You’ve completed (or almost completed) your research for your inquiry story. Share what you’ve completed so far and give an idea about what you’ll be writing about or the angle you’re planning on taking with your story.

Your post must include:

• What is your topic.
• What question(s) do you hope to be answering?
• What angle did you pick to localize your story?
• What firsthand research (polls, surveys, interviews, or observations) have you completed so far?
• What second hand research (articles, scholarly articles, websites) have you competed? Providing links would be outstanding if you have websites you consulted.
• What are some interesting things you’ve discovered?
• What are you waiting to  find out? Is there any research you have left to do?
• What are you going to focus on when you write your story?

You’re welcome to get creative with this response as long as you touch on most or all of the questions above.

The point of the post is to give yourself a good jumping-off point when you return from break. You are free to update this post if you complete or add to research over break.

As we continue our discussions about deception and journalism, take time to write meaningfully on the topic and come to your own conclusions on the matter. I’ve provided two possible topics for you and asked some potential questions in bold at the end of the topics.

Feel free to answer any of the questions, combine questions, or create your own questions based on things you find online, discussions in class, or things you’re wondering about. Please do not attempt to answer all of the questions. This is not a quiz.

Topic 1 – Deceit: When is it Justified?

Sometimes, in order to get an authentic story on a sensitive topic, a journalist must resort to deception. Deception can be used to protect a journalist, gain information that wouldn’t be freely offered, protect sources, or as bait.

Deception can play an important role; however, one of the foundations of ethical journalism is unwavering loyalty to Truth. Deception is a powerful tool that must be wielded wisely and appropriately.

Investigative reports and hidden camera work have brought to light practices and topics that people care deeply about, like showing what could happen when you bring your computer or vehicle in for repairs or service.

Some reporters have deceived their subjects in order to get as close to their topic as possible. Shann Nix once posed as a high school student for an entire quarter in order to giver her audience an honest look at what life is really like for high school students in San Francisco. Her story was lauded in the world of Journalism and even inspired the movie Never Been Kissed.

On the other hand, reporters like Jayson Blair have brought disgrace to the profession by fabricating details or entire stories.

Other times, programs like Bait Car and What Would You Do? blur the line between authentic news and reality television entertainment. Staging situations or putting people in potentially unrealistic scenarios for the sake of a dramatic or entertaining story.

Often, these shows are hugely popular, igniting debate and discussion across the country. There’s no doubt these programs are powerful. These programs present themselves in the same way as news, but, are they examples of ethical journalism? Is it right for TV stations to present the shows as news, or is it time for the definition of journalism to expand to include this type of reporting?

Where do you draw the line between appropriate and inappropriate use of deception in order to get a story?

If a publication or TV program uses deception to get a story, what should their guidelines be? What rules should they hold themselves to? Where should they draw the line?

A newspaper’s most important asset is the Trust of its viewers. However, it must also find and report truth. What role does the use of deception play here?

Topic 2 – Fired for PhotoShop

The darkroom was replaced by digital photography long ago. Taking and editing pictures has never been easier. Tools like PhotoShop allow photographers and photojournalists to retouch images quickly and easily. Practices that used to take hours in a lab now can be done in seconds. We live in a world where we expect flashy graphics, beautiful photography, and sensational images. As an audience, we’re hard to impress with photography straight off of a camera. In addition to simple edits to levels and contrast, PhotoShop can make a picture more true to life, bring out details that aren’t readily apparent, and frame a situation in a new light. In a sense, one could argue that a skilled photographer can bring out more truth from a photo by altering it.

Obviously, some photographers have taken this issue too far, completely changing scenes in order to enhance drama or editorialize.

Brian Walski was fired for creating this composite image to add drama to an otherwise undramatic scene.

Time magazine drew criticism for making OJ Simpson appear darker on its cover.

Many organizations say that almost any use of PhotoShop or image editing software is unethical. Photographers have been fired for even slight edits to photos or for removing unnecessary or distracting background elements.

