Google News to Chicago Tribune – Chicago Tribune.
Abe Epton writes about why “people interested in code and civic society should really think about joining a newspaper — yes, a newspaper (or any media outlet) — in 2013.” The energy, the immediacy, the noise. He’s helping design the news of the future.
Eugene C. Patterson, Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper editor, dies at 89 – The Washington Post.
Thank you, Mr. Patterson, for leading in the search for truth. The link above is to Eugene Patterson’s obituary in The Washington Post.
Duh, so that’s why I like Richard Powers’ books so much. The simple term is “Lab Lit.” It means works of fiction that get the science right *and* the story. I teach students that effective science writing often involves a main character. In journalism, that character is a real person. In Lab Lit, the authors get to make up the people.
In Lab Lit, Fiction Meets Science of the Real World – NYTimes.com.
The story came from chat room to newsroom to correction. In Introduction to Journalism class at Illinois, students learn “The essence of journalism is a discipline of verification” (from “The Elements of Journalism” by Bill Kovach & Tom Rosenstiel).
The discipline includes the practice of doing one’s own, original reporting, and that would include tracking down the source of the information to judge the veracity of the report. The link above shows the Twitter route of the reports.
Current Openings at POLITICO – POLITICO.com.
Undergraduate students may apply as long as they are at least sophomores now.
That’s how happy I’d like to be. Even in a commercial, the concept makes me smile.
Verification was our topic in “Introduction to Journalism” this week at the University of Illinois. I told the students about a situation a former student had in which a person in line at a Campustown bar assumed another student’s name when he identified himself to her. After the story appeared on local television, the family of the “name” demanded an apology — and got one.
Most reporters don’t ask for a photo I.D. when interviewing people out in public. Maybe we should. The New York Times appears to have been badly stung — unverifiable names and a misspelling all in the same story. Here’s the link: For College Students, Social Media Tops the Bar Scene – NYTimes.com.
When It Comes To Buying Organic, Science And Beliefs Don’t Always Mesh : The Salt : NPR.
This National Public Radio story (7 min 47 sec) works on many levels.
— It explains that scientific studies have limits. They can only report on what was found, not on what was not or on the ramifications of the findings. They report only the findings.
— It uses a discussion format, rather than a narrative, to explain terms and concepts.
— It includes comments and questions from listeners.
— It helps define the terms. “Organic” has a regulated definition.
This CBS story gives the “Wheat Belly” doctor full control of the story. How legitimate are his claims about the ill effects of eating wheat? What would wheat growers or crop scientists say? What exactly is the history of the protein called gliadin? Is it new like the doctor says? These are the kinds of questions we need answered by journalists.
jennifer follis 