, and it is easy to fall into this process of cascading rationalization. In order for this to change a new relationship between journalists and citizen must evolve. Journalists must invite audiences into the process by which they produce news, taking pains to make themselves and their work as transparent as they insist on making the people and institutions of power they cover.

This means that journalists must design their work to engage the public to provide the needed content and an understanding of the principles by which their work is done. Thus, the elements of journalism are a citizen’s bill of rights as they are journalist’s bill of responsibilities.

Citizens’ Bill of Rights
1. Truthfulness—right to expect that the evidence of the integrity of reporting be obvious, meaning the process of verification should be transparent (clearly demonstrating open-minded examination).
2. Loyalty to citizens—right to expect to see evidence that material has been prepared for the citizen use above all.
3. Independence—right to expect commentators, columnists, and journalists of opinion are serving the interests of citizens’ debate rather than the narrow interests of a faction or predetermined outcome.
4. Monitoring Power—right to expect monitoring on most important and difficult centers of power—economic, coercive, social, moral, and persuasive power equal to or exceeding that of government.
5. Public Forum—right to expect news providers to create several channels through which we may interact with them—letters, emails, phone contacts, space to write guest opinion columns, opportunities to make story suggestions, and ombudsmen. Implicit in this right is responsibility
6. Proportionality and Engagement—right to expect journalists to be aware the basic dilemma as citizens—need for timely and deep knowledge of important issues and trends in our community.

Two elements of journalism were not mentioned: verification and conscience, but are included in the stated as parts of other rights: process of verification is suited with truthfulness, and conscience becomes part of the public forum function of news organizations. (Kovach, 193-196)

This entire presentation of the elements present in journalism, though “idealistic” in nature/design according to some, could be the very principles that will reshape journalism for our future. Currently, there is a gap between generations. I feel that news, and the ways and means of obtaining news, is a powerfully contributing factor in this divide. People of my generation, the “X” Generation, and younger, don’t seem to find the connections between what we’ve learned in History class, with what it going on in the world at this very moment. There is a loophole. I really feel that journalism, in all of its mediums, is what could turn this around. It is frightening to think that we all are next to lead this country, this world, yet we have no cognizance of public affairs, community issues, or even the names of our elected public officials. If applied appropriately, according to one’s own moral convictions, this blueprint could work, at least break ground.

This book really prefaced the arena journalism for me. I found my own arguments or statements being addressed. For instance, the idea of being an independent monitor of power, while maintaining an independence from those I cover, through the process and discipline of verification and upholding my obligation to truth. My interests are generally directed at race issues, global affairs, and humanitarian disasters. I usually serve as an activist, presenting one side of the argument and one set of issues, to get people to side with me, to generate action toward these efforts or causes. Through this reading, it is clear to me that I can be an activist, but I have to check my biases at the door, and offer facts, presenting them truthfully, and being transparent about my connections and opinions with or toward those involved and the events themselves. In honor of the history and tradition of journalism, I want nothing more than to allow citizens to have a “true” public forum when it comes to the issues I explore or expose in “my journalism”.

The question has been posed, “given "responsibility to conscience" (as put in Chapter 10), how does a journalist go about preparing coverage that is engaged (but independent), relevant first and foremost to readers, comprehensive, proportional, open to the public, and vigilant of power?” In response, I would suggest that the journalist gather facts representing the various sides and perspectives of that which he/she is covering. If available, check these facts against material already presented on this subject, as well as colleagues in the news room, especially those that have differing viewpoints from the journalist, on general issues as well as in this matter. It is their obligation, then to reveal these facts to the public, to begin the public forum. Upon revelation of the story, the journalist should search further for more facts and sources, looking for angles not yet exposed. In this manner, the journalist begins the coverage on the right track—process of journalistic truth.

Actually, this element of truth is what all the elements come back to, whether it’s about public forum and opinion, investigative reporting methods, or proportionality and comprehension. If this principle ignored, in one’s quest for a story, then the viability of the story and the credibility of the journalist, and its affiliated news organization, is in jeopardy.

D. Merriman
News Writing & Reporting
B. Ortiz
Elements 5-10

If one is alive, one has an opinion. The question is whether or not the reader is aware of what his opinion may be on a given issue. Good journalism presupposes that the reader does not know and thus should strive even harder for objectivity.
It might be better if, instead of considering ‘independence’ and objectivity as Elements does, an attempt at objectivity from each side should be considered. On page 101 of Elements Elliott Diringer comments “There is this notion that you should be disinterested to the point…that you should withdraw from civic affairs if you are a journalist…I don’t know why being a concerned citizen should be antagonistic with being a journalist”.
There is no doubt that while investigative journalism is a necessary tool it has lost its value today to some degree. All journalism is investigative of necessity. However what is seen and heard today is not often reflective of The Parliament Scout of 1643 which introduced “…-the necessity of making an effort to search out and discover the news”. Investigative reporting became interpretive and then journalists began reporting on investigations. Each of these speaks for itself and all are in evidence today. The big problem with these forms of journalism is the fine line between making a discovery and reporting it and making a discovery and reporting it in such a way that the reader is subtly being told what to think. On the other hand, investigative journalists have uncovered many injustices and crimes. For example Loretta Tofanis story on page 124.
The idea that journalism is still an open forum is no longer the case. To begin with, the technology we call progress has removed much of the integrity necessary for good journalism. On the face of it the publics’ ease of access to media should make debate and argument a new and exciting arena. But who is debating, who is sending out the facts, why are they sending them out, and are they facts at all? The bigger the holes in the net the more fish (facts) will escape.
Is the onus on the journalist to make the news interesting or on the reader, as a responsible citizen, to seek out the news? Naturally, the media, the business, wants to make it interesting and eye-catching, that’s how they make money. However, many people sail blithely through life ignoring what is around them. For those of us intensely interested in all that occurs in the world these people are anathemas but, are they wrong?
There is a very simple equation; if sales drop, the reader is not being written for. Michele Gillens’ story on page 182 illustrates the ‘responsibility to conscience’ problem. It does, in the cold light of day, come back to a point previously made in another discussion. The journalist must ask, too many times nowadays, “How badly do I need my pay check?” In the same illustration the facts being made to fit the news is evident.
However idealistic it may be the journalists’ bottom line is his conscience even in these cutthroat times. Any person in a moral dilemma tends to use those whose opinions they value as a sounding board and for journalists to do the same with their colleagues is to be expected. Is the pressure to succeed in journalism and maintain integrity different from that in any other field? Perhaps it is not.
There is no doubt that, as purchasers of the product, consumers should dictate what is reported and how. This is a ‘chicken and egg situation’. Does the market dictate the product or the product the market? While the bill of rights on page 193 is listed as belonging to the citizen the list may also be applied to the journalists.
In conclusion while civilisation has created a “theory of information” p198, the notion that “people can govern themselves” remains open to debate.