Should a photographer lose his or her job over this? (Photo by Marc Feldman/Getty Images)

Is it time for photojournalists to review their code of ethics?

Is there a place for editing photos, perhaps even dramatically?

If a photographer should be able to edit images, where do you draw the line?

Is editing an image dishonest, or can editing an image actually add truth to a picture? If an image is edited, what responsibility should a newspaper have?

Full screen.

Welcome to J1 Blogs!

Your first post isn’t technically a blog post, but it’s going to get you started with the process and give each of you something to talk about for your first post. The post for this week is going to cover the work you and your classmates did presenting on the landmark Supreme Court cases regarding Communication Law.

First, embed your presentation into your post. We demonstrated how to do this in class. Or you can watch this demonstration to help you.

It should look like this:

Next, reflect on what you learned from preparing your presentation. Write about what you learned and what was difficult. Also, post your most important finding from the notes you took about the other classes.More importantly, try to write about what your learning means. Let others see what you know and how what you know matters.

Finally, with everything we’ve learned from Supreme Court cases and Communication Law over the past two weeks, what have you learned about freedoms and restrictions on the media?

Prompt Summary:

1. What did you learn from creating a presentation and listening to the presentations from others? What does this learning mean?
2. After learning about Supreme Court Law, what do you think about the limitations that have been placed on the media? Do you think all of the decisions are useful and fair? Do you think the media needs more or less freedom? What do you think of the laws as they pertain to High School Media?

Summarize your journalism experience over the past two quarters. Talk about how you’ve grown as a writer and a reporter. Let me know what you picked up about journalism in general – law, ethics, obligations and other things. What parts of the class were most enjoyable, meaningful, and memorable for you? What areas would you have liked to learn more about?

What work are you most proud of in this class? What moments stand out for you?

What else would you like to share?

Even though I’ve taught journalism for the past eight years, I’ve taught this class differently than I ever have before. I’ve changed my grading system, eliminated every possible worksheet, went down to one test and one quiz, gave everyone a chance to improve grades, only looked and chapters, stories, and packets that I was willing to read with you, brought in videos only when they benefitted you, left feedback the next class day after assignments were due, and introduced writing for the web and blogging to the class.

If I have done my job correctly, you have hopefully had an opportunity to experience the following areas with some degree of depth:

• Building a community (first three weeks of class)
• Learning how to write Feature stories
• Understanding the reporting process
• Learning how to use journalistic style
• Leaving and working with feedback
• Using Google Docs collaboratively
• Learning how to use InDesign to create unique designs
• Understanding how to write with detail and observations
• Practicing opinion column writing
• Storytelling and Story finding with This American Life
• Communication Law
• Communication Ethics
• Inverted Pyramid Style
• Reporting for the web
• Blogging with purpose and supporting your opinion
• Reading the work of your classmates
• Working together on projects and assignments
• Formative assessments and the chance to make your work better
• Summative assessments that measure what you’re able to do
• Being graded on projects instead of tests and worksheets
• and more.

Thank you for putting up with me as I experimented with the class, brought in brand new things, and asked more of you than I have ever asked of a journalism class before. You have been my favorite journalism class ever, and I’ve taught this class at least 20 times. I appreciate you, your patience, the incredible things you did, and the way you worked with each other over the last two months. I hope that there have been times when I was a teacher worthy of you and the work you created.

I’m going to miss this class.

Please don’t forget about Publications Writing, Journalism 2, and the chance to be a newspaper editor. Let me know if you’re interested in these things and I’ll try to help make them happen for you.

Thank you,

-McCallum

• At least FOUR links within your text. These links can’t just be definitions of words.
• A minimum of 400 words.
• You must have a point to your writing that you use sources to help you make that point.
• Due by Sunday, January 9

Blog about something that interests you. Here is a little list of big ideas. You don’t have to pick anything from this list, but these can spark you if you’re having trouble getting started. Some people keep whole blogs dedicated to just these topics.

