INSIDE

REPORTING
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE CRAFT OF JOURNALISM
 INSIDE
REPORTING
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO THE CRAFT OF JOURNALISM
SECOND EDITION

Tim Harrower

TM
 TM

Published by McGraw-Hill, an imprint of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas,
New York, NY 10020. Copyright © 2010, 2007. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without
the prior written consent of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., including, but not limited to, in any network
or other electronic storage or transmission, or broadcast for distance learning.

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 DOW/DOW 0 9

ISBN: 978-0-07-337891-6
MHID: 0-07-337891-7

Editor in Chief: Michael Ryan

Publisher: Frank Mortimer
Sponsoring Editor: Katie Stevens
Senior Managing Editor: Susan Gouijnstook
Developmental Editor: Janice Wiggins
Marketing Manager: Pamela S. Cooper
Senior Production Editor: Carey Eisner
Design Manager: Preston Thomas
Interior and Cover Designer: Tim Harrower
Manager, Photo Research: Brian J. Pecko
Production Supervisor: Tandra Jorgensen
Printing: 60# Publisher’s Matte, R.R. Donnelley & Sons

Cover: Montage by Steve Cowden. Obama photos by Michael Lloyd of The Oregonian; old reporter photo
courtesy of Asbury Park Press; tornado photo from the NOAA Photo Library, OAR/ERL/National Severe Storms
Lab (NSSL).

Credits: The credits appear at the end of the book and are considered an extension of the copyright page.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Harrower, Tim.
Inside reporting : a practical guide to the craft of journalism / Tim Harrower. —2nd ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-337891-6 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 0-07-337891-7
1. Reporters and reporting. I. Title.
PN4781.H343 2010
070.4’3—dc22
2009029034

The Internet addresses listed in the text were accurate at the time of publication. The inclusion of a Web site
does not indicate an endorsement by the authors or McGraw-Hill, and McGraw-Hill does not guarantee the
accuracy of the information presented at these sites.

www.mhhe.com
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Acknowledgements . . . 3
Reporting basics Law and ethics
About this book . . . . . . . . 4 Where stories come from. . . . . 68 Press rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Finding and using sources . . . . 70 Press wrongs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Using the Internet. . . . . . . . . . . 72 Understanding libel . . . . . . . . . 144
The story of journalism Observation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Invasion of privacy . . . . . . . . . .146
Newsroom heroes, legends Taking notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Copyright law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
and folklore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Interviewing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Taste and decency . . . . . . . . . 148
The birth of journalism. . . . . . . . 8 Interviewing (cont.) . . . . . . . . . 80 The Seven Deadly Sins . . . . . . 150
News in the 19th century . . . . . 10 Quotations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Journalistic ethics . . . . . . . . . . . 152
News in the 20th century . . . . . 12 Attributions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Ethics survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Today’s changing media Math for journalists. . . . . . . . . . 86 Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
landscape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Diversity in news coverage . . . 88
The student journalists The Press Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
news attitude survey . . . . . . 16 Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Online reporting
From print to the Web . . . . . . 158
Updating stories online . . . . . 160
Covering the news Blogging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
How newsrooms work
Covering a beat. . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Writing for the Web . . . . . . . . 164
What is news? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Writing obituaries. . . . . . . . . . . 96 Incorporating links . . . . . . . . . 166
What readers read . . . . . . . . . . 20
Covering accidents and Incorporating multimedia . . . 168
How a story gets written . . . . . 22
disasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98 Encouraging user participation 170
How the news comes
together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Covering fires . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 Media convergence . . . . . . . . . 172
Who’s who in the newsroom . . 26 Covering crime . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Planning online packages . . . . 174
What it’s called . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Covering courts . . . . . . . . . . . . 104 Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Tools, talent and Covering speeches . . . . . . . . . 106
temperament . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Covering meetings . . . . . . . . . 108
The Press Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Covering politics . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 Broadcast journalism
Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Covering sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112 Broadcast news . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114 Writing for broadcast . . . . . . . 180
Radio news reporting . . . . . . . 182
Television news reporting . . . 184
Newswriting basics
The Press Room. . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Just the facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Beyond breaking news Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
The five W’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 The world of features . . . . . . . . 116
The inverted pyramid . . . . . . . . 40 Generating story ideas . . . . . . . 118
Writing basic news leads . . . . . 42 Feature style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Beyond the basic news lead . . 44
Public relations
Feature story structures . . . . . . 122 What is public relations? . . . . 190
Leads that succeed . . . . . . . . . . 46 Writing profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 Planning a PR strategy . . . . . . 192
After the lead, what next? . . . . 48 Enterprise projects . . . . . . . . . 126 Writing news releases . . . . . . 194
Story structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Investigative reporting. . . . . . 128 Balance and bias . . . . . . . . . . . 196
Rewriting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Package planning . . . . . . . . . . 130 The Press Room. . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Editing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Short-form alternatives Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Newswriting style . . . . . . . . . . . 56 (sidebars and graphics) . . . . 132
Making deadline . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 Writing editorials and The Morgue . . . . . . . . . . . 201
66 newswriting tips . . . . . . . . . 60 columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 Exercise answers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
The Press Room. . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Writing reviews. . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Webliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 326
Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 Test yourself . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138 Sources and credits. . . . . . . . . . . 328
2

PREFACE

S omewhere, not too far from here, at this

very moment, a politician is taking a bribe.
A factory is dumping toxic sludge into a stream.
A deadly virus is landing at the airport. A high school
jock is bulking up on steroids. Someone’s mother is opening
and whatever new-media options emerge online. American
consumers demand their news in a wide variety of formats,
which means the smartest journalists are those prepared to
produce material for any platform.
� You never know what your next job might be. You may
a can of contaminated tuna. dream of becoming a cable-news commentator, a multimedia
Just a typical day in America, in other words, where producer or a video blogger. But out there in the real world,
ordinary folks suffer from a lack of reliable information. your first job may require you to crank out stories for a TV
What they don’t know can hurt them. station’s Web site — or cover city hall for a weekly paper.
Who’s the watchdog here? Whose job is it to expose the For that, basic newswriting skills will be essential.
lies, explain the dangers, inform the uninformed? � You never know what you’re going to enjoy. You may
If you become a journalist, it’s your job. think writing is a slow-motion, old-fashioned bore compared to
Now, I’m a realist. I won’t try to dupe you into thinking shooting video and creating Web graphics. But don’t knock it
journalism is glamorous, that your deathless prose can slay till you try it. You might find out that you’re good at it — that
society’s dragons. you actually love it — like thousands of reporters before you.
Very few news stories change the world. � It’s all connected. If you want to be a journalist, you
Still, sometimes a single story — a single sentence — need to gather facts and tell stories. That’s basically all there is
can have an impact you never imagined. Put the right facts to it: 1) Gather the facts. 2) Tell the story.
in the right order and you can make someone laugh. Cry. Sure, you can add photos and hyperlinks and sound bites
Understand. Get involved. and animated graphics. But before you can dazzle viewers
That’s how you make a difference in this crazy world: with cyberjournalism, you’ve got to develop news judgment
one reader at a time. and reporting skills. The basics, in other words.
That’s why this book focuses on newswriting. It’s the

F or journalism, this is a time of turmoil and

transformation. Take newspapers . . . . . . . please.
Once mighty and beloved, the ink-on-dead-tree
news biz now suffers layoffs, bankruptcies, closures —
traditional, tried-and-true way to master the journalist’s craft.
Whatever medium you choose for news — audio, video,
multimedia or ink on paper — it all begins the same way:
Gather the facts. Then tell the story.
So that’s where we’ll begin, too.
and the painful desertion of once-loyal readers who’d rather
browse headlines online, for free.
Times are tough in TV and radio newsrooms, too. It
sometimes seems like journalism, after a long, rocky journey,
has come to a fork in the road. If we continue straight ahead,
the road plunges off a cliff. Our only other option? Follow
the fork that disappears into a dense, unexplored jungle —
S peaking of multimedia: This book demonstrates
what you get when you blend words and visuals
simultaneously.
Most authors write the text first, then hand off their
manuscript to editors and designers who add photos,
the Web — where either a) we’ll all get eaten alive, or illustrations and fancy type.
b) we’ll blaze new trails that will someday reap rewards But for this book, I designed each page as I wrote it. Or,
we could never have imagined. x rather, I wrote each page as I designed it. Whichever.
So what does all this turmoil and transformation mean It’s an unusual way to produce a book, but it’s how I like
for a journalism guidebook like this? to work. For three decades now, I’ve created magazine and
This new, improved edition of Inside Reporting provides newspaper pages that way, blending text and images into
a greatly expanded road map to the Web: multimedia, links, packages with (hopefully) greater reader appeal.
blogs, online packaging, user participation. Yet we still focus This kind of multi-tasking — or convergence — is becoming
more on old-school basics — writing and newsgathering — essential in newsrooms. If you can write and design stories,
than on audio, video and interactive graphics. generate images and produce Web pages, you’ll be a hot
Why? Why waste time on old-media fundamentals? commodity in the journalism job market.
� Writing is still the simplest, most effective way to This book, I confess, has been quite a monster to
deliver information. Sure, audio, video and Web graphics are produce independently. But ideally, it will show you how
cool and dramatic, but when it comes to conveying complex challenging and rewarding and important and seriously cool
ideas, nothing distills data better than the written word. journalism is. Maybe, just maybe, it will even inspire you to
� You never know what the future holds. It’s trendy become a reporter.
to predict that newspapers will soon croak like dinosaurs, That’s how you make a difference in this crazy world:
but don’t bet on it. More likely, print media will adapt, evolve one journalist at a time.
and continue to share the news marketplace with TV, radio — Tim Harrower

MORE ON TODAY’S CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE > 14

 3

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author is sincerely grateful to the following colleagues: Henderson; Stephen Henderson; Greg Esposito; Adam Schefter; Frank
� The McGraw-Hill staff: Phil Butcher and Rhona Robbin, for all their Main; David Austin; Amanda Bennett; Kyle Keener; Jeff Hindenach; Ron
help in the beginning; Katie Stevens; Susan Gouijnstook; Karyn Morrison; Matthews; Charles Stough; Rachel MacKnight; Josh Awtry; Don Wittekind;
Carey Eisner, Brian Pecko, Preston Thomas and the San Francisco crew. Clay Frost; Michael Dupras; Chris Courtney; Jay Small; Paige West; Gary
Kiefer; Seth Gitner; Andrew DeVigal; David Simon.
� Advice and feedback: Marie Naughton and her students at Washington
� Supplement authors:
State University Vancouver; Buck Ryan and his students at the University
— Paul Kandell, teacher and journalist, for the online workbook.
of Kentucky; Linda Vogt and her students at Clackamas Community
— David Swartzlander of Doane College for the instructor’s manual and
College; Mark Witherspoon, Brenda Witherspoon and Barbara Mack, Iowa
test bank.
State University; Mark Larson, Humboldt State University; Tracy Collins;
— Michael Swinford of Saint Anselm College for the learning goals, multi-
Don Hamilton; Stu Tomlinson; Amy Martinez Starke; Jeff Mapes; James
ple choice and true-false quizzes, and chapter summaries on the Online
Tidwell; John Zelezny; Jay Bender; Tracy Barry and Joe Donlon; Melanie
Learning Center.
Mesaros; Pete Schulberg; Ken Kahn; Mark Wigginton; Sandy Rowe.
� Student survey coordinators: Dan Close, Wichita State University;
� Morgue annotations: Special thanks to the writers who generously
Mark Larson, Humboldt State University; Lana Jackson, Amarillo College;
shared their insights and expertise: Don Hamilton, Dave Philipps, Jodi
Cheryl Pell, Michigan State University; Mary Arnold, South Dakota State
Cohen, Alana Baranick, Vanessa Gezari, Sanne Specht, Stuart Tomlinson,
University; Mark Witherspoon, Iowa State University; Lois Breedlove,
Linda Johnson, Kelley Benham, Heather Svokos, Jon Paul Morosi, Mark
Central Washington University.
Zeigler, Joe Posnanski, Colleen Kenney, Judd Slivka, Manish Mehta, Mark
Morford, Doug Elfman, Claudia Puig, David Sarasohn and Leonard Pitts. � And most of all: Without you, Robin, this book — and all the good
things in my life — would not be possible.
� Illustrations and photography: Steve Cowden; Tony Champagne; Joe
Spooner; Michael Lloyd; Fred Ingram; Ross Hamilton; Chuck Kennedy; For the “Press Room” segments that appeared in the first edition
Marshall Gorby; Monica Lopossay; Patrick Farrell; Scott Goldman. of Inside Reporting, we hounded 100 veteran reporters with weekly
� Contributors of words and images: Wally Benson; Sheryl Swingley; e-mail questions for nine months. We’ve added to their ranks for
J. Ford Huffman; Harris Siegel; Steve Dorsey; Tracy Collins; Bonita this second edition of the book, and we’re sincerely grateful for
everyone’s contributions.
Burton; Denis Finley; Rob Curley; Lora Cuykendall; Jonathon Berlin; With all the turmoil in the news industry, many of these journalists have relocated,
Linda Robertson; Michael Gartner; Steve Buttry; Jim Stasiowski; J. retired, been laid off — and in some cases, simply vanished. Keeping their credentials
Taylor Buckley; Roger Ebert; Susan Mango Curtis; Tom Spalding; Robb up-to-date is an impossible task in a book like this. Thus, their attributions reflect where
Montgomery; Susan Page; Scott Byers; Diana Sugg; Paul Overberg; Tom they worked at the time they spoke with us.

ACADEMIC REVIEWERS Kathleen Bartzen Culver, University of Joel Kendall, Southwestern Oklahoma State
Special thanks to these instructors for taking time Wisconsin University
to provide valuable feedback on the text: Bonnie Newman Davis, Virginia Commonwealth Teresa Lamsam, University of Nebraska, Omaha
Michael E. Abrams, Florida A& M University University Kimberly Lauffer, Towson University
Aje-Ori Agbese, University of Texas-Pan Lori Demo, Ball State University Alyssa Lenhoff, Youngstown State University
American Jack Dimond, Missouri State University Gary H. Mayer, Stephen F. Austin State
Candace Baltz, College of Southern Idaho Nancy M. Dupont, University of Mississippi University
Julie Beard, Lindenwood University Eric B. Easton, University of Baltimore School Frances McDavid, Mississippi State University
Glen Bleske, California State University – Chico of Law Lyn Millner, Florida Gulf Coast University
Linda Thorsen Bond, Stephen F. Austin State Amy Eisman, American University Joseph A. Mirando, Southeastern Louisiana
University Leo Eko, University of Iowa University
Ron Bonn, University of San Diego Nahed Eltantawy, High Point University Jim Namiotka, Seton Hall University
Jeff Boone, Angelo State University Russ Eshleman, Penn State University Patrick Claiborne Neal, Clemson University
Candace Perkins Bowen, Kent State University Mike Foley, University of Florida Michele Papakie-McCoy, Indiana University of
Linda Bowen, California State University – Jennifer Follis, University of Illinois at Urbana- Pennsylvania
Northridge Champaign Ted Pease, Utah State University
Janna Braun, San Diego Mesa College Kym Fox, Texas State University – San Marcos Mark Plenke, Normandale Community College
Jay Braverman, Montclair State University Eileen Gilligan, SUNY Oswego Terry L. Renter, Bowling Green State University
Susan Brockus, California State University – George Gladney, University of Wyoming Christopher B. Ritchie, Pennsylvania State
Chico Mark Hanebutt, University of Central Oklahoma University
Mark A. Butzow, Western Illinois University Felicia LeDuff Harry, Nicholls State University Joseph E. Spevak, San Diego State University
Carolyn S. Carlson, Georgia State University Kelley Hayden, University of Nevada Cathy Stablein, College of DuPage
John Carvalho, Auburn University Cheryl Heckler, Miami University Sara Stone, Baylor University
Betty Clapp, Cleveland State University Lana Jackson, Amarillo College George Sylvie, University of Texas at Austin
Dan E. Close, Wichita State University Kirsten Johnson, Elizabethtown College Fred Stewart, Texas A&M University, Commerce
Kay Colley, University of North Texas Richard A. Joyce, Colorado State University, Michael Swinford, Saint Anselm College
Steve Craig, University of North Texas Pueblo James C. Wilson, University of Cincinnati
James L. Crandall, Aims Community College Rachele Kanigel, San Francisco State University Linda K. Zeigler, Tyler Junior College
Dale Cressman, Brigham Young University Johanna Keller, Syracuse University John B. Zibluk, Arkansas State University
4

ABOUT THIS BOOK

T his is not your father’s

journalism textbook.
No, times have changed.
Reading habits have changed. And
journalism has changed, too.
THE THREE
MAIN SECTIONS
OF THIS BOOK
1 All key topics are
presented on two-page
It wasn’t always like this. Years ago, spreads like this one,
people had time. They had patience. making the information
Textbooks were books filled with text, easier to navigate.
page after page — long rows of type Subjects are packaged into
full of deep thoughts. short, concise sections —
Today, we process information like spreads in a magazine.
differently. We want speed. We want
visual stimulation. We want a little
Links to related topics are
personality, too (but nothing too indicated by red arrows here,
distracting or goofy). Nobody likes along the bottom of the page.
long, lifeless lectures anymore.
Journalists understand this — or at
least they should. They know they’re
supposed to present information in
a visually engaging, reader-friendly
way. So we started to wonder:
What if we produced a textbook that
2 At the beginning and
presented information in a visually
end of each chapter, pages
engaging, reader-friendly way?
are framed by a gray border.
Wow! What a radical idea! This makes them visually
To do that, we had to break a few distinct from the main
rules and invent some new ones. two-page topic spreads
As you tour this book, you’ll notice: so they’ll be easy to find.
� The design. There’s lots of color, Look here for exercises,
photos and graphics, sure, but the the Press Room and
logic of the design is more important other extras.
than the look. Though topics are
explored in depth, they’re arranged
into concise, easy-to-digest sections.
And to keep long examples of news-
writing from bogging things down,
we’ve relocated them here, in the 3 The back of the book
back of the book. is called “The Morgue” —
� The navigation. Topics are clearly
an old newspaper term for
a newsroom library. Part
labeled and easy to find. Each two-
anthology, part scrapbook,
page spread focuses on a key subject.
the Morgue supplements the
And constant links provide cross- text by presenting complete
references throughout the book. stories for detailed analysis.
� The tone. Most textbooks sound
like textbooks. This one reads like a We’ve asked many of the original
magazine article: concise, practical, writers of these stories to provide
informal. That made sense to us. insights and commentary here,
After all, why shouldn’t a journalism in the margins of the text.
texbook be designed and written as if
it’s actually a form of . . . . . journalism?

ONLINE Accessible at www.mhhe.com/harrower2e , the Online Webliography, learning goals, chapter summaries and a
EXTRAS Learning Center provides a wealth of resources for glossary.
instructors and students that supplement Inside Reporting. The Instructor Edition of the site includes an instructor’s
The Student Edition of the Online Learning Center manual that features teaching tips, key points, class discus-
includes a workbook with numerous skill-building exercises sion topics and activities, suggested homework assignments,
and activities, multiple-choice, true-false and grammar a test bank with questions on key concepts, grammar and
quizzes with feedback, annotated links from the book’s AP style, and PowerPoint slides.
 5

CHAPTER

The story
of journalism
Before you begin learning how to report and write stories,
take a tour of the heroes and history that brought us this far.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
6 Newsroom heroes, legends and folklore
Highlights from the history of journalism, from Mark Twain and Lois Lane to “Citizen Kane.”
8 The birth of journalism
How newspapers were established in America —
and how the fight for a free press led to war.
10 News in the 19th century
Mass media dominated city streets, while
yellow journalism gave reporters a bad name.
12 News in the 20th century
Radio and television threaten the media
monopoly newspapers enjoyed for centuries.
14 Today’s changing media landscape
The availability of news online has created new opportunities and challenges for journalists.
16 The student journalists’ news attitude survey
Compare your news consumption habits to those of hundreds of other students nationwide.
6 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

Newsroom heroes,
legends and folklore
Looking for a career that boasts a long, colorful tradition?
Welcome to the world of journalism, where reporters have been digging dirt,
raking muck, making headlines and meeting deadlines for centuries now. It’s a
history full of tabloid trash, of slimy sensationalists, of “drunkards, deadbeats and
bummers” (as a Harvard University president once described reporters). In the 1970s, the investigative reporting of Bob
But it’s a history full of heroes, too: men and women risking their lives to tell Woodward (left) and Carl Bernstein exposed the
Watergate scandal that forced President Nixon to
stories of war and tragedy, risking imprisonment to defend free speech. And as resign. The exploits of those two Washington Post
you can see here, reporters have become beloved characters in pop culture, too, reporters became a popular book and movie,
turning up in movies, comics and TV shows as if guided by an occult hand. providing inspiration to journalists everywhere.

FIVE LEGENDARY JOURNALISTS FIVE MYTHS

EVERY REPORTER SHOULD KNOW 30 SLANG TERMS ABOUT REPORTERS
FOR “REPORTER”
MARK TWAIN (1835-1910) 1. Female reporters are gutsy, idealistic,
jotter ink-stained wretch
Twain (real name: Samuel Clemens) is best known as the beautiful and single; male reporters are
journo pavement-prowler
humorist who created Tom Sawyer and wrote a classic surly, cynical loners who’ll lie, cheat and
scribe knight of the pen
novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” But Twain scrivener headline hunter ruin people’s lives to get a juicy scoop.
honed his craft as a reporter in Nevada and California, hoofer slang-whanger 2. Reporters routinely solve mysteries
writing columns, feature stories and travel pieces that hound Fourth Estater before the cops do, especially after their
made him popular all across the country. snoop bloodhound editors yank them off the stories.
stringer bull shooter 3. Reporters spend all of their time either:
legman ink slinger a) ambushing celebrities outside nightclubs,
NELLIE BLY (1864-1922) newsie news grabber
Called “the best reporter in America” in the late 1800s, b) dodging bullets in foreign hot spots, or
scratcher nosy newsy c) shouting questions at crooked politicians
Bly (real name: Elizabeth Cochrane) pioneered investigative gazetteer paper stainer on the steps of City Hall.
journalism with her bold undercover adventures: getting news hack paragrapher
herself locked up in a lunatic asylum, working in a sweat- news hen pencil pusher 4. Reporters celebrate big stories by drink-
shop to expose child-labor abuses and, in a famous pen driver wordster ing whiskey bottles hidden in their desks.
publicity stunt, traveling around the world in 72 days. 5. All reporters have a liberal bias.

H.L. MENCKEN (1880-1956)

Looking for biting, brilliantly quotable social commentary?
Mencken’s your man. Whether ranting about politics FIVE INSPIRATIONAL BOOKS
(“Democracy is the art of running the circus from the EVERY REPORTER SHOULD READ
monkey cage”) or people (“There’s no underestimating
“ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN” by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward — A gripping tale of
the intelligence of the American public”), Mencken became
politics, scandal, conspiracies, lies and the dogged determination of two heroic reporters.
a journalism legend in the first half of the 20th century.
That’s right: heroic. Watching Woodward and Bernstein unravel the threads that lead to
Nixon’s downfall is exhilarating. The world needs more gutsy reporters like these guys.
ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1899-1961)
“THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE” by Strunk and White — Lots of books tell you how to
Where did this influential American novelist develop his
write. Most of them make it painful. But this one is full of savvy advice that will stick
straightforward prose style? Covering crimes and fires
with you for years, like use the active voice and omit needless words. Studying this
for The Kansas City Star, where his editors’ admonitions
100-page mini-manual helps make your prose truly pro.
to use short sentences, short paragraphs and vigorous
English “were the best rules I ever learned for the “WRITING FOR STORY” by Jon Franklin — If you stay in this business long enough,
business of writing,” Hemingway later recalled. you’ll eventually wonder: How do I write a gripping, Pulitzer Prize-winning epic? Frank-
lin’s popular feature-writing guide teaches you all the techniques: structure, flashbacks,
HUNTER S. THOMPSON (1937-2005) foreshadowing, pacing. And it’s loaded with inspiring examples.
Hey, we didn’t say these were all excellent role models; “THE CORPSE HAD A FAMILIAR FACE” by Edna
we just said you should know about them. And for good Buchanan — If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be
or bad, every reporter needs to ingest some of Hunter a crime reporter in a city full of creeps, crooks and crazies
Thompson’s “gonzo journalism,” a wacko blend of satire, (Miami), the legendary Buchanan will not only show you
profanity and hallucinogenic exaggeration. Beware: This — she’ll inspire you to start covering cops, too.
stuff was dangerously excessive and crazily entertaining. “INSIDE REPORTING” by Tim Harrower —
Kidding! Just kidding! Instead, find a copy of “The New
Journalism,” a terrific sampler edited by Tom Wolfe that
Visit THE MORGUE to read excerpts from these writers’ works:
anthologizes late-20th-century journalistic legends like
TWAIN > 204 BLY > 206 MENCKEN > 210 HEMINGWAY > 209 THOMPSON > 212 Mailer, Capote, Didion and Wolfe himself. Don’t miss it.

MORE ON THE OCCULT HAND SOCIETY 294 MORE ON WATERGATE AND “DEEP THROAT” > 248
 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM 7

FIVE CLASSIC JOURNALISM MOVIES

“CITIZEN KANE” — We all know how crazy reporters can be. This 1941 Orson
Welles masterpiece shows you how rich, powerful and loony publishers can be.
Watching this film transports you back to a golden age of journalism that’s gone
forever. Critics agree that “Citizen Kane ” showcases some of the most brilliant
moviemaking of all time; luckily for us, it’s about newspapers, too.
“HIS GIRL FRIDAY” — One of the best of the 1940s screwball comedies: a BEST NEWSROOM RANT:
fast-paced classic starring Cary Grant as a charming newspaper editor matching “You know what people use
wits and wisecracks with Rosalind Russell, his star reporter (and ex-wife). Some these for? They roll them up
viewers prefer the 1974 Jack Lemmon / Walter Matthau remake, “The Front Page.” and swat their puppies for
“BROADCAST NEWS” — A smart, comedic look at the personalities in front of AND wetting on the rug — they
behind the cameras in a network newsroom. William Hurt plays an airheaded anchor spread them on the floor when
Part detective story, part political thriller, who represents the brainless artificiality of television news. Holly Hunter plays a they’re painting the walls —
“ALL THE PRESIDENT’S MEN” is both inspiring producer grappling with her values, her workload and her love life. they wrap fish in them — shred
and entertaining. Starring Robert Redford “GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK” — McCarthy vs. Murrow. Politicians vs. them up and pack their two-bit
as Woodward (left) and Dustin Hoffman as the press. This 2005 drama, set in the early days of television news, provides an china in them when they
Bernstein, the 1976 film captures the tireless absorbing introduction to the courage and eloquence of Edward R. Murrow — and move — or else they pile up in
tenacity that turned these reporters into heroes. a sobering reminder of why democracy requires a free and aggressive press. the garage until an inspector
declares them a fire hazard!
But this also happens to be a
couple of more things! It’s got
print on it that tells stories that
FIVE FAMOUS CLARK KENT and LOIS LANE are the two best reporters at The Daily Planet — though Lois seems to be the
hundreds of good men all over
FICTIONAL only one doing any actual reporting at that newspaper. And whenever Lois’ nose for news lands her in hot
water, Superman (Clark’s other identity) conveniently manages to save her before the world have broken their
NEWSROOM she blows her deadline. Ahh, if only it worked that way in real life . . . . backs to get. It gives a lot of
CHARACTERS information to a lot of people
LOU GRANT was the ultimate surly, burly, gruff-but-lovable editor. who wouldn’t have known
On the legendary “Mary Tyler Moore” TV comedy back in the ’70s, Lou
about it if we hadn’t taken the
(played by Ed Asner, at right) ran a TV newsroom; on the “Lou Grant”
trouble to tell them. It’s the
spinoff, he was the classic crusty, crusading newspaper editor.
sum total of the work of a lot
BRENDA STARR was a pioneer: a strong female comic-strip of guys who don’t quit. It’s
character from the 1940s drawn by female cartoonists, which a newspaper . . . and it only
was rare back then. Readers loved the redheaded reporter’s costs 10 cents, that’s all. But
far-flung adventures and steamy love affairs, which continue if you only read the comic
today on newspaper comic pages. section or the want ads —
JIMMY was an 8-year-old heroin addict whose heart- it’s still the best buy for
wrenching story won a Pulitzer Prize for Janet Cooke and your money in the world.”
The Washington Post in 1981. The problem? Jimmy didn’t William Conrad,
exist; the story was a fabrication. Cooke resigned, and her crusty city editor in the
award was revoked in the humiliating scandal that ensued. 1959 newspaper movie “30”

1.“Rock journalism is people 4. What’s the number-one final paragraphs, where he 12. Decades ago, reporters
who can’t write interviewing reason people watch most uttered one of the most famous typed a certain number to mark
people who can’t talk for local TV newscasts? phrases in journalism history. the end of every story. What
people who can’t read.” � news What did Stanley say? was that number?
Who said that? � sports 13. According to a recent 20-
� weather 9. Who was the first woman
� Madonna to regularly anchor a nightly year study, which one of these
� Rush Limbaugh 5. Who used to sign off his network newscast? news topics are Americans
� Frank Zappa newscast by saying, “And most interested in?
that’s the way it is. . .” ? 10. Miami Herald editor John � celebrities
2. What fictional editor used McMullen made this prediction
to cry, “Great Caesar’s ghost!” ? � disasters
Think you’re smart 6. Which cable news network in 1982 about a radical new � money
when it comes to 3. In the photo below, Harry attracts the most viewers? journalistic venture: “I don’t � health
journalism facts S. Truman holds a copy of a think it has much chance. It
7. Which news Web site won’t offer much that’s original 14. On
and folklore? legendary headline blooper.
the TV show
What did the headline say? attracts the most page views? or different. I give it two years.”
Prove it. “Sex and the
What was he talking about?
Take this quiz to 8. In 1872, Henry Stanley, City,” what
rate your JQ — star reporter for The New York 11. In what country will you was Sarah
your Journalism Herald, searched the African find the world’s largest news- Jessica
Quotient. jungle for a missing explorer. paper, with a circulation of Parker’s
Stanley’s epic account of his 14 million? newspaper
Answers on expedition climaxed in its � India � Brazil � Japan job?
Page 300.
8 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

The birth of journalism

Every society seeks effective ways to spread new information and gossip.
In ancient times, news was scrawled onto clay tablets. In Caesar’s age, Romans read newsletters
handwritten by slaves. Wandering minstrels spread news (and the plague) in the Middle Ages.
Then came ink on newsprint. Voices on airwaves. Movie newsreels. Cable news networks. And
wireless multimedia Web sites. To publish a good
When scholars analyze journalism’s rich history, “
Newspaper is not so easy
some view it in terms of technological progress — an Undertaking as many
People imagine it to be.
for example, the dramatic impact of bigger, faster The Author of a Gazette
printing presses. ought to be qualified with
Others see journalism as a form of literature, one an extensive Acquaintance
with Languages, a great
that’s constantly evolving as it reflects and shapes its Easiness and Command
culture. of Writing and Relating
Others see it as an inspiring quest for free speech, Things clearly and intelli-
gibly, and in a few words;
an endless power struggle between Authority (trying he should be able to speak
to control information) and The People (trying to of War both by Land and
learn the truth). Which recalls the words of A.J. Sea; be well acquainted
with Geography, with the
Liebling: “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to History of the time, with
those who own one.” the several interests of
Presses like this were used to print books and Princes and States . . .
newspapers in colonial times. With skill and arm
In the pages ahead, we’ll take a quick tour of 600
Benjamin Franklin,
”
strength, a printer and a “devil” (his assistant) years of journalism history, from hieroglyphics to editor, The Pennsylvania Gazette
could crank out 200 pages an hour. hypertext: the media, the message and the politics.

THE RISE AND FALL EXCERPTS from Publick Occurrences, Sept. 25, 1690:
OF AMERICA’S On a sex scandal involving the King of France: France is in much trouble
(and fear), not only with us but also with his Son, who has revolted against
FIRST NEWSPAPER him lately, and has great reason if reports be true, that the Father used to
Benjamin Harris was a printer who’d been lie with the Sons Wife.
jailed in London for his subversive writings. On a disease epidemic: The Small-pox which has been raging in Boston,
He fled to Boston in 1686, where he wrote after a manner very Extraordinary is now very much abated. . . . The number
a popular spelling primer, ran a successful of them that have dyed in Boston by this last Visitation is about three hun-
bookshop — and, in 1690, produced the dred and twenty. . . . It seized upon all sorts of people that came in the way
of it, it infected even Children in the bellies of Mothers that had themselves
first and only issue of Publick Occurrences
undergone the Disease many years ago.
Both Foreign and Domestick.
On the first Thanksgiving: The Christianized Indians in some parts of
It was a small newspaper, printed on three Plimouth, have newly appointed a day of Thanksgiving to God for his Mercy
pages. The fourth was left blank, so readers in supplying their extream and pinching Necessities under their late want of
could add news, then pass the paper along. Corn, & for His giving them now a prospect of a very Comfortable Harvest.
But Harris had failed to obtain a printing On war with the Indians (whom Harris calls “miserable Salvages”):
license. Worse, authorities claimed the paper When Capt. Mason was at Fort Real, he cut the faces and ript the bellies of
contained “doubtful and uncertain Reports,” two Indians, and threw a third overboard in the sight of the French, who in-
including criticism of military policy. So forming the other Indians of it, have in revenge barbarously Butcher’d forty
after one issue, the governor shut it down. Captives of our that were in their hands.

