Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing

Frank Barnas

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• ISBN:
  9781315462196
• Edition: 7
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Journalism
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing, 7th Edition is the leading book covering all aspects of writing and reporting the news. It identifies the key concepts and terms readers need to know in the news gathering and dissemination process, and provides practical, real-world advice for operating in the modern day newsroom.

New to theseventh Edition are profiles of working journalists who give readers a glimpse into the working life of modern reporters, producers, and directors. This new edition also covers important aspects of the use of social media, drone journalism, and digital technology. A new chapter on portfolio development will assist readers in developing the skills to advance in their careers. The text has also been updated to reflect new industry standards in modes of information gathering and delivery, writing style, and technology.

Additional features include:

• Key words at the start of every chapter, identifying important terms and definitions;
• End of chapter summaries, which allows readers to review the chapter's main points;
• "Text Your Knowledge", which helps readers quiz themselves on important concepts;
• Chapter-by-chapter exercises, which readers can apply to a chapter's themes;
• A companion website featuring video tutorials of necessary skills for journalists, including how to arrangelighting structures, how to hold a microphone, and how to properly conduct an interview.

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PART 1

Acquiring the News

CHAPTERS

1. Legal and Ethical Considerations

2. Locating the News

3. Developing Stories

4. Collecting Information from Real and Virtual Documents

5. Beats, Spot News, and Reporting Assignments

CHAPTER 1
Legal and Ethical Considerations

CONTENTS

Introduction

Accuracy

Gathering News and Getting Information

Protecting and Defending Your Work

Knowing the Legal Ramifications

Knowing the Ethical Ramifications

Online Ramifications

Summary Test Your

Knowledge

Exercises

KEY WORDS

Conflict of Interest

Fair Comment

False Light

File Footage

Libel

Privilege

Truth

Video News Releases

INTRODUCTION

This chapter focuses on the important and complex issues of law and ethics, the cornerstones of good journalism. The pillars of news reporting (accuracy, fairness, and objectivity) are among the major considerations for those who work in the news industry. Additionally, there are ongoing debates over bias, objectivity, favoritism, and a number of other legal and ethical issues.

This chapter is split into the two broad areas of law and ethics. For the law discussions, many of the talking points are referenced from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) website at www.rcfp.org. The ethics discussions detail the dilemmas that appear frequently among broadcast journalists. Before we get into either of those sections, we begin with the basic need to get the story right.

ACCURACY

Accuracy means writing and reporting in a manner that is as objective and fair as possible, despite any personal feeling, belief, or attitude on the subject. Taking responsibility means:

■ looking at all the issues, not just the easy or popular ones

■ examining controversies and producing special reports throughout the year, not just during the sweeps rating periods

■ covering important stories that don’t always offer good pictures

■ writing and reporting with care, understanding, and compassion

■ dealing with people in a professional and civil manner.

As detailed in further chapters, many news directors require reporters to double-source and even triple-source stories before they air. This means every piece of information must be confirmed by at least two or three independent sources. Michael Senzon, the Executive Producer of Digital Video at CNBC in New York, says:

Comprehensive research and fact checking are the most important aspects as a video journalist. If you’re under deadline, spend the time to get the story right. Every producer wants to make video as engaging as possible, but never sacrifice the journalism.

GATHERING NEWS AND GETTING INFORMATION

Open Records and Meetings (FOIA)

A standard duty for broadcast journalists is to cover meetings at the city council, school board, county commission, or any other local, state, or federal governmental agency. All states, plus the federal government, have enacted open records laws that guarantee access to government documents. These laws are known as “freedom of information” laws and they apply to both government meetings as well as to government files.

FAST FACT: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects student grades and disciplinary records from being shared with the media.

Not all meetings and government records are open to reporters. There are usually exemptions for law enforcement files, issues that would jeopardize national security interests, attorney–client communications between the government agency and its legal counsel, and human resources issues. For example, if the city council is about to terminate the police chief, that’s a personnel issue that is protected from journalists. Typically, such matters are dealt with at the end of a scheduled meeting where the council members will adjourn into a “closed session” or “executive session”. They will announce this in an open meeting, retreat into their chambers to discuss the sensitive issues in the closed session, then return to the open meeting.

If a reporter feels nonexempt information is being withheld by a government agency, the newsroom can readily file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Chapter 4 of this textbook, Collecting Information from Real and Virtual Documents, details the steps to do this. Briefly, an FOIA request allows a reporter to request documents from a specific government agency if the reporter feels she should have access to the information.

Access to Courts

The issue of whether to allow camera coverage of trials has been a continuing debate. TV news representatives generally argue that cameras should be allowed in courtrooms. Those opposed to the idea argue that the cameras compromise the rights and privacy of everyone involved in a trial and could have an impact on the outcome of the trial itself. Even in states where cameras are allowed to record the proceedings, the cameras are operated on a pool basis to minimize the intrusion. The jury is not shown.

There also are a variety of restrictions in most of the states where cameras are allowed. In some states, the judge decides. In others, everyone involved in the case must agree to allow the cameras. In still other states, the decision depends on the nature of the case. And in some states, cameras are permitted only in certain courts. Of course, if a news director files suit arguing that a judge must allow cameras into a courtroom, the case could theoretically end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, which does not allow cameras. Sound confusing? It is.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of allowing cameras in court? The most obvious reason for cameras, in the opinion of most of the media, is the “public’s right to know,” which is guaranteed by the interpretation of freedom of the press under the First Amendment. Others argue that camera coverage would educate the American people on how the jurisprudence system works. The most important argument against allowing cameras in the courtroom is that the coverage may impact the trial itself and the defendant’s right to a fair trial.

Even the rules of using electronic media within courtrooms vary by jurisdiction. A reporter may give up the video camera willingly at the door under the mistaken belief that tweeting updates from inside the courtroom is allowed. Again, the judge sets the rules, not just for traditional video cameras, but also for phones and laptops to elim inate Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook posts.

FIGURE 1.1 ftwitty/iStockphoto.com

DEFINING TERM: The First Amendment—Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Newsgathering (Access to Places)

The RCFP delineates a reporter’s access to a newsworthy event by the type of property that the story happens on. For example, if a story happens in someone’s house (private property) and the news team has received permission from the homeowner to be there, there are no problems since the owner controls the access. If a story occurs at a city park (public property), the news team is restricted to reasonable time, place, and manner regulations. Unless the journalist becomes a nuisance or is perceived to be harassing people at the public event, there is a great deal of leeway.

Some areas require special approval, such as courtrooms or crime scenes, because of the inherent legalities in those venues; reporters who defy lawful orders at these places may be charged with criminal trespass or disorderly conduct. Individual school districts can limit access to school property to minimize distractions to the students. Polling places during election periods tend to be off-limits. Also, reporters do not have a greater right of access to prisoners than anyone else.

If you are denied access to a location where a news event is happening, you should first determine whether it is private or public property. It is vital to find out who denied your access and the reasons why you are being kept away.

PROTECTING AND DEFENDING YOUR WORK

Sources and Subpoenas (Reporter’s Privilege)

Protecting sources is crucial for reporters, especially when the story carries political, social, or economic impact. To make sure a source can remain confidential, 40 states have passed shield laws. These laws protect a reporter from being forced to disclose whom he interviewed to obtain information...