J. JONAH JAMESON QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
"Who is Spider-Man? He's a criminal that's who he is! A vigilante! A public menace! What's he doing on MY front page?"
Well you would know Jameson, if you were the half decent editor of The Daily Bugle that you're supposed to be! Perhaps if you paid any attention rather than barking orders all day, you would have some sort of say in what news stories your publication covers!
Now, onto this week's Discussion Questions, and I refer to you to The Daily Miracle, Chapter 10 p. 232:
1. I'd first question this 'confidential source what their reasoning is for requesting me to wait a day to write the story. Then I'd do my best to find out by monitoring other media organisations if they may have the story at all. I would definitely write it that day to the best of my ability, just so the story is out there, and perhaps if I get the chance, over the next few days, I'd do some more research and expand on the groundwork I'd already laid for the story. But, on the flipside, there's the issue of the confidentiality of the source...but going into that would be beyond the focus of this question!
2. The inside source which approached the media obviously knew that there was some element of risk involved, which could possibly include a loss of employment and therefore income, so their motive to expose the resort kitchen's lack of hygiene is clearly a high priority for public interest, otherwise they wouldn't have put themselves and their career at stake, so that part doesn't really concern me. Who knows how many more guests and staff may fall ill due to the current health and hygiene status, and so it is of upmost importance that the public be informed, even if the unfortunate outcome is the loss of 120 jobs and an increased income loss. This is a tough ethical issue, but it is the journalists' role to serve the public! Plus, there is the other side to the argument that if people were becoming ill due to the resort's poor health practices, it asks why hadn't any of the employees/staff come forward and told the honest truth in the interests of the general public?
3. Pardon the language, but I’d be very pissed off that I hadn't been informed earlier about the decision, especially because professionals like solicitors know that newspapers have strict deadlines they have to adhere to in order to get the published material out there, and I'm sure that there could have been more done to inform me sooner. Secondly, I'd want to talk to the journalist who left the court before the judge issued this 'order' prohibiting the publication of a defendant's name, and their reasoning for doing this. Was it their fault? Did they know that the court hearing wasn't over? I'd find this out. In the end, I would have to, to use the cliché, 'stop the presses' because legal action against defamation by far outweighs the possible chaos and confusion that will ensue in delaying the production process. Surely it will be inconvenient, and things may not be exactly on schedule, but that's the reality of news sometimes! AND, on top of that, I’d be very sceptical about my solicitor contact's apparent drunk state!
4. I would take both into account, but in the end, it is the editor and the media organisation that employs me to do my job, so I would have to listen to them and take his perspective rather than the police rounds reporter's angle. He may be more knowledgeable about the subject, but I have a duty to fulfil to the newspaper and media organisation I work for. I can take advice from the police, but when it all comes down to it, they can't necessarily influence a way a story is written once they have provided the information. On the same token, journalists can't take the law into their own hands and make suggestions as to what they would like to see changed in law enforcement and policing.
JOURNALISM ISSUE ENTRY:
The Story Factory was mainly informative about the structure and hierarchy of the newsroom. Of course there is no common, 'universal' structure, but all have one thing in common: DEADLINES.
They have to be met at all costs, and the news gathering process can often be very difficult!
There can be the issue of journalists receiving PR produced media releases and simply adapting them into a news story without any further thought of why the media release may have been sent, or practice of ethical journalism.
As per The Daily Miracle, former journalist and Sydney public relations executive Jim Macnamara surveyed journalists and editors in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra and found that 86 per cent reported 'very frequent' contact from PR practitioners (p. 214).
In addition, a parallel survey by the same researcher found that 31 per cent of news stories in a range of media were based 'wholly or partly' on news releases.
Now, what else was newsworthy about this chapter???
Some of the questions that chief-of-staff ask of a reporter's stories were also very intriguing...certainly will give me an edge in the real world.
And in reading the descriptions of the various newsroom roles, I think I'd love to be Chief Sub Editor...mainly because I am so choice at making up awesome headlines.
Just thought I ought to share that with you!
This is Z.J Pink signing off for another outrageous edition of Zeejay's Journalism Junk !!!
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