TIMELINE 1610: Weekly

newspapers
1620s: London printers
first distribute “corantos” —
1665: The first true English-language
newspaper is printed: twice weekly, the
(1400-1800)
appear in small pamphlets summarizing Oxford Gazette prints news of the British
The 1400s: Johann The 1500s: Henry Cologne and foreign news translated from court. After 24 issues, it moves to London
Gutenberg invents VIII censors printers Vienna. German and Dutch journals. and becomes the London Gazette.
the printing press by issuing a list of
around 1440, prohibited books 1600 1625 1650 1675
printing his famous and forcing all
Bible in the 1450s. printers to obtain 1609: Europe’s first regularly 1644: English poet John Milton publishes 1690: In Boston,
William Caxton licenses. Authorities published newspapers emerge: his “Areopagitica,” an eloquent plea for Publick Occurrences
brings the first arrest printers for Avisa in Wolfenbüttel free speech. His ideas will be recycled a tries to become
printing press to sedition and (northern Germany) and century later by American revolutionaries America’s first
England in 1476. “unfitting worddes.” Relation in Strasbourg. struggling for greater press freedom. newspaper. It fails.
 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM 9

THE ZENGER TRIAL AND MELVILLE E. STONE, the Chicago publisher who modernized The Associated
Press in the early 1900s, on the significance of the Zenger trial:
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS “The question before
The jury took the bit in their teeth and asserted their right to be the sole the court is not just
In 1734, when a brash young editor named judges of both the law and the facts. And so it came about that there was a
John Peter Zenger printed accusations of official the cause of the poor
famous revolution in the colonial law. The judge ceased to be the sole arbiter of
corruption in his New York Weekly Journal, the printer. No! It may in
an editor’s fate, and the truth when published from good motives and justifi-
angry governor had him arrested for libel. its consequence affect
able ends became an adequate defense for the journalist brought to bar. For
Zenger’s attorney, Andrew Hamilton, argued every freeman on the
the first time in the world’s history, the freedom of the press, so far as such
that citizens have a right to criticize the govern- main of America. It
freedom was consistent with public rights, was established. The seed which
ment, and that libel occurs only when printed is the best cause; it is
John Milton had sown a century before, when he wrote his famous plea for
the cause of Liberty. . .
words are “false, malicious and seditious.” “unlicensed printing,” had come to fruition. Gouverneur Morris said this verdict
was “the dawn of that liberty which afterward revolutionized America.”
the liberty both of
The jury agreed, and Zenger went free.
exposing and
opposing arbitrary
power by speaking
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER CARTOON and writing Truth.”
Andrew Hamilton,
When Ben Franklin ran this editorial cartoon in his Pennsylvania during the Zenger trial, 1735
Gazette in 1754, the snake symbolized the American colonies, which
needed to unite in self-defense against the French and Indians. It “Advertisements are
later symbolized the colonies in their fight for independence from now so numerous
the British, and the design was incorporated into the nameplate of that they are very
the influential Massachusetts Spy (see story below). negligently perused,
Franklin began his career as an apprentice on his brother’s paper, and it is therefore
the New England Courant. He became a witty writer and a bold become necessary
editor; his Gazette was lively, popular and profitable. “If all printers to gain attention
by magnificence of
were determined not to print anything till they were sure it would
promises and by
offend nobody,” he said, “there would be very little printed.”
eloquence some-
times sublime and
sometimes pathetick.
PATRIOTISM, PROPAGANDA AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR Promise — large
promise — is the soul
In 1765, the British Parliament imposed a heavy tax on all EXCERPTS from The Massachusetts Spy, May 3, 1775: of advertising. The
printed matter: the Stamp Act. Editors protested noisily, and Isaiah Thomas launches his eyewitness report on the Battle trade of advertising
colonists united to force a repeal of the tax — which further of Lexington with this: Americans! Forever bear in mind the is now so near
weakened Britain’s control of colonial printers. BATTLE of LEXINGTON! — where British troops, unmolested and perfection that it is
Editors grew even bolder as the revolu- unprovoked, wantonly, in a most inhuman manner, fired upon not easy to propose
tionary debate heated up, exerting political and killed a number of our countrymen, then robbed them of
any improvement.”
their provisions, ransacked, plundered and burnt their houses!
influence and exhorting military action. Dr. Samuel Johnson,
Nor could the tears of defenseless women, some of whom
Objectivity disappeared. Loyalist editors were in the pains of childbirth, and cries of helpless babes, The London Idler, 1758
were driven out of business, while nor the prayers of old age, confined to beds of sickness,
patriot editors filled their papers with appease their thirst for blood or divert them from their
“Were it left to me
news of rebellion and commentary such DESIGN of MURDER and ROBBERY! to decide whether
as Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense.” we should have a
From Thomas’s description of the battle:
One of the most notable journalists . . . The commanding officer accosted the militia, in words to
government without
this effect,“Disperse, you damn’d rebels! Damn you, disperse!” newspapers, or
of his time, Isaiah Thomas was a master ISAIAH THOMAS Immediately one or two officers discharged their pistols, newspapers without
printer and an articulate agitator. When a government, I
he began publishing The Massachusetts Spy in 1770 it was non- which were instantaneously followed by the firing of four
or five of the soldiers. . . . They fired on our people as they should not hesitate
partisan, but by 1775 Thomas was demanding independence were dispersing, agreeable to their command, and we did not a moment to prefer
from England. His account of the Battle of Lexington (at right), even return the fire. Eight of our men were killed and nine the latter.”
reprinted in newspapers throughout the colonies, was a mix wounded. The troops then laughed, and damned the Yankees, Thomas Jefferson,
of outstanding reporting and persuasive propaganda. and said they could not bear the smell of gunpowder. 1778

1704: The first 1729: Ben Franklin takes 1765: The Stamp Act forces all 1776: The Declaration of 1783: The Pennsylvania
successful American over The Pennsylvania papers to display an official British Independence first appears Evening Post, a thrice-weekly,
newspaper, The Gazette, making it the government seal and pay a tax publicly in the Pennsylvania increases its frequency to
Boston News-Letter, boldest and best that raises prices 50 percent. After Evening Post and is reprinted in become America’s first daily
is published. paper in the colonies. violent protest, the act is repealed. 20 other colonial newspapers. newspaper.

1700 1725 1750 1775

Throughout the 1700s: 1735: Freedom of the press is 1791: The Bill of Rights
Mailmen on horseback (“postriders”) strengthened in the colonies when provides that “Congress
play a key role in delivering news John Peter Zenger, jailed for libel by shall make no law . . .
and newspapers to editors and a New York governor after printing abridging the freedom of
subscribers all across New England. harsh criticism, is acquitted. speech or of the press.”

MORE ON SEDITION AND LIBEL 143 MORE ON PRESS RIGHTS 140

10 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

News in the 19th century Number of

daily papers
Technical advances and brilliant ideas forged a new style of journalism. in the U.S. in 1800: 20
In 1900: 2,226
It was a century of change, and journalism changed dramatically, too. The typical newspaper of 1800
Pages in a typical
was an undisciplined mishmash of legislative proceedings, long-winded essays and secondhand gossip. newspaper in 1800: 4
But by 1900, a new breed of editor had emerged. Journalism had become big business. Reporting Pages in a typical Sunday
was becoming a disciplined craft. And newspapers were becoming more entertaining and essential, issue of the New York
Journal in 1896: 64
providing most of the features we expect today: Snappy headlines.
Percentage of U.S.
Ads. Comics. Sports pages. And an “inverted pyramid” style newspapers in 1850 that
of writing that made stories tighter and newsier. were partisan (i.e., organs
The key changes in the 19th century: of one political party): 80
� The emergence of the penny press. In the 1830s Phrases used by fiercely
partisan editors to insult
a new kind of newspapering emerged, aimed at the Abraham Lincoln:
interests of the common citizen: local news, sports, “slang-whanging
human-interest stories about real people and, above stump speaker”
“half-witted usurper”
all, crime. “the present turtle at
� Innovations in printing. Cheaper paper and the head of government”
faster presses made news affordable and available “the head ghoul at
Washington”
like never before, especially to America’s growing
urban population. Number of papers,
By the 1830s, steam-powered presses could produce per hour, the fastest
� The rise of the modern newsroom. The printing press could
4,000 pages per hour, printing on both sides of long
biggest and best newspapers hired and trained produce in 1800: 200
paper rolls. Such technical advances made newspapers
In 1850: 18,000
cheaper — thus, more affordable to the masses. reporters to cover news in a professional way. In 1890: 48,000
Average percentage
of a newspaper’s stories
THE PENNY PRESS: MARKETING MEDIA TO THE MASSES that were written by
the paper’s own staff,
Most colonial newspapers were ORDINARY NEWSPAPERS THE PENNY PRESS in 1830: 25
printed on small presses in small In 1860: 45
Papers cost 6 cents apiece, usually by Papers cost just a penny apiece, usually
numbers for educated readers. subscriptions delivered in the mail. bought from paperboys on the street. Typical examples of
But when Benjamin Day began “yellow journalism”
selling the New York Sun for a Political commentary, trade statistics, Lots of local news, crime coverage, headlines from the
penny a copy in 1833, he pio- poetry, letters, secondhand gossip. human-interest stories, features. New York Journal in 1896:
neered the idea of “mass media.” News is reprinted from government Reporters cover a variety of beats:
Why Young Girls
As Day put it, the penny press Kill Themselves
documents and correspondents — Wall Street, churches, society, sports,
“lay before the public, at a price or lifted from other newspapers. and most significantly, crime. Startling Confession of
well within the means of every- a Wholesale Murderer
one, all the news of the day.” Editors move slowly in responding Editors aggressively compete for Who Begs To Be Hanged
Within two years, the Sun was to events; news is often old and stale. and promote big breaking stories. Real American
the top-selling paper in the U.S. Monsters and Dragons
Promote one political party’s agenda. Independent of any political party.
with a circulation of 20,000 — One Mad Blow Kills Child
encouraging other editors to Funded by political parties or subscribers. Funded by street sales and advertising. Strange Things
imitate and improve the format. Women Do for Love

TIMELINE 1825: The New York

Advertiser installs the first
1830s: Editors use
homing pigeons and
1847: Frederick Douglass begins
publishing The North Star, an
(1800-1900)
“cylinder” press in America, the Pony Express to influential paper dedicated to
1800: 20 dailies and more than allowing faster printing on deliver news from fighting slavery and bringing
1,000 weeklies publish in the U.S. bigger sheets of paper. distant points. news to black Americans.

1800 1820 1830 1840

1808: The Missouri Gazette 1827: Reporters from three 1833: The New York 1844: The telegraph is used for
becomes the first paper newspapers become the first Sun becomes the the first time to transmit
printed west of the Mississippi Washington correspondents, first successful news, making
as printers accompany settlers providing Congressional coverage penny paper long-distance
into the expanding frontier. that continues to this day. published in the U.S. reporting possible.

MORE ON THE INVERTED PYRAMID > 40

 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM 11

BENNETT CRAFTS James Gordon Bennett was a terrific EXCERPT from The Herald, April 11, 1836:
A NEW STYLE writer and a brilliant publisher. He When a prostitute known as Helen Jewett was murdered, Bennett visited the
launched the New York Herald in 1835 crime scene. On the front page of the Herald, he provided a description that
OF JOURNALISM with little money and no staff. But by enthralled readers and helped usher in a new era of sensational reporting:
midcentury, the Herald had become the biggest news- “Here,” said the Police Officer, “here is the poor creature.”
paper in the world due to its enterprising reporting, He half uncovered the ghastly corpse. I could scarcely look at it for a second
sensational stories and innovative ideas: interviews, or two. Slowly I began to discover the lineaments of the corpse as one would the
beauties of a statue of marble. It was the most remarkable sight I ever beheld —
reviews, letters to the editor, money pages, society
I never have, and never expect to see such another. “My God,” exclaimed I, “how
columns, sports stories and “extra” editions. like a statue! I can scarcely conceive that form to be a corpse.” The perfect figure
In Bennett’s words: “It is my passion, my delight, — the exquisite limbs — the fine face — the full arms — the beautiful bust — all
my thought by day and my dream by night, to con- surpassed in every respect the Venus de Midici . . . .
duct The Herald, and to show the world and posterity For a few moments I was lost in admiration at this extraordinary sight — a
that a newspaper can be made the greatest, most beautiful female corpse that surpassed the finest statue of antiquity. I was
fascinating, most powerful organ of civilization that recalled to her horrid destiny by seeing the dreadful bloody gashes on the right
BENNETT genius ever dreamed of. ” temple, which must have caused instantaneous dissolution.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF

YELLOW JOURNALISM
As New York’s population exploded,
the city became the nation’s media center.
It was an age of publishing legends such
as Horace Greeley, the liberal, crusading
social reformer, and Henry Raymond, who
strove to make his New
York Times the most
objective, well-written
paper of its era.
But two editors rose
above the rest in an
epic struggle for power
and influence: Joseph
Pulitzer (The World)
and William Randolph
Hearst (the New York
Journal). Both men
reshaped American
journalism in the late 1800s with a style of HEARST, PULITZER AND THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
newspapering known as “yellow journal- The excesses of yellow journalism reached a climax as Hearst’s Journal battled Pulitzer’s World
ism,” taking its name from the Yellow Kid, for supremacy in New York. Hearst spent millions in family fortune to hire away Pulitzer’s top
the first color comic, which ran in both the staffers, and he used his genius for sensationalism to concoct bigger, bolder stories. When The
Journal and the World. World sent correspondents to Cuba in 1896 to dramatize the rebels’ fight for freedom (“Blood in
What characterized yellow journalism? the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!” one wrote), Hearst dispatched staffers of
Loud headlines. Sensational stories on sin his own, famously messaging one artist: “You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.”
and sex. Lavish use of pictures (often faked). Hearst and Pulitzer inflamed readers, pressured politicians — and the day after a Navy battleship
Sunday supplements full of crowd-pleasing exploded in 1898, they published the two competing pages shown above. War was declared, and
comics and features. Crusades. Publicity circulation skyrocketed. On Page One, Hearst’s paper asked, “How do you like the Journal’s war?”
stunts. And rumors disguised as news — In the words of E.L. Godkin, editor of the more restrained, more responsible Evening Post:
such as those that led to war with Spain. “It is a crying shame that men should work such mischief simply in order to sell more papers.”

1851: Henry J. Raymond 1867: Emily Verdery 1867: 1876: 1886: Reporters 1898: Yellow journalism
founds The New York Times, Bettey becomes First Alexander Graham Bell invents start earning reaches its heights
which becomes one of the first woman practical the telephone; within seven bylines in daily (or possibly depths)
America’s most responsible reporter on a typewriter years, telephone lines will newspapers on as Hearst and Pulitzer
and respected newspapers. New York paper. patented. connect New York and Chicago. the East Coast. trump up war with Spain.

1850 1860 1870 1880 1890

1857: Harper’s 1861-1865: For the first time, hundreds of 1878: E.W. Scripps 1880: First photograph 1897: The term
Weekly, the first reporters cover a big event: the Civil War. begins building the is printed in a news- “public relations”
illustrated paper Filing stories via telegraph forces reporters first newspaper paper (of some build- is used, for the
in America, to use a tighter writing style that becomes chain; he eventually ings, right) in the New first time, by a
makes its debut. known as “the inverted pyramid.” owns 18 papers. York Daily Graphic. railroad company.
12 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

News in the 20th century CLASSIC CLIPS

Radio and television brought an end to newspapers’ media monopoly.

Why has the power of print faded? Well, which
did you look at first — this gray column of text, or
that historic image of Walter Cronkite to the left?
That’s basically why, as the century progressed,
newspapers surrendered their supremacy: The Germany’s great silver Hinden-
competition simply had more appeal. First came burg, the world’s largest dirigible,
was ripped apart by an explosion
radio, luring listeners with speech and music. tonight that sent her crumpling to
Next, movie newsreels added visuals to the voices the naval landing field a flaming
in the news. By 1950, television wooed viewers wreck, with horrible death to
(and advertisers) by combining sights, sounds and about a third of those aboard her.
Exactly how many died was still
unbeatable immediacy. In the 1990s, a new rival in dispute as the flames licked
evolved: online news via the Internet. clean the twisted, telescoped
WALTER CRONKITE recalls announcing the death of Technology has transformed news delivery skeleton of the airship that put
President John F. Kennedy on CBS, Nov. 22, 1963: out from Germany seventy-six
just as it’s changed every other aspect of modern hours before on its opening trip
I was doing fine . . . until it was necessary to pronounce life. Today’s news media are more accessible and of the 1937 passenger season.
the words: “From Dallas Texas, the flash — apparently
engaging than ever before. As a result, despite The Associated Press,
official. President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard May 7, 1937
Time — a half-hour ago.” The words stuck in my throat. everything newspapers have done to improve their
A sob wanted to replace them. A gulp or two quashed product — better design, bigger photos, broader
the sob, which metamorphosed into tears forming in
the corners of my eyes. I fought back the emotion and
coverage, tighter writing — many Americans now
regained my professionalism, but it was touch and go realize they don’t need to work hard at reading
there for a few seconds before I could continue. when they can more easily absorb information by
watching video and listening to audio.

PULITZER SPREADS HIS CRUSADING INFLUENCE America’s outpost of the Pacific,

mighty Pearl Harbor naval base
In the years after 1900, Joseph Pulitzer left yellow journal- When the Pulitzer was under enemy attack today.
ism behind to create a more lasting legacy, becoming the Prizes were first A number of attacking planes
model of a passionate, public-spirited modern publisher. awarded in 1917, the with red insignia were sighted
His paper, The World, launched courageous crusades journalism categories shortly after 8 a.m.
against corruption in government and business. Before included only (In Washington, Presidential
he died in 1911, he funded one of the first schools of reporting, editorial Secretary Early identified the
journalism, at Columbia University. And to encourage writing and public attacking planes as Japanese.)
service. Today, prizes Antiaircraft guns opened fire
journalistic excellence, he established the Pulitzer Prizes.
are awarded in 21 when the planes dived low over
JOSEPH PULITZER’s journalistic credo: categories. the base and released repeated
Our Republic and its press will rise or fall together. An able, sticks of bombs.
disinterested, public-spirited press, with trained intelligence to Two warships lying in the
know the right and courage to do it, can preserve that public virtue harbor were sunk.
without which popular government is a sham and a mockery. A The planes later returned to
cynical, mercenary, demagogic press will produce in time a people the attack.
as base as itself. The power to mould the future of the Republic International News Service,
PULITZER will be in the hands of the journalists of future generations. Dec. 7, 1941

TIMELINE 1920: KDKA-

Pittsburgh begins
1926: As radio enjoys
growing popularity, the
1934: The
Associated
1941: FDR declares
war on Japan as
(1900-2000) broadcasting the NBC radio network is Press begins the largest radio
1900: Satirical political cartoons become a popular first regular radio formed; CBS will begin transmitting audience in history
way for newspapers to comment on current events. schedule. broadcasting a year later. wire photos. listens in.

1900 1910 1920 1930 1940

1901: Marconi Early 1900s: The era of “muckrakers” — 1923: Henry R. Luce 1938: “CBS World News 1939: NBC and
sends the first social reform-minded journalists and launches Time Roundup” debuts. Its CBS begin
radio signal magazine writers who expose injustice, magazine, the influential news coverage will commercial
across the fraud and political corruption in nation’s first make it America’s longest- television
Atlantic Ocean. government and big business. newsweekly. running radio news show. broadcasts.
 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM 13

CLASSIC CLIPS RADIO RULES THE AIRWAVES EDWARD R. MURROW reporting live during
the Battle of Britain, Sept. 22, 1940:
In 1920, only a handful of hobbyists heard the first There’s an ominous silence hanging over
radio broadcasts. But by 1927, 30 million Americans London. Out of one window there waves
tuned in to celebrate aviator Charles Lindbergh’s something that looks like a white bedsheet,
homecoming. Radio was entering its golden age. a window curtain swinging free in this night
Though powerful publishers at first prevented breeze. It looks as if it were being shaken
stations from broadcasting news, radio soon became by a ghost. There are a great many ghosts
around these buildings in London. The MURROW
the first medium to provide a 24-hour stream of
searchlights straightaway, miles in front of me, are still scratching
news coverage. During World War II, dramatic that sky. There’s a three-quarter moon riding high. There was one
reporting by legendary newsmen like Edward R. burst of shellfire almost straight in the Little Dipper. There are
A sniper shot and killed
President John F. Kennedy on
Murrow helped hone the modern newswriting style: hundreds and hundreds of men . . . standing on rooftops in Lon-
the streets of Dallas Friday. A concise wording, short sentences, dramatic delivery. don tonight, waiting to see what comes out of this steel-blue sky.
24-year-old pro-Communist who
once tried to defect to Russia was
charged with the murder shortly
before midnight. AMERICA TURNS ON AND LEON HARRIS, CNN anchor,
reporting live, Sept. 11, 2001:
Kennedy was shot about 12:30 TUNES IN TO TELEVISION You are looking at this picture —
p.m. Friday at the foot of Elm
Street as the Presidential car
After World War II ended, Americans began buying it is the twin towers of the World
entered the approach to the Triple televisions — 1,000 sets a day. But in the early years Trade Center, both of them being
Underpass. The President died of network TV, programming was primarily devoted damaged by impacts from
in a sixth-floor surgery room at to entertainment (Milton Berle and “I Love Lucy”). planes. We saw one happen
Parkland Hospital about 1 p.m., Ratings for newscasts were disappointingly low. at about maybe nine minutes
though doctors say there was no Television journalism came of age in the 1960s. before the top of the hour, and
chance for him to live after he just a moment ago, so maybe 18 minutes after the first impact,
In 1963, America sat spellbound for four days watch-
reached the hospital. the second tower was impacted with a — by another — what
ing nonstop coverage of the Kennedy assassination. appeared to be, another passenger plane. In fact, we’ve got some
The Dallas Morning News,
Nov. 23, 1963
To many critics, it was television’s finest hour. And tape replay of that. Do we have the tape available right now?
ever since, viewers worldwide have become depen- Here is the tape. . . . Incredible pictures. These happened just
dent upon television to cover big breaking stories. moments ago.

MEANWHILE, BACK AT
THE NEWSPAPER . . .
As the century progressed, newswriting became
more fact-based, less biased. Shorter sentences and
tight writing replaced the flowery prose of the past.
Man stepped out onto the moon Reporters were trained to use the inverted pyramid,
tonight for the first time in his a story structure that stacks the big facts first, the
two-million-year history.
“That’s one small step for man,” lesser facts later.
declared pioneer astronaut Neil Newspapers became more readable, more colorful,
Armstrong at 10:56 p.m. EDT, “one more objective and more timely than ever before.
giant leap for mankind.” But their power and prominence gradually faded of the World Wide Web. Early online news sites were
Just after that historic moment (along with the attention spans of most Americans). simple and slow-moving (as you can see in that 1996
in man’s quest for his origins, By 1994, the average American spent 38 minutes a home page for The New York Times, above).
Armstrong walked on the dead day watching TV news, but only half as much — As online technology and access speeds improved,
satellite and found the surface
very powdery, littered with fine
19 minutes — reading a newspaper. news consumers began migrating to the Web, and
grains of black dust. In the 1990s, as computers invaded homes and newspapers began to wonder: How will we keep
The Washington Post, offices, a new medium emerged: the Internet. At first, readers interested in ink on paper? Are we doomed to
July 21, 1969 news organizations were slow to realize the potential become dinosaurs?

1952: CBS News coins 1960: Only 2,000 1974: President Nixon 1982: USA Today makes
the word “anchorman.” people owned television resigns following dogged its debut, shocking the
NBC launches the first sets in 1945; by now, investigation of the Watergate news establishment
magazine-format TV 90% of American homes scandal by The Washington with shorter stories
program, the “Today” show. have a TV. Post’s Woodward and Bernstein. and bold color.

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990

1963: TV news comes of age Late 1960s: Anti-war 1976: The Apple II 1980: Media mogul 1990s: The Internet wires the
covering the Kennedy and anti-establishment becomes a popular Ted Turner launches the planet. Laptop computers, digital
assassination; 96% of homes underground newspapers home computer. Cable News Network cameras and modems allow
with televisions watch an mushroom in U.S. cities Nintendo sells its first (CNN), the planet’s first reporters to file stories and photos
average of 32 hours of coverage. and on college campuses. computer games. 24-hour news channel. from anywhere in the world.
14 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

Today’s changing
media landscape
Online journalism offers new tools, new challenges.
If you’re an Indianapolis football fan, you may occasionally
wonder: “Is Peyton Manning the greatest quarterback of all time?”
To answer that question, The Indianapolis Star created the
Manning Meter, a multimedia Web page that includes five photo
galleries, a weekly game for kids, Manning’s complete career stats
and a searchable database that tracks every pass he ever threw.
This is not your father’s sports section. By converging text,
images, interactivity and customizable data, new media like the
Manning Meter are transforming the craft of journalism, making
news coverage more engaging and informative than ever before.

AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, NEWS CONSUMPTION CHANGES, TOO

A hundred years ago, if you that important, it will find me.”) Percentage
wanted news, you had one option: So who are the winners in this of people
read a newspaper. Fifty years ago, new era of news? Tech-toy makers, under age 25 who read
you had three options: read a paper, of course. And consumers, who can or hear NO news on a
listen to the radio or watch TV. choose, moment to moment, what- typical day: 34
But if you want news today, it’s ever news-delivery platform best Percentage of Americans
right there on your desktop PC. suits their needs. (In my bedroom, who “graze” the news
Your wireless laptop. Your smart- I’ll browse headlines on my iPhone; from time to time during
the day, instead of getting
phone. Your netbook. And who in my car, I’ll listen to AM radio.) it all at once: 51
knows what new high-tech gizmo Who are the losers? Old Media.
will make news even more portable TV, radio and print journalists are Number of Americans
who watched the network
and accessible tomorrow? scrambling to keep their audiences evening news in 1980:
News is everywhere now. Without happy and their ad revenues flow- 52 million
even trying, we absorb information. ing. After all, without journalists, Who watch it today:
(As one college student said in The who’ll supply the news content for 23 million
New York Times: “If the news is all these shiny new digital devices? Percentage of college
graduates who get news
online every day: 44
ANALYSIS: Times less than they did a decade ago. They use it more. The Percentage of those with
difference is that today they don’t have to pay for it. The real high-school educations
ARE NEWSPAPERS DOOMED? problem for newspapers, in other words, isn’t the Internet; it’s us. who do: 11
James Surowiecki sums up the crisis facing newspapers in this We want access to everything, we want it now, and we want it
excerpt from a 2008 financial column in The New Yorker: Number of visitors to The
for free. That’s a consumer’s dream, but eventually it’s going to New York Times Web site
Newspapers now seem to be the equivalent of the railroads collide with reality: if newspapers’ profits vanish, so will their each month: 20 million
at the start of the twentieth century — a once-great business product. Number of people who
eclipsed by a new technology. In a famous 1960 article called Does that mean newspapers are doomed? Not necessarily. buy the daily print
“Marketing Myopia,” Theodore Levitt held up the railroads as a There are many possible futures one can imagine for them, from version of the Times:
quintessential example of companies’ inability to adapt to chang- becoming foundation-run nonprofits to relying on reader dona- 1 million
ing circumstances. Had the bosses realized that they were in the tions to that old standby, the deep-pocketed patron. It’s even
transportation business, rather than the railroad business, they possible that a few papers will be able to earn enough money Percentage of Americans
could have moved into trucking and air transport, rather than online to make the traditional ad-supported strategy work. who think daily papers will
be gone within 10 years: 65
letting other companies dominate. By extension, many argue But it would not be shocking if, sometime soon, there were big
that if newspapers had understood they were in the information American cities that had no local newspaper; more important, Jobs lost in 2008 at U.S.
business, rather than the print business, they would have adapted we’re almost sure to see a sharp decline in the volume and vari- newspapers: 31,200
more quickly and more successfully to the Net. ety of content that newspapers collectively produce. For a while At radio stations: 8,100
The peculiar fact about the current crisis is that even as big now, readers have had the best of both worlds: all the benefits In broadcast television:
papers have become less profitable, they’ve arguably become of the old, high-profit regime — intensive reporting, experienced 5,100
more popular. Usually, when an industry runs into the kind of editors, and so on — and the low costs of the new one. But that Number of new jobs
trouble that Levitt was talking about, it’s because people are situation can’t last. Soon enough, we’re going to start getting added at Internet-media
abandoning its products. But people don’t use The New York what we pay for, and we may find out just how little that is. companies: 5,400
— For sources, see page 328

MORE ON MULTIMEDIA JOURNALISM 168

 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM 15

WHICH TYPE OF NEWS

CONSUMER ARE YOU? HOW NEWS 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008
CONSUMPTION 60%
HAS CHANGED WATCHED TV NEWS
(1998-2008) 50%

Responses to the LISTENED TO

40%
question: Where RADIO NEWS
did you get your
news yesterday? 30% READ A NEWSPAPER
Source: Pew Research GOT NEWS ONLINE
Center for People & 20%
The Press

THREE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS FACING THE NEWS BUSINESS

A 2008 report by the Pew Research Idealistic journalists often forget that the As audiences move onto the Web, traditional
Center for People & The Press divided news business is . . . well, a business. Like any news outlets are shifting their focus there, too.
Americans into four main groups, based other business, media companies need to make Online journalism now incorporates text,
on their news consumption habits: money to survive. And these days, that means videos, podcasts and interactive graphics.
finding the answers to three nagging questions: The trouble is, that all costs money.
� Traditionalists are the biggest segment —
and the oldest, with a median age of 52. � How do we stop the decline in ad revenue? � How do we generate revenue online?
They’re less educated, less affluent, and When the economy began tanking in 2008, When we say “online news,” you might think
rely heavily on traditional news outlets: TV, radio and print newsrooms were hit hard. of Google News, Yahoo! or your favorite blog.
newspapers, radio and especially TV. As advertising revenue dried up, giant media But where do they get their content? From
companies, from Gannett to CBS, began losing the traditional media — newspapers, mostly.
� Integrators use traditional media as their
millions. The result? Layoffs. Bankruptcies. Companies like Google make bazillions by
primary news source (mostly TV), but
The death of newspapers in Seattle and Denver. aggregating and redistributing the work of
go online for news, too. Most are Baby
The threat of extinction everywhere. And a journalists worldwide without actually paying
Boomers (ages 44 to 62), with a greater
new concern: As the economy recovers, will those journalists to produce it.
interest in news than the other groups.
advertisers return — or migrate to the Web? Meanwhile, Web sites for local newspapers,
� Net-Newsers use the Web as their main
� How do we keep our audience satisfied? radio and TV stations try to sell as many small,
news source. They’re the youngest, best- annoying online ads as they can, but it’s not
Consumer habits are evolving. Take radio:
educated, most affluent of the four groups, nearly enough to subsidize a full news staff.
Young listeners far prefer filling their iPods
and they’re plugged in to the latest tech- Journalism costs money — even online.
with mp3 tunes and podcasts than sitting
nology (cell phones, wifi, broadband). So how do we subsidize it? With more ads?
though radio commercials and chat. And
� The Disengaged just aren’t interested in Micropayments, where users pay a penny
why watch TV shows in real time when you
news. They’re young, poorly educated and can stream them anytime, or watch YouTube for each story they view? Charitable grants?
uninformed about current events. They highlights? Why wade through dull, slow- Government bailouts?
use media for entertainment, not news. motion, dead-tree newspaper stories when you These questions continue to vex the news
Note: 4% of respondents didn’t conform to any category. can zoom through Yahoo’s news menu? business. So far, no one’s found the answers.

Kourosh Karimkhany, Wired News editor: Jimmy Guterman, writer, magazine wearable devices wirelessly connected to
How will they get their news? publisher and media consultant: global networks delivering on-demand
Pretty much the same way they’ve In 2025, only a small group of readers/ multimedia news and information.
been getting it in the past 100 years: viewers/listeners will take in what we Reporters will need to focus on original
through newspapers, radio, TV, Web and consider “news” today. The combination reporting, emphasizing firsthand accounts
the gadget of the day (whatever the of audience fragmentation and increas- from the field. They’ll need to be comfort-
combination of a phone, PDA, iPod and ing desire to tune into like-minded able with multiple media and engaging
video player will look like). The plethora sources will mean more people get in interactive conversations with audi-
of distribution will increase competition information, but fewer people get objec- ences, sources and other reporters.
among news gatherers. I’m an optimist, tive or vetted information. The need
so I’ll guess that the competitive pres- for reporters will continue to decrease; Steve Yelvington, reporter, editor and
sure will force journalists to improve the need for pundits will continue to Internet strategist:
their craft. I’m hopeful that the works increase. “News” of the WSJ/NYT/NPR The reporting process will be very
of a few solo journalists — who for the variety will be a premium product for an much about chasing down and killing
first time have near-equal footing with elite audience, like poetry is today. bad information — debunking — and
old-school, massive news organizations pointing out the good, and those respon-
— will re-establish the nobility of jour- John Pavlik, journalism professor and sibilities will be taken up by conscien-
nalists. And I’m especially hopeful that author of “Journalism and New Media”: tious amateurs as well as professionals.
American-style journalism — which is In 2025 people will get their news from The value of professional journalism will
the lubricant of democracy and equitable a wide diversity of sources, including not be so much about providing informa-
capitalism — will spread around the both old and new media, customized tion, but rather providing clarity. And as
world and take root in places it hasn’t to individual preferences and styles. William Gibson said, the future is already
before, like China and the Middle East. Among the new media will be miniature here — it’s just unevenly distributed.
16 THE STORY OF JOURNALISM

The
STUDENT JOURNALISTS’
NEWS ATTITUDE SURVEY
In the next chapter, we’ll explore how journalists define news — Answer the questions below as honestly as you can. (There are no
and whether the American public agrees with them. But before we right or wrong answers, of course.) We’ve given this survey to more
proceed, let’s find out how YOU use the news and how you feel about than 400 journalism students across the country. And on page 300,
the news media’s performance. you can see how your responses compare with all the rest.

