Ch. 14 from "News Reporting and Writing" & Ch. 8 & 9 from Justicejournalism.org

Ch.14: "Covering a beat"

The Missouri Group mentions my hometown newspaper and my favorite news station! Sweet!

In all seriousness, they mention it because The Democrat and Chronicle has a special relationship with 13WHAM-TV: during the 11 o'clock news, there is nearly always a segment on what is coming up tomorrow in the D&C. It's a symbiotic relationship: the D&C previews interesting stories so that maybe they will sell more the next day, and 13 gets story ideas. (even if the 11 pm show is over time and can't do the D&C segment, they'll often use some of the stories and report on them separately).

To be a successful beat reporter, you must be prepared, alert, persistent, there and wary. I think those are tenants for any journalist, not just one specific kind.

Before you start interviewing people, you should probably talk to the reporter who covered the beat before you. That way, you know who is best to talk to, who will lie, etc.w

Sometimes you have to think fast in order to get the inside scoop. The book's example was a little confusing, because it wasn't clear who was talking to whom, but it was about getting chosen for a pool to go inside a school building after a shooting. And their example didn't have a clear ending either, so I'm not really sure why they chose it as an example, except for the fact that it teaches what "pool" means (a select group of reporters)

Be persistent. I think in beat reporting, this is more important. Because your sources will know you for a longer time, and you'll need all the facts from them in order to get the story. However, persistence might hurt you....if you're too persistent, well, sometimes sources might not want to talk to you if you keep bugging them.

If you're Michael Scully though, bug 'em till they talk. Most times, his [Scully's] advice works.

Rephrase complicated or confusing answers to get simple responses from sources that viewers (or readers) will understand.

Constantly check for new developments. Even if what's going on is taking awhile, it never hurts to check. Also, if nothing is happening, that may be the story (ie: in Syracuse, if Destiny USA stopped construction on their Carousel mall construction or they're not doing what they said, that is a story. For instance, when they weren't hiring the number of people they said they would, Syracuse papers and stations went crazy. Now, most stations have their own Destiny USA section, either online or in the paper. It's probably a good beat too)

Do favors for your sources--as long as it's not unethical. Because we as reporters are constantly asking for information, so it's nice to give back once in awhile. Maybe if you do something for your sources, they'll tell you more.

Don't trust anyone. It's a good Scully rule, and it's a general journalistic tenant, I think. We tend not to trust sources because you never know what their agenda might be. That's why fact-checking and balanced reporting is so important.

Keep in mind that information is power. Talk to the person who knows how decisions are made and where the money goes (like in crime reporting, follow the money).
Budgets are good background information on how well organizations are doing--can they stick to a budget? how in debt are they, etc?
Everything is political. Know this and understand it. It's a sad fact of life, but that's how it goes.

Personally, the school beat is the most difficult. Because the public schools will always try to trick you. So know what you can and cannot report/film. It's very helpful, especially in difficult situations like the current race riots/protests/debates at Ithaca High School. As a photographer, going to the school was extremely difficult. Administrators will always keep an eye on you, and even if you are doing what you are supposed to, they will always try to tell you that you shouldn't be doing what you are doing. It's confusing. And frustrating. But it's just part of the job. Word of advice: get permission to shoot video of the inside of schools before doing so. Cause otherwise, you can be in serious trouble.

Religion is everywhere. Henceforth and thereforth, it's a difficult beat that requires much knowledge.

For Science, the environment and medicine, why should I write for kids? the book says to because they are interested, but so are adults. That's silly to write for kids just because they are the citizens of tomorrow. (although it helps to simplify complex terms if you write for children, I'll give the book that)

Justicejournalism.org
Ch. 8: Covering Criminal Courts

The legal process is not a "process of determining innocence." That's why no one pleads innocence, only guilty or not guilty. I think that's rather interesting, considering in my mind I equate innocence with being not guilty.

Even more interesting that the AP stylebook requires reporters to use the word "innocence" in place of not guilty.

I suppose that their worry of the "not" being dropped is a correct and viable excuse to use the word innocent. It does however, make the legal process more confusing for constituents, seeing as the courts don't prove innocence, but rather guilt. Confusing as all heck when journalists report on innonence.

Court motions can be very influential--and important--in criminal trials. They can determine a change of trial location, postponements, bond, gag orders, jury selection, and more. In cases like the OKC bombing and the OJ Simpson trial, motions were everywhere and were often the focus of many reports in the media.

In order to get a guilty verdict, one needs to prove that there is guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. That's the most important fact journalists need to know before covering trials.

The jury selection period is often ignored by the media, mainly because it is a lengthy process. But to the observant journalist, jury selection can become newsworthy, especially if there is a debate over the selected jurors, or favoritism comes into play.

Opening statements are not opening arguments. They are previews of evidence (because you are innocent until proven guilty.) They are a snapshot of the entire case.

I didn't know that they were two specific kinds of evidence, direct and circumstantial. Direct evidence is that of an eyewitness, DNA or other physical evidence. Circumstantial is indirect proof or "proof by logical inference."

The closing argument, final or rebuttal arguments are summarizing the evidence in the case.

Jurors are not allowed to be approached by the media until after a verdict has been released. This makes sense, since the jurors should not be influenced by any other source than the information presented to them by the lawyers during the trial period.

Ch. 9: Covering Civil Courts

Most civil litigation cases are not newsworthy, but they play an important role in shaping society (ie: Brown v. Board of Education)

Most of these cases are private affairs and have little to do with significant legal disputes.

So why would a journalist be told to cover a civil court? Well, sometimes they do make significant legal decisions. Or the parties involved are well known.

Unless you are Judge Judy. Or any other TV judge. And those really aren't news shows, but are sadly entertainment. I have learned about the legal system by watching them, however. Oh and how ignorant people can be.

Rules over monetary damages exist. Also, be careful when reporting upon the monetary damages requested in the petetion--cause they change sometimes depending on the judge's ruling.

Evidence found in the discovery phase of civil trials often lead to news stories--mainly because of their investigative nature. And most lawyers are willing to give reporters access to the discovery evidence, as long as it doesn't have a protective order placed upon it.

Unlike a criminal trial where a defendant is allowed to remain silent without any negative judgment placed upon him or her, if a defendant does not remain available or refuses to participant in the trial, judges are able to infer that something may be suspicious.

There are many pre-trial meetings between the two sides and the judge; in some cases, these pre-trial meetings can result in an out of court decision.

Civil trials are like criminal trials ... with a few exceptions. A trial does not have to have a jury. If there is a jury in civil cases, it was previously decided as a result of a motion.

Liability and damages are decided upon separately at bifurcated trials. Cause this is not confusing at all...

The burden of proof in civil cases is different as well. I don't really understand this, but the burden lies with the plantiff. And sometimes the burden can change to the defendant. Oy.

If neither party is a public entity, finding out settlements can be difficult. The judge decides whether or not the settlement should become private or public. Lawyers can motion to have the settlement made public or private, depending on public interest in the matter or whatnot.

Wow. That was a lot of complicated information. I'd rather have it explained to me by a professor or even a judge than to have read it online. Because some of the complicated terms and processes need to be clarified.