Smith Chapter 8

Question 1

Explain the Sun-Sentinel case.

Answer 1

Started with Geralyn Graham, who went to see grandaughter and found her living in subhuman conditions
-took her away and DCF came to check on her and took her away
-Graham would call and they would say she was OK, until eventually DCF came to her house asking to see the child - didnt know where she was
Newspapers wanted records of the incident, finally when they got them DCF had heavily edited them - didnt know where 532 children were
Sentinel wanted to find the missing children
-within a month they found 1/3 of the children
-found that although it was in DCF’s guidelines that they were to report to police when child goes missing, many were not in a rush to do so

Question 2

What was the results? why wouldn’t the paper turn over the files?

Answer 2

prompted change: head of DCF resigned and legislature changes laws concerning how agency reports missing children

• DCF said they still couldn’t find some of the kids that the paper reported finding
• asked for files and paper said no
• “critical we do not become, an investigative arm of any agency”

Question 3

Smith states that the case of the missing children illustrates two tensions in the relationship between news media and govt. what are they?

Answer 3

clash between need for govt. secrecy and the obligation to openness in a democracy
defining what role the news media should play in the running of govt.

Question 4

Why does the government get “the most intense and vigorous surveillance?”

Answer 4

govt. controls many aspects of life
government runs on tax dollars
in a democracy citizens can make a difference

Question 5

What common problems do journalists face when trying to obtain public records?

Answer 5

• Met with hostility and intimidation
• they take their time filling requests for public records
• so much material has been redacted that the records are nearly worthless
• government agencies charge high fees to limit reporters access
• state laws may indirectly discourage govt. employees from releasing public records

Question 6

Why do politicians want closed meetings and why is this problematic?

Answer 6

want to meet in private so that they can avoid the heat that often comes with some of their decisions OR want secrecy to hide wrongdoing

the public is not allowed to hear the reasoning of their elected officials

Question 7

What is meant by government spin control

Answer 7

The use of public relations expertise to manipulate information

Question 8

What are the benefits and problems associated with embedded reporters

Answer 8

benefits: unbelievable access

problems: 
soda straw effect: saw the war through a very limited perspective (more eye catching than eye opening) 
-extensive flag waving
-gave sanitized version of war 
-photographers were carefully controlled

Question 9

What tips does Kelly McBride give regarding withholding information on the request of the police

Answer 9

1. figure out where info came from: anything found in public record, anything voluntarily revealed by witness and is observed first hand by journalist is fair game
2. lawyers and police officers should know better than to try to go off record retroactively
3. when a cop, lawyer, or officer of the court asks you to hold back info ask why , if no good reason publish it
4. in cases where investigators have a plausible request don’t agree to withhold info indefinitely
   - ask: at what point will it be ok to publish it? agree to short (24-48 hrs to a week) period first then review decision
5. Let your service to public be a guide
   - don’t withhold info that misleads or creates false impressions
   - agree to hold back if you think it serves public good
   - most of the time revealing info serves public as much good as concealing ti