1) I think news stories usually: 6) In general, the news is biased in favor of:
� Get the facts straight � Conservatives � Neither CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES
� Contain inaccuracies and distortions � Liberals Public officials or whistleblowers often
slip reporters controversial information
2) I prefer to get my news: 7) If you hear conflicting versions of a news story, secretly — off the record — to avoid getting
� By watching pictures or video footage, which version will you most likely believe? into trouble. In exchange for this informa-
with audio narration � The local newspaper tion, reporters promise to conceal the
� By reading printed text � The local TV news identities of these anonymous sources.
� Through a combination of text and images � The national TV news In extreme cases, however, a story may
� Radio news trigger a criminal investigation. A reporter
3) Generally, I think the government: � An independent Web site could be ordered to testify, to tell a judge
� Should do more to restrict what the news the name of his or her confidential sources.
media publish 8) Which of these adjectives would you generally Suppose this happened to you. What
� Should do as little as possible to restrict what use to describe most news today? (You can select would you do? If you reveal your source’s
the news media publish more than one): name, you break your promise. You expose
� Boring � Entertaining your source to legal or professional harm.
4) The president is assassinated. What would you � Useful � Sensationalized In the future, your reporting ability may
most likely do? (You can choose more than one): � Depressing � Negative be compromised because other sources
� Turn on the TV, then leave it on constantly to won’t trust you; your colleagues and your
monitor the situation as intensely as possible. 9) How often do you generally watch TV news? news organization may be discredited, too.
� Turn on the TV, see what’s happening, then turn � Daily � Occasionally BUT if you refuse to name your source,
it off and get on with my life. � Several times a week � Never you could hamper a criminal investigation.
� Track developments online by monitoring news You could be shielding a lawbreaker. And
Web sites. 10) How often do you generally read newspapers? the judge could send you to jail for days —
� Buy a newspaper as soon as I saw one that had � Daily � Occasionally weeks — until you cooperate.
a big assassination headline. � Several times a week � Never What would you do?
� Listen to radio news and talk shows.
� Avoid the news as much as possible to escape 11) How often do you generally read news online? � As a reporter, I’m obligated to protect my
the annoying hype and overkill. sources, even if it means going to jail.
� Daily � Occasionally
� Several times a week � Never � As a citizen, I’m obligated to honor and
5) Which of these people do you consider to be obey the legal system and comply with
journalists? (Check all that apply): 12) A news reporting career seems like it would be the judge’s request.
� Bill O’Reilly � Rush Limbaugh (check all that apply): � It would depend on the circumstances
� Bob Woodward � Katie Couric � Rewarding � Frightening of the case.
� Oprah Winfrey � Jon Stewart � Frustrating � Important

WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS DO YOU MOST AGREE WITH? CHECK EITHER “A” OR “B”; LEAVE BLANK FOR “NEITHER.”
� a) I prefer news that’s presented with an attitude, even if it’s opinionated, � a) I can usually relate to most news stories I read, see and hear.
because it makes the topics more interesting. � b) I generally feel that most news stories have little relevance to my life.
� b) I prefer news that is as neutral and objective as possible. I resent it
when journalists inject their own opinions into stories. � a) When I read newspapers, magazines or Web sites, I frequently take the
time to read long stories that analyze issues and events in depth.
� a) I could easily go for days without reading any news. � b) When I read newspapers, magazines or Web sites, I usually just browse
� b) I couldn’t go a day without reading any news. a few paragraphs at a time. I hardly ever read stories in depth.
� a) Journalists are too critical of public figures and government policy. � a) Generally, I prefer to read news about serious issues and major events.
� b) Journalists don’t do enough to challenge public figures and expose � b) Generally, I prefer to read celebrity news and lighter, offbeat stuff.
governmental problems.
 17

CHAPTER

How
newsrooms work
Journalism isn’t a solo effort. It takes talent, teamwork and training
for any news outlet to succeed. Here’s a look at the process in detail.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
18 What is news?
Readers, reporters and editors have different views
— and what’s news to one may be trash to another.
20 What readers read
What writers want to write isn’t necessarily what
readers want to read. That’s why research is vital.
22 How a story gets written
Ace reporter Jenny Deadline races the clock to
find out why a professor has mysteriously resigned.
24 How the news comes together
An hour-by-hour look at a day in the life of a
typical metropolitan daily newspaper.
26 Who’s who in the newsroom
From the publisher to the lowliest reporter, everyone on the news team has a job to do.
28 What it’s called
Bylines, datelines, taglines, leads . . . if you want to survive in the newsroom, learn the lingo.
30 Tools, talent and temperament
What does it take to be a reporter? Computers, notebooks — and some writing talent, too.

PLUS: 32 The Press Room 34 Test yourself

18 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

What is news? News is the first rough

draft of history.
Editors, reporters and readers have asked that question for centuries. Philip Graham,
Washington Post publisher
In every newsroom, journalists constantly apply what’s called news judgment: the ability to determine
which stories are most interesting and important to readers. News is anything that
But which readers? To a 13-year-old boy, the day’s biggest story might be the city’s new skate- makes a reader say
“Gee whiz.”
boarding ban. To a 70-year-old woman, it might be a new Social Security proposal. The teenager William Randolph Hearst,
doesn’t care about Social Security; the retiree American newspaper tycoon
won’t read about skateboarding. Whose news News is what somebody
interests should prevail? somewhere wants to
Take the page at left, for instance. How did suppress. All the rest is
1 those stories get there? Who decided that advertising.
those were the topics most worthy of front- Lord Northcliffe,
British newspaper tycoon
page prominence? Denis Finley, editor of The
Virginian-Pilot, explains the paper’s choices: News is anything that
will make people talk.
1 We use the top of the page to drive single-copy sales.
Charles Dana,
Normally, sports doesn’t cut it, but when Tiger Woods comes back New York Sun editor
after eight months, well. . . .
2 The lead story. Right now, there’s nothing more important News is anything you
than the financial state of the nation. Obama’s budget represents can find out today that
a huge philosophical shift for the country and seeks to deliver on you didn’t know before.
promises he made in his campaign. Our duty is to break it down Turner Catledge,
so it’s easy to understand how the budget affects each person. New York Times editor
2
3 “Unsolved” is a talker. Readers ask most often for these three When a dog bites a
things: Teach me something; give me something to talk about;
man, that is not news.
watch out for my interests. This mystery story about an unsolved
murder gives the reader a little break from the hard news. But when a man bites
a dog, that IS news.
4 Survey after survey indicates that health stories are in our
Charles Dana,
readers’ top five. This story is a seemingly obvious, but important, New York Sun editor
5 finding that tells people how to lose weight and falls into the
“teach me something” category.

6
5 Everybody likes to see justice brought against wrongdoers, THIS JUST IN:
especially when the wrongdoer is a slimy swindler. And this story
has all the elements: vanity, skullduggery, and ultimately, failure.
MAN BITES DOG!
When Olavi Velkanmaa
6 Coming Sunday. We push the Sunday paper whenever
was attacked by a wolf,
4 possible and often save our best work for that day.
he bit back.
So here you see one of the basic facts of life Velkanmaa, 33, was
for newspaper reporters: They do the research opening a workshop
3 last week in a small
and they write the stories, but it’s their editors Finnish town north of
who ultimately decide how successful they are Helsinki when he came
— and where their stories run. upon a large male wolf.
As the beast lunged at
his throat, Velkanmaa
grabbed its head. They
NEWS BY THE NUMBERS I NEWS BY THE NUMBERS II wrestled for about 10
minutes.
Percentage of Americans who say they prefer news about serious issues “News Arithmetic,” from a 1932 editing textbook by
“I was fighting for my
and major events: 63 George C. Bastian and Leland D. Case:
life,” Velkanmaa said. “I
Who say they prefer crime and celebrity news: 24 1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life = 0 saw its throat and went
Percentage who think the media are out of touch with average Americans: 48 1 ordinary man + 1 extraordinary adventure = NEWS for it with my teeth, but
Percentage of stories in a typical newspaper about government or politics: 25 1 ordinary husband + 1 ordinary wife = 0 the wolf’s paw got in the
Percentage of Americans under 30 who have little or no interest in politics: 42 1 husband + 3 wives = NEWS way and I bit it instead.”
Percentage of journalists who say they often avoid running stories readers 1 bank cashier + 1 wife + 7 children = 0 The wolf took off,
think are important, but dull: 77 1 bank cashier — $100,000 = NEWS leaving Velkanmaa with
Who say they sometimes ignore stories because readers might find them 1 chorus girl + 1 bank president — $100,000 = NEWS cuts, minor bites — and
too compex: 52 1 man + 1 auto + 1 gun + 1 six-pack = NEWS the taste of warm wolf
Percentage of Americans who find the news depressing: 84 1 man + 1 wife + 1 fight + 1 lawsuit = NEWS blood in his mouth.
Who find the news negative: 77 Who find the news sensational: 58 1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 79 years = 0 — The Associated Press
— See page 328 for sources 1 ordinary man + 1 ordinary life of 100 years = NEWS
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 19

IS IT NEWS? THAT VARIES NEWSROOM TO NEWSROOM

The New York Times runs STORM WARNING: Dangerous winds and heavy rain are forecast here tonight. KEY
“All the News That’s Fit to COUNTY FAIR: Pigs! Pies! Polka! The Mudflap County Fair starts this weekend.
Print,” but what fits there TUITION HIKE: Mudflap College will raise classroom fees 10 percent next year.
might not fit quite right VOLLEYBALL BILL: Congress passes a bill making Friday National Volleyball Day. YES, RUN IT
FLU SHOTS: Flu season is coming. Vaccinations now available for senior citizens.
here. Here’s how three
BOLIVIA BUS CRASH: 30 children are killed as a bus plunges off a cliff in La Paz. NO, DON’T
mythical Mudflap news GIRL SCOUT COOKIES: A Mudflap girl breaks the state’s cookie sales record.
outlets might decide which LOTTERY WINNER: A Mudflap grad student wins $50,000 in the state drawing.
POSSIBLY
of these stories to run: JAY-Z SEX CHANGE: A celebrity-gossip Web site claims the rapper had surgery.

THE 5 O’CLOCK TV NEWSCAST

We try to cover a wide range of topics, with a heavy emphasis on local news, WHAT MAKES
sports and weather. Here’s how our news director would usually vote: A STORY
INTERESTING
THE STORY COMMENTS
TO READERS?
STORM WARNING � Readers really eat up scary weather stories. Everybody’s different —
COUNTY FAIR � Kids + cows + carnival rides = great video. and what’s fascinating to you
TUITION HIKE � If time is tight, may only merit a brief mention. might be boooring to me.
VOLLEYBALL BILL � Meaningless ceremonial baloney. Still, for a story to qualify as
“news,” it usually contains
FLU SHOTS � Good images; strong appeal for older viewers.
at least one of these values:
BOLIVIA BUS CRASH � No. Let the network newscast deal with this.
� IMPACT: Does the story
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES � Sure. Viewers find this stuff irresistible.
matter to readers? Will it
LOTTERY WINNER � Jackpot’s not big or juicy enough to be a story.
have an effect on their lives
JAY-Z SEX CHANGE � Untrustworthy. Unsavory. No local connection.
or their pocketbooks? The
bigger the consequences, the
bigger the story becomes.
THE SMALL COMMUNITY WEEKLY � IMMEDIACY: Has this story
We have limited resources and a tight regional focus — local people, local sports, just happened? Is it about
issues that affect our community. Here’s how our editors would usually vote: to happen? Timeliness is
THE STORY COMMENTS
crucial, especially when
you’re competing against
STORM WARNING � We’ll wait and see if there’s any local damage. other news outlets.
COUNTY FAIR � Let’s go whole hog. Lots of extra photos, too. � PROXIMITY: How close is
TUITION HIKE � Other media will cover it; do older readers care? this story? Nearby events
VOLLEYBALL BILL � Cheesy public-relations stunt. will matter more to readers
than events in other cities,
FLU SHOTS � Good consumer story; possible Page One.
states or countries . . . . . .
BOLIVIA BUS CRASH � Sorry, we don’t run international news.
usually.
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES � This will make an adorable story, with photos.
� PROMINENCE: Does this
LOTTERY WINNER � People win bigger jackpots all the time.
story involve a well-known
JAY-Z SEX CHANGE � None of us have ever heard of this guy.
public figure or celebrity? If
so, readers are bound to be
more concerned or curious.
THE ONLINE CAMPUS NEWSPAPER � NOVELTY: Is something
Our Web site focuses exclusively on campus life, student sports and academics, new, odd or surprising going
with a little local news tossed in. Here’s how our editors would usually vote: on? (Did a man bite a dog?)
THE STORY COMMENTS Readers enjoy news that’s
intriguing and unexpected.
STORM WARNING � We’ll wait and see if there’s any local damage.
� CONFLICT: Is there a clash
COUNTY FAIR � No thanks, unless ag students are involved. of power? A political battle?
TUITION HIKE � Strong student interest. Give this story big play. A sports rivalry? Reporters
VOLLEYBALL BILL � Nobody cares, not even volleyball players. and readers both enjoy
FLU SHOTS � How soon until shots are available to students? dramatic storytelling.
BOLIVIA BUS CRASH � Not even juicy enough for our “World Briefs.” � EMOTIONS: Does this story
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES � Ugh. Please. This is SO not interesting. make us sad? Happy? Angry?
We all respond emotionally
LOTTERY WINNER � Appealing campus human-interest feature.
to human-interest stories
JAY-Z SEX CHANGE � Won’t run it, but we’ll e-mail it to all our friends.
that are poignant, comical
or inspiring.

WANT TO TRY A SIMILAR NEWS JUDGMENT EXERCISE? TEST YOURSELF > 34

20 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

What readers read

Delivering news and information effectively is part art, part science.
Everyone consumes the news in a different way. Different news media even give consumers
different names: TV viewers. Radio listeners. Newspaper readers. And Web sites, which are
used for viewing, listening and reading, call their users . . . . . . users.
Since this is a book on newswriting, we’ll focus primarily on readers. And as journalists
have done for centuries, we’ll relentlessly ask: What do readers want? Serious issues or
light gossip? Long narratives or short summaries? Words or pictures? Meat or fluff?
Smart journalists tailor their material to the reading habits and news appetites of their
audience. And as new media transform the news media, it’s essential to monitor how
effectively you’re communicating. What good is a story if nobody actually reads it?

SO HOW DO WE KNOW If you produce a print publication or Web site, it’s essential to understand: Who are our readers?
WHAT READERS READ? What topics attract them? How much do they read? What more do they need? The best way to get
reliable answers is to conduct market research, which means surveying your audience, analyzing
� WE ASK THEM. the statistics and drawing conclusions based on facts — not assumptions or speculations. Media
� WE WATCH THEM. companies often hire consultants (or employ their own research staffs) to monitor readers through:
PHONE, MAIL AND WEB OTHER WAYS TO GAUGE
SURVEYS: Researchers compile READER RESPONSE:
a series of questions (How often � Ethnography. Acting much like
do you read this publication? anthropologists, researchers study
Which topics are most impor- the habits and rituals of media
tant to you?), then distribute consumers (often observing them
questionnaires or conduct phone in the field) to learn what, where,
interviews with respondents who when and especially why readers
have been selected and screened read what they read.
to ensure the survey’s accuracy. � Sales/Web views. It’s simple
Advantages: Surveys provide MONITORING DEVICES: math: Track which papers sell
detailed data; the more questions Cameras embedded in computer more than others, or which Web
FOCUS GROUPS: Readers convene in small are asked, the more compre- screens track users’ eye movements pages generate more traffic.
groups to critique a publication or react to new hensive the findings. Results are as they read Web pages (above). � Reader response. Monitor
prototypes. A moderator guides the discussion while generally reliable and accurate. Cameras can monitor readers’ eyes phone calls, e-mails and letters
editors eavesdrop via camera or one-way mirror. Disadvantages: Respondents lie as they scan newspaper pages, too. to the editor in response to topics
Advantages: Ordinary folks offer unfiltered opinions (“Yes, I always read editorials”). Advantages: The eyes don’t lie. We and stories (both pro and con).
about what you’re doing right and wrong; it’s a And editors often don’t know can see where people actually look. � Anecdotal feedback. It’s not
good way to test new ideas and revise strategies. what to do with statistical results. Disadvantages: Testing occurs in always trustworthy, but reporters
Disadvantages: A handful of people may not Suppose 33 percent of your read- unnatural conditions, pressuring rely on word of mouth to gauge
accurately reflect the majority view. Worse, one or ers want more crime coverage. readers to read differently than they which stories strike a chord with
two loudmouths can sway everyone else’s opinions. Is that a mandate? Or a minority? might if they were outside the lab. sources, friends and colleagues.

STEP 1 Recruit a dozen volunteers. HOW TO CONDUCT

(The more people you enlist, the A QUICK, CHEAP,
more reliable your survey will be.)
Aim for a representative mix of
SEMI-SCIENTIFIC
readers by age, gender, lifestyle, etc. READER SURVEY
STEP 2 Ask your volunteers to read the next issue of your paper as they
typically do — but tell them to circle everything they read with a dark
felt-tip pen as they go through the paper. That may mean just a headline,
a photo caption or the first two paragraphs of a story. (By “reading,”
we mean processing words in a meaningful way, not just glancing.)
STEP 3 Ask your recruits to do this for several issues of the paper. If
you’re a daily, ask them to read for a week; if you’re a weekly, have them
read two or three issues. Collect the papers from them when they’re done.
STEP 4 Mark each pile so you know who’s who (i.e., “25-year-old male
grad student”). Then ask: What did they consistently read? What didn’t
they read? What topics or story treatments had the most (or least) success? A revealing page from a reader survey at an Omaha paper, showing how
Identify patterns and problems. Make changes, then try another survey. people often skip over text to view reader-friendly bullet items instead.
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 21

“People don’t actually read

newspapers — they get into
them every morning like a
hot bath.”
Marshall McLuhan,
media theorist

“Real journalists don’t want

to write — they want to
be read. Without readers,
what’s the point?”
Christine Urban,
newspaper research consultant

“News is newsier the closer

it is to the reader.”
Frank Denton,
former editor, Wisconsin State Journal

READERS ARE READERS WANT STORIES READERS WANT STORIES “People want complete news
IN A HURRY THAT PERSONALLY CONNECT TOLD IN A COMPELLING WAY coverage, but they don’t want
to have to spend too much
In the past, people devoted a big “Readers want to see themselves Dry, detailed summaries of news time with the paper. They
block of time — say, half an hour — in the newspaper,” McLellan says. events are a staple of journalism, want in-depth stories, but
to reading a newspaper or viewing Unfortunately, though, “newspapers but if that’s all you give readers — an they want jumps avoided
a newscast. But in today’s sped-up, focus heavily on the power structure endless parade of facts, paragraph at all costs. They want the
plugged-in world, we often absorb and that means middle-aged, white, after paragraph after paragraph — important news, but it has to
news in chunks throughout the day, male, official perspectives dominate.” you’ll sap their stamina. be personally relevant. They
in a steady series of upgrades rather That’s why successful reporters Given a choice, readers generally want substantial newspapers,
than one big download. craft stories that focus on you, the prefer stories: real narrative dramas but they don’t want bulky
“Readers use a wide variety of reader, instead of them, those politi- starring real people. Research shows newspapers that pile up
media, and there is a finite amount cians and strangers over there. that feature-style writing — with unread.”
of time in their day,” says Mary “Institutional stories — stories more personality, more why should Kris McGrath,
newspaper researcher,
Nesbitt, managing director of about the actions of city council, the I care attitude — often has more on contradictory reader preferences
the Readership Institute, a media planning commission or the school appeal than standard, “inverted
research center at Northwestern board, for instance — are ignored,” pyramid”-style newswriting.x “This business of giving
University. “There is no dearth of Nesbitt says, “unless the reporter Readers will always want solid, people what they want is
news and information, but there is makes it clear why it really matters. accessible facts. If you’re smart, a dope pusher’s argument.
“People like to feel smarter News is something people
a dearth of time. though, you’ll develop a versatile
about things that matter to them. don’t know they’re interested
“You are competing for their repertoire of reporting approaches.
Understand what people really care in until they hear about it.
attention, so stories need to be “Readers respond to a variety of
The job of a journalist is to
clear, focused and to the point.” about, then in your work help them story forms,” Nesbitt says. “If a story take what’s important and
to smarten up.” can be more effectively told with a
READERS HAVE SHORT make it interesting.”
bulleted list, a series of photos, a Q- Reuven Frank,
ATTENTION SPANS and-A format or a graphic, so be it.” former president of NBC News
“Nine times out of 10, readers IS GOOGLE An excerpt from
prefer short stories to long stories,” tech pundit Nicholas THERE’S MORE THAN JUST “We think people want
Nesbitt says.
MAKING US Carr’s 2008 essay ONE TYPE OF READER SERIOUS, and they do, but they
Why? They’re impatient. They’re STOOPID? in The Atlantic: Some readers are hard-core news only want about 3 inches of
swamped by a sea of information, For more than a decade now, I’ve junkies. Others are casual browsers. serious on most things. USA
much of it meaningless. They’re been spending a lot of time online. . . . Some love long, in-depth profiles. Today got it wrong . . . they
distracted, too: According to a 2003 And what the Net seems to be doing Others hate them. Some read the didn’t go far enough. I’m
is chipping away my capacity for getting more and more
study, 74 percent of Americans paper simply out of fear that they’ll
concentration and contemplation. convinced people want a
regularly watch TV and read the My mind now expects to take in infor-
miss something and feel left out
newspaper at the same time. of conversations. (Researchers call smattering of everything but
mation the way the Net distributes it: just a smattering, and you’d
It’s frustrating to admit it, but in a swiftly moving stream of particles. them “anxiety-driven” readers.)
better tell them the nut graf
many readers just can’t seem to Once I was a scuba diver in the sea Can you satisfy everyone? No.
quick. I call it “drive-through
process long, complicated stories. of words. Now I zip along the surface But keep your ideas fresh. Keep
journalism”: filling and fast.
So what’s a reporter to do? like a guy on a Jet Ski. your topics diverse. Stay out of ruts.
And don’t forget to give them
“Start with the idea that the story Bruce Friedman, who blogs about And remember, readers who call a side of fries or an apple pie
will be short, then think about the use of computers in medicine, has or write to say your story offended
described how the Internet has altered
along with it.”
whether something longer is need- or enthralled them do not necessarily Dawn Dressler,
ed,” says Michele McLellan, director his mental habits. “I now have almost speak for the majority. Don’t let executive editor, Amarillo Globe-News
of Tomorrow’s Workforce, a news- totally lost the ability to read and random criticism intimidate you, but
absorb a longish article on the Web or “Innovate or die.”
room training center. “Journalists don’t let flattering fan mail steer you Richard Curtis,
in print,” he wrote. “I can’t read War
often get this backward.” into a safe, predictable rut, either. managing editor, USA Today
and Peace anymore. Even a blog post
of more than three or four paragraphs
is too much to absorb. I skim it.”
MORE ON WRITING FOR THE WEB > 164 MORE ON THE INVERTED PYRAMID > 40 MORE ON FEATURE AND NARRATIVE WRITING > 122
22 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

How a story OH, NO!

IT’S AFTER 3 !

gets written
I’M LATE FOR
BIOLOGY!

News events can occur suddenly

and unexpectedly — and when ACE REPORTER
they do, you can’t always predict
where they’ll lead. Here’s an
example of one such story,
another thrilling newsroom
adventure from the files of . . .

BUT WHEN JENNY ARRIVES, BACK IN THE EPITAPH NEWSROOM,

THE CLASSROOM IS EMPTY — JENNY KICKS THE STORY AROUND
AND ON THE BLACKBOARD WITH HER EDITOR.
THERE’S
SHE FINDS A STARTLING MESSAGE! SOMETHING
ODD ABOUT
. . . BUT THIS, AND
IT SEEMS YOU’ VE GOT
FISHY TO ME. TIL SIX P.M.
WHY WOULD A TO DIG IT UP.
PROFESSOR GET ME THE
SUDDENLY STORY AND
QUIT IN THE I’LL RUN IT ON
MIDDLE OF PAGE ONE!
THE TERM?

JENNY CALLS DR. SIEGEL ON THE INTERNET, JENNY HEADS OVER TO THE BIOLOGY
AT HIS HOME — JENNY GATHERS DEPARTMENT OFFICE TO INTERVIEW
BACKGROUND DATA SIEGEL’S STUDENTS AND COLLEAGUES.
ON DR. SIEGEL.
THIS IS
JENNY NO, I DON’T
DEADLINE KNOW WHY
FROM THE DR. SIEGEL
EPITAPH. RESIGNED.
COULD WE BUT JUST
TALK ABOUT BETWEEN YOU
YOUR AND ME, I’M
DECISION NO COMMENT! GLAD HE’S
TO RESIGN? GONE. THAT
MAN GAVE ME
THE CREEPS!

JENNY LANDS AN INTERVIEW

BUT WHY DID THE
WITH DORSEY STEVENS, HEAD PROFESSOR QUIT SO WELL, HERE’S WHAT HE
OF THE BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT. ABRUPTLY? ISN’T WROTE IN HIS LETTER :
THAT PECULIAR? “FOR PERSONAL REASONS,
I SHALL RESIGN EFFECTIVE
I’M SHOCKED IMMEDIATELY, IN ORDER
AND SADDENED. TO SPEND MORE TIME
DR. SIEGEL WITH MY FAMILY.”
WAS A VALUED
MEMBER OF OUR
FACULTY FOR
20 YEARS, AND
WE WILL NOT BE
THE SAME
WITHOUT HIM.
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 23

JENNY TALKS TO DR. HUGH LYON IN THE HALLWAY, JENNY INTERVIEWS TWO GRAD STUDENTS
SACK, THE PROFESSOR TAKING WHO HAD WORKED CLOSELY WITH DR. SIEGEL.
OVER SIEGEL’S CLASSES.
THe real
well, i
reason he
DR. SIEGEL thought
left was
IS A he was the
that he was
BRILLIANT best
but about to be
SCHOLAR. teacher
off the fired for
I’LL DO i ever had!
record? sexually
MY BEST I wouldn’t
i heard harassing
TO FILL he got be going to
one of his
HIS big a female med school
students !
SHOES. student if it
what a pig!
pregnant. wasn’t for
i can’t dr. siegel.
say any
more.

BACK IN THE NEWSROOM,

JENNY TRIES TO UNTANGLE none that I NO commenT? but what
THE STORY WITH HER EDITOR. Know about. about the rumors that
and all campus you’re quitting to avoid
offices closed harassment charges?
so has any at five o’clock!
student
filed a I’ll CALL
harassment DR. SIEGEL ONE
complaint MORE TIME.
against
siegel?

SO WITH 20 MINUTES UNTIL By JENNY DEADLINE

RATS! HOW CAN JUST type up what DEADLINE, JENNY TYPES Epitaph staff reporter
I WRITE A STORY you’ve got! let’s GO! HER NOTES INTO A STORY. After two decades in biology
WHEN I’m missing i’m saving a 4-inch HOLE
classrooms, Dr. Harris Siegel ended
so many facts? for you on PAGE ONE!
his campus career today with two
words scrawled on a blackboard:
“I QUIT.”
Siegel’s sudden resignation
caught both students and colleagues
by surprise.
“I’m shocked and saddened,” said
Dorsey Stevens, head of the biology
department. “Dr. Siegel was a val-
ued member of our faculty for 20
years, and we will not be the same
without him.”
In a letter sent to Stevens Monday
morning, Siegel explained that “for
personal reasons, I shall resign
effective immediately, in order to
spend more time with my family.”
SO WHAT Contacted by The Epitaph
look, JENNY -- I cut OUT THAT OK, CHIEF. BUT I’ll UPDATE THE DID JENNY Monday afternoon, Siegel refused
REFERENCE TO SEXUAL harassment. STORY ON OUR WEB SITE WHEN LEARN TODAY? further comment, leaving some stu-
UNTIL WE GET OFFICIAL CONFIRMATION, I UNCOVER THE TRUTH! 1. YOU OFTEN SPEND dents to speculate that he had quit
IT’S JUST AN UNFOUNDED rumor! 90 PERCENT OF YOUR to avoid facing a sexual harassment
TIME CHASING A STORY, complaint.
AND JUST 10 PERCENT Students say they’ll miss Siegel.
WRITING IT. “He was the best teacher I ever
2. NOT EVERYTHING had,” said graduate student Heather
A REPORTER HEARS Lewis. “I wouldn’t be going to med
MAKES IT INTO THE school if it weren’t for Dr. Siegel.”
FINISHED STORY. Dr. Hugh Lyon Sack will step in to
3. NOT EVERYTHING teach Siegel’s classes the rest of the
IS WHAT IT SEEMS. term. “I’ll do my best to fill his big
IN THIS CASE, IT shoes,” Sack said.
TURNS OUT DR. SIEGEL
ACTUALLY QUIT BECAUSE
HE’D JUST WON $5,000,000 IN THE LOTTERY!
COULD DR. SIEGEL HAVE SUED THE PAPER FOR PRINTING THOSE
RUMORS? SHOULD JENNY HAVE DONE ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?
24 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

How the news comes together

It’s like an assembly line where workers race the clock to produce a new product each day.
Editors call it “the daily miracle.” And it does seem miraculous that despite blizzards, computer meltdowns, power outages
and press jams, the newspaper gets printed and delivered day after day, year after year — sometimes century after century.
Large newsrooms operate like clockwork, and the key word is clock. Timing is everything in news production, whether
you’re posting stories online or prepping them for printing. Newsrooms streamline the work flow
so staffers can produce the best possible stories in the fastest, most efficient way.
Here’s a look at a typical day in the life of a big-
Editor selects
material city newsroom as dozens of editors, reporters,
to post photographers and designers race the clock.
online

Reporters
make phone News
calls to update teams
stories plan day
6 A.M. Reporter
The first editor checks sources
arrives and 7 A.M. Reporters and
begins moving Reporters start
filing online 8 A.M. photographers
stories onto the cover events
material, too: More staffers
paper’s Web 9 A.M.
breaking news, arrive. Editors Feature
site. (Traffic on News teams
news sites is obituaries and check wires staff plans
for stories and gather to plan 10 A.M. stories
often highest updates to
Top newsroom
Graphics artist
photos. Police the day’s news
early in the stories that ran
coverage. editors meet to 11 A.M. builds maps
yesterday. reporters check and charts
morning.) Meanwhile, the assess the day’s Wire editors
sources for NOON
editorial board news and begin begin choosing
overnight news. Reporting
meets to discuss planning Page the top national
DIFFERENT the day’s issues. One. Reporters and world news continues. Many 1 P.M.
Graphic artists
DEPARTMENTS call sources stories. Feature reporters are off
build maps and 2 P.M.
staffers hold on their beats;
WITHIN THE NEWSROOM and head out
planning sessions others remain charts for both Reporters update
into the field to news stories and their editors and
Running a big news organization might cover stories. to develop future in the news-
team leaders,
require hundreds of reporters, a hundred room to make special projects.
projects.x who compile
phone calls or In the features
editors, dozens of photographers, designers, summaries (called
finish writing section, page
online producers and clerks. Journalists usually designers work “budgets”) of
work in one main newsroom, although some stories they’ve
COPY EDITORS AND PAGE DESIGNERS previously days in advance stories planned
also operate from small suburban bureaus — Once stories are edited, they’re sent on to on section for the Web site
researched.
or file photos and stories from the field. copy editors and designers. Copy editors check fronts. and tomorrow
Traditionally, newsroom staffers have been stories for grammar, spelling and punctuation, morning’s paper.
grouped into these general categories: add headlines, and then send everything to the
presentation team, where designers have laid
REPORTERS AND EDITORS out the stories — with any additional photos, PHOTO AND GRAPHICS
Reporters are assigned to beats. In big news- After returning from their assignments,
captions and graphics — on the page.
rooms, beats are organized into teams, such as: photographers review their work, then select
Business Family & Education EDITORIAL BOARD and process the best images for the newspaper.
Sports Crime & Justice The editorial department usually works These are digitally sent to the presentation
Living City Life independently of the newsroom — often in a team for layout. Breaking news photos or
A Crime & Justice editor, for instance, might separate wing of the building — to produce the videos are immediately posted online.
supervise a variety of beats: prisons, federal paper’s opinion pages. The editorial staff writes Meanwhile, graphic artists receive
court, night cops and family violence. editorials that present the newspaper’s views information from editors and reporters with
When a reporter files a story, it first goes to on current events, selects letters to the editor which they build charts, graphs, maps and
an editor on his or her team, who checks it for and edits guest opinion columns. Papers often other graphic elements to accompany stories
accuracy, organization and fairness. employ an editorial cartoonist, too. (like the illustrations on this page).

MORE ON PLANNING SPECIAL STORIES > 130

 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 25

WHO’S WHO
BEYOND THE
NEWSROOM
Like reporters always
do, we’ve focused all our
attention on the newsroom.
But all news organizations —
whether they’re newspapers, television
stations or Web sites — depend on other
THE
departments for their survival.
At a typical media company, nearly
ADVERTISING
two-thirds of the employees work out- DEPARTMENT
side the newsroom to help produce and This is where the money gets THE
deliver the paper each day, selling ads, made that keeps the business PRODUCTION
driving trucks, balancing the books and afloat. Hundreds of staffers DEPARTMENT
may work in several key areas:
running the press. These staffers transfer news and THE
Here’s a quick rundown of what goes Classified ads, processing ads advertising into pixels and ink: CIRCULATION
on in other parts of the building while for homes, cars, jobs, pets, etc. Computer services. Technicians DEPARTMENT
journalists are busy writing stories. Retail and display ads, selling help maintain the newsroom’s It often takes hundreds of employees
the ads that run below and hardware, software and servers. working night and day to distribute the
beside news stories. Camera and composing. These newspaper, recruit new subscribers and
Advertising services, helping workers prepare pages for respond to calls from customers.
clients write, edit and design printing, turning them first into But delivering the paper is their most
their ads. negatives, then into plates that important job. Most of those papers go to
are mounted on the press. subscribers; comparatively few are sold in
The pressroom. Here, papers are street racks and stores.
printed and bundled for delivery. (Online publications — those without
Editors pick
ink-on-paper editions — have no need for
3 p.m. top stories
circulation departments. They can avoid
news most of the printing functions and costs of
meeting Page designers the production department, as well.)
lay out news pages

Last deadline
for stories, photos
and graphics

Editing of
stories, photos
and graphics Copy
3 P.M.
The newsroom’s
editor
checks Makeup
top editors meet 4 P.M. Slot
again to review Most reporters stories editor
editor checks
the day’s news are now back in 5 P.M.
Photographers
reviews wires
and discuss the newsroom,
how to treat writing to meet make final 6 P.M. copy editing before
(and where to the deadline decisions on This is the dead- going
run) the day’s for tomorrow’s photos and line for reporters 7 P.M. home
biggest stories. printed paper. videos. Reporters to file stories Copy editors
Copy and layout Top editors meet continue turning for tomorrow’s continue to 8 P.M.
editors begin one last time in their stories. paper (though review stories Page designers 11 P.M.
editing stories to solve last- The copy desk breaking front- for accuracy, send the last of 9 P.M. All the editors
and designing minute problems edits all stories page news may grammar and their pages to If the paper and reporters
and either posts wait another style,x then composing for prints a second 10 P.M. have headed
news pages. and make their
hour). It’s also add headlines the first edition. or third edition, Most reporters home. One
final front-page them online or
the deadline for and cutlines. The presses start reporters and are done for the makeup editor
story selections. forwards them
sending photos Except for last- rolling at 8:30. editors will be day, though a remains until 1
to layout editors.
to page design- minute stories, Big metro dailies scrambling to few remain to a.m., checking
ers for layout. most editing is may print later assemble that update their the wires for
Information adapted from a timeline prepared finished by 7:45. editions, as well. material now. blogs or file late-breaking
by The Oregonian and illustrated by Steve Cowden. stories online. news.

MORE ON EDITING > 54 AND STYLE > 56

26 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

Who’s who in the newsroom

Publications are like armies. They need clear lines of authority to avoid chaos. THE
PUBLISHER
Like armies, they have powerful generals who call the shots (editors and publishers) while the ground The ultimate boss.
troops (reporters and photographers) rush onto the battlefield. And like armies, news organizations rely Presides over all
on teamwork for their survival. Getting stories assigned, written, edited and published is a group effort. departments to
ensure profitability.
So who does what? Journalistic job descriptions vary from newsroom to newsroom. Small organizations
often require a broader range of responsibilities.
Reporters might find themselves interviewing
the mayor one minute, shooting his photo the
next, and then posting that material online.
In larger newsrooms, jobs are more specialized. PRODUCTION CIRCULATION ADVERTISING THE
MANAGER MANAGER MANAGER EDITOR
You might spend years writing only fashion
stories, while down the hall someone does Oversees the staff Supervises the Coordinates the sales Runs the newsroom.
and equipment that distribution of the and production of Has the final say in
nothing but cover the state legislature. get the newspaper paper for subscribers classified and story selection and
Still, it all begins with reporters tracking printed on time. and street sales. display ads news philosophy.
down news. At most papers, writers are either:
Outside the newsroom, these three departments ensure that a print
� General assignment reporters who cover an
publication is produced and profitable. The ad staff, in particular,
endless variety of topics, depending on what generates the revenue that pays the bills. Usually, these managers
kinds of events occur from day to day; or all have equal clout and report directly to the publisher.
� Beat reporters who cover a specific topic: MANAGING
EDITOR
politics, crime, education, sports, movies. Most reporters at most publications are assigned to beats,
because that’s the most efficient way to ensure coverage of every major news event. Oversees the day-to-
day operation of the
This organizational chart shows the hierarchy in a typical midsized newsroom. The actual number of newsroom; resolves
desks may vary, but the overall system is one that’s worked for decades at publications big and small. staffing issues.

All of these
editors have
equal clout ONLINE PHOTO COPY DESK FEATURES SPORTS CITY
in the EDITOR EDITOR CHIEF EDITOR EDITOR EDITOR
newsroom
and usually Works with other Coordinates photo Oversees the editing Assigns and edits all Assigns and edits all Assigns and edits
editors and reporters assignments and (and at many papers, the stories running the stories running most of the paper’s
report to the to develop material chooses images to the layout) of all in the paper’s in the paper’s local “hard news”
managing for the Web site. run in the paper. stories in the paper. feature section. sports section. stories.
editor.

These
staffers have REPORTERS PHOTOGRAPHERS, COPY FEATURE WRITERS SPORTS NEWS
& PRODUCERS GRAPHIC ARTISTS EDITORS & REVIEWERS REPORTERS REPORTERS
equal status Enhance or adapt Photographers Edit text of stories; Write stories about Write stories about Write stories about
in the news stories shoot photos; artists write headlines and lifestyles and local teams; at big government, crime,
newsroom for online create graphics or photo captions; entertainment; dailies, they cover local people,
and report presentation. design pages. lay out pages. critics write reviews. national events. regional events.
to their
department
editors.

WHEN IT COMES TOa major

There’s WEBdownside
CONTENT,
to the organizational chart And it doesn’t
news organizations while give
the Web
copyproducers
editors all
timesittotogether in theirmultimedia
plan interactive, corner ofextras.
are still trying to findabove.
the mostThe biggest
efficient waygroup of news
to produce reporters
material, is often
simultaneously, thethinking
Instead of office.online
Thatfirst,
doesn’t always
reporters oftenpromote
treat the collaboration and
Web as an afterthought.
for two different media:clumped in oneand
a newspaper the Web.
corner A radio
of the station andreporting
newsroom, the Web. to just
Or a nuisance.
harmony.
Or sometimes, even, one cityand
the Web radio and TV.
editor. As a result,
Onemany newsrooms
solution? now try tostaffers
Reorganize integrate
intotheir onlineSome
teams. staffingbig
into the
In many newsrooms, different teams
On a big publication, craft material for each separate
that becomes platform.
inefficient. daily work
It can lead flow as much
newsrooms as possible.
eliminate theRather than operating
city desk and assign a separate Web Desk
reporters
Once reporters finishto their stories, an online
bottlenecks, power production
strugglesteam
andreworks them
gaps in for coverage.
local the in a corner of the newsroom
to teams organized (orby
ontopic:
a separate
the floor), online producers
government team. Thework with-
organization’s Web site. There’s a logic to that work flow, but there’s a downside, in each department. This makes it easier for reporters to generate extra online
In much the same way, the photo staff is often clumped crime team. The sports team. And so on.
too. Simply shoveling stories online doesn’t provide extra value for Web visitors. content — audio, video, slide shows and Web links — as they prepare their stories.
in another corner of the newsroom, off by themselves, Some teams have their own photographers. Bigger teams

MORE ON COVERING BEATS > 94 AN AMUSING LIST OF UNUSUAL BEATS > 31 MORE ON NEWSROOM CONVERGENCE > 172 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK FOR BROADCAST JOURNALISTS > 178
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 27

LIFE AT A SMALL WEEKLY

Scott Byers, The N’West Iowa Review
Scott Byers is sports editor of the N’West Iowa Review
(circulation 5,600). Byers is one of 10 staffers in a newsroom
that produces the Review and two other weekly publications POLL
(the Sheldon Mail-Sun and an entertainment tabloid).
Results from a survey of
So what do you do each week? the 100 reporters on our
Primarily writing, quite a bit of editing, contributing to Press Room panel:
the layout and design. I do the headline writing. I’ve done
photography before, but really, I only do that in a pinch. 35% hope to become an
editor someday.
How many stories a week do you write?
During peak season — I counted it up one week this
use all of your skills.
42% don’t ever want to
summer, when we were doing baseball and softball — become an editor.
I did 106 game stories. What’s the best thing about working at a small paper?
WHAT?? How’s that possible? Total control. I have absolute and total control over 64% say that in most
everything that goes on in sports, basically. The owners newsrooms, writing feature
Organization. (Laughs.) stories or sports gets less
know me and trust me, and they know I know what I’m
Does it bother you that journalists at weeklies get less doing, so pretty much anything I want to do, I can do. respect than writing “real”
respect than, say, journalists at The New York Times? And there’s no one looking over my shoulder. I make news stories.
Absolutely. My assumption is that a lot of them have my own hours; I’m here when I wanna be, I’m gone
never been in this situation, so they can’t really under- when I wanna be. As long as it gets done before deadline, 17% want the publisher
stand how much work there is, and how much you’re to get more involved in the
it doesn’t seem to matter to anyone. newsroom.
on your own. Whereas there, it seems you get a lot more
What’s the downside to working at a small paper?
help and a lot more time per story
I would argue that, if it’s done right, a small-town You have to do it all yourself. There’ll be weeks where 68% want the publisher
you have to write 106 stories. (Laughs.) I mean, I can do to stay out of the news-
paper offers you the opportunity to write better stories room.
than you would at a big paper because you have more it, but nobody likes to be that busy.
freedom — you’re not restricted by any corporation that What’s the most fun part of your job? 16% believe that most
tells you “this has to look this way,” or “this is the for- I get to sit around and talk to people about sports all day editors are just failed
mula for how we write things.” You’re really allowed to and get paid for it. I absolutely love sports. reporters.

77% say they can

tolerate loud, ugly ads
LIFE AT A BIG DAILY surrounding their stories
because they know news-
Susan Page, USA Today papers need to make
Susan Page first started covering the White House and money, but:
national politics in 1980. She is now the Washington
bureau chief for USA Today (circulation 2.3 million). 70% say they’d rather
poke out their own eye with
How often do your stories run in the newspaper? a stick than to write or sell
If I’m on a news event like we just had — the Republican advertising for a living.
national convention — I’ll write three or four stories
a week. But as a general rule, I don’t write that often. I 62% say that copy
might write one or two stories a week, and sometimes I’ll editors get the least
work on a story that’ll take several weeks to do. But I can respect of all newsroom
say with confidence that there’s never been a week when and our polling editor knows more about that than I do. staffers.
I wrote 106 stories. Or database manipulation — our database editor does
USA Today is a huge operation. Do you like working that better than I can. Or presentation, so a story makes 68% say that reporters
generally work the hardest
in a newsroom that big? a big splash on the front page, which graphic artists are at small daily papers.
able to do. It’s a collaboration that makes the whole — 24% said reporters work
I do. I like working for a newspaper that has a lot of
greater than any one of us could do by ourselves. It takes hardest at weeklies;
impact. When you write a story, it gets read across the
a big paper to support that kind of journalism. — 8% said reporters work
country. I like that I write for a newspaper that’s deliv-
ered every day to the driveway of my mother’s home Is your job fun? hardest at big dailies.
outside Wichita, Kansas.
My whole career, I’ve covered the White House and
Yeah, it’s great. I really love everything about it. I love
going out to see events. I love interviewing people —
39% say that reporters
generally work harder
national politics, where hundreds of reporters cover the man-on-the-street kinds of interviews. I love coming than anyone else in their
same stories I do. And at USA Today, I can cover that back and trying to write in a way that conveys to a reader newsroom.
area in a way that’s different from what everyone else is everything I saw, that’s engaging and accurate. And I like
doing. I try to do stories that connect the dots in a way going to headquarters and seeing the paper put together 90% say that if they
that other people haven’t, or that challenge the conven- at night: the people doing the layout, choosing the pic- had it to do all over again,
tional wisdom. And to do those stories requires time and tures. I really feel so fortunate to do something that I like they’d still become
resources. Many times, I do stories that involve polling, so much. There’s just not another thing I’d rather do. newspaper reporters.

MORE ON COVERING SPORTS > 112 MORE ON COVERING POLITICS > 110 WHAT DO REPORTERS CONSIDER THE BEST AND WORST NEWSROOM JOBS? > 32
28 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

What it’s called American news consumers

relax at home by reading a
broadsheet newspaper.
American news consumers
relax at home by reading a
tabloid newspaper.
Want to sound like a reporter? Talk the talk.
When you start writing for a publication, it might be a
daily (printed every morning), a weekly (printed, say, every
Wednesday) or a newsletter published once a month.
It might be a mainstream broadsheet (The New York
Times), an alternative tabloid (The Village Voice) or some
specialty publication (Fur & Feather Magazine).
If you’re a reporter, your stories will be spiked or killed if
they’re unpublishable. If they’re too long — if you’ve written
a thumbsucker or a goat-choker — an editor may cut or trim
a few grafs (paragraphs). If a sloppy editor ruins your story,
you can moan that it’s been butchered; if it runs way back on
page 17, you can groan that it’s been buried.
Here’s a roundup of other, less grisly terms you’ll find in Broadsheets are large-format papers, roughly 14 by 22 inches — though
in recent years, publishers have gradually shrunk paper sizes to reduce
the world of print. Later in this book, we’ll learn the lingo printing costs. Tabloid pages are generally half the size of broadsheets.
used by radio, TV and online journalists. x

THE PARTS OF A STORY

Not all publications use the same jargon, but there’s agreement on most terms. Here are some common elements found in a typical story.

HEADLINE
BYLINE
The reporter’s name,
Freeway closed as ornery oinker hogs traffic The big type, written
by copy editors, that
often followed by A pig named Mama falls summarizes the story.
credentials. Many papers
require that stories be onto the freeway, causing
a certain length — hours of commuter chaos PHOTO
or written by a staffer — Photos are either shot
to warrant a byline. By SUSAN PAYSENO
Staff reporter by staff photographers
PORTLAND — Westbound or purchased from
DATELINE national wire services.
Gives the location of traffic on Interstate 84 was
backed up for nearly five miles Most newspaper photos
a story that occurred run in black-and-white,
early Monday when “Mama,”
outside the paper’s since color printing is
a 600-pound hog on the way to
usual coverage area. slaughter, fell from the back more expensive; online,
of a truck. most photos are in color.
LEAD For two frustrating hours,
(also spelled lede). the sow refused to budge.
The opening of a story. Fred Mickelson told police PHOTO CREDIT
The Associated Press / KRAIG SCATTARELLA
Here, this news lead that he was taking six sows and Highway workers use a loader to lift Mama, a 600-pound sow, onto a truck A line stating the
condenses the key facts a boar from his farm in Lyle, Monday on Interstate 84. The pig fell from the truck on the way to slaughter. photographer’s name
of the event into the Wash., to a slaughterhouse in (often adding the paper
first paragraph. Carlton when Mama escaped. police, Mickelson began mull- he or she works for.)
“I heard the tailgate fall off, ing over his options, which “That pig really honked
QUOTE and I looked back and saw her included having a veterinarian
standing in the road,” Mickelson tranquilize the hog.
off a lot of commuters.” LIFTOUT QUOTE
Someone’s exact words,
said with a sigh. “I thought: About 10 a.m., a crew of — TRACY COLLINS,
usually spoken to the Oregon state police trooper (also called a pullquote).
‘Oh, no. We’ve got some real highway workers arrived and A quotation from the
reporter during an
trouble now.’ ” decided to use a front-end load-
interview. story that’s given special
Mama was “pretty lively er to pick up the sow and load thetic to the pig’s plight. graphic emphasis.
and loud” when she hit the her back into the truck. “That pig really honked off a
ATTRIBUTION ground, Mickelson said, lum- “That pig was in no hurry to lot of commuters,” said trooper
A phrase that tells readers bering between cars and caus- move,” said Wally Benson, the TAGLINE
Tracy Collins — a vegetarian.
the source of a quote ing havoc on a foggy day. highway crew chief. “I think Contact information for
“But I was sad to see her go.”
There were no accidents, she knew where she was being
OR the source of Sue Payseno covers traffic and the reporter, enabling
police said. taken, and she was in no hurry transportation issues in Oregon and
information After about an hour of chas-
readers to provide
to get there.” Washington. She can be reached at
used in the story. ing the pig with the help of Even the police were sympa- [email protected].
feedback.

A DIAGRAM OF A WEB PAGE > 159 TERMINOLOGY USED IN RADIO NEWS > 182 AND TELEVISION NEWS > 184
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 29

THE PARTS OF A PAGE

Join stories together and you create a full newspaper page. And at most newspapers, no page is more important than Page One, which
showcases the most compelling stories and images. Here’s a look at the components you might find on a typical front page:

TEASER
(also called a promo or
FLAG
skybox). This is designed
This is the one
to grab readers’ attention
front-page element
so they’ll buy the paper
that never changes:
and read this story in the
the name of the paper,
sports section.
set in special type.

EDITION REFER
Daily papers often print This alerts readers that
one edition for street there’s another story on
sales, another for home- the same topic in another
delivery to subscribers. part of the newspaper.

INFOGRAPHIC WIRE STORY

These informational A story written by a
graphics display key reporter working for
facts from the story in a another publication or a
visual way. At big papers, national news service,
they’re created by artists; then sent (by telegraph, in
at smaller papers, they’re the old days) nationwide.
produced by editors or
reporters.
MUG SHOT
DECK A close-up photo of
A subheadline, written someone’s face. These
by copy editors, usually run small — just
that supplements an inch or two wide.
information in the
main headline. CENTERPIECE
(also called a lead story).
TEXT Editors decided that this
The actual story. was the top story of the
When text is set into day — either because of
columns of type, it’s newsworthiness or reader
measured in inches. appeal — so it gets the
This story runs for best play and the biggest
about seven inches headline on Page One.
before it jumps. Notice how this story isn’t
about a current event; it’s
a type of feature story
JUMP LINE called a follow-up.
When a long story is
continued on another
page, editors run this INDEX
line to tell readers One of the last page
where the story elements that copy
continues, or jumps. editors produce before
sending the paper off
to the press.
CUTLINE
(also called a caption).
Information about the LOGO
photo is often collected A small, specially designed
by photographers but title (often with art) used
written by copy editors for labeling special stories
or reporters. or series.

NEWS WEB PAGES use many of these same terms but add a few of their own. For a closer look > 159

FOR A COMPLETE GLOSSARY 321

30 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

Tools, talent and temperament “Journalists should be

people in whom there is
A career in journalism can be rewarding and fun, but it’s not for everybody. at least a flicker of hope.”
Sen. Paul Simon
As a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune put it years ago: “The newspaper business is the only
enterprise in the world where a man is supposed to become an expert on any conceivable subject “The only qualities
essential for real success
between 1 o’clock in the afternoon and a 6 p.m. deadline.” in journalism are rat-
That’s the downside of journalism — but that’s its appeal, too. Every day, you learn something new. like cunning, a plausible
You meet fascinating people. You get a front-row seat to history, and you never have to dress up, get a manner and a little
license, sell anything or even know anything. Just ask a lot of questions and the stories write themselves. literary ability.”
Nicholas Tomalin,
Well . . . . . . . almost. London Sunday Times writer
What does it take to be a reporter? First, let’s go shopping.
“As I look back over
a misspent life, I find
myself more and more
THE BASIC HARDWARE: TOOLS EVERY REPORTER NEEDS convinced that I had
more fun doing news
In the old days, all you needed was a card stuck in your hatband that said PRESS, and presto! You were a reporter.
reporting than in any
Nowadays, the standards are higher and the technology is smarter. To be a modern journalist, you need: other enterprise. It really
is the life of kings.”
NOTEBOOK CAMERA H.L. Mencken,
Sure, it’s the most low- At most publications, legendary journalist
tech tool in your tool- there aren’t enough
photographs because “A good journalist is
box, but it’s also the
most essential: cheap, there aren’t enough a rewarding sight.
portable, nothing to photographers. So if He must have a zest for
break, no batteries you want to make your events. He must have
to fail. Just add a stories more appealing, a dedication to facts and
pencil and you’re sharpen your skill with a scent of humbug. He
ready to interview a digital camera. (Besides, in many newsrooms, must cultivate skepticism
anybody, anywhere. reporters are required to shoot their own photos). while avoiding cynicism.
Smart tip: Use spiral-bound pads. They
COMPUTER Smart tip: Carry extra batteries and an extra He must learn to cover
give you better control when you flip pages A fast, reliable computer — memory card — just in case. causes for which he can
while scribbling notes. and fast, reliable computer Best bet: Make sure your camera shoots high- have sympathy but must
Best bet: Learn speedwriting or shorthand so skills — are essential. As a resolution video, too, so you can post movies onto not display loyalty. He
you can quote fast talkers more accurately. reporter, you’ll be plugged your publication’s Web site. must be incorruptible.
in constantly to work the He must go where he is
Web, send e-mail, store not wanted, and be resis-
your notes and write your
DIGITAL VOICE RECORDER TELEPHONE tant to those who are too
stories. (To file reports
welcoming. And for all
Why use a recorder? As we’ll discuss later, you from the field, you’ll need Sure, this seems ridiculously obvious. But
you might be surprised at the hours you’ll
of this, his hours will be
may want to to ensure you quote everyone a portable laptop.)
accurately. You might want to protect yourself Smart tip: Take a typing spend working the phones once you start long, his pay inadequate,
from charges that you misquoted somebody. class. Build up speed and reporting full time. A telephone is still and his standing in the
Or maybe you don’t want to you’ll be able to type as the most effective way to pester people community not
look too conspicuous while fast as you can think — for information — especially a cell particularly high.”
you’re reporting a story. which is always handy. phone, if you’re working a beat Thomas Griffith,
Time magazine editor
Smart tip: Learn the laws Best bet: If you want extra that takes you out of the office.
in your state governing job security in any news- Smart tip: A Bluetooth headset “Any idiot can pick up a
taping of conversations. room, become adept at a frees your hands so you can pen and a notebook and
Best bet: Buy a digital variety of software, so you write or type while you talk. call himself a journalist —
recorder with speech- can do page layout, image Best bet: Shop for a cell phone that can take high- and many of them do.”
recognition software and you processing, podcasts, Web resolution photos — better yet, videos — so you Sean Scully,
can convert voices to text as you design and video editing. can transmit images back to the newsroom that are freelance journalist
transfer files to your computer. (See below.) good enough to print as well as post online.
“You go out and meet
someone new every day,
in a new situation, and
“The people who can shoot video, write stories, do radio on the side, basically
AND do it all — these are the journalists of the future,” says John Schidlovsky,
they tell you something
IF YOU director of the Pew Fellowship in International Journalism. So why
you’ve never known
REALLY before, in a place you’ve
wait? Start training yourself today to be the multimedia reporter of
never been. What keeps
WANT TO tomorrow. That means becoming adept in both print and video.
you alive is the daily
Smart tip: Shooting video is easy; editing it is trickier, but just as essential.
IMPRESS Learn to narrate, overdub, edit and upload video projects singlehandedly. surprise. It’s a (expletive)
YOUR Best bet: Keep abreast of new advances in multimedia storytelling. If you can joy.”
Jimmy Breslin,
BOSS . . . produce audio, video, animated graphics and text, you can get a job anywhere. columnist

MORE ON TAKING NOTES AND TAPING INTERVIEWS > 76 TEST YOUR NEW-MEDIA TECHNICAL SKILLS > 176
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 31

GOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A REPORTER? AND THE

Right about now, you may be wondering: What have I gotten myself into? Stay calm. BEAT GOES
Self-doubt (bordering on panic) is common among beginning reporters. ON AND ON
To find out if you have the right stuff to be a journalist — the talent AND ON. . .
to turn facts into stories and the temperament to shove a microphone
into some stranger’s face — take this test and rate your reporter-osity. Not every reporter is
Check the boxes in the left-hand column which are most true for you, cut out to cover hard
then total up your points to see how you scored. news. For some of you,
covering cops, courts
CHECK THE BOX THAT’S MOST TRUE: TALENT HOW TO SCORE YOUR ANSWER SCORE and car crashes may
be a real downer.
1. I enjoy reading. I consume a lot of books and magazines. To be a serious writer, you first need to be a serious reader Luckily, though,
� YES � NO and a student of the craft. Score 2 pts. if you said YES .
lots of reporting jobs
2. Writing is fun and rewarding. And I’m confident The best journalism is a form of creative writing. The most allow you to write
that people genuinely enjoy the stuff I write. successful reporters enjoy expressing themselves and about the things you
� YES � NO connecting with readers. Score 3 pts. for YES . enjoy. At The San
Francisco Chronicle
3. I am lousy at spelling. My grammar and punctuation If you answered “yes,” you need to clean up your act. Out in for instance, you could
ain’t so great, neither. the real world, nobody wants to waste their time fixing the
messes you make. Score 2 pts. for NO . cover the sex beat.
� YES � NO
Get a job in Orlando,
4. I’m technologically skilled enough to shoot video, Every journalist is expected to be computer-savvy. And the and you can work the
download files from the Web, post photos online, etc. more versatile you are, the more successfully you’ll be able Disney World beat.
� YES � NO to adapt and evolve. Score 1 pt. for YES . Here’s a list of other
5. I can organize my ideas and write quickly when I need to. If writing is a slow, laborious chore for you, you might consider
unusual, intriguing
� YES � NO a career as a tortured poet instead. Score 3 pts. for YES . beats created at news-
papers throughout the
6. I’d make a good game-show contestant because Journalism isn’t just about writing — it’s about gathering and United States:
I’m good at remembering facts and trivia. processing lots of information. Not everyone has the knack Shopping malls
� YES � NO (or a good memory). Score 2 pts. for YES . Pets
Pro wrestling
7. I’m efficient and self-sufficient when it comes to If you become a reporter, you’ll be spending years of your life Boating
doing tedious library or Internet research. doing detective work, searching for files, records and obscure
Beer
� YES � NO data. It helps if you’re good at it. Score 2 pts. for YES .
Wine
Cars and automotive news
Auto racing
CHECK THE BOX THAT’S MOST TRUE: TEMPERAMENT HOW TO SCORE YOUR ANSWER SCORE
Computer games
8. I’m generally more curious than most people I know. The best reporters have an insatiable curiosity and a wide The porn industry
� YES � NO range of interests. Score 3 pts. for YES . Death and dying
Golf
9. In public situations, I’m pretty shy. I avoid asking Reporters need to be bold, aggressive — sometimes even Children’s books
questions in class, for instance. fearless. If you’re shy, you can work to overcome it, but the Book clubs
� YES � NO job may be uncomfortable for you. Score 2 pts. for NO . Weather
Hunting and fishing
10. I think it’s unpatriotic to dispute or criticize It’s nice to respect authority, but if you’re a journalist, it’s Hiking and biking
government officials. better to be skeptical. Remember, politicians lie. It’s their job. Gardening
� YES � NO Your job is to catch them at it. Score 1 pt. for NO . Recreational vehicles
Religion
11. When I choose a career, I’ll need a stable, 9-to-5 job Uh-oh. This could be a deal-breaker for you. Reporters work
The environment
where my workday is routine and I make big money. long hours (often at night and on weekends), and the pay’s
Rock music
� YES � NO good only at the bigger newsrooms. Score 3 pts. for NO .
Classical music
12. If I really want something, I’m tenacious until I get it. If you lack patience and persistence, your reporting career Technology
� YES � NO could be very short-lived. Score 3 pts. for YES . Children and families
Senior issues
13. When I’m under pressure, I’m able to stay calm and Journalism is a constant battle against the clock. You’re often Traffic
focused without losing my temper. juggling stories right up until the last minute. You need quick Travel
� YES � NO wits and grace under pressure. Score 1 pt. for YES . The state fair
Culture, race and diversity
14. Whenever people criticize what I say or do, it really Being a reporter means rewriting stories to make editors Celebrities and gossip
annoys me. Who do these people think they are? happy, and being polite when readers call you a moron. You’ll Military affairs
� YES � NO need patience and a thick skin to survive. Score 2 pts. for NO . Gaming
(covering local casinos)
YOUR
Wal-Mart
SCORING TOTAL
(at a paper in Arkansas near
YOURSELF SCORE
Wal-Mart’s headquarters)
30 points: Congratulations! You were destined to be a journalist. (Or else you lied, which is a heinous thing for a reporter to do.) Olympics
25-30 points: You’re a solid contender for a journalism career. You’ve got the personality and ability a good reporter needs. (at a paper in Colorado
20-25 points: Reporting is a good fit for you, mostly — but it may require you to change your attitude or improve some skills. Springs, home of the U.S.
Less than 20 points: Think this quiz is rigged? Well, there’s a strong possibility you won’t be happy working in a newsroom. Olympic Committee)

MORE ON NEWSROOM BEATS > 94

32 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

Sports columnist. Are you kidding me? Investigative reporter. I enjoy hav-
The guys make bank, put their opinion ing the freedom to pursue a topic that
in the paper twice a week and lounge the requires extra effort and expertise. It’s
rest of the time. Plus, they cover all the also rewarding to be the driving force in
major sporting events. It doesn’t get any making change in people’s lives.
easier than that. Heather Ratcliffe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Tripp Mickle, Tahoe World
Editor, of course. I’d have fewer Federal
I am fairly certain that my job — Metro Reserve and city council stories on 1A;
ADVICE ON REPORTING AND WRITING columnist — is a better fit than OJ’s I’d tell my reporters to get out and find
FROM VETERAN JOURNALISTS glove. But it is, of course, a living hell quirky, compelling stories about how
of constant, Sisyphean deadlines, irate people really live.
Welcome to the Press Room,
reader calls and column-idea panic. John Reinan, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.)
where we turn the tables on veteran
Be careful with your dreams.
journalists from around the country
Laura Berman, The Detroit News Most will say feature writer. But I say
by asking THEM the questions.
it is the police/courts reporter. I’m for-
Full-time outdoor writer. Not only tunate to be doing what I love. You get
would you get paid to play — fish, hike, breaking news, features, meetings/trials,
WHAT’S THE BEST JOB hunt, ski, etc. — but there are plenty of investigative series, excitement and more
IN THE NEWSROOM — opportunities to wade into hard news — all rolled into one beat.
YOUR DREAM JOB? from public-policy angles and tons Kimberly Morava, The Shawnee News-Star
(Shawnee, Okla.)
of great feature stories related to the
Travel writer: Get paid to see, feel, taste, tragedy and triumph of the human
smell and write about the world’s most spirit. Maybe it shows my bias toward Special project reporters have the
beautiful and interesting places? Sign outdoor play, but I think you could do opportunity to dig deep into a story and
me up. everything with this beat. reflect, outside the pressure of a daily
Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian Kyle Henley, deadline, which makes it the best job in
The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.) the newsroom by far. Any job that takes
The one I have now: converged reporter, you off the treadmill and offers you
covering a beat for print, TV and online. International reporter for a massive and a chance to think has to be the great-
I get to do everything, except manage. rich newspaper, able to pick and choose est blessing the gods of journalism can
Quite a deal. the best stories from all over the world. bestow.
Mark Fagan, Journal-World (Lawrence, Kan.) Rachel Stassen-Berger, Pioneer Press (St. Paul) Deborah L. Shelton, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

WHAT’S THE WORST JOB Writing obituaries. Get one name wrong Because it’s the most difficult job, I vote
IN THE NEWSROOM? (sometimes the family member or the for city editor. Constant interruptions
funeral home screws up), and you’ll from reporters and other editors, the
I’d hate working on the copy desk hear about it for days. need to make quick decisions on cover-
because those folks are stuck in the Michael Becker, Journal-Advocate (Sterling, Colo.) age and the daily barrage of calls from
newsroom all day and never meet unhappy or just weird readers make this
interesting people. Overnight editor on the local desk. the toughest task in any newsroom.
Heather Ratcliffe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Leah Beth Ward, Yakima Herald-Republic
Horrible hours and numbing routine
broken by the terror of huge stories
I think an assistant city editor on a polit- breaking out without anyone at hand Covering the state legislature, because
ical or city hall beat would suck. In fact, to help. it tends to be the most scrutinized
I did it and it did suck. Too much pres- Jerry Schwartz, The Associated Press job with the least creative freedom,
sure from the top and bottom, no time because editors love taking the trivia
to reflect and generally bad writers who Editor. It’s all tasks, “goal-settings,” of government and forcing it down
think they’re the Second Coming. meetings. You imitate but do not create. readers’ throats.
Kim Severson, San Francisco Chronicle You give off heat and light . . . but so does Ron Sylvester, The Wichita Eagle
a trash fire.
The job I’d least like to have is crime Roy Wenzl, The Wichita Eagle
The guy who cleans around and under
reporter, which I’ve already done, my desk. It really is a landfill of half-
thank you very much. It’s an extremely Covering courts for a big paper with used notebooks, old documents and
important job, obviously. But those cops neurotic editors. No fun getting pulled dust-gathering reference books.
treat you like crap. You have to have a in a dozen different directions by A mess.
thick skin. morons who can’t make up their minds. Mark Fagan,
Deborah L. Shelton, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Judd Slivka, The Arizona Republic Journal-World (Lawrence, Kan.)
 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK 33

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO I’ll never forget my reporter father, while

BECOME A REPORTER? As a young girl, I watched covering a coal mine disaster, talking
my grandmother read the with women making tissue paper
My uncle used to tell me these amazing, funeral flowers. Ever since I was a tag-
compelling, engrossing stories around morning and afternoon
newspapers. I asked, why along toddler, he’s been inspiring me.
the campfire. I thought he was the cool- Bob Batz Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
est guy ever. Now I get paid to do that both? Her answer became (His father, Bob Batz, is also a feature
every day. my goal: “I want to see writer, at the Dayton Daily News)
Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune who tells the better story.”
Connie Sexton, The Arizona Republic I was selected to be editor of our Girl
I never planned on it. In college, Scout Newspaper, a project for some
I majored in history and even dropped career badge. I was 10, and I loved it.
a newswriting course because it was Here was what was cool about it right I was much better at that than I was
boring. But I still wrote for the col- away: I, a shy person, had a reason to selling cookies.
lege paper and loved seeing my written ask anybody anything. And they would Jill Barrall, Hutchinson (Minn.) Leader
words in print. When I found I could answer!
combine the thrill of writing with the Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian My dad, Jack Kennedy, is a high school
ability to ask anyone almost anything, journalism teacher and ever since I can
anywhere, I was sold. I decided to become a reporter when remember, I wanted to be just like his
Leah Beth Ward, Yakima Herald-Republic I was in the fourth grade. Perhaps it’s student editors. They just seemed so
because I loved writing and grew up cool to my grade school eyes – there was
I was inspired by the Vietnam War. on newspapers; my father bought the the gothic girl with the huge black hair
I believe the American public would Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune and tons of eyeliner, the popular jock,
have opposed that war from the outset daily. My career plans began to gel the studious student body president,
if media had put out better information. when I was in high school. I subscribed the freaks, the weirdos and everyone in
That still guides me — giving people to several teen-oriented and women’s between. They all flocked to my dad’s
information to make decisions about publications. I never saw people who class, and I did, too.
their future. looked like me, a black woman, in these It must be in the blood: my grand-
Rick Bella, The Oregonian publications. They didn’t speak to my father was a journalism major, my dad
issues and I decided to change that. a teacher, my sister and I working jour-
I can’t do math. I’m horrible, terrible, I settled on newspapering because of nalists. Choosing a different occupation
a disaster with numbers. Journalism Watergate. I just loved the government- never crossed my mind. And now, at 31,
seemed to be the only major that didn’t watchdog role journalists play and I still look to my dad for advice.
require four years of math. decided I needed to be a part of that. Lesley Kennedy,
Judd Slivka, The Arizona Republic Toni Coleman, Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colo.)

