EXAM 3.1 Flashcards
Which of these is a principal objective of a newspaper’s “op-ed” section?
To broaden the range and types of voices readers are exposed to, particularly those of non-journalists
Kovach and Rosenstiel describe journalism as an act of:
character
Earmarks of journalistic quality include all of the following except:
Appeasing all concerned stakeholders
Schudson said that journalists literally make news. What does this mean?
Journalists apply analytical thinking when determining newsworthiness, gathering information, and reporting a story
A discipline of which of the following is said by Kovach and Rosenstiel to be the “essence” of journalism?
verification
The sociologist C. Wright Mills talks about the connection between “private troubles” and “public issues.” Which of Schudson’s functions of news does this best illustrate?
social empathy
Which theory of truth asks if the reported facts illuminate a larger truth?
The coherence theory of truth
What illustrates a technological explanation for the emergence of objectivity in journalism?
The invention of the telegraph
What point does economist Robert McChesney make about the relationship between supply and demand?
The relationship between supply and demand is complex
“Legal debates often center on ‘freedom to.’ Ethical debates often center on ‘freedom from.’” Is this statement true or false?
f
“Journalism, according to Craft and Davis, is a set of transparent, independent procedures aimed at gathering, verifying, and reporting truthful information of consequence to citizens in a democracy.” Is this statement true or false?
t
“The theory of agenda-setting refers to the ability of journalists to tell their audiences what to think.” Is this statement true or false?
f
“The ideal of journalism serving democracy was a product of the American Revolution.” Is this statement true or false?
f
“Professor Mark Horvit referred to investigative journalism as a state of mind rather than a specific genre of journalism.” Is this statement true or false?
t
“Journalism’s obligation to the truth doesn’t include the necessity to make their stories engaging.” Is this statement true or false?
f
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS TRUE?
Journalists have traditionally been strong supporters of the value of letters to the editor sections Newer journalistic voices like Jezebel and Deadspin are strong advocates of objectivity in journalism Research shows us that a sense of duty is central to journalistic identity
Research shows us that a sense of duty is central to journalistic identity
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS TRUE?
Journalists in some states have special legal protections not afforded other citizens
There is no meaningful difference between journalism and other media outputs, such as advertising, film, and public relations
Defining journalism and drawing boundaries around it is very straightforward
It is unimportant to hold journalists to a high standard
Journalists in some states have special legal protections not afforded other citizens
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IS TRUE
Journalists should strive for two perspectives and balance them equally
Kovach and Rosenstiel say that balance is a fundamental journalistic objective
Rather than pursuing balance for its own sake, journalists should strive to achieve the correct balance or weighting of perspectives
Rather than pursuing balance for its own sake, journalists should strive to achieve the correct balance or weighting of perspectives
A sense of ___ is central to journalistic integrity
duty
define Externalities
An impact or cost on a party that did not intend to be directly involved
People are best equipped to _______ _______
govern themselves
What does democracy require from journalism?
Information dissemination, accountability, representation, deliberation and conflict resolution
Schudson’s 6 or 7 Things
- Information
- Investigation
- Analysis
- Social Empathy
- Public Forum
- Mobilization
- Publishing Representative Democracy
Five things the public requires of journalism
Intelligent aggregator Forum leader Empowerer Role model Community builder
Theory of interlocking public
To make sure each page has a sufficient variety of stories so that everyone in the audience has something to read
Factors that affect journalism’s job
Regulation, economy, politics, technology, information
Separation from journalism and information collecting
fact verification
heresay ____
often points to a lack of verification
How to tell if a story is accurate
Is the story free of error?
Can all of the claims be verified?
Does it rely on original reporting?
Are the sources used authoritative?
what is “The wall” in journalism
Is a separation between news and business/advertising departments; often have separate floors
Journalism and the scientific method
Starting with a question Background research Developing a hunch Testing the hunch Using transparent means Report findings
4 main components of the opinion section
Editorial, opinion columns, op-ed, letters to the editor
What is the dichotomy of telling stories?
engaging v relevant
unique journalistic laws
Bama: only tv stations are covered delaware: must be employed 20h/w florida: a salaried employer or indepednent contractor of a news station ND: anything goes wyoming: no laws
overall look at journalistic laws
Every state but Wyoming has some form of “journalistic privilege”
36 states and the District of Columbia have a law recognizing journalistic privilege.
13 states recognize privilege through court decisions.
There is no federal shield law- 100+ attempts.
Hutchins commission
ww2 press freedom
branzberg v hayes
branzburg being pressured to release the names of people involved in drug cirmes
1st amendment
big J not naming sources
he was forgiven
shoen v shoen
what is journalism
who is a journalist
who is allowed to do investigative reporting
nyt v sullivan
sullivan worked for the montgomery police department during the civil rights era when the nyt wrote a piece calling them out for their bad treatment of blacks.
sullivan sued but the supreme court ruled in favour of the nyt
define information dissemination
democracy requires some method for distributing all the information people need to make decisions and govern themselves
what does democracy require from journalism
information dissemination
accountability
representation
deliberation and conflict resolution
5 core functions of journalism in a democracy (it’s more than 5)
inform, analyse, interpret and explain investigate create a public conversation generating social empathy encourage accountability
what is wisdom journalism
discussion about the role opinion and insight in journalism might play in helping people navigate and act on all information
theory of interlocking public
To make sure each page has a sufficient variety of stories so that every member of the audience wants to read at least one of them
examples of documenting events first hand
london tube bombing 2005
oscar grant murder 2009
arab spring 2010-12
masson v new yorker
An article was released with a quote stated by Masson. He claimed that this quote was never said
The Supreme Court sided with the New Yorker because the summary of the quote had the same meaning as the actual quote. Said journalists need breathing space
market model
this is the idea that the market enforces what the public WANTS to hear. It is used by private companies attempting to sell products
public service/sphere model
public resource to report diverse and innovative content even if it isn’t popular.
how to resolve conflicts of interest
disclosing them
escaping them
pick a side
5 core components of scientific reporting
Never add anything that wasn’t there originally
Never deceive the audience
Be as transparent as possible about your methods and motives
Rely on your original reporting
Exercise humility
techniques of verification
Keep an accuracy checklist
Assume nothing
Be careful with anonymous sources
three kinds of sources
people
documents
data
main forms of investigative reporting
original
interpretive
reporting on investigations