• Photography and video
• Travel
• Family
• Drama
• School (Homework, Grades, Teaching, Learning)
• Video games
• Politics
• Media and Journalism
• Facebook and social media
• Overcoming obstacles and struggles
• Sports and sports culture
• Music and music culture
• Movies
• Animals
• Hobbies

Some of you are probably asking:

Why are we doing this? Why can’t you just pick a topic for me?

Those are good questions. The reason I’m doing this is that writing for the web is a lot bigger than just answering questions posed by a nerdy journalism teacher. It’s more than answering questions. So much of it is about writing about something you’re passionate about that may interest others. We’ve learned that Journalism is changing and what it becomes is up to you. I’d like to you have a chance to write about a topic you’re interested in and write in a why that may interest others.

I know it’s challenging to pick a topic and understand you’re doing something right with it, but know that I’m looking for you to take a risk with this and that I’ve never expected you to get a right answer. Any questions? Leave a comment! I’ll reply.

Good luck. I can’t wait to read these.

I’m keeping a blog, too. If you want to read what I’m writing about go here. I’m trying to write as often as I’m asking you to. Leave me comments if you’re cool.

Minimum Words: 400
Minimum Links: 3 (Don’t just link to definitions and Wikipedia entries)
Due: Sunday, January 2 (or sooner)
Note: If you already debated some ethical issues in your post from last week, feel free to either write about this or go back to Blog 4.

Integrity is sometimes the most important tool a journalist has, so Fairness, Accuracy, and Balance are three words journalists frequently use to describe their mission and loyalties.

As we’ve learned through discussion and debate over the past week, ethical decision making often comes down to balance.  It’s hard to take a firm stance on one side of another of an issue. Your blog prompt this week asks you to come to conclusions about how you would balance some of the most important issues we’ve talked about.

Take a look at the concepts below and the questions that they’ve brought up. Choose as many as you’d like to talk about. Consider the Potter Box of Moral Reasoning from the presentation at the end of the post as you discuss how you would make your decisions. For a great post, try and find and link to a situation that brings these issues into focus.

Over the last two weeks in this class, we’ve considered the following issues:

• Deception: When is it justified? Is it ever okay to deceive your audience?
• Aiding Law Enforcement: To assist or to report?
• Reporting Fear: Spreading terror or fighting ignorance?
• Observing: When do you get involved?
• Reaction: How much should you try to anticipate the consequence of a story?
• Gifts: Accepting bribes or gaining access?
• Sensationalism: A ploy to sell your news or a difficult look at the truth?
• Citizen Journalists: Can people without training really report news accurately?
• Conflicts of Interest: Should journalists avoid any connection to their topics?
• Editorial Decisions: Should journalists tell us what we need to know or give us what we want to know?
• Personal vs. Professional Ethics: What if your job asks you to do something that conflicts with your ethics?
• Right and Wrong: How are our definitions of right and wrong shaped and how do they influence our decisions?
• Moral Reasoning: How can subtle changes in Definitions, Values, Principles, and Loyalties (the Potter Box) change the way people thing about ethical questions?

Another situation

Katie found a situation that happened just last month that involves both the Ethics we’re talking about, the privacy law situations that we just wrapped up, and the concept of citizen journalists from the blog post below.

Purdue journalist told not to video paramedics; police chief says officer was mistaken

The situation involves a student journalist at Purdue recording a medical emergency in a public space. He is told by a police officer that he cannot record and should leave the scene. He fights for his right as a journalist to be there, and the video below captures the entire incident.

Thanks to Katie for bringing this case up.

Minimum Words: 400
Links needed: At least three

Note: If you would like to write about the issues and ideas we encounter and discuss in class this week instead of this idea for a blog post, please do.

The concept of a citizen journalist has been around for a very long time – at least 150 years. The basic premise behind citizen journalism is that people without a degree or special training in journalism can report the news and broadcast their reports to a wider audience.

In the past, they did they by printing and handing out pamphlets. This required access to a way to make large amounts of copies and a way to hand your document out to an audience. Today, as we’ve seen, it only requires a device that can access the internet. This has lead to the rise of individuals reporting and commenting on news or collections of writers with similar interests creating news outlets online with small stables of reporters.