WHO’S YOUR Thomas Jefferson, who said that if given Don’t laugh. My hero is Carl Kolchak,
JOURNALISTIC HERO? a choice between government and no the television character on the 1974-75
newspapers, and newspapers and no show “The Night Stalker.”
Edna Buchanan of the Miami Herald. government, he would prefer the latter. Kolchak chased down the most
She brought humanity to cop stories in His point was that an informed citizenry wonderful and wild news stories about
an accessible way that inspired me to do is more important to a vital democracy vampires, werewolves and mummies.
the same. Following is my favorite lead than the exact structure of its institutions. I always wanted to do those stories,
of hers, about a man shot while in line Michael Becker, Journal-Advocate (Sterling, Colo.) but unless the mayor sucks some
at a McDonald’s: councilman’s blood during a city
“Gary Robinson died hungry.” Seymour M. Hersh, who fearlessly roots council meeting, or the president of the
Erin Barnett, The Oregonian out the worst, the hardest stories about park district suddenly is seized by the
the American experience and makes us mummy’s curse, it ain’t going to hap-
Mike Royko. He was funny, fearless and face the reality. From Vietnam to Iraq, pen for me.
looked out for the powerless. Through he has been a voice that refuses to be Here’s the clincher: Not one of
his writing, readers learned that the silent when all others are cowed. Carl Kolchak’s news stories was ever
newspaper was on their side. I hope they Peter Sleeth, The Oregonian published. His editor always tore them
still feel that way, but I wonder. up at the end of the show and told Carl
Ken Fuson, The Des Moines Register David Broder, because in an era of talk- to go cover something real for a change.
ing-head gas-bag pundits, he remains Carl just kept doing what he did
Mike Royko. For humor, grace, outrage, the political writer that everyone looks without fear or fail. That’s the kind of
intelligence and his simple, elegant and to for balanced, insightful coverage. news reporter I want to be when I grow
direct prose. Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review up.
Don Hamilton, The Columbian (Spokane, Wash.) Kevin Harden, Valley Times (Beaverton, Ore.)
34 HOW NEWSROOMS WORK

WHICH STORY IS MORE NEWSWORTHY? WHAT’S IT CALLED?

Choose the word or phrase that makes each story most 1.
newsworthy to local readers, and explain your reasoning. A sentence or paragraph that
1. An earthquake struck _______ today, killing at least 50. provides descriptive information
a) Malaysia b) San Diego about a photograph.
2. The office of _________ was evacuated today after a
Answers to these exercises 2.
clerk opened a letter believed to contain anthrax.
are on page 302. A phrase that identifies the source
a) Oprah Winfrey b) the British ambassador to Egypt of a fact, opinion or quote in a
3. Police arrested 20 suspected terrorists in downtown Toronto today __________. story.
a) after intercepting suspicious e-mail messages b) after a three-hour gun battle
3.
4. _______ is being treated at a local hospital. The area or subject that a reporter
a) The governor’s son b) An ebola victim is responsible for covering.
5. A local policeman died last weekend after __________.
a) his plane crashed in the Alaska wilderness. b) he tried to rescue a young boy from drowning. 4.
Words in large type running above
6. A drunk driver was killed after his car hit a tree _______. or beside a story to summarize its
a) on New Year’s Eve b) on the way to his 100th birthday party content.
7. Convicted double murderer Arthur Itis escaped from prison __________.
a) one year ago today b) last night 5.
The reporter’s name, usually
8. _________ takes effect at midnight tonight. printed at the beginning of a story.
a) A pay hike for state legislators b) A new local pooper-scooper law
6.
According to William Randolph
Hearst, it’s anything that makes a
WHERE SHOULD THESE STORIES RUN? reader say “Gee whiz.”
Not every story is right for every news outlet. Choose from A, B, C and D to show where you’d expect
each of these stories to run. Remember, each story might fit in more than one of these news outlets: 7.
A = Trib.com (The daily Springfield Tribune online) C = The weekly Springfield Community Crier The first sentence or paragraph of
B = Springfield University’s student radio station D = The Weekly World Enquirer (below) a story.

_______ 1. Former Yankee legend and baseball Hall-of-Famer Bo Linball died last night in a 8.
Brooklyn nursing home at age 103. A graphic treatment of a quotation
_______ 2. Rhoda Rooter, a local botanist, stunned the state flower show last weekend by taken from a story, often using big
unveiling Sapphire Serenity, the world’s first naturally hybridized blue rose. bold or italic type and a photo.
_______ 3. A Springfield College professor
resigned Tuesday after winning $5 million 9.
in the state lottery. Words appearing at the
very beginning of a news
_______ 4. A man claims that a prostitute he story that identify the
hired in a Springfield hotel turned out to be city where the story
an alien who tried to suck his brain. was filed.
_______ 5. A new fad on Canadian college
campuses: “pumping,” where students stick 10.
bicycle pump nozzles up their sphincters To continue a story
to give themselves a rush of air. on another page.
_______ 6. A typhoon struck Borneo
this morning, killing more than 400 and
leaving thousands homeless. Want to try more
_______ 7. The Springfield County reporting exercises
commissioners approved permits for a online? Visit the
new waste-disposal site yesterday. ONLINE LEARNING
_______ 8. A doctoral psychology CENTER at www.
student at Springfield College believes mhhe.com/
that tattoos lower your IQ. harrower2e
 35

CHAPTER

Newswriting
basics
Ready to write a simple news story? This chapter introduces you
to the concepts and formulas all reporters have learned to rely upon.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
36 Just the facts
Be aware of what’s factual — and what’s opinion.
38 The five W’s
The essentials: who, what, when, where, why.
40 The inverted pyramid
How to write stories so the key facts come first.
42 Writing basic news leads
Putting your opening paragraphs to work in the most informative, appealing way.
44 Beyond the basic news lead
Not every story needs to start with a summary of basic facts; you have other options.
46 Leads that succeed
A roundup of the most popular and dependable categories of leads.
48 After the lead . . . what next?
A look at nut grafs, briefs, brites — and ways to outline and organize stories efficiently.
50 Story structure
How to give an overall shape to your story, from beginning to middle to end.
52 Rewriting
First you write. Then you rethink, revise, revamp and refine until you run out of time.
54 Editing
Reporters have a love-hate relationship with editors. But here’s why you need them.
56 Newswriting style
Every newsroom adapts its own rules when it comes to punctuation, capitalization, etc.
58 Making deadline
When you’re a reporter, you live by the clock. How well will you handle the pressure?
60 66 newswriting tips
A collection of rules, guidelines and helpful advice to make your stories more professional.

PLUS: 62 The Press Room 64 Test yourself

36 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Just the facts “Credibility — more than

When you write a story, you must try to be objective. Truthful. Fair. news itself — is our stock in
trade. An informative story
You can’t just pull material from your memory, or quote your friends, or make pronouncements is important. A dramatic story
about the way things ought to be. You must be factual — which means basing your stories on the is desirable. An honest story is
best facts you can find. imperative.” David Shaw,
Good reporters respect the integrity of facts. When you select them carefully and arrange them Los Angeles Times media writer

skillfully, you can communicate without “What matters to me most is

inserting your own opinions. For instance, the truth. That’s the only thing
Facts are simple and facts are straight that matters in journalism.
Facts are lazy and facts are late this fact by itself seems trivial: Percentage
The fundamental reason
Facts all come with points of view of Americans who can name two freedoms you’re reading journalism is
Facts don’t do what I want them to. granted by the First Amendment: 28. because it’s truthful. Of course,
Talking Heads, But now add this fact: Percentage of everyone believes their own
“Crosseyed and Painless” Americans who can name two members version of the truth. If you
believe it, it’s true. So truth is
of “The Simpsons” cartoon family: 52. in the same place it will always
Together, those two facts lead to an unspoken conclusion — that Americans pay more be: the hazy middle.”
attention to TV characters than to government. True? Arguably. But it’s a good example of how Mervyn Keizer,
chief of research at US Weekly
journalism should work: The facts tell the story, and readers draw their own conclusions.
“Facts are stupid things.”
Ronald Reagan,
misquoting John Adams, who said
AND NOW, POSSIBLY THE WORST STORY EVER WRITTEN “Facts are stubborn things”

How many different kinds “Everyone is entitled to their

of errors does it take to screw 2 Encouraged to attend? By
Campus vegetarians will hold a puke-in at own opinion, but not their
up a news story? Here’s a whom? This smacks of partisan
Turkle Hall Friday to protest the dormitory’s own facts.”
cheerleading.
frightening (but fictional) 1 unhealthy food policies. All students are Daniel Patrick Moynihan,
example: encouraged to attend. 2 3 Highly respected? In whose
scholar and U.S. senator
“The menu in that dorm is just meat, meat, opinion? Objective newswriting “We are recorders and
1 Unhealthy? Says who?
meat,” said Ben Dover, the highly respected 3 should avoid vague, biased reporters of the facts —
That’s an unsupported opinion.
president of Vegetarians Opposed to Meat in generalizations like this.
Reporters shouldn’t take sides not judges of the behavior
on controversial issues. Turkel (VOMIT). “That’s why so many Turkle we describe.”
4 Says who? According to
residents have been getting sick this year.” 4 Alfred C. Kinsey,
what statistic? It’s irresponsible founder, Institute for Sex Research
5 Bad math alert! The dorm
According to Dover, Turkle’s 200 residentst
to quote an allegation like that
is open 40 weeks per year; were fed more than 160,000 hamburgers last without adding facts to support “Every fact has the same
that means each resident ate year while eating just 1,000 pounds of carrots. it (or a counterargument to weight. If you screw up on
5
20 burgers a week. Likely? No. In other words, a typical student ate just one refute it). In fact, because this something small, trivial, then
And one carrot does not weigh carrot for every 160 burgers. story relies entirely on just one you cast doubt on the whole
one pound, so this second sta- Dover said the protest was sparked after a source — Dover — it’s far too piece. We trudge through every
tistic is bogus and misleading. student worker in Turkel’s cafeteria spotted a unbalanced to be trustworthy. inch of it because once you’ve
crate of beef labeled “Grade D: Fit for Human lost your credibility, that’s it.”
6 6 There is no such thing as
7 This is pseudoscience. Consumption.” Many colleges try to save Sara Lippincott,
“Grade D” meat. In fact, this
What specific “research” has money by buying Grade D meat products, entire paragraph is an urban editor and fact-checker, The New Yorker
proven that meat is bad? Which which include brains, skin and testicles. legend: folklore popularly
cancer rates are lower in Japan? Research has shown that a diet heavy believed to be true. A good
“For one ‘Talk of the Town’
Aren’t other factors (stress, in meat is bad for you. In Japan, where rice reporter would have checked piece, I had to determine the
lifestyle, environment) also is a staple in people’s diets, there is a much out this story and discovered number of Ritz crackers in a
7
responsible for causing cancer? lower incidence of cancer. My own health has that it’s a fabrication. huge New Jersey supermarket.
improved dramatically since I stopped eating I called the general manager
9 Inserting religious opinion meat last year. 8 8 Never inject yourself into a of the store, who then shouted
into any news story is a sure Even spirituall masters like Gandhi and the news story. “My” opinions and to an assistant over their PA
way to offend readers. Believe Buddha proved that a vegetarian lifestyle anecdotes about “me” are system. The assistant went
9 irrelevant and unprofessional.
whatever you want, politically brings you closer to God. to count the number of Ritz
or religiously, but never try to “Our puke-in has received letters of support boxes on the floor while the
10 By misspelling Oprah and
pass it off as news. manager and I tried to
from famous vegetarians like Opra Winfrey Yoakam, the reporter under-
11 June only has 30 days. A
and Dwight Yokum,” Dover added.. 10 mines the credibility of this estimate the number of
mistake as simple (and dumb) 11 The event begins at noon Friday, June 31, entire story. (Note, too, how crackers in a box. We then
as this can cast doubt on every outside the Turkle Hall cafeteria. many times the reporter has went through the same process
other fact in the story. flubbed the spelling of Turkel.) with hot dog packages.”
Peter Canby,
fact-checker for The New Yorker
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 37

SO WHERE DO OPINIONS BELONG IN JOURNALISM?

Ideally, journalism provides a maximum of informa- Reporters debate these questions endlessly. And
tion with a minimum of opinion. But isn’t it sometimes the answers aren’t always simple. Most journalistic “Many a good newspaper
appropriate to add emotion and attitude to newswrit- writing can be placed on a continuum that ranges story has been ruined by
ing? Doesn’t complete objectivity suck the life out of from rigidly objective (breaking news) to rabidly oververification.”
James Gordon Bennett,
stories? Where do you draw the line? opinionated (movie reviews). Here’s what we mean: 19th-century newspaper editor

“Journalism is about transmit-

This news story is straightforward, factual and ting information that doesn’t
NO An earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter
care what you think. Reporting
OPINION scale shook western Japan on Sunday, forcing unemotional — even though this event resulted
hundreds to evacuate as quake-generated in deaths and injuries. The reporter makes no challenges, countermands or
tsunami waves approached. (Reuters) attempt to overdramatize the situation or to destabilizes established beliefs.
philosophize about the human tragedy. Reporting begins from the
premise that there are things
In news analysis stories like this one, reporters we need to know and under-
Battered by the recession and the deepest
must be careful not to inject their own political stand, even if these things
budget deficits in decades, a large majority of
views. It’s OK to use colorful verbs if they’re make us uncomfortable.”
states are slicing into their social safety nets —
accurate (“battered,” “slicing,” “crippling”), Chris Hedges,
often crippling preventive efforts that officials say former foreign correspondent,
would save money over time. (The New York Times) but opinions should be expressed only by
The New York Times
people quoted in the story.
“I have a built-in bias against
Tom Brady was uncannily accurate as usual, Sports stories often add flavor and attitude to reporters who have axes to
throwing for 335 yards and three touchdowns, the reporting. Like a play-by-play announcer, grind. I think there are
but that wouldn’t have been enough if not for this reporter blends fact (“335 yards”) with reporters who allow their
two big plays by a defense that had been pushed interpretation (“uncannily accurate as usual”). own bias to encroach on their
around all night. (The Associated Press) Sports fans — unlike readers of hard news — journalism, and that’s a crime
accept some colorful spin on their stories. against journalism.”
Don Hewitt,
Opinion columns must be truthful, but they executive producer, 60 Minutes
The Iraq fiasco masks the magnitude of the
destruction this presidency has visited both on the can be partisan and passionate, too, like this
excerpt from a column critical of George Bush’s “ ‘Balanced’ and ‘objective’
country in general and the G.O.P. in particular.
handling of the Iraq war. Readers understand news reporting has devolved
(Frank Rich in The New York Times)
that this is commentary, not news. into collecting quotes from
the right and quotes from the
This movie review doesn’t pull any punches. left, leaving readers to decide
Shamelessly devoid of intelligence, interesting who’s telling the truth. The
characters, scares or gore, “Alien vs. Predator” is And that’s what readers expect from critics,
whether they’re reviewing music, food, drama desires for fairness, balance
a concept that fails to deliver on any of what made
STRONG or video games. Reviewers, like columnists, are and objectivity are worthy
the original films so great. (Willamette Week)
OPINION expected to mouth off in provocative ways. goals in newswriting. But not
when they lead to news reports
where truth is ‘balanced’ with
lies, facts ‘balanced’ with spin.
The old rule: You must
OBJECTIVITY Distorting the news with your opinions is as damaging — and unprofessional — present all sides of a story,
as defacing a photograph. Still need convincing? Read the following excerpt from being fair to each.
VS. OPINION — the Staunton Spectator, Oct. 7, 1862. This is how a typical Virginia newspaper The new rule: Report the
HOW TO GIVE reported that President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation to truth and debunk the lies.”
LINCOLN HELL free the slaves. Here’s what results when reporters dispense with facts: Robert Niles,
digital journalist and Web designer
LINCOLN’S FIENDISH PROCLAMATION perpetrate it, he said that “he had been considering it
night and day for some time . . . .” “The problem is not that
Since the time our first parents were expelled journalists can’t get their facts
from Paradise, and In a word, the devil triumphed, and Lincoln issued
his proclamation, which has “crowned the pyramid straight: They can and usually
“They hand in hand, with wandering steps
of his infamies with an atrocity abhorred of men, do. Nor is it that the facts are
and slow,
Through Eden took their solitary way,” and at which even demons might shudder.” obscure: Often, the most
there has not been as much joy in Pandemonium After the Committee of abolitionists from essential facts are also the most
as at this time. The Arch-Fiend in the regions of Chicago had retired, and when he was in some obvious ones. The problem is
woe “grins horribly a ghastly smile,” for he and his perplexity as to the course he should adopt, Satan, that journalists have a difficult
emissaries upon earth — the extreme abolitionists his potential ally, “squat like a toad at his ear,” time distinguishing significant
— have succeeded in prevailing upon “Old Abe” to addressed him, as Milton represents Death as facts — facts with consequences
issue a proclamation of emancipation which will send addressing Sin within the gates — from insignificant ones.
a thrill of horror through all civilized nations. . . . of Hell. . . . That comes from not thinking
Before he committed this act of atrocity, in reply to Think you can write a very hard about just which
the Committee sent by a meeting of the “Christians (!) better lead? Try the stories are most worth telling.”
of all denominations” of Chicago, who were, at exercise on page 66. Bret Stephens,
the instigation of Satan, urging upon him to Wall Street Journal

MORE ON WRITING COMMENTARY > 134

38 NEWSWRITING BASICS

The five W’s

WHO
Facts usually fall into these main groups. EXAMPLES OF THE FIVE W’s in a typical
story, with facts color-coded to match the
And your success as a journalist depends upon your words in the headline at left:

WHAT
ability to keep your facts straight. In the early 1900s,
Swimming was prohibited in Cooper Lake
signs were posted in the newsroom of Joseph Monday after a dangerous amount of algae
Pulitzer’s New York World that shouted: was found in the water last week.

WHEN
ACCURACY! ACCURACY! ACCURACY! Polk County health officials declared the
WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN? HOW? lake off-limits because of blue-green algae
THE FACTS — THE COLOR — THE FACTS!
blooms. Ingesting the water can

WHERE
Now, you can argue about the number of W’s here. make people ill and kill small pets.
(Are there four? Or five? Does how count as a W?) Restrictions include windsurfing
But you can’t argue that good journalism combines and sailboarding but not boating.
facts and color, as Pulitzer observed. By “color,” he
meant description and flavor. But in the example at
right, we’ll take “color” even more literally: WHY “We hope it won’t last longer than
two or three weeks,” said Robin Fox, the
county’s director of environmental health.

No, we’re not talking about that legendary 1960s rock EMPHASIZING THE “WHO” ANGLE:
band, The Who — although we could be, if we were
This lead from the Medford (Ore.) Mail Tribune
writing a story about classic rockers. And that story might
makes it instantly clear what the story’s about:
be popular, too, because readers love stories that focus on
A self-described miser who drank outdated milk, lived
people: Celebrities. Movers and shakers. in an unheated house and held up his second-hand
THE The rich and powerful. The weird and pants with a bungee cord has left a $9 million legacy
WHO wacky.
Reporters generally love writing
that will benefit Southern Oregon social service agencies.

“people profiles,” too, because it’s so fun to interview This feature story centers on a number of “whos” —
fascinating folks. Journalism provides a perfect excuse film critics, film characters and film actors:
for letting you ask intimate questions of total strangers. The Online Film Critics Society, an international
When you start assembling facts for even the hardest association of Internet-based cinema journalists, is
hard-news story, always focus on the “who” elements: sharing its love with the character we’re supposed to
Who’s involved? Who’s affected? Who’s going to benefit? hate.
Who’s getting screwed? No matter how abstract the topic, The society has announced its new list celebrating
it’s the “who” angle that keeps it real. the Top 100 Villains of All Time.
The greatest screen villain, according to the 132
THIS OBITUARY from the San Jose Mercury News explains who members, is Darth Vader, played by David Prowse and
Pope John Paul II was, who’s mourning his death around the world voiced by James Earl Jones in the original “Star Wars”
and who might replace him as the next pope. trilogy.

What’s “what”? It’s the stuff that news is about — events EMPHASIZING THE “WHAT” ANGLE:
and ideas, projects and problems, dollars and disasters.
Notice how this USA Today business story begins
And it’s your job, as a journalist, to monitor and explain with a list of famous “whats”:
the stuff that matters most to your readers, whether you
The Empire State Building. The SUV. The Incredible
hear it at a news conference, Hulk. The Boeing 747.
THE uncover it on the police beat or When it comes to big, no place does it better than
WHAT watch it on a football field.
Now, here’s a factor you may not
the USA. But after a 34-year run, one of these icons is
starting to see its popularity fade.
have realized before: The “what” gives news its substance, The 747 — synonymous with “huge” as the world’s
while the “who” gives news its humanity and personality. largest commercial jetliner — is increasingly being
Why does that matter? Because news stories become pushed out of airline fleets worldwide for being too
dry and dull when they focus too much on, say, meetings expensive to operate and too hard to fill. . . .
and money (the “what”) and forget to connect them to
real people (the “who”). That’s one reason why business Here’s a Toronto Star story about a pop-culture trend:
reports and scientific papers are so boring: They’re all Plastic surgery reality shows are setting a frighten-
“what” and no “who.” ing example, bringing the practice of cosmetic surgery
into disrepute, doctors say.
THIS CAR REVIEW from La Voz is unconcerned with who, when “It is barbaric, the whole premise of changing the
or where. It’s all about what the car looks like, what its features are, way they look completely,” says Dr. Frank Lista. “It’s
what works, what doesn’t — and what everything costs. turned plastic surgery into a freak show.”. . .
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 39

Some news stories happened in the past (The Beavers EMPHASIZING THE “WHEN” ANGLE:
lost Friday night’s game). Some will happen in the future
(The Beavers play the Warthogs next week). And some This story from the Las Vegas Review-Journal is all
about holidays, so it begins:
go on and on, through the past, present and future
(The Beavers are currently trapped in Clark County public school students don’t go to class
THE a 20-game losing streak. What will it
on Labor Day, Nevada Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day or
WHEN take to make them winners again?).
Timeliness is essential to every
Memorial Day.
In the past, they’ve had to go to school on the Jewish
story. In this media-saturated, 24-hour cable-network- holy day of Yom Kippur, when it fell on a school day.
and-online-delivery culture we live in, your audience This year, the district’s 258,000 students will have
wants news that’s fresh and immediate. They want to Monday off because administrators deliberately sched-
know when events happened, when events will happen uled the first of four teacher training days to coincide
and how long they’ll last. with Yom Kippur. . . .
Being a reporter, then, means constantly keeping your
eyes on the clock, for two reasons: Here’s how a British newspaper starts a story head-
1) so you can include the “when” in every story, and lined, “The twilight angels who come out after hours”:
2) so you can finish every story before deadline. While most of us are just settling down for a night
THIS SPECIAL SECTION from the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, in front of the TV at seven o’clock in the evening, for
published on the 50th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a special team of Plymouth nurses work is only just
examines life in the 1950s, a key period in civil rights history. beginning. . . .

The bigger the news organization, the broader its EMPHASIZING THE “WHERE” ANGLE:
coverage area. USA Today, for example, calls itself
This story from the Washington Post immediately
“The Nation’s Newspaper” and covers the entire world.
transports you to a dramatic destination:
But most American newspapers are small dailies and
Fishermen call it the “Hell Hole,” this place of
weeklies that focus exclusively
THE on their cities, counties or
whistling winds and smashing waves in the north
Atlantic Ocean. Above a chasm in the Northeast
WHERE school campuses. Which
means the “where” of every
Channel, which runs between the submerged Georges
and Browns banks off Nova Scotia, fishermen catch
story is crucial: the closer the event, the more relevant it cod, haddock and other fish with hooks at the ends of
will be to readers. long lines, and by dragging nets along the sea floor.
But explaining the “where” of a story isn’t necessarily “It takes guts to fish ‘Hell Hole,’ ” said Sanford
simple. The more complex a topic is, the more you may Atwood, a 54-year-old fisherman who has braved Hell
need to supplement your reporting with visuals such as Hole’s elements aboard his boat, the Ocean Legend. . . .
a map (Where will they build the new airport?), a diagram
(Where will they expand the shopping mall?) or a photo And here’s a clever “where” lead by Bob Batz:
(Where did police find the body?). When it comes to advertising the location of its
monthly meetings, the Global Positioning System Users
THIS TRAVEL STORY from The Oregonian focuses on a specific Group is different than most groups.
place — Costa Maya — relying on maps, photos and detailed They gather on the fourth Thursday of the month at
descriptions to paint a picture for would-be visitors. N 40 37 18 W 80 02 50 W. . . .

Good journalism reports the Good reporters are also good

news; great journalism explains it. teachers. They know how to
And explaining the news requires explain things in a clear, concise
asking, over and over, the question way. And explaining the “how”
“why”: Why is of a story often
THE this new law requires detailed THE
WHY necessary? Why
will it cost so
explanation:
How will this
HOW
much? And most important of all: plan work? How did that prisoner
Why should we care? escape? How do I decorate my dog
When news breaks suddenly, for Halloween?
finding the explanations for For short stories and news
events can be difficult. But for briefs, the “how” is often omitted
most stories, remember, the to save space. But readers love a
“why” is what makes the news good “how-to” story, especially
meaningful. in the feature section.
THIS SPECIAL SECTION from THIS FEATURE STORY from the
The Seattle Times explains the causes Marion Chronicle-Tribune provides a
of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. beginner’s guide to doing the laundry.
40 NEWSWRITING BASICS

The inverted pyramid

This newswriting format summarizes the most important facts at the very start of the story.
It may seem like an obvious idea to us nowadays — getting right to the point
when you start a story — but it didn’t occur to most reporters until midway
through the 19th century. For example, here’s the lead from a Fourth of July
story in the Massachusetts Centinel in 1785:
Monday last, being the anniversary of the ever-memorable day, on which the
illustrious Congress declared the then Colonies of North-America to be Free, Sover-
eign and Independent States, all ranks of citizens participated in the celebration of
the happy event, and even Nature put on more than usual mildness, expressive of
her joy on the occasion — Ere the Eastern ocean was yet bordered with the saffron
hue, the feathered choristers sang their early matin, and to usher in the auspicious
day, Aurora unbarred the ruddy gates of the morn, with sympathetic smiles.
According to newspaper folklore, the inverted
Flowery enough for you? By 1898, however, the Chicago Tribune was pyramid was developed during the Civil War
starting stories this way: by correspondents like these from the New York
Herald. Reporters transmitted their battlefield
GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba — The first heavy fighting at close quarters between dispatches via telegraph, which was expensive
the American marines and the Spaniards took place here today. and unreliable. Stories were often cut off in mid-
As usual, American pluck and discipline won. The little invading force showed sentence, before the reporter had gotten around to
splendid courage and spirit. . . .
saying who’d won the battle. So frustrated editors
What changed? Sentences got shorter. Writing got tighter. And reporters began urging writers to file fact-filled summaries
of their stories FIRST, then add the lengthier details.
developed a formula for compressing the most newsworthy facts — the Before long, the inverted pyramid became the
who, what, when, where, why — into the opening paragraphs of a story. standard structure for most news stories.
That formula lives on today. It’s known as the inverted pyramid.

WHY, IT DOES SORT OF LOOK LIKE AN UPSIDE-DOWN PYRAMID, DOESN’T IT?

The problem is this: To tell that same story
How do you structure using the inverted pyramid,
a news story so readers you’d stack the facts in the
quickly understand what’s opposite order, putting the
going on — without having final facts first:
to dig through a mile of text?
THE INVERTED PYRAMID STORY
The solution: Summarize first.
A search is under way for a criminal who
Explain later. leaped from a police van outside of Jackson
Whenever you write a story, you State Prison yesterday.
have to decide how to stack the facts. One After pleading guilty to second-degree murder
solution, used for centuries by storytellers, is in court, Pete Moss was on his way to begin serving
to stack facts chronologically: first one thing a 10-year sentence when he escaped.
happened, which caused another thing to hap- Moss had been arrested Sept. 21 after confessing to
pen, which caused something else to happen, and killing Lynn C. Doyle by running him over in an alley with
then the princess married the prince. The End. his car. Moss admitted he had been furious with Doyle for
Sure, those types of stories are entertaining, shooting Moss’s dog during a marijuana deal.
but only if you stick with them from start to finish See the difference? In chronological stories, things
— which makes them a slow and inefficient way to get resolved at the end. In the inverted pyramid,
deliver breaking news. See for yourself: things get summed up at the beginning. You start as
THE CHRONOLOGICAL STORY strongly as you can, summarizing what’s newsiest —
On Sept. 20, Pete Moss bought some marijuana from Lynn C. then you add additional facts in descending order of
Doyle. Moss’s dog bit Doyle in the leg during the transaction. importance.
So Doyle grabbed a shotgun and killed Moss’s dog. As the story goes on, the facts The inverted pyramid helps readers scan news
Moss was furious. He got in his car, chased Doyle into an alley stories quickly and efficiently. But it helps you write
become less essential and the
and crushed him against a Dumpster. Doyle died. news stories quickly and efficiently, too. Once you
The next day, Moss confessed to police that he had run Doyle
text becomes more cuttable —
which lets editors trim train yourself to organize facts this way, you can
over. He was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
Yesterday, Moss pleaded guilty in court. The judge sentenced the story to fit on the page. apply this formula to almost any breaking news
him to 10 years in prison. On his way to Jackson State Prison, Moss event — which is why the inverted pyramid has been
leaped from a police van and escaped. A search is under way. a cornerstone of newswriting for the past century.
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 41

HOW A TYPICAL NEWS STORY SO SHOULD YOU USE THIS

USES THE INVERTED PYRAMID FORMAT FOR EVERY STORY?
As we’ve seen, the main advantages of the inverted pyramid are: Not every journalist is a fan of the inverted pyramid.
� It condenses information efficiently, so readers can grasp facts quickly. Writing coach Don Fry called it “the worst form ever
� It allows editors to trim stories from the bottom, since the details in the text invented by the human race for explaining anything in
become gradually less essential. Now, reporters certainly don’t want their stories words.” And Bruce DeSilva of The Hartford Courant
cut carelessly (or prematurely). But sometimes it’s necessary. Take this wire story, once complained that “the inverted pyramid remains the
for instance. It could be cut after the second paragraph. Or the third. Or . . . . Dracula of journalism. It keeps rising from its coffin and
sneaking into the paper.”
What’s the problem? Why are some journalists so irked
by the inverted pyramid? Two reasons, usually:
Here’s the main point of the
VIENNA, Austria — California Gov. � It gets repetitive. And stale. And repetitive. Who wants
story, engagingly summarized.
Notice how the lead is crafted Arnold Schwarzenegger is getting a birth- to read a paper where story after story looks like this?
to start with the “who” of the day gift from his home country: a stamp in
story, a name you’ll recognize: his honor. THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS
Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Austrian post office announced on A LESS IMPORTANT FACT
its Web site that the $1.25 stamp will be AN EVEN DULLER FACT
The second paragraph released on the actor-turned-politician’s
elaborates on the “birthday
A BORING FACT
birthday, July 30. Schwarzenegger, who ZZZ-ZZZ-ZZZ
gift” mentioned in the lead. will be 57, was born in the Austrian village BLAH, BLAH,
It also adds more details about of Thal near the southern city of Graz. BLAH
the “when” and “where.” The stamp — which shows Schwarzen-
egger in a suit and tie, with the U.S. and � It doesn’t always organize story material logically
The third paragraph fills in the or engagingly. If you’re not careful, complex stories may
rest of the “what” details, Austrian flags in the background — is part
of a collectors series called “Austrians start with a bang but end with a whimper as facts stack up
describing the stamp and the
series it’s a part of. living abroad,” the post office said. and bog down in a “muddle in the middle.”
Schwarzenegger moved to the United The solution? Don’t get lazy. Don’t let your writing fall
This final paragraph supplies States in 1968 to pursue a career as a body into a rut. As we’ll explain later, you have a wide range
relevant but less essential back- builder and movie star. He made his first of options for structuring stories and making complex
ground information: a quick visit to Austria as California governor last material reader-friendly. x (Take this book, for example.
recap of Schwarzenegger’s weekend, when he represented the United Notice how it arranges topics into accessible chunks to
stamp-worthy career and his States at the state funeral of President keep things interesting.)
latest Austria connection. Is Thomas Klestil. Bottom line? The inverted pyramid is valuable for
there more to this story? We — The Associated Press
arranging the facts in breaking news stories quickly and
don’t need it. This is enough.
efficiently. Will you use it on every story? No. But it’s still
an essential tool in every reporter’s toolbox.

WHY WRITING No reporter would ever deliberately try to bore or confuse readers. But sometimes it happens: A story takes too long
to get going. Readers struggle to make sense of it. They get impatient. They bail.
A GOOD LEAD That’s why it’s crucial for you to realize how important your lead is. If you take too long to make sense, your readers
ACTUALLY will flee like rats from a sinking ship. Take the story below, lifted from the front page of a Colorado newspaper. Try
MATTERS making sense of it by reading just the text. By the time the story jumps to page 7, you’ll be moaning, What’s the point?
TO READERS Fortunately for most readers, the headline tells what the story’s about long before the writer does.

MORE ON STORY STRUCTURE > 50

42 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Writing basic news leads HOW TO WRITE

AN EFFECTIVE
It’s the essence of journalism: the key facts summarized in a concise way. NEWS LEAD
Some journalism teachers insist that a story’s lead (or “lede”) must be just one paragraph. COLLECT
And that paragraph must use just one sentence. And that sentence must be 30 words or less. ALL YOUR
And if you violate this formula, readers will be alarmed by your incompetence. FACTS
Fortunately — or unfortunately — it’s This is essential, for two reasons:
not that simple. As we’ll see in the pages � If you don’t know the whole story,
ahead, you have many, many options for your lead can’t accurately summarize
what’s going on.
writing smart, engaging leads.
� The more you know about the
Let’s begin by focusing on the most story, the easier it will be for you to
fundamental option: the basic news lead sum it up and boil it down.
for inverted-pyramid stories. It’s the
style of newswriting that comes closest SUM IT UP,
to using a dependable formula. And here’s BOIL IT
DOWN
the good news: If you can master the
If you had just 10 seconds to shout
process of writing leads — identifying this story over a cell phone with
key facts and expressing them concisely — dying batteries, what would you say?
you’ll have a solid command of the craft If it helps you organize your thinking,
jot down the five W’s in a list, like so:
of journalism. WHO: Three Mudflap passengers
Still, learning to write even the simplest were injured.
leads takes time and practice. For many WHAT: A private plane crashed.
WHEN: Friday night, 9:12 p.m.
writers, just starting the story is the most WHERE: The Mudflap River behind
agonizing, time-consuming part of the Mudflap Airport.
job. But that’s why they pay reporters the WHY: A bolt of lightning struck the
plane, killing the engine.
big bucks. So start honing your speed
and skill now.
PRIORITIZE
THE FIVE
W’s
UH-OH. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU “BURY THE LEAD” The lead needs to contain the facts
that are most important — and
Every so often, a surly editor may tell you to actually ran in a New Jersey paper a half-century only those facts that are most
rework a story because you buried the lead. Which ago. The editors had recruited secretaries from local important. So evaluate each of the
means, basically: You blew it. You thought that thing organizations to report on their groups’ activities. five W’s. Ask yourself: Which facts
was the most important part of the story, but it’s But because these women weren’t trained reporters, must be in the lead? Which can wait
actually this thing — the news you buried down in they didn’t know how to write news stories — or a paragraph or two? And which of
the twelfth paragraph. So fix it, you knucklehead. more importantly, how to write news leads. So they the key facts deserves to start the
Here’s a memorable example of a buried lead that ended up with this: first sentence?

RETHINK,
The Parent-Teacher Asso- nominations be closed. between the eyes. Constable REVISE,
ciation of Cornelis Banta School Mrs. Gianello Venutoleri Abraham Brinkerhoff came and REWRITE
held its regular monthly meeting arose and said that she wanted escorted Mrs. Venutoleri to the Write a first draft, even if it’s not
Tuesday evening in the school to nominate Mrs. Nuovo Citta- county jail. The body of Mrs. perfect, just to get things rolling.
cafeteria, for the election of offi- dino, Mrs. Giuseppe Soffiate, and ten Floed was removed to Van Then ask yourself:
cers for the coming year, with Mrs. Salvatore dal Vapore. Mrs. Emburgh’s Funeral Parlor. Is it clear? Are the key points easy
Mrs. Noah ten Floed, president, ten Floed ruled Mrs. Venutoleri There being no further busi- to grasp? Is the wording awkward
in the chair. The nominating out of order. Mrs. Venutoleri ness, the meeting adjourned in any way?
committee proposed Mrs. Douwe appealed to the parliamentarian, for refreshments, which were Is it active? Have you used a strong
subject-verb-object sentence
Taleran for president, Mrs. David Miss Sarah Kierstad, who sus- served by Mrs. Adrian Blauvelt’s
structure?
Demarest for vice president, and tained the chair. committee. The next meeting
Is it wordy? Do readers trip over any
Mrs. Laurens van Boschkerken Mrs. Venutoleri took a small will be held on Friday evening, unnecessary adjectives or phrases?
for secretary-treasurer. It was automatic pistol from her hand- Sept. 10, for the installation of Is it compelling? Will it grab readers
moved and seconded that the bag and shot Mrs. ten Floed officers. and keep them interested?
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 43

A PLANE CRASHES. Writing leads is often a process of trial

WHICH LEADS ARE and error. You try stacking different facts
in different ways until you find the most
BEST (OR WORST)? concise, effective combination.
Let’s use that plane crash (from Tip #2 at left) as an example. You work for a
weekly paper near the airport. What’s the best lead for that news story? Here are
some of the solutions you might create as you emphasize each of the five W’s:

In news stories about There are three The plane crashed

LEADING
WITH THE WHO accidents or disasters,
leads often begin by
LEADING
WITH THE WHAT “whats” in this
story: the plane,
LEADING
WITH THE WHEN on a Friday, but
does that timing
stating the number of deaths or injuries. It may seem the crash, the lightning. Which “what” is most lead- have any real significance? No. The “when” is not a
morbid, but it helps readers gauge the seriousness of worthy? Let’s begin with an obvious but bad idea: crucial part of this story. (In fact, do we even have to
the event. So let’s try that: specify it was Friday night ?). Thus, this lead —
There was an accident at Mudflap
Clark Barr, 45, Leah Tard, 42, and Airport Friday when a plane crashed On Friday night, three passengers
Eileen Dover, 17, of Hicksville, were after being struck by lightning, resulting were injured when their private plane
injured when a bolt of lightning struck in injuries to three passengers. crashed at Mudflap Airport after being
their private plane, a Cessna 812, at 9:12 struck by lightning.
p.m. Friday. Barr suffered a fractured
leg, Tard cracked several of her ribs, and Dull? Yes. Why? Beginning a lead with a tired phrase
Dover, who remains in intensive care at like “there was” or “it is” makes the sentence weak — is a bit weak. Like that first “what” lead at left, it
Mudflap Hospital, broke both her wrists and uninspired. It’s almost like we’re backing into backs into the story, which often happens when you
and ankles after nearly drowning in the the story. Better to use a more specific noun, like: begin the lead with a prepositional phrase.
river after the plane crashed. Now, suppose it had been a tragic week at Mudflap
A private plane crashed at Mudflap Airport. You might, in that case, call attention to that
Airport Friday after being struck by fact by crafting a “when” lead like this:
Is this overkill? Yes. There’s way too much detail too
soon. Readers’ eyes will glaze over as they try to lightning. Three passengers were injured.
digest all those facts. The lead should summarize, not For the third time this week, a private
itemize; even the names of the victims should wait a plane crashed at Mudflap Airport. On
Not bad. But “a private plane” isn’t the most exciting
paragraph or two. One exception: a recognizable name Friday, three passengers were injured
phrase to start the lead with. (“A hot-air balloon
can leap to the lead if that person is newsworthy — after their plane was struck by lightning.
shaped like SpongeBob SquarePants” — now, there’s
a phrase that would grab readers’ attention.)
Hicksville mayor Clark Barr and two Notice, too, how that lead uses two sentences.
other passengers were injured Friday But that’s not the case. So that’s not our lead.
That’s acceptable. There’s no rule that requires a lead
night when their private plane crashed to be only one sentence. BUT if you can write a single
into the river behind Mudflap Airport clear, compact sentence, do it. Let’s try again: How important
after being struck by lightning.
LEADING
WITH THE WHERE is the “where”
of this story?
A private plane was struck by lightning Is it more significant than the crash or the injuries?
— but ordinarily, nonrecognizable names don’t belong and crashed at Mudflap Airport Friday,
in the lead. Besides, that paragraph is still too wordy. injuring three passengers.
Can it be trimmed even more? How about this: At Mudflap Airport, three passengers
were injured Friday when their private
Three people were injured Friday when This lead has a new problem. Know the difference plane crashed into the river after being
a plane crashed at Mudflap Airport. between active and passive voice? Active voice uses struck by lightning.
strong subject-verb-object phrasing: “lightning struck
a plane.” Passive voice uses weaker phrasing: “A
It’s shorter, yes. But now it’s too short. There’s just plane was struck by lightning.” Good writers avoid No. The “where” is crucial, but it’s just not the juiciest
not enough information. It’s vague. Dull. Undramatic. the passive voice, especially in leads, because it lacks fact. (Plus, we’re assuming that Mudflap is nearby.
We need a few more details — but not too many — punch. Train yourself to recognize and avoid passive If we lived farther away, we might also need to add
to tell the story and capture some of the drama: phrasing, which means rewriting the lead like this: more geographic detail, like what state Mudflap is in.)

What caused this crash?

Three passengers were injured Friday
when lightning struck their private plane,
A bolt of lightning struck a private
plane as it landed at Mudflap Airport
LEADING
WITH THE WHY Lightning hit the plane
and killed the engine.
plunging them into the river behind Mud- Friday, causing a crash that injured Our story will go into greater detail, but a lead like this
flap Airport. three passengers. gives readers a quick grasp of what went wrong.
So this “what” lead is also a good “why” lead.

Success! This lead gets the job done. It emphasizes Good. We’re using the strongest “what” to start SO WHICH LEAD IS BEST? Most reporters (and editors)
the “who” (the three injured passengers) and conveys the lead. We’re using active voice. We’re supplying would choose either that final “who” lead or that final
just enough of the key facts without being too wordy. enough of the key facts without getting too wordy. “what” lead. Both are effective. Which do you prefer?

READY TO TRY WRITING SOME LEADS? TEST YOURSELF 64

44 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Beyond the basic news lead “Every story must have a

beginning. A lead. Incubating
It’s not mandatory that you begin every story with a summary of key facts. the lead is a cause of great
As we’ve explained, for most breaking news events, you need leads that are factual and concise. agony. Why is no mystery.
Based on the lead, a reader
You need leads that summarize the who-what-when-where-why. And being able to produce solid makes a critical decision:
news leads on deadline is one of the most valuable skills a reporter can possess. ‘Shall I go on?’ ”
But not every story is a timely news event. Some stories explore social issues. Some profile Rene Cappon,
author of The Associated Press
interesting people. Some provide previews of Guide to Newswriting
coming attractions. “The best day is one when
And for those, a basic news lead may be too I can write a lead that will
dull and dry. You may need something livelier, cause a reader at his breakfast
table next morning to spit up
snappier, more creative, a lead that doesn’t just his coffee, clutch at his heart
summarize, but amuses. Astonishes. Intrigues. and shout, ‘My God! Martha,
Now, it’s impossible to specify what kind of did you read this?’ ”
story requires what kind of lead. That’s what Edna Buchanan,
legendary police reporter
makes reporting so creative. When the right
story comes along, instead of writing this — “Always grab the reader
by the throat in the first
A Hicksville man has been sentenced to life in prison
paragraph, sink your thumbs
for murdering his girlfriend.
into his windpipe in the
— you might instead lead with this: second, and hold him against
Lincoln Mabry Jr. so loved Becky Kerr that he beat her the wall until the tagline.”
in the face with a pistol barrel and shot her to death. Paul O’Neil, writer
Over the years, reporters have devised dozens “If you don’t hit a newspaper
of oddball names for offbeat leads: pssts, zingers, reader between the eyes with
sing-alongs, riddle-posers, god-only-knows. your first sentence, there is no
need of writing a second one.”
Call them whatever you like; the fact is, all good Arthur Brisbane,
reporters spend countless hours searching for 19th-century yellow journalist
the Perfect Lead. Now it’s your turn. “I’ve always been a believer
that if I’ve got two hours in
which to do something, the
Here’s how Iowa celebrates a 70-degree day sun kiss your face; by wondering where you’re best investment I can make is
ONE OF THE in the middle of March: By washing the car and going to go on summer vacation and getting to spend the first hour and 45
LONGEST scooping the loop and taking a walk; by day- reacquainted with neighbors on the front porch minutes of it getting a good
(AND MOST dreaming in school and playing hooky at work and telling the boys that — yes! yes! — they can lead, because after that every-
MEMORABLE) and shutting off the furnace at home; by skate- run outside and play without a jacket; by hold- thing will come easily.”
boarding and flying kites and digging ing hands with a lover and jogging in shorts Don Wycliff,
LEADS EVER through closets for baseball gloves; and picking up the extra branches in the Chicago Tribune
WRITTEN by riding that new bike you got for yard; by eating an ice cream cone out-
Christmas and drawing hopscotch side and (if you’re a farmer or gardener) “I don’t look at my leads as
After a surprisingly a chance to show off my
boxes in chalk on the sidewalk and feeling that first twinge that says it’s
warm March day in not caring if the kids lost their time to plant and (if you’re a high school flowery writing. My leads
1995, feature writer mittens again; by looking for robins senior) feeling that first twinge that says are there to get you in and to
Ken Fuson wrote this and noticing swimsuits on department it’s time to leave; by wondering if in all of keep you hooked to the story
piece in The Des Moines store mannequins and shooting hoops in history there has ever been a day so glorious so that you can’t go away.”
Register. One sentence, the park; by sticking the ice scraper in the trunk and concluding that there hasn’t and being Mitch Albom,
290 words. Gimmicky, and the antifreeze in the garage and leaving the afraid to even stop and take a breath (or begin sports columnist, Detroit Free Press
yes. But irresistible. car parked outside overnight; by cleaning the a new paragraph) for fear that winter would
barbecue and stuffing the parka in storage and return, leaving Wednesday in our memory as “The most important
just standing outside and letting that friendly nothing more than a sweet and too-short dream. sentence in any article is the
first one. If it doesn’t induce
the reader to proceed to the
second sentence, your article
. . . AND James Thurber was a popular humorist is dead. And if the second
Dead.
and cartoonist in the mid-20th century.
ONE OF THE He started out as a newspaper reporter,
That’s what the man was when they found sentence doesn’t induce him
him with a knife in his back at 4 p.m. in front to continue to the third,
SHORTEST where an editor urged him to write short, it’s equally dead.”
of Riley’s saloon at the corner of 52nd and 12th
LEADS EVER dramatic leads — which prompted Streets. William Zinsser,
WRITTEN Thurber to begin a murder story this way: author, On Writing Well
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 45

THE CITY INSTALLS NEW PARKING METERS. � Be concise. Streamline your

WHAT KIND OF LEAD SHOULD YOU WRITE? ideas, your words, your sentence
The city council met Tuesday to consider installing parking meters on Boinck Street, structure. Think subject-verb-object.
a road bordering the school campus, where students have always parked for free. The biggest problem with most
Angry students argued against the plan. “It’s just greedy,” said Dan DeLyon. “It’s slimy,” leads? They’re too wordy. Remem-
said Isabelle Ringing. “It’s a stab in the back,” said May K. Fist. ber, news leads are usually just one
“It’s long overdue,” the mayor insisted, and the measure passed. Effective Jan. 1, sentence. Most use fewer than 30
the meters will cost 50 cents an hour — and parking violations will result in a $50 ticket. words. That’s not an ironclad rule —
just an observation based on
Suppose you’re covering this story for the campus newspaper. What kind of lead would
millions of successful news stories.
you write? A basic news lead, or something more provocative? Here are a few options:
� Be accurate. Get your facts and
spelling right. One mistake in the
lead can undermine the entire story.
The city council met Tuesday to discuss . . . “It’s long overdue,” said mayor Lilac A. Rugg,
� Remember what day it is when
describing a new measure passed by the city
readers read your story. If there’s a
council Tuesday authorizing the installation
Wait! Stop! This is boring. What’s the news? Try again: chance of confusion when you write
of parking meters on Boinck Street.
about tomorrow’s concert or last
A proposal to install parking meters on
night’s game, use the names of the
Ugh. A dull quote makes a dull lead — and so do phrases days to be safe.
Boinck Street was a topic of hot debate at
like “authorizing the installation.” (Notice, too, how deeply And speaking of days: Be careful
Tuesday’s city council meeting.
buried the phrase “parking meters” is.) Some editors say to put the date in the right place.
it’s lazy to start any lead with a quote. But how about: Wrong: The panel will meet to
Still too dull. Why? It misses the point. The proposal isn’t discuss drug use on Friday.
the story. The meeting isn’t the story. The impact on your Right: The panel will meet on
“It’s slimy,” said Isabelle Ringing.
readers is the story. That’s got to be the main emphasis. Friday to discuss drug use.
“It’s just greedy,” said Dan DeLyon.
“It’s a stab in the back,” said May K. Fist. � Don’t name names. Don’t say
Students will pay to park on Boinck Street During an angry debate at Tuesday’s city John Smith was hit by a bus in your
starting Jan. 1, thanks to a measure passed council meeting, students voiced their anger lead, unless everyone knows who
by the city council Tuesday. at a plan to install parking meters on Boinck John Smith is. (Don’t just say A man
Street. But the plan passed, so students will was hit by a bus, either. Try to add a
Better. It’s a standard news lead, but it does a good job of start feeding meters Jan. 1. touch of description, like An elderly
answering the question, “Why should I care?” (although Mudflap man was hit by a bus.)
some editors might challenge the use of the word thanks).
These quotes are strong, but those student names are a bit � Use strong verbs. Which means
But must this story use a serious lead? Or could we try:
distracting (besides, the story isn’t about them). What if rewriting that sentence above to
we edited the quotes for greater impact? Like this: make it active, not passive: A bus
There’s no such thing as a free parking struck and killed an elderly Mudflap
space — not after Jan. 1, anyway, when man Tuesday. . .
“Slimy.”
students will start paying 50 cents an hour Beware of soft, mushy verbs like
“Greedy.”
to park on Boinck Street. “be,” “try” and “plan” — or dull,
“A stab in the back.”
Students voiced their anger at the city bureaucratic verbs like “considered,”
council’s plan to install parking meters on “met” and “issued.” Don’t let your
Clever? Or cliché? That lead has a little attitude, but is it leads bog down in meetingspeak.
Boinck Street on Tuesday. But the plan
too much? And should it say “students will start paying” And speaking of meetings:
passed, which means students will start
— or “you will start paying”? If you like the idea of aiming
feeding meters Jan. 1. � Ask “Why should I care?” Write
this story at “you the student reader,” then how about:
from the reader’s point of view as
often as possible. Don’t just report —
Starting Jan. 1, it’ll cost you $50 if your Those opening quotes now have more punch. But: explain. Explaining why things
parking meter expires on Boinck Street. � It sounds like they’ll install the parking meters Tuesday. matter often makes the best lead.
Happy New Year. That sentence needs rewriting to eliminate confusion.
� Many editors (and readers) may feel this lead is unfairly � Sell the story. Find out what

biased. It seems to side with the angry students. Agree? makes this story different or special,
Is it OK to featurize the lead like that? If so, why not show and use that to punch up the lead.
how the parking plan would affect a typical student — The most effective lead, then, may be one that combines
Who wants to read another ordinary
the meters, the meeting and your money. How about:
meeting/game/speech story?
Dan DeLyon’s job at Stinky’s Pizza barely � Don’t get hung up by a problem
pays him enough to gas up his ’93 Camaro The meters are coming. lead. Unsure of how to start the
every day. So starting Jan. 1, he’ll be taking Despite opposition from students, the city story? Just jot something down and
the bus to school. council approved a new parking plan Tuesday move on. Finish the story, then loop
“They’re sticking meters on Boinck Street,” — which means that starting Jan. 1, you’ll pay back around and revisit the lead.
he said. “I can’t pay 20 bucks a week to park.” 50 cents an hour to park on Boinck Street.
� Move attributions to the end of
the sentence, the reporting textbook
— and then segue into the details of the plan that passed As you can see, you’ve got lots of options, depending on your said. Not: The reporting textbook
last night. Is that an engaging way to humanize the topic? taste and news judgment. Which version would you choose? said to move attributions to the end
of the sentence.

WANT TO TRY WRITING SOME LEADS? TEST YOURSELF 64 MORE ON ATTRIBUTIONS 84, 181
46 NEWSWRITING BASICS

HOW TO
WRITE
A GREAT
LEAD WRITE TOSS IT OUT REWRITE TOSS IT OUT REWRITE TOSS IT

Leads that succeed

A roundup of the most popular, commonly used options. SCENE-SETTER LEADS
In 1941, Time magazine wrote a story
Writing is a creative process, so there’s no way to list every conceivable category on America’s reaction to the attack on Pearl
of lead. (Many have tried; all have failed.) Instead, this collection of favorites is Harbor. It began with a description:
just a beginning. Remember, there’s no type of lead that always works, just as It was a Sunday morning, clear and sunny. Many a
there’s no type of lead that always fails. The success of every lead depends on citizen was idly listening to the radio when the flash
came that the Japanese had attacked Hawaii. . . .
how well you write it. And rewrite it. And rewrite it.
Scene-setter leads lack the urgency of hard-
news leads. They’re a device borrowed from
Want more ideas? Browse our collection of clever leads scattered throughout THE MORGUE fiction (“It was a dark and stormy night. . .”),
and they’re usually reserved for long feature
stories, where descriptions of sights, sounds
and smells transport you to another place:
The stink. That hits you first. Like a furnace blast.
BASIC NEWS LEADS ANECDOTAL/ NARRATIVE LEADS Now notice the mirrors spackled with dried
mucous, sweat and spit, the faint arcs of blood
� The summary lead begins the majority Some stories unfold slowly, as the writer that speckle the walls behind the ring. The portrait
of news stories by combining the most eases into the topic with an engaging or of Jesus as a boxer watching over the heavy bags.
significant of the five W’s into one sentence: meaningful anecdote. This anecdotal lead The ring, with its ropes that sag like a sad smile.
The Pentagon has ordered 1,500 additional begins a story on adult skateboarders: It doesn’t get any more authentic than an old
troops to Iraq to provide security in advance About five years ago, architect Mark Seder boxing gym. As real and as honest and as raw as
of the upcoming election, military officials was reading the morning paper and watching the paint peeling from the walls. . . .
— INARA VERZEMNIEKS, The Oregonian
announced Wednesday. — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS his 10-year-old son riding at a local skate park.
As he kept looking up from the paper to his son,
� The delayed identification lead is a type
something dawned on him.
of news lead that withholds a significant “I realized that I was getting out of shape and
piece of information — usually a person’s I thought, ‘Why in the world don’t I join him?’ ”
name — until the second paragraph: Soon afterward, armed with a board, a helmet,
A Smallville man escaped injury Saturday after and knee and elbow pads, Seder took his first
plunging over Wohelo Falls in a kayak. tentative ride. He was 49 years old. DIRECT ADDRESS LEADS
Lance Boyle, 27, was treated for cuts and Today, Seder is 54 and still skating . . . . Virtually all news stories are written in an
bruises at Mercy Hospital after what he called a — STEVE WILSON, Portland Tribune
objective, third-person voice; stories refer to
“wild, boneheaded ride.” Ideally, the anecdote will have a beginning, him, her, they, them. But feature stories often
Spreading the information through two short middle and end; it will be a mini-story that use the second-person voice to speak directly
paragraphs makes it easier to digest than if sheds some light on the bigger story you’re to you, the reader:
you crammed it all into one long paragraph. about to tell. If you’ve been waiting for a chance to collect
By structuring that same information a bit Some feature stories begin by dropping every episode of “The Simpsons” in one boxed
differently — still using a delayed-identifica- you right into the action — action that often DVD set, you’re finally in luck.
tion lead — the story takes a different tone: continues throughout the entire story. These
For a feature about “missed connection”
Lance Boyle will never forget the “wild, bone- are called narrative leads. If anecdotal leads
classified ads, a direct address lead may be the
headed ride” he took Saturday. are like snapshots, narrative leads are movies:
best way to explain the story’s topic:
The Smallville man escaped injury after plung- “Oh, Jesus,” she moaned softly. She squeezed
ing over Wohelo Falls in a kayak. You’re at a party when you spot a stranger
my hand.
across the room. You feel a spark, a moment
Most news stories won’t name names in The vacuum machine purred steadily and the
when your eyes lock with his. But your friends
the lead unless they belong to recognizable fetus that was her unborn child was sucked through
are tugging at your sleeve, ready to leave, so
a clear plastic hose and into a large glass bottle.
public figures or celebrities. A lead that does you head out the door. Now you can’t get Mr.
“Oh,” she said again, and scratched my forearm.
that, however, is called — what else? — an “We’re almost done,” the doctor said. “I just
Fascinating Stranger out of your mind. Why
immediate identification lead: didn’t you just go over and talk? What if he felt
have to check and make sure you’re all clean and
the same connection?
Actress Scarlett Johansson was involved in a empty.”
Some people don’t just wonder — they
minor car crash near Disneyland last week while She squeezed my hand harder. . . .
advertise. . . .
trying to elude photographers. — BOB GREENE, from a column called “Kathy’s Abortion” — KRISTI TURNQUIST, The Oregonian
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 47

OUT REWRITE TOSS IT OUT REWRITE TOSS IT OUT REWRITE

. . . AND THREE LAZY

LEADS YOU SHOULD
BLIND LEADS ROUNDUP LEADS GENERALLY AVOID
These are more extreme versions of the Sometimes, instead of focusing on just one
person, place or thing in the lead, you want � Topic leads. It’s not enough to simply
delayed identification leads mentioned earlier.
You deliberately tease readers by withholding to impress the reader with a longer list. Take state that a game was played —
a key piece of information, then spring it on the roundup lead on this legislature story: The Swamp Toads battled the Mudhogs
them in a subsequent paragraph. Like this: in a crucial conference playoff Saturday.
Gamblers get more choices. Smokers inhale
The most valuable consumers in the apparel cheaper cigarettes. And tipplers can hoist a — or that a meeting was held:
business right now are people who carry no cash, round to Oregon lawmakers who kept state The school board convened Tuesday night
have no credit cards and often spit up dinner on alcohol taxes among the lowest in the nation. to discuss complaints about the cafeteria.
their new clothes. Even gluttons came out OK in the just-ended Those are called topic leads. And they’re
They’re infants and toddlers — and at a time legislative session, which rejected efforts to lazy. The news is not that a game was
when sales in many apparel categories are flat, require more nutritious school lunches and more played; what matters is the outcome of
they’re fueling a major boom in baby clothes. time in PE classes.
the game. Who won? And yes, the school
— JOHN REINAN, Star Tribune (Minneapolis) “Sin had a fabulous session,” summed up
Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland. board met. Big deal. What happened?
Here’s a terrific blind lead for a sports story: — HARRY ESTEVE, The Oregonian Topic leads are weak because they
First the pale pink nail polish. Then the gold stud convey no actual news. Instead, they say
This feature story uses a blind roundup lead:
earrings and the monogrammed purse. to readers: Maybe something happened.
Is this any way for a football player to dress? Sherlock Holmes did it. So did Albert Einstein, Or maybe not. We’re not sure.
It is if she’s a girl. Hugh Hefner, Bing Crosby, Gen. Douglas MacArthur,
Meet Erin Shilk, 5-foot-3 and 108 pounds: lover President Gerald Ford and Popeye the Sailor.
� Question leads. Some editors loathe
of the Aggies, boys, soccer, cooking and chemis- Yes, they all discovered the secret of looking
try. She’s a girl blazing a trail for the ’90s. . . . smooth, suave and utterly sophisticated: sports stories that begin with questions —
— BONNIE GANGELHOFF, The Houston Post Pipe-smoking. Did the Swamp Toads finally figure out
how to reverse the Mudhog curse Saturday?
— or meeting stories, too, for that matter:
What has the school board decided to do
to reduce complaints about cafeteria food?
Get. To. The. Point.
THE STARTLING STATEMENT WORDPLAY LEADS Question leads are just weak, irritating
stalls — sometimes. But does that make
One in four Americans will be infected with This catch-all category encompasses a wide all question leads taboo? No. It’s possible
a sexually transmitted disease at some point in range of amusing leads, including bad puns: to craft clever, engaging questions that
their lives. Did that grab your attention? For Germans trying to lose weight, the wurst hook us into reading further. But beware;
That’s the goal of the startling statement is yet to come. you may need to convince grumpy editors
(also called a “zinger” or a “Hey, Martha!” ). Or this scene-setter with sound effects: that a question lead is the best option.
It’s used to begin this story from Romania.
Kawhoooooooomp! The Hell Candidates’ twin
We dare you — try to stop reading: flame cannons torch off like the burners igniting � Quote leads. Seldom is a quote so
Before Toma Petre’s relatives pulled his body in a jet engine and flames spike 20 feet up into terrific that it becomes the smartest,
from the grave, ripped out his heart, burned it the lights above the stage of the Paris Theatre. most engaging way to launch a story.
to ashes, mixed it with water and drank it, he — JOHN FOYSTON, The Oregonian
hadn’t been in the news much.
Instead, what usually happens is this:
Or this portrait painted with typography: “The cafeteria food is awful, and it costs
That’s often the way it is with vampires here
in Romania. Quiet lives, active deaths. Most dogs have upper teeth shaped something too much,” said sophomore Anne Chovey at
Villagers here are outraged that the police are like this: VVVVVVVVVVV. the school board meeting Tuesday.
involved in a simple vampire slaying. After all, Buster Finkel, sad-faced pet of Max Finkel, has
The problem? The quote doesn’t fairly
vampire slaying is an accepted, though hidden, upper teeth something like this: UUUUUUUUU.
summarize the story. It’s an opinion, not
bit of national heritage, even if illegal. Or witty wordplay like this, from a story a fact. We don’t immediately know who’s
“What did we do?” pleaded Flora Marinescu, about a mother caught in the middle between speaking. The sentence ends awkwardly.
Petre’s sister. “If they’re right, he was already the police and the welfare system. Here’s how
dead. If we’re right, we killed a vampire and
That quote would work well in the sec-
saved three lives. Is that so wrong?”
reporter Heather Svokos started that story: ond paragraph — following a newsier lead.
— MATTHEW SCHOFIELD, Knight Ridder Newspapers Rock. Susan McQuaide. Hard place.
48 NEWSWRITING BASICS

After the lead. . .what next? THE SECOND

PARAGRAPH
(THE NUT GRAF)
Just write another paragraph. Then add another. And another . . . . AND WHY IT’S
Writers spend lots of time and energy crafting their leads. Which is good, especially when IMPORTANT
it forces you to evaluate your material and prioritize your facts. As we’ve seen, there are basically
Yet writing a lead is just the beginning. A lead may hook readers into starting a story; it two types of leads:
1) Those that summarize the
may brilliantly distill crucial data. But you have to follow the lead with good material, too. story, getting right to the point, and
So how do you do that? How do you 2) Those that don’t.
decide what facts go where? And when? Now, there’s nothing wrong with
And all those other W’s? writing a punchy lead that teases or
amuses readers. Like this:
It mostly depends on how long the story
Want to live longer? Have another beer.
will be. That’s why it’s essential to discuss
assignments with an editor before you start Fun stuff ! But readers will quickly
ask, What’s this story about? Which
writing. You may think a story has awesome is why the next paragraph says:
potential, but your editor may decide it’s Researchers from Laube University
only worth a 6-inch brief. Or conversely, say beer has antioxidant boosters that
that innocent-looking little feature story could help fight cancer, heart disease
and diabetes.
could blossom into a prize-winning epic.
Aha! Now we see.
Once you know a story’s length, you can
That paragraph — the one that
estimate how tightly you’ll need to condense condenses the story idea
your material. Some things will fit; others into a nutshell — is
won’t. Not a problem: Even the Book of called the nut graf.
Genesis squeezes the creation of the universe And it’s vital.
Without a nut
into just seven paragraphs. graf, impatient
And it’s got a great lead. readers may wonder
What’s the point? and drift away,
no matter how clever your lead is.

BRIEFS AND BRITES: The best way to get the hang of writing news stories is to start MUST EVERY STORY
small, with briefs. A brief is any news story that’s — well, brief. CONTAIN A NUT GRAF, THEN?
NEWS STORIES IN A Some briefs are just a paragraph long (like the smartly crafted No. Nut grafs are helpful for
CONDENSED FORM news summaries on the front page of The Wall Street Journal). feature stories (see examples at
Longer briefs may contain five or six paragraphs; if they’re bigger than that, they’re called stories. right). But for news stories, your
Some briefs are written as entertaining little featurettes. They’re called brites, and they’re usually odd second or third paragraph may
or amusing news nuggets told in a humorous or ironic way, as an alternative to ordinary briefs. have other duties to perform. You
Here’s an example of each. may need it to supplement any of
the five W’s missing from the lead:
A BRIEF: Most standard news briefs are written A BRITE: Brites provide more personality and more
A Salem golfer is recovering after
using the inverted pyramid structure: a summary comic relief than standard news briefs. The lead being hit by lightning Friday morning.
lead followed by additional details in descending tries harder to provoke interest; the ending often Adam Neve, 53, is in fair condition
order of importance. That’s true for this example, serves as a “kicker,” providing a whimsical or at Mercy Hospital after being knocked
as well. It’s a typical news brief summarizing the unusual punch line. The key is keeping everything unconscious on the third hole of Salem
key facts of a local bank robbery. as short and tight as possible. Golf Club during a sudden thunderstorm.
Or to provide background for the
A man robbed a Lake Grove-area bank Monday, It’s enough to bring tears — or milk — to your eyes. action described in the lead:
making off with an undisclosed amount of cash. In Istanbul Wednesday, a Turkish construction
Electricity was finally restored for
No weapon was seen, and no one was hurt in the worker poured milk into his hand, snorted it up his
3,000 shivering Loften residents Friday.
incident. nose and squirted it 9.2 feet out of his left eye in what
Repair crews worked for more than
According to Lake Oswego police records, a man he hopes will be recognized as a new world record.
72 hours after Monday night’s ice
entered the Key Bank branch at 16210 S.W. Bryant Road “I’m happy and proud that I can get Turkey in the
storm downed dozens of power lines.
about 3:15 p.m. and presented a teller with a note record book even if it’s for milk squirting,” said Ilker
demanding money. The man then left the branch’s Yilmaz, 28, who is able to perform the unusual feat Or to add a supporting quote:
back door and rode away on a bicycle. because of an anomaly in his tear gland. It’s official: Ike Arumba, the Stars’
Police described the man as in his 20s, about 5 feet Guinness World Records will officially verify Yilmaz’s star shortstop, is out for the season.
10 inches tall and 180 pounds. He was last seen wear- record after reviewing documents from witnesses at “My doctor said he’s never seen a
ing a baseball or fisherman-type cap, jeans, and a the event, which was sponsored by Kay Sut, a Turkish wrist as badly shattered as mine,” said
black, long-sleeved, quilted jacket. milk company. Arumba, who was hit by a pitch in
Saturday’s game against Lincoln.

EXERCISES IN WRITING BRIEFS AND BRITES 65, 66

 NEWSWRITING BASICS 49

THE PARTS OF A STORY:

HOW TO ORGANIZE YOUR FACTS EFFECTIVELY
You’ve written a terrific lead. You’ve added a solid nut graf.
Congratulations. Now what? How to read these stories:
In the first story (left), we
You need to outline your story. To do that, first review your labeled each paragraph
notes. Organize your material into sections, then try arranging A , B , C , D , etc.
those sections in different orders to see what’s most logical. In the second story, notice
For instance, suppose a college is debating whether to outlaw how we’ve repositioned
dogs on the school grounds. Here are two different ways to those same paragraphs.
organize that story. Both work fine, but which do you prefer?

This story uses all of Version One’s material but

VERSION ONE Here’s a straightforward story written as an
inverted pyramid. (Notice how you could cut the
VERSION TWO arranges the paragraphs in a different order to
text after paragraphs E, G or H.) As you read the story, pay attention produce a different effect. Notice how this version begins and ends
to its structure. Does the material flow logically from point to point? with Juliet, the dog owner. Does this structure seem more appealing?

THE LEAD Dog poop. It’s everywhere: on the side- Juliet loves Romeo.
THE LEAD/
A humorous approach A walk, on the lawn, on the soles of your “He’s my sweetie,” she says. “He sleeps
SIMS QUOTE #2
to the dog problem. F This lead starts the
shoes. with me, eats with me, showers with me.
He even goes to class with me.” story with a more
THE NUT GRAF But that may soon change. The Bilford human angle.
This is the essence — College board of trustees, in response to But that may soon change. The Bilford
the so what? — of the B hundreds of complaints, is considering a College board of trustees, in response to
story: Dogs may soon new regulation declaring the campus off- hundreds of complaints, is considering a B THE NUT GRAF
be outlawed. limits to dogs. new regulation declaring the campus off-
limits to dogs.
Ferris Wheeler, president of Students
Against Dogs (SAD), has collected nearly Which means that Juliet Sims may SIMS QUOTE #1
THE PROTESTER
300 signatures on a petition calling for a have to bid farewell to Romeo, her golden
We now hear from an Now we get the joke:
campus dog ban. retriever, whenever she goes to school.
anti-dog spokesman C Romeo is . . . a dog!
“This stinks,” Wheeler says. “I mean, “This proposal is ugly and unfair to
who addresses the This is called a blind
this school smells like dog doo. Irresponsi- responsible dog owners like me,” says E
why question. lead — where readers
ble pet owners are letting their dogs chase Sims, a junior living off campus. “I admit
have to wait a para-
cyclists, bark and crap all over campus.” there’s too much poop on the sidewalks,
but it’s wrong to let a few bad apples ruin graph or two for the
RECENT Last week, the school’s landscaping it for everybody.” setup to pay off.
DEVELOPMENTS crew — which students call the “poop
This describes when D patrol” — tried posting signs saying “NO Campus regulations currently require
all dogs to be leashed, but the rule is rarely THE CURRENT LAW
and how students and DOGS ALLOWED.” Students tore them
enforced. And while pets are prohibited H This info now appears
staff are reacting. down. Tempers have started to flare.
in campus dormitories, no law has ever sooner than it did in
SIMS QUOTE #1 “This proposal is ugly and unfair to banned them from school grounds. the previous story.
To balance the responsible dog owners like me,” says jun-
E ior Juliet Sims. “I admit there’s too much But lately, some anti-dog activists have
argument, Juliet now
poop on the sidewalks, but it’s wrong to let started to bark. Ferris Wheeler, president THE PROTESTER
expresses the views of
a few bad apples ruin it for everybody.” of Students Against Dogs (SAD), has col- Notice how the anti-
student dog owners.
lected nearly 300 signatures on a petition dog argument comes
Sims lives off-campus with a golden calling for a campus dog ban.
SIMS QUOTE #2 C later in this version.
retriever named Romeo. “He’s my sweet- “This stinks,” Wheeler says. “I mean,
With quotes this juicy, Does that seem to tilt
F ie,” she says. “He sleeps with me, eats this school smells like dog doo. Irresponsi-
we’re happy to let her the story in favor of
with me, showers with me. He even goes ble pet owners are letting their dogs chase
keep talking. . . . to class with me.”
Juliet? Is this biased?
cyclists, bark and crap all over campus.”
A ban on dogs would pose a painful Last week, the school’s landscaping RECENT
SIMS QUOTE #3
Another juicy, G
dilemma for dog-lovers like Sims. crew — which students call the “poop DEVELOPMENTS
“I hate locking Romeo up all day,” she patrol” — tried posting signs saying “NO D Notice how the line
dramatic sound bite.
says. “I’d rather quit this stupid school.” DOGS ALLOWED.” Students tore them about “tempers” leads
down. Tempers have started to flare. into the next paragraph.
Campus regulations currently require
THE CURRENT LAW
all dogs to be leashed, but the rule is rarely To resolve the dispute, the board will
This provides more
H enforced. And while pets are prohibited hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in I WHAT NEXT?
context about pet
in campus dormitories, no law has ever Bilford Union, Room 11.
rules on campus.
banned them from school grounds.
A ban on dogs would pose a painful
WHAT NEXT? To resolve the dispute, the board will dilemma for dog-lovers like Juliet Sims.
SIMS QUOTE #3
I hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Thursday in G Like closing a circle,
We finish by sending “I hate locking Romeo up all day,” she
readers to the big Bilford Union, Room 11. says. “I’d rather quit this stupid school.” the story ends where it
meeting. began: with Juliet.x

HOW WOULD YOU WRITE THIS STORY FOR BROADCAST? > 188 THIS STORY STRUCTURE IS SHAPED LIKE A KABOB> 50
 NEWSWRITING BASICS

AND AS YOU
Story structure MOVE FROM
PARAGRAPH TO
Giving an overall shape to your writing. PARAGRAPH,
Let’s be clear: There’s no simple, droolproof, one- REMEMBER:
size-fits-all solution for organizing news material. � Keep paragraphs short.
Every story will unfold in a different way. Short, punchy paragraphs
Still, there’s nothing random about good writing. are much easier for readers
to scan and absorb.
Every story needs a beginning, middle and end. Really.
You can’t just toss facts together into a news salad Some reporters have
and expect readers to swallow it. If you want them even trained themselves
to digest what you’re saying, you’ve got to organize to write just one sentence
each story’s overall structure. Here are some recipes. per paragraph.
Like this.
Think of it this way: In
a thin newspaper column,
ORGANIZING YOUR THE INVERTED PYRAMID thick paragraphs (like the
MOST IMPORTANT FACTS
Best for: News briefs, stories about one you’re reading now)
STORY: THE MOST breaking news events. OTHER KEY FACTS get dense and daunting.
COMMON SHAPES Not recommended for: Anything else. MORE FACTS As long, wordy sentences
You may think newswriting is a free- How it works: Summarize the key facts in a stack up, your eyes find
style, seat-of-the-pants, spur-of-the- concise lead. Then organize the story as logically ETC., ETC. no place to rest. Deep
moment, sit-down-and-just-bang-it- as possible, arranging paragraphs in descending order ETC. paragraphs may actually
out kind of thing. of importance. End the story when you run out of facts
discourage readers from
(or you run out of room on the page).
Wrong. Write that way and your sticking with your story.
stories become clumsy, rambling So you should also try to:
jumbles of random facts and quotes. � Write one idea per
THE MARTINI GLASS THE LEAD
Readers hate chaos. Confuse them paragraph. Keep your
Also known as: The hourglass.
and you’ll lose them. Best for: Crimes, disasters or other dramatic KEY FACTS IN focus tight, especially
So think before you write. Organize news stories where you want to include a INVERTED PYRAMID when explaining complex
your ideas. Plan your story, whether by FORM
chronology to explain how events unfolded. material. Parcel out your
sketching a quick outline, visualizing a How it works: Begin with an inverted-pyramid information in short,
mental image or brainstorming with summary of the story’s most important facts. Once CHRONOLOGY paragraph-sized chunks.
an editor — whatever helps you draw that’s done, shift into a chronological narrative. OF EVENTS Think about hitting the
a road map for your story to follow. (Try setting it up with a phrase such as Police gave return key every time you
If you get stuck, try carving your this account of the accident:) . Then detail what type a period.
story’s structure into broad sections, happened, step by step. If possible, end with a kicker
(a surprise twist or strong closing quote). � Add transitions. To
such as: keep your story flowing,
Example: See “Check-writer sets off clerk’s internal
I. The Problem alarm” in the Morgue, page 237. KICKER guide the reader from one
II. How It Got This Way idea to another with care-
III. Where We Go From Here fully placed transitions —
Or try something like this: THE KABOB words or phrases such as:
I. Look: This Person Has a Problem Also known as: The Wall Street Journal formula or However, Meanwhile,
II. Uh-oh. The Problem Is Everywhere the circle. ANECDOTE In addition, Previously,
III. What the Experts Say Best for: Stories on trends or events where you want to Finally, On a related issue,
IV. What the Future Holds show how actual people are affected or involved.
How it works: The story begins with a quote or anecdote NUT In this example, notice
V. What It All Means for That Person GRAF how transitions (in italics)
We Met at the Start of the Story about a specific person. Then it broadens into a general
discussion of the topic. It ends by returning to that help connect the ideas
That structure, it turns out, is quite specific person again. from sentence to sentence:
popular with journalists, especially Think of it as arranging meat and veggies on a shish MEAT Police will cast a watchful
feature writers at the Wall Street kabob skewer: Start with a juicy red tomato (an anecdote). eye on downtown revelers this
Journal. To save time and effort, many Follow that with a nut graf. Then add meat — chunk after New Year’s Eve.
crafty reporters automatically pour chunk after chunk — until MEAT But police admitted they will
their stories into that tried-and-true CLOSING OPENING you reach the end, where you not be as prepared for trouble
shape (just like they pour breaking ANECDOTE ANECDOTE reprise with another tomato as they had hoped. For one
(a final quote or anecdote). MEAT thing, backups from the state
news into inverted pyramids). The Wall Street Journal highway patrol will probably
Yes, we know: Every story is unique. is well known for writing not be available.
NUT
Still, if it helps you structure material DETAILS GRAF stories this way. Some also Instead, Police Chief David
ANECDOTE
by visualizing physical shapes like view it as a circle like the Barker said he will rely on
pyramids, circles or martini glasses, one at left. Whatever. reservists to augment the city’s
consider the options at right. Example: See “For those cut off, a life primeval,” page 227. regular officers.
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 51

SO WHAT CAN ALTERNATIVES TO LONG, GRAY NEWS STORIES

YOU DO TO KEEP BULLETS SUBHEADS
READERS FROM
One effective way to emphasize a Ours are boldface, underlined and gray
GETTING BORED? series of items is to add bullets, which (but they work in plain black, too). Notice
See these two guys here? highlight key points so they “pop” out how they visually divide the text in this
See how they’re reading their of the text. For best results: sidebar into four smaller sections.
newspaper with excited grins � Start with a boldface phrase, like this, Subheads break long stories into short,
on their faces? Well, nobody to make your main points easy to scan. accessible chunks. You can add them
does that anymore. Sorry. � Use parallel construction. Here, for anytime there’s a shift in topics —
Nowadays, readers are in a hurry. They’re impatient. They’re example, every bullet item is a handy tip, which means that if you want to make
and each phrase begins with a verb. complex material more reader-friendly,
easily bored. Your job is to deliver the news to them in the most
� Run at least three items. Fewer than you can build subheads into your story as
appealing, accessible, easy-to-digest way. In fact, we could argue you write it. Like we’ve done here.
that and lists look odd or incomplete.
that the modern journalist’s job basically boils down to:
Throughout this book, we use bullets
1) teaching, and (with boldface type and diamond-shaped OTHER SHORT-FORM OPTIONS
2) storytelling. dingbats) to highlight and summarize tips Not every story requires paragraph
Which means that anytime you have a wonderful narrative story and lists. Bullets work in news stories, too. after paragraph after paragraph of text.
to tell, by all means tell it. Weave your magic. Paint a picture. Take this book, for example. Have you
Make us laugh. Make us cry. SIDEBARS noticed how there’s virtually no long-
But how often will you find those wonderful narrative stories ? A sidebar is any short feature written winded text anywhere in this thing?
Sad to say, they’re awfully rare. Which means that most of the time to accompany a longer story. Sidebars You be the judge: Has this format made
your job will be teaching readers about complex issues and events. usually run in boxes beside or beneath the information easier for you to absorb?
You’ll have to think like a teacher; you’ll have to constantly ask: the main story, like the one you’re read- Or have we dumbed it down too much?
ing now. They help you reorganize com- You can craft news stories the same
What’s the most effective way to convey this material?
plex information into smaller sections, to way we’ve structured this book. You can
For today’s readers, gray pages packed with paragraph after which you can add graphics, photos, etc. break complex material into lists. Quizzes.
paragraph of long-winded narrative text simply isn’t the most As it turns out, sidebars often have Q and A’s. Timelines. Chronologies. First-
effective way to communicate anymore. higher readership than the stories they person flashbacks. Diagrams.
Later on, we’ll explore this topic further.x But for now, before accompany simply because they’re In Chapter 6, we’ll show in more detail
you unleash any mile-long narratives, consider these alternatives: shorter and easier to access. how these alternatives work.x

THE ENDING. SAM STANTON of the ERIN BARNETT wrote about a

THE CLOSER. Sacramento Bee concluded woman caring for her failing � Plan ahead. Don’t
THE KICKER. his story about the execution husband, an Alzheimer’s victim:
just end a story because
THE BIG FINISH. of a murderer this way: She pulls a turtleneck over John’s you ran out of material.
A guard read the wordy wiry gray hair. Then she brushes his Write the ending right
Good writers agonize over endings the
announcement that contained a teeth and his wet hair before pull- after you write the lead,
same way they agonize over leads. They often
simple message: ing him up. He looks down at her. then fill in the middle.
save their best stuff for last: a juicy quote. A
Robert Alton Harris had been She looks up at him. Think of the lead and
revealing anecdote. An amazing fact. A clever
declared legally dead at 6:21 p.m. “There you go sweetie,” she says. the ending as bookends.
pun. The goal is to give the story a climax, a
The witnesses filed outside, And John is off. He strides back
punch line — what writers call a kicker. � Don’t end stories
into the bright sunlight. through the bedroom. He passes a
“You should hear it echoing in your head by summarizing what
After 25 years and nine days, watercolor of maroon, yellow and
when you put the paper down,” says Bruce we’ve learned, like term
California’s gas chamber was brown on the wall. Nellie says it is
DeSilva of The Associated Press. “It should papers do. There’s no
back in operation. nasturtiums climbing out of their
stay with you and make you think a little bit.” need to revisit or rehash
planter box. Like all her paintings,
this one has a name. She calls it points you’ve previously
“Breaking Free.” made. We don’t need
DON HAMILTON covered the
any sermonettes, either.
dedication ceremony at a
Vietnam War memorial. � Avoid cute clichés
His story ended: RICK BELLA begins his story about like That’s all, folks , or
a seaside sand-castle contest with And that’s the way it is.
Toward the end of the cere- a biblical reference:
mony, Lee Ripley looked down � End with a bang (a
In the beginning, there was mud.
and shook his head. Ripley served strong word or phrase),
in the Air Force in 1968 and 1969. The story concludes this way: not a whimper (a weak
“I hope we don’t have to do Finally, as the crowd retreated, attribution like “he
this again anytime in the future,” the Pacific lapped at the creations, said”). Effective writers
he said quietly. “But I bet they reclaiming the sand to re-create try to place their most
said that after Gettysburg. We the familiar beach. emphatic words here,
still haven’t learned anything.”x Ashes to ashes, mud to mud. at the end.

“CHUNKING” STORIES FOR ONLINE READERS 165 READ THIS ENTIRE STORY 216 MORE ON SHORT-FORM ALTERNATIVES 132
52 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Rewriting
Your story’s good. Now make it better.
Observe, at right, Ludwig van Beethoven struggling
to write one of his orchestral works. Notice how the
brilliant composer wrote and rewrote and rewrote
note after note after note. And even after he died,
Beethoven kept on decomposing.
Ba-da-boom.
Hey, but seriously . . . any veteran journalist will
tell you that writing, as the adage goes, is rewriting.
Few stories arrive fully formed and perfectly
phrased; most require rethinking, restructuring,
rewording and a lot of other “re” words.
“There’s no rule on how to write,” Hemingway
once said. “Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly.
Sometimes it is like drilling rock and blasting it out with charges.”
We could explain further, but first we’ve got to go back and “Very few sentences come out
polish up that Beethoven joke. right the first time, or even the
third time. I’m always surprised
that people think professional
writers get everything right on
BEFORE & AFTER: Stories don’t always start out bad. They don’t always end up good. the first try. Just the opposite
The goal of rewriting is to make things a little better, then a little better, is true; nobody rewrites more
A REPORTER’S then a little better — until you run out of time. often than the true professional.
EARLY DRAFT Take the story below, part of a Labor Day package on people with odd I rewrite everything at least
AND FINAL STORY jobs. Compare the before-and-after changes that make it more readable: five or six times.”
William Zinsser,
BEFORE AFTER author of On Writing Well
No, no, no. This lead This lead is better
is too cutesy. Linda Marvin is a cheese Linda Marvin’s nose (or, at least, it’s fun “I hate to write; I like to revise.
whiz. knows cheese. to read aloud). And the amount of revision I
Sentence is long and For the past four years, As cheese grading analyst do is terrific. I like to get the
dull, with weak verbs, Marvin has been a cheese grad- for the Tillamook County This paragraph is now first draft out of my system.
clunky phrasing (“as tighter and punchier.
ing analyst for the Tillamook Creamery Association, she That’s the hardest thing for me.”
such”) and redundancy Verbs are stronger
County Creamery Association, spends each day smelling Malcolm Cowley,
(grading, inspecting, and more colorful. reporter and novelist
and as such, she is responsible and squeezing chunks of
monitoring). Very slow
for inspecting and monitoring Tillamook cheese.
going. Another sentence “It is perfectly OK to write
the quality of Tillamook cheese. She chooses some cheese,
that’s fun to say garbage — as long as you edit
Such a weak cliché. As quietly as a mouse, she then chews it. Sniffs it. Snaps
aloud. These short brilliantly. In other words,
And “cuts the cheese” ? cuts the cheese, chews it, smells off a slab. Rubs her fingers
sentence fragments until you have something
Please. Are we trying to it and rubs her fingers in it. in it.
embarrass this woman? speed the read. down on paper (even if it’s
Marvin carefully inspects the Marvin gives that cheese a
terrible) there is nothing you
“Carefully inspects” color, texture, odor and flavor of complete physical checkup —
A change in wording. can improve. The audience
seems redundant. the cheese, which other cheese color, texture, odor, flavor —
neither needs nor gets to see
(Can you carelessly makers don’t do. That lowers something lesser cheese
Another sentence the less-than-brilliant first
inspect something?) their quality, she says, which makers don’t bother doing.
fragment. And an draft, so they won’t know you
hurts the industry overall. Which cheeses her off.
The word “which” attempt at humor. weren’t brilliant all along.”
“I’m very proud of my work,” “I’m very proud of my C.J. Cherryh,
is used the same way
she says. “People say, ‘I don’t work,” she explains. “People Those last two science fiction author
in two consecutive
know if I could chew cheese say, ‘I don’t know if I could extraneous sentences
sentences. “Someone said a work of art
every day.’ But luckily, I love chew cheese every day.’ But have been removed
A nice quote, but it cheese. I really do. And I really luckily, I love cheese.” from this quote. is never finished, it’s always
rambles on for too don’t mind doing this.” After four years of cheese- abandoned. I will rewrite until
The reference to they literally seize it from my
long. So with all this constant chewing, has Marvin packed “four years” has
cheese-chewing, has Marvin on a few extra pounds? hand and say stop.”
moved here, from the
That phrase “put on put on a lot of weight? “I spit it out,” she says Sally Quinn, columnist
second paragraph.
a lot of weight” “I spit it out,” she says, “so I with a laugh, “so I haven’t
sounds harsh and “A few extra pounds” “There is nothing to writing.
haven’t gained any weight.” gained any weight.” is kinder and gentler.
insensitive. All you do is sit down at a
typewriter and open a vein.”
Red Smith, sports columnist
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 53

PASSIVE VERBS JARGON AND JOURNALESE

There is a problem many reporters struggle Bureaucrats love to use words like utilize,
with. The sentences that are written by them finalize and structured. Cops like to say suspects
are passive. Their phrasing is made awkward are apprehended and incarcerated. And if you’re
because of this, and — wait! Stop!! a campus spokesman, why say “the school can’t
Let’s rewrite that paragraph to make it less afford the pay raises” when you could say “the
passive: salary scale revision will adversely affect the
Many reporters struggle because they write university’s financial stability” ?
passive sentences. This makes their phrasing Good reporters relentlessly filter out bloated,
awkward. convoluted jargon and officialese. And those
See the difference? We’ve strengthened our who don’t should be redirected, transitioned,
syntax by starting sentences with their subjects. involuntarily separated, or possibly subject to
We’ve eliminated that clunky phrase there is. personnel surplus reduction — i.e., fired.
And we’ve replaced the verb to be (words such But reporters often lapse into “journalese”
as is and are) with stronger verbs. without realizing it. Journalese, as veteran editor
You don’t have to be a grammar geek to see Joe Grimm puts it, is the peculiar language that
our point here. Make your sentences emphatic. newspapers have evolved that reads like this:
Avoid weak, flabby verbs. No — don’t just avoid Negotiators yesterday, in an eleventh-hour decision
them. Zap them. Whack them. Give them the LONG, LONG, LONG following marathon talks, hammered out agreement
heave-ho. Gun them down and snuff them out. WORDY SENTENCES on a key wage provision they earlier had rejected.
It should be pointed out that many That’s not as bad as bureaucratic gobbledygook.
writers, in order to make themselves But it’s still a problem because it’s full of:
sound much more profound and
REDUNDANCY . . . AND scholarly than perhaps they actually
REPEATING YOURSELF
are, use flabby, inflated wording such
Sorry. Obviously, we got carried away at the as “it should be pointed out” and “in
CLICHES ´
end of Tip #1. order to” and “perhaps” — which we Beyond the shadow of a doubt, you should work
But sometimes it’s not so obvious that you’re just did ourselves, in fact, earlier in 24/7 to avoid clichés like the plague. Hel-lo?
using unnecessary words and phrases. Why say this sentence — in addition to piling It’s a no-brainer. Go ahead . . . make my day.
that someone is currently president of the club? up clauses (some using dashes such as Tired clichés instantly lower the IQ of your
Or that the game is scheduled for Friday night? those a few words back) or parentheses, writing. So do corny newswriting clichés (a
Or that the victims were burned in the flames? such as those in the line above, not to form of journalese) like these:
Those italicized words add bulk but no extra mention semicolons, which often sug- The close-knit community was shaken by the tragedy.
meaning, just like these doublespeak phrases: gest that the writer wants to end the Tempers flared over a laundry list of complaints.
grateful thanks true facts personal opinion sentence, but just can’t bring himself The embattled mayor is cautiously optimistic, but
all-time record end result serious danger to actually type a period; nonetheless, troubled youths face an uncertain future sparked by
totally destroyed very unique first time ever massive blasts in bullet-riddled, shark-infested waters.
today’s busy readers are too impatient
Be on the lookout for unnecessary modifiers to tolerate the sort of 18th-century So now begins the heartbreaking task of cleaning up.
that sound logical but add nothing. Eliminate pomposity wherein writers, so in love Yes, clichés can come in handy. And yes, a
waste. Edit yourself ruthlessly. As Mark Twain with the sound of their own voices, skilled writer can use them in clever ways.
once advised: “When in doubt, strike it out.” just go on and on and on aand nd on and Once in a blue moon. x
on an d n
d n odnand
dnoonannnd ooan dononon
an d onadnoodnoannd onand on
nd a n
a
a and onand o
andaon dan an and
ann onand
onand and
ononand onand onon

Is your writing murky? Dense? Too wordy and complex? Since most Americans read at about a 9th-grade level,
Test it and see. The Fog Index, developed by Robert Gunning experts advise aiming for a Fog Index of 7 or 8, just to be safe.
50 years ago, measures the readability of your prose. It assumes The Bible, Mark Twain and TV Guide have Fog Indexes of about
that the longer your sentences are, and the bigger the words you 6. (So does this Fog Index story.) Gassy academic papers and
use, the tougher your stuff is to read. foggy government reports score in the — ugh — twenties.
Here’s how to calculate your Fog Index: Consider this example:
1) Find a typical sample of your writing, one that uses “The developments in the reconstruction project come
around 100 words. after revelations that an extensive effort by the Goode Administration to repair
2) Count the average number of words you use per sentence. damages at 82 houses near the destroyed homes has been plagued by shoddy
3) Now count the total number of “hard” words you use — those with workmanship, double-billing by contractors, inadequate management controls
three syllables or more (not counting proper names). and ongoing disputes over how much damage was caused by the May 13 siege in
4) Add those two figures together. which a police bomb ignited a blaze that killed 11 people.”
Example: If you average 12 words per sentence and use 10 big words, That paragraph has a Fog Index of 30. Now consider this from Winston Churchill:
12 + 10 =22. “We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France. We shall fight in the seas
5) Multiply that sum by 0.4. and oceans. We shall fight on the beaches, in the fields, in the streets, and in the
The resulting number is your Fog Index: the number of years of schooling a hills. We shall never surrender.”
reader needs to understand what you’ve written. Like it? It has a Fog Index of 3.4 .

AN AMUSING LIST OF JOURNALISTIC CLICHES > 295

54 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Editing
Who’s going to clean up the errors in your story?
For centuries, reporters have had a love-hate relationship with
their editors. On the one hand, reporters see editors as “the
boss” — barking orders, spiking stories and mangling their
exquisite prose. “I am not the editor of a newspaper,”
Mark Twain once said, “and shall always try to do right
and be good so that God will not make me one.”
But on the other hand, where would you be with-
out editors? Who would organize the news coverage?
Pacify angry readers? Fix your clumsy spelling?
Delete that innocent-looking phrase in your story
that might get you sued?
Every story needs editing, and every news-
room needs good editors. Copy editors,
photo editors, design editors, online editors
— they all play a part in making your
efforts as effective as they can be.

HOW EDITORS Every story you write will be edited by an editor — never writes a word and relies on a dozen other editors
or possibly many editors. It varies from newsroom to to process the reporters’ finished stories.
PLAY A PART newsroom. At small publications, one editor may write, Generally, though, editors are responsible for
IN THE STORIES proofread and design every page. At big newspapers, a) managing the newsroom staff, and b) making sure
YOU PRODUCE you might find an “assistant night sports editor” who every story is as error-free as possible. For example:

Don Colburn, a reporter covering health issues As deadline approaches, Cheriel works with Copy editor Kay Mitchell follows behind The
at The Oregonian, discusses a story idea with Colburn on the final draft of his story, making Oregonian’s reporters and editors, making
his editor, Sally Cheriel. comments and suggesting changes. last-minute corrections and writing headlines.
� Assigning the story. Editors try to � Adding new details. Editors will � Editing the content. Several
BEFORE match the story to the right reporter, WHILE notify you of new developments AFTER editors may examine the structure
YOU WRITE weighing factors such as workload, YOU WRITE (“the mayor just got arrested”) YOU WRITE
THE STORY and substance of your story to
THE STORY THE STORY
beat, writing style, prior stories, etc. that force you to revise your story. ensure it’s readable, logical and fair.
� Planning the angle. Editors often urge you to focus � Monitoring your speed. “When’s that tax story � Copy editing. This is where any errors in spelling,
on a particular aspect of the story: “Let’s examine how gonna be done?” With many stories in progress, grammar, punctuation or style get fixed. When
this new law affects part-time students.” editors always keep one eye on the clock, guiding that’s done, a copy editor writes a headline that
� Estimating the scope. How long should each story the staff’s work flow as deadline approaches. summarizes your story.
be? Editors will often decide (“just give me 10 inches”) � Fine-tuning your approach. Before you veer in � Cutting or padding to fit. Once all the photos, ads
based on a story’s impact, the amount of news traffic the wrong direction, editors try to ensure your story and stories combine on the page, some elements
that day, or how much space or time is available. answers the right questions. (“The lead isn’t that they may need to grow or shrink. On deadline, the easiest
� Anticipating the packaging. Some stories are lost the game, it’s that the quarterback broke his leg.”) solution may be to cut the bottom off your story.
simple: just text and a headline. Others require photos, � Monitoring layout changes. If a new ad comes in, � Assigning follow-up stories. Often, one event
sidebars, charts or graphs — and the best time to plan your 20-inch story may suddenly get cut in half. Or (“the mayor resigns”) flows into another (“meet the
a complex package is before you start writing.x the story may hold for a day, waiting for a late photo. new mayor”) — and the whole process begins again.

MORE ON PACKAGE PLANNING > 130

 NEWSWRITING BASICS 55

1 Which would you print? HOW MUCH 6 Which is correct?

___ a) Police arrested the rapist,
Levon Coates, who sheriff Smith
described as a homeless drug addict.
___ b) Police arrested the alleged
EDITTING DO YOU NEED?
___ a) Between you and me, she is a
better reporter than I.
___ b) Between you and I, she is a better
reporter than me.
rapist, Levon Coates, whom Sheriff Smith How’s your spelling?
described as a homeless drug addict. 7 Which would you print?
Grammar? Punctuation?
___ c) Neither of the above. Know much about ___ a) Jim and his friend, Jack, were chased by his
style, usage or libel? dalmatian puppy, Rex, which bit him.
2 Which would you print? Take this test and see ___ b) Jim and his friend Jack were chased by his
___ a) The $4,400,000 grant is allocated into three if you’re ready to write Dalmatian puppy Rex, who bit him.
areas: $1,700,000 for research, $1,900,000 for new a printable story. ___ c) Neither of the above.
oscilators, and $1,800,000 for salaries.
Answers on page 308.
___ b) The $4.4 million grant is allocated into 8 Which would you print?
three areas: $1.7 million for research, $1.9 million ___ a) The boys’ golf team won their first play-off.
for new oscillators and $1.8 million for salaries. ___ b) The boys golf team won its first playoff.
___ c) Neither of the above.
9 Which would you print?
3 Which would you print?
___ a) 20,000 helpless villagers died in the tragic volcano eruption.
___ a) The terrorist will be hanged at midnight.
___ b) Twenty thousand helpless villagers died tragically in the
___ b) The condemned terrorist will be hung at 12 midnight.
volcano eruption.
4 Which would you print? ___ c) The volcano killed 20,000 helpless villagers.
___ a) By the time Lincoln became President, seven states had ___ d) None of the above.
succeeded from the union: South Carolina, Mississippi,
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Georgia. 10 Which would you print?

___ b) By the time Lincoln became president, seven states had ___ a) More than 50 anti-war churchgoers carried handmade signs.
seceded from the Union: South Carolina, Mississippi, ___ b) Over 50 antiwar church-goers carried hand-made signs.
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Georgia.
___ c) Neither of the above. 11 Which would you print?
___ a) Prof. Anne Benson said, “Dr. Wormer is a blackmailing
5 Which would you print? faggot, like my ex-husband.”
___ a) Melman is the candidate that is very heavily favored. ___ b) Professor Anne Benson alleged that Dr. Wormer was
___ b) Melman is the heavily-favored candidate. “a blackmailing faggot” like her ex-husband.
___ c) Neither of the above. ___ c) Neither of the above.

Making sure the narrative of the When you get stumped on some- The best editors inspire, energize,
story flows, finding any holes in thing or run into a reporting or constantly question my copy and
a story, and — yes — catching writing problem, an editor can edit within the tone and cadence
spelling, grammar and punctua- stand back and provide ideas you of my stories. Only one has done
tion boo-boos. haven’t considered. It’s easy to get that in my career.
Michael Becker, Journal-Advocate blinded when you’ve been work- Mark Freeman, Medford Mail Tribune
ing on a story for a long time, and
I rely on editors to save me from a good editor will help you get This is something that is
WHAT DO YOU myself. After a year writing for through that. universally underappreciated and
MOST RELY UPON The Associated Press, I generally Sarah Bahari, Fort Worth Star-Telegram overlooked and, dammit, for me
EDITORS FOR? write pretty cleanly. Then there it’s the most important thing ever:
are those days when I produce I rely on editors to determine enthusiasm. I want an editor
I have learned — after many years massive brain farts and I hope which stories I need to tackle first, who invests as much energy and
of proud ignorance — that I am and pray they yank my copy back which ones deserve the most (or enthusiasm and spirit in a story
only as good as the editor working from the writing abyss. least) space and which ones I can as I do. Most of the other stuff
with me. A good editor can do Carol Cole, The Shawnee News-Star shelve. This is important input for I can get on my own (even my
everything from offer emotional busy journalists who have ever- husband — a TV guy! — can
support on a tough story to help More than anything, I need an growing lists of story ideas. line-edit with the best of ’em).
you reshape the inevitably editor to find the holes in my Jesse Fanciulli, Greeley Daily Tribune Big-picture editing — the kind
bad first draft of a long story. stories. My copy is pretty where thinking and brainstorming
Conversely, a bad editor can lead seamless, and it can disguise a Catching tiny details like “Is it are required — is a very close
you down the road to hell. lot, even from me. Elisabeth or Elizabeth?” second.
Peter Sleeth, The Oregonian Jerry Schwartz, The Associated Press Patricia Miller, Durango Herald Beth Macy, The Roanoke Times
56 NEWSWRITING BASICS

Newswriting style HOT DOGS,

POPSICLES,
DUMPSTERS
You say “Mister Potato Head,” I say “Mr. Potatohead.” Who’s right? AND HARRY
When you write stories, some things are indisputable: S. TRUMAN
how to spell paraphernalia, for example. As you type the You’ll find lots of valuable
writing advice inside The AP
letters, they’ll either be right or wrong. Stylebook (see next page).
But other writing questions can’t always be answered so But if you’re a word nerd,
easily. For instance, one reporter might choose to write you’ll be fascinated by its
grammatical and factual
The ten-inch T.V. costs ninety dollars. Another might say oddities, too. For instance:
The 10” TV costs $90. Both sentences seem correct, but Styrofoam is a trademark for
which version is preferable? And who decides? a brand of plastic foam, but
it’s never used to make cups.
That’s where style guidelines come in. Which means there’s no such
When journalists talk about “style,” they mean either: thing as a styrofoam cup.
� the way you write (in a “playful, comic style,” say, Heroin once was a trademark,
too. But it isn’t anymore.
as opposed to a “somber, intellectual style”), or (Neither is yo-yo.)
� the rules governing punctuation, capitalization and It’s Smokey Bear, not
word usage (saying the president was born Jan.1 instead of Smokey the Bear.
the President was born on January first). When writing about the deity,
God is capitalized. But when
Every news outlet customizes its style guidelines. Some cursing, use lowercase,
news organizations, such as The New York Times, refer goddamn it.
to men as Mr. throughout a story; other publications Dumpster is the trademarked
discourage using such “courtesy titles.” Some capitalize name for a brand of trash bin,
so it’s always capitalized.
the W in Web site; others say website. The same goes for Popsicle,
It’s the copy desk’s job to standardize the style in your Frisbee, Mace, Kitty Litter and
Historical footnote: Years ago, editors wore green eyeshades Seeing Eye dogs.
to shield their eyes from the glare of harsh newsroom lights. stories — but it helps if you know the rules, too.
Pingpong is one word. So
is bonbon. But boo-boo and
pooh-pooh are hyphenated.
And ball point pen is three
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS STYLEBOOK: AN INDUSTRY STANDARD words.
Over time, every newsroom develops It’s the U.S. Navy (capitalized),
style guidelines for writing about local but it’s the French navy
WHAT A STYLEBOOK (lowercase).
ENTRY TELLS YOU people, places and things. Suppose
the center of your campus is officially Dr Pepper: There’s no period
Entries are alphabetical, called Smith Quadrangle, but students in the soft drink’s name.
as in a dictionary. But call it “the quad.” Should you refer to Harry S. Truman said there
the listings include topics was no need for a period after
it that way in print? And should quad
such as days of the week, his middle initial because it
as well as specific words.
be capitalized? didn’t actually stand for a
Most publications don’t have the name. Even though the period
Cross-referencing time, energy or grammatical wisdom is often omitted (at the Harry
helps you learn more to grind out a comprehensive guide to S Truman National Historic
about a topic elsewhere the English language. So they select a Site, for instance), AP style
in the book. requires a period after the S.
proven, professional manual to serve
Some entries simply as their official arbiter of style — Yams are not botanically
show you the corrrect and the American news industry related to sweet potatoes.
spelling, capitalization standard is “The Associated Press Hot dogs got their name in
or hyphenation. 1906, when a cartoonist drew
Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law.”
a dachshund wrapped in a
Italicized text The Associated Press is a news long, narrow bun.
provides examples of cooperative providing state, national
correct and incorrect You are a boy or a girl until
and international stories, photos and your 18th birthday. Then you
usage. graphics to more than 15,000 news become a man or a woman.
These boldface entries outlets around the world.
They’re called Canada geese.
show you the correct Newsrooms do use other stylebooks Not Canadian geese.
punctuation — but they (The New York Times markets its
And speaking of Canadians:
also provide background style manual, for instance). But if you It’s derogatory to call them
information to help you pursue a print reporting career, the Canucks unless you’re talking
verify facts. AP stylebook is the one that’s most about the Vancouver hockey
likely to land on your desk. team, the Canucks.
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 57

NUMBERS
� Spell out one through nine, then go to figures for
10 and up. If a sentence begins with a numeral, either
AP STYLE
H I G H L I G H T S
PARENTHESES
� When a phrase in parentheses is inside a sentence,
place the closing parenthesis inside the period:
spell it out or rewrite the sentence. Figures for years, They gave everything they had (but they still lost).
however, are an exception: 2008 was an election year. “The Associated Press Stylebook” If it’s a separate thought, the closing parenthesis
� Always use numerals for ages: He’s an 8-year-old is the ultimate desktop reference goes outside the period: They gave everything they
genius. The law is 1 year old. for print reporters and editors. had. (Unfortunately, they still lost.)
� Always use numerals in ratios: She won the It’s the book you’ll turn to first when � Use parentheses to insert a state name or similar
election by a 2-to-1 ratio. you’re unsure about usage, grammar, information within a proper name: She’s a sports
� For dimensions, use figures and spell out inches, capitalization and punctuation. reporter at the Allentown (Pa.) Morning Call.
feet, etc.: She is 5 feet 9 inches tall. There’s a lot to learn in its 400 pages, � Do not use parentheses to set off a political
� Write percent, not per cent or %. Depending on but here’s a roundup of the guidelines designation. Instead, use commas: Joan Jeffries,
the sentence, you may use either a singular or plural D-Fla., said Thursday that she would run for re-
you’ll use most often. (To save time
verb. Both of these are correct: The teacher said 75 election next year.
later, commit these to memory.)
percent was a failing grade. As a result, 25 percent of
the students were failing the class. POSSESSIVES
� Dollars and cents: Both are written lowercase. Use
a dollar sign ($) and numerals for an exact figure: � For plural nouns not ending in s, add ’s: men’s
The hamburger cost $3.99. For amounts less than clothing. If they end in s, add only an apostrophe:
a dollar, use numerals: It cost 99 cents. Use a $ and the dogs’ leashes.
numerals to two decimal points for amounts of � For singular nouns not ending in s, add ’s: the
$1 million and up: The plan costs $79.31 million. school’s playground. This applies to words ending in
Spell out casual uses: I loaned her a dollar. x or z as well.
� For singular common nouns ending in s, add ’s

TITLES unless the next word begins with s: the waitress’s

ABBREVIATIONS order book, the waitress’ sugar.
� Titles generally are capitalized only when used � For singular proper names ending in s, use only an
before a name: President Roosevelt, Professor Tate, � Abbreviate these titles before a full name, except apostrophe: Jones’ music, Phyllis’ car.
Pope John. But when used otherwise, do not capital- in quotations: Dr., Gov., Lt. Gov., Mr., Mrs., Rep., the
� It’s is not a possessive; it means only “it is.” Its is
ize: The president spoke to Congress. The professor Rev. and Sen. When used before a full name in a
a possessive: A dog likes its food, not it’s.
scheduled a committee meeting. quote, spell out all except Dr., Mr., Mrs. and Ms.
� Some titles are descriptive of occupations and are � After a name, abbreviate junior or senior as Jr.
not capitalized: astronaut Tom Swift, assistant coach or Sr. After the name of a business, abbreviate PREFIXES
Janet Johnson. company, corporation, incorporated and limited. � Use a hyphen if the prefix ends in a vowel and
� King, queen and other royal titles follow much the � Always abbreviate a.m., p.m., A.D. and B.C. the word that follows begins with the same vowel:
same guidelines. Capitalize them only directly before � When using a month with a specific date, abbrevi- re-entry, anti-inflammatory. (Cooperate and
a name. If I were a king, I’d be like King David. ate Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. Spell out coordinate are exceptions.)
� Some titles are a bit more complicated, such as months when used alone or with a year only: We met � Use a hyphen if the word that follows is capital-
former President Gerald Ford or acting Mayor Jill Fox. in December 2007, then got married on Dec. 14, 2008. ized: The song was written by ex-Beatle Ringo Starr.
Note that the qualifying word is not capitalized. � Spell out the names of all states when they stand
GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFIC PREFIXES:
� For long titles, it’s best to put them after a name alone. Eight states are never abbreviated: Alaska,
pre- : The stylebook does list exceptions to Webster’s
for easier readability: Jim McMullen, president of the Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Ohio, Texas and Utah. The
New World Dictionary, including pre-empt, pre-exist
association, wants taxes lowered. Or, if you prefer, others are abbreviated when used with the name of
and pre-election.
you can say The president of the association, Jim a city, town, etc., whether in datelines or in text. See
McMullen, wants taxes lowered. the stylebook for the acceptable state abbreviations. co- : For nouns, adjectives and verbs that describe a
partnership, use a hyphen: co-author, co-worker,
co-pilot. Do not use a hyphen in other cases: coexist,
CAPITALIZATION ADDRESSES coeducational, cooperate.
� Always capitalize proper nouns: Wally, Nike, Texas. � Abbreviate street, avenue and boulevard when sub- : In general, no hyphen is needed: subtotal,
� Capitalize common nouns when they’re a part of they’re used with a specific address, such as 1234 subcommittee, submachine gun.
the full name for a person, place or thing: Republican Della St., but spell them out otherwise: We took a
Party, Dixon Lake, Benson Boulevard. In other drive down Electric Avenue. Other designations, such
references, the nouns are not capitalized if they as court, lane and road, are always spelled out.
A FEW OTHER NITPICKS
stand alone: the party, the lake, the boulevard.
WORTH REMEMBERING:
� Always use figures for the address number.
� It’s adviser, not advisor.
� Some words derive from a proper noun and depend � Spell out First through Ninth if they’re street
� amid, not amidst.
on that word for their meaning. They should be cap- names, then go to figures after that: 222 10th Avenue.
� minuscule, not miniscule.
italized, as in Christian, English, Marxist. But other � If you have a complete address, abbreviate any
� doughnut, not donut.
words no longer depend on proper nouns for their compass points, such as 712 Jones St. S.E. But without � amok, not amuck.
meaning: french fries, pasteurize, venetian blind. an address, it’s just Southeast Jones Street (note � Smithsonian Institution, not Institute.
� The first word in a sentence is always capitalized, Street is spelled out and capitalized).
even if it is a proper noun that otherwise is not. For Further/farther:
instance, e.e. cummings is all lowercase, but at the � Further is an extension of time or degree: We
beginning of a sentence it would be E.e. cummings,
THE INTERNET need to take this idea further.
which looks odd and should be recast to avoid. � Some basic styles: Internet, the Net, World Wide � Farther is used to show physical distance: I live
� In composition titles, the principal words in a book Web, the Web, Web site, dot-com, JPEG, DVD, farther from school than you do.
title, movie title and the like are capitalized, including CD-ROM, online, cyberspace, e-mail. Imply/infer:
prepositions or conjunctions of four or more letters: � When listing Web addresses, use this format as a � You imply something by what you say or write.
“Gone With the Wind.” guideline: http://www.timharrower.com � People infer something by reading your words.

EXERCISES IN STYLE AND GRAMMAR > 64

58

TIPS FROM THE PROS

TO GET THAT STORY
DONE BY DEADLINE
Bob Batz,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
I always tell people who are
stuck, including myself: Breathe,
think, and then just write down
the story like you’d tell it to a
friend. You can always go back
and fine-tune it if you have time.

Peter Sleeth, The Oregonian:

It helps when you are stuck on
a story to realize there are just
three boxes to fill: The lead, the
nut graf and the explanatory
body of the story, in that order.
If you write each one as a stand-
alone, it can help the biggest
weenie get through deadline.

“In real life I am

basically shy and can’t
do a lot of things, but
Making deadline Jesse Fanciulli,
Greeley Daily Tribune:
Write a super-fast first draft.
Just let the words tumble
on the job, the story is
When you’re a reporter, you live by the clock. out, write as fast as you can and
all that matters — the In broadcasting, you measure stories in minutes and seconds. don’t let your inner critic prod
deadline is coming at you into self-editing. Once you
At print publications, you measure them in inches — but still, have everything you want to say
you, unstoppable, like
those presses roll at a set time. Which means every page must be down, look it over, pinpoint the
an avalanche down a angle, write the lead, reorgan-
mountain. You brave designed, edited and proofed at a set time. Which means you
ize, insert quotes, facts and
the wrath of crooks and must turn in your story at a set time — otherwise, you figures, rewrite where neces-
cops and bad crowds create problems for lots of people. sary and check the facts.
and mean dogs with- Which makes them angry. And gets you fired.
out even seeing them. Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune:
Meeting deadlines isn’t optional. It’s mandatory. Sure, If you’re stuck staring at your
There is no time. Do
what you have to and some stories straggle in, a few minutes late. Once in a while, monitor, walk away from the
computer. Grab a pen and steno
worry about it later. they even fall through at the last minute. But every reporter knows
pad. Go to the break room and
And fortunately, you how career-threatening it is to blow a deadline. write out your story. When
do not worry even then, Now, if you write for online publications, you might argue that you’re typing, the words fly on
because later arrives the screen almost reflexively.
there are no deadlines in cyberspace — that news is constantly
with the hot breath of By writing each word out, you’ll
a new deadline on its updated around the clock. Which is true. But nevertheless, it’s just have time to think and process
heels.” a different form of deadline pressure. Editors will always be pushing what you want to say, and how
Edna Buchanan, to say it.
legendary crime reporter
you to file your stories; you’ll always need to write with speed and
efficiency, because the beast will always need feeding. Kevin Duchschere, Star Tribune:
Assemble the story in your head
even as you’re reporting it.
Make mental notes to match
the jottings in your notebook:
an apt quote, the best scene-
setter, telling details.

Jim Souhan, Star Tribune:

Some people freeze on deadline.
My cure for that: Start typing.
The simple act of typing in
possible leads or details frees
you up. Sometimes writing a
bad lead on deadline helps you
remember what a good lead
looks like, and allows you to
jump-start your writing.
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 59

ACCURACY WRITING STYLE

YES NO YES NO
�� Have you checked the spelling of every name? Double-checked �� Does the lead or nut graf clearly state what the story’s about?
it with the actual person? (Is it Christyn? Krystin? Or just Kris?)
�� Does the story back up what’s said in the lead?
�� Have you verified all dates, places and times of events? �� Is your lead concise? Fewer than, say, 30 words?
�� Have you personally tested all phone numbers mentioned �� Are all the five W’s clearly explained without making readers
in your story, using what you actually typed on the screen?
dig through the rest of the story to find them?
Did someone answer and approve the number for publication?
�� Does the story convey why readers should care?
�� Have you personally tested any Web or e-mail addresses in
your story? Are you sure all Web addresses will still be valid �� Have you taken pity on your readers and explained complex
when the story is published? information in a way that ordinary folks can understand?
�� Have you double-checked every job title? Company name? �� Do you personally understand everything in the story?
�� Have you run spell check? Double-checked all unusual spellings �� If appropriate, does the story give readers enough tools to
(Smyth, Millar) ? Caught any homonym mix-ups (their, there) ? get involved (phone numbers, Web sites, event information,
organizations to contact)?
�� Have you tested all the math in your story? Do the numbers
and percentages correctly add up? (If in doubt, ask a colleague �� Have you gone through the story to weed out all excess flab,
to recalculate your figures for you.) like unnecessary adjectives and adverbs?
�� Have you checked the accuracy of facts or claims made by �� Are sentences short enough?
sources quoted in your story? �� Are paragraphs short enough?
�� In reviewing all the sources of information you used, are you �� Are sentences written in the active voice, with strong verbs?
sure that everything is reliable and up to date?
�� Have you corrected all grammar and punctuation problems?
�� For stories on complex topics that are new to you, have you
tried running your story by an expert on the subject? �� Have you removed all jargon and journalese?
�� Have you checked the accuracy of all information in related �� Have you made all clichés as scarce as hen’s teeth?
sidebars or photo captions? Does everything match what’s in �� Have you ever actually seen hen’s teeth? You know why you
the story? haven’t? Because they are so freaking scarce, that’s why.
�� Do all quotes accurately capture what was said, and convey �� Have you eliminated inappropriate slang, such as “freaking”?
what was meant? Are they clearly and correctly attributed?
�� Does your story avoid unconscious sexist or racist phrasing?
�� Have you added middle initials where appropriate (especially
crime or court stories)? �� Have you eliminated all dull, unnecessary, say-nothing
quotes?
FAIRNESS AND BALANCE �� Have you clearly sourced and attributed all information that’s
not general knowledge?
YES NO
�� Is the story fair? Are all sides of the issue represented? �� Have you considered how your sources will react to this story?
Are you sure you haven’t violated their trust, included any
�� Have you given all your sources an opportunity to respond to information without their consent, or caused them any
any negative charges or opinions? embarrassment?
�� Can readers clearly tell fact from opinion in your story? Are �� Have you refrained from mentioning yourself in the story or
you sure that your story doesn’t disguise opinion as fact? using “I,” “me,” “we” or “us” (except when quoting others)?
�� Have you clearly labeled any facts that may be in dispute? �� Have you alerted your editors to anything in your story that
�� Is there a diversity of voices quoted in the story: readers may find offensive or objectionable?
a representative mix of genders, races, ages, etc.? �� Have you read a printout of your story? (This will help you
�� Have you avoided unnecessarily alluding to anyone’s race or view the story with fresh eyes, and it may reveal errors you
religion unless it’s relevant to the topic? missed on the computer screen.)

MORE ON SOURCES 70 MORE ON QUOTATIONS 82 MORE ON ATTRIBUTIONS 84

60

66 newswriting tips
Boring-but-important advice every reporter should memorize.
Luckily for you, this book won’t bog itself down analyzing grammar, syntax and punctuation.
Instead, on these two pages we’ve summarized key principles every reporter should know —
adapted from the “Hot 100” tips compiled by Sheryl Swingley of Ball State University.

WRITING LEADS EDITING AND STYLE RULES OF GRAMMAR

1) Keep leads short. The first paragraph 16) Eliminate words such as when asked and 29) If none means no one or not one, use a
should usually be 35 words or fewer. concluded. These are weak transitions. singular verb.
2) Try to limit leads to one or two sentences. Just report what was said. Example: None was found guilty.
3) Avoid starting leads with the when or 17) Whenever possible, omit the word that. 30) When you use a pronoun to refer to a
where unless the time or place is unusual. Example: The quarterback says he’s ready, team or a group, the proper pronoun to
Most leads start with who or what. not the quarterback says that he’s ready. use is its, not they.
18) The correct order for writing when and Example: The team wants to improve its
4) Avoid beginning leads with there, this or it. record.
where is time, day (date) and place: The
5) Use quote and question leads sparingly. concert begins at 8 p.m. Friday in Fox Hall. 31) Use parallel construction for verbs in lists
6) The first five to 10 words determine if the 19) For a past event, say it happened Tuesday, or sequences.
lead will be an attention-getter. not last Tuesday. For a future event, say Example: He likes camping, fishing and
7) Remember, what happened makes a better it will happen Monday, not next Monday. hunting.
story than the fact it did. Eliminate the words last and next. NOT : He likes camping, fishing and to hunt.
Example: The fire killed six people,
20) Use the day of the week for events
THE REST OF THE STORY injured 60 more and forced hundreds of
occurring within six days of a specific day;
residents to leave their homes..
8) Vary your sentence lengths. Stories use the date for events occurring seven or
NOT : The fire killed six people, injuring 60
become dull when sentences are all the more days before or after a specific day.
more, and will force hundreds of residents
same length. If you notice that happening, 21) On first reference, identify a person by to leave their homes.
try turning one long sentence into two or his or her first and last names. On second
reference, refer to the person by his or her 32) When using either . . .or and neither . . .nor,
three shorter ones.
last name only. the verb agrees in person with the nearer
9) If you must write a long sentence, try subject.
using a short sentence before or after it. 22) On second and all other references, don’t Examples: Either the coach or the players
10) Avoid using several prepositional phrases use Miss, Mrs., Ms., Mr. or Dr. unless it’s are to blame. Neither the players nor the
in a sentence. Prepositional phrases start a style requirement of the news outlet coach is to blame.
with some of the following words: about, you’re writing for.
33) Know the difference between its (no
above, against, at, between, by, down, 23) A long title should follow, not precede apostrophe for possessive pronoun) and
during, for, from, in, like, on, over, through, someone’s name. A title that follows the it’s (the contraction for it is).
to, toward, under, up, until, upon, with. name should be lowercased and set off in Examples: The dog has a thorn in its
11) Remember that short paragraphs commas. (possessive pronoun) paw, and it’s
encourage readers to continue reading. 24) Short titles may precede names and (contraction) time to remove it.
12) Try to limit paragraphs to: usually are capitalized. See titles in the 34) Know the difference between whose
� 60 words or fewer, or AP Stylebook. (possessive pronoun) and who’s (the
� no more than 10 typeset lines, or 25) Always double-check the spelling of all contraction for who is).
� one to three sentences. names. Examples: Whose (possessive pronoun)
13) Paragraphs should generally contain only 26) Use the computer’s spell-checker. When coat is this? Who’s (contraction) wearing it?
one idea. in doubt, consult a dictionary. The latest 35) Know when to use their (possessive
14) Avoid introducing new information at edition of “Webster’s New World College pronoun), there (adverb) and they’re
the end of a news story. All aspects of a Dictionary” is the preferred reference. (the contraction for they are).
story should usually be introduced or 27) For style questions, consult the AP style- Examples: It is their (possessive pronoun)
outlined in the first few paragraphs. book. If the answer cannot be found project. The project is over there (adverb).
15) Transitions — linking words such as but, there, consult a dictionary or a grammar They’re (contraction) working on it.
and, also, besides, however, meanwhile, guide. 36) When making comparisons, as and such
subsequently, finally, etc. — are necessary 28) Ask for help. Public library informa- as are generally preferable to like. Use like
to show the reader that the writer has a tion desk personnel can be resourceful as a preposition, not to introduce clauses.
sense of direction. Carefully placed and helpful in person or on the phone. Examples: It tastes like a peach.
transitions guide the reader from one (University librarians are usually better at The farmer grows peaches, as he did last
thought to another. offering advice face to face.) year.
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 61

WORD CHOICES PUNCTUATION

NONSEXIST, NONAGEIST,
37) Eliminate lazy adverbs. Let strong verbs NONDISCRIMINATORY 56) No comma should appear between time,
do their jobs. Instead of the radio played WORD CHOICES date and place.
loudly, write the radio blared. Example: The fire started at 4:32 a.m.
51) Avoid words that reinforce ethnic, Monday in the kitchen of Bob’s Bakery.
38) Eliminate lazy adjectives. Let strong racial, gender or ageist stereotypes.
nouns do their jobs. Instead of 57) In a series — red, white and blue — a
the gang members created a chaotic scene, 52) Avoid referring to someone’s ethnic- comma is usually not needed before and
write the gangsters created chaos. ity, race, gender or age unless it’s unless the series is complex or confusing.
essential for the clarity of the story.
39) Choose strong verbs that suggest what (Race might be relevant when a crimi- 58) Use a comma with according to.
they mean. Active verbs add pace, clarity nal is at large; referring to ethnicity, Example: Dogs are becoming more
and vigor to writing. Avoid be verbs. race, gender, age or disability might intelligent, according to researchers at Penn
40) Use simple words. Don’t send readers be appropriate when an achievement State University.
to the dictionary. Odds are they won’t or event is a first.) Use the substitu- 59) Avoid comma splices: joining two
bother looking up definitions; worse, they tion test: If you wouldn’t say it about independent clauses with a comma.
might quit reading. a Caucasian man, then don’t say it Example: Half the company’s customers
41) Words such as thing and a lot annoy about a woman, people of other races lost power after the ice storm, power was
many readers and editors. Choose better or people with disabilities. restored to most of them quickly. (A period
synonyms. (Note correct spelling of a lot.) 53) Use he or she instead of he. Women do or semicolon should replace the comma.)
42) Be careful using the word held. Make notice the difference. If using he or she 60) Another common problem: adding a
sure the object can be held physically. or him or her is awkward, try a plural comma between the subject and the verb.
Weak: The Rotary Club meeting will be pronoun: they, them, their or theirs. Example: About half of the company’s
held at noon Monday in Room 125. 54) Substitute asexual words for sexist customers, lost power after the ice storm.
Better: The Rotary Club will meet at noon man words. For example: (The comma is not needed.)
Monday in Room 125. QUESTIONABLE BETTER
61) When in doubt about using a comma,
43) Avoid using words that qualify how leave it out.
mankind people, humanity
someone feels, thinks or sees. Qualifiers man-made synthetic, manufactured 62) Quotation marks always go outside
include the following: a bit, a little, sort of, manpower workers, work force, commas (,”) and periods (.”). They always
kind of, rather, around, quite, very, pretty, staff, personnel go inside semicolons (”;) and colons (”:).
much, in a very real sense, somewhat. founding fathers pioneers, colonists, They may go inside or outside of question
44) If you use jargon that won’t be under- patriots, forebears marks. Check the AP stylebook.
stood by a majority of readers, be sure to anchorman anchor 63) The dash is a long mark (—) most
explain each term used. cleaning woman housekeeper, custodian often used to separate a list or series in
coed student sentences where extra commas might be
45) Writing yesterday or tomorrow may be fireman firefighter
confusing to readers. Use the day of the confusing. Example: All these punctuation
foreman supervisor
week. (Today may be used with care.) marks — commas, periods, dashes, hyphens
housewife homemaker
— have their own peculiarities.
46) Give a person’s age if necessary for iden- postman letter carrier
Dashes also provide a way to insert
tification or description; it’s preferable to policeman police officer
interruptions or dramatic phrases.
saying teenager or senior citizen. Write salesman salesperson
Example: All these tips — don’t worry,
Jim Shu, 30, instead of 30-year-old Jim Shu. stewardess flight attendant
we’re nearly done — are important to know.
47) For suicides, until the coroner completes weatherman meteorologist
the girls the women 64) The hyphen is a short mark ( - ) used in
his or her investigation, it’s best to say the (for women over 18) hyphenated modifiers (two-week workshop,
person was found dead or fell or plunged well-read student), in words that break at
to his death. (Some papers avoid using the 55) Respect people with disabilities: the end of a line of type (like this hyphen-
word suicide; check with your editor.) ated word here), in telephone numbers
crippled impaired, disabled — or
48) For arrests, write arrested in connection be specific: paraplegic and Social Security numbers. Don’t
with, sought in connection with, charged deaf and dumb, hearing- and/or hyphenate adverbs ending in “ly” paired
with or arrested on charges of. deaf mute speech-impaired with adjectives: It’s a freshly painted room,
49) For murders, write that arrests are made crazy, insane, mentally ill, develop- not a freshly-painted room.
in connection with the death of. Do not half-witted, retarded mentally disadvantaged, 65) Use an exclamation point only after brief
report that a victim was murdered until disabled, limited —
or be specific:
expletives.
someone is convicted of the crime. In emotionally disturbed Examples: Fire! Run! Goal!
obituaries, it may be said the victim was Exclamation points often demonstrate a
killed or slain. Separate the person from the disability. lack of control (or excess of emotion) on
50) For fires, write that a building is destroyed, Mary, an epileptic, Mary, who has epilepsy, the writer’s part. Use them sparingly.
not completely destroyed. Buildings also had no trouble doing had no trouble doing 66) If you ever catch yourself overusing a
are damaged lightly, moderately or heavily. her job. her job. particular set of punctuation marks —
A fire may gut or destroy the interior of a Examples adapted from an International Association dashes, parentheses, semicolons — force
building. To raze a building is to level it of Business Communicators’ book called “Without Bias.” yourself to stop. Remember, simple
to the ground. sentence structures are always best.
62 NEWSWRITING BASICS

IF YOU COULD OFFER Write as you report. Don’t wait until

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE you’ve finished all your interviews
TO A REPORTER and gathered your information to start
JUST STARTING OUT, writing. Write when you get the idea.
WHAT WOULD IT BE? Write after your first interview and
after your second and after you gather
Read voraciously. Find the best some information online. You’ll be a
reporters and read every word they better writer and a better reporter.
write. Try to figure out how they do Steve Buttry, Omaha World-Herald
what they do, and then incorporate
ADVICE ON REPORTING AND WRITING
what you want into your own style.
FROM VETERAN JOURNALISTS
Remember that the story is not
Another piece of advice: Take a typ- about YOU. Whatever fears, hopes
ing class. I’m not even sure if they offer and opinions you harbor about the
them anymore, but I’ve always been subject, the sources, how you’re feeling,
jealous of the reporters whose fingers Professor Halvorson, formerly of the
whether you had lunch, whether your