The meaning of the term Journalist is no longer as clearly defined as it used to be. Traditionally, professional journalists have special training about how to handle different types of news, expectations to report ethically, and a requirement to adhere to strict ethics codes. They also have the benefit of their work being backed and distributed by trusted names. Professional journalists also got special access to public figures, sports stars and venues, media events, and government events.

However, the decline in print media circulation and the rise in online media has created an interesting shift in the concept of what it means to be a journalist. There are certain bloggers that carry significant influence and wide audiences. There are other bloggers that tackle topics that mainstream media sources avoid or provide expert perspectives on very specific issues. Other online collectives have emerged as leaders in the industry without needing a print source. These people are challenging even the most established traditional outlets and are drawing readers away from them by the thousand.

On the other hand, these bloggers aren’t supported by traditional institutions, may not have a high level of training, and may have political agendas and personal biases that are either overt or disguised. Some online sources of news range from slight political leanings to full-on racism. Other online sources rely so much on the support of a small group of advertisers that sometimes their stories are actually thinly veiled advertisements. Very few members of the new media hold themselves to the hight standards of ethics that traditional media outlets do.

One false report can have gigantic impact and unexpected consequences. However, this style of reporting is not going away. So, what does it mean to be a journalist – and more importantly a reader – today?

Questions to consider:

Don’t even try to answer all of these. These are just intended to get you thinking. Answer as many or few (or none) as you would like.

What does it mean to be a journalist in the 21st Century?

What does it mean to be a reader and a consumer of journalism in the 21st Century?

What do professional journalists offer that citizen journalists cannot?

How do you think a blogger can become a journalist? What can they offer that professionals cannot?

How much of your news do you get from Facebook? Can Facebook be a credible or trustworthy place to get news? Do you trust your friends more than certain media outlets? If you use Facebook to get news about your world, are you doing citizen journalism when you report an event on Facebook?

Bloggers and online media writers are increasingly asking for special access to public figures, media events, the locker rooms or press boxes at professional sporting events, and government press conferences. Often times, they are kicked out or banned from the premises. Do you think that they should receive these rights? Who should be able to attend these events and how do the coordinators decide?

Some mainstream media outlets have begun recruiting citizen journalists and branding the work of those reporters with their logos and affiliations.

People used to be able to rely on professional journalists to report the truth with fairness. Now, in the age of citizen journalism, the job of discerning accuracy has fallen to the reader. How do people figure out whether what they read is true or false? How do we know we aren’t being deceived?

How can citizens do better than the Mass Media?

Some organizations are forming with the goal of better educating citizen journalists and creating high standards for new media sources. Do you think these institutions will be effective or lead to anything important?

In what ways have traditional media sources sacrificed their own ethical integrity or reporting standards in order to gain audience numbers and advertising dollars?

What kind of news coverage would you pay for or subscribe to? Would you ever subscribe to a newspaper or magazine? Would you ever pay for online reporting or to see a great story on a website? Why or why not?

What will journalism look like in 5 years? How about 10 years from now?

Sources I consulted about this issue:

Some additional sources are linked to in the questions or explanation of this blog. Additional sources that may help you in your writing are below. Finding your own sources is always encouraged and celebrated.

• A deep and well-done look at ethical issues in blogging and citizen journlaism
• A great conversation with an expert on the issue and its impications
• Four questions about the future of citizen journalism
• CNN’s iReport
• My thoughts on CNN’s iReport program from three years ago, just days after it started.
• News sources recruiting the best local citizen journalists
• Center of Citizen Media
• Social Media provides new challenges for the citizen journalism debate
• Citizen Journalism Q&A – How to find sources and start reporting
• The owner of the Dallas Mavericks (and blogger) debates the issues of bloggers in the locker room
• Knight Digital Media Center
• Knight Citizens News Network
• My thoughts on Facebook as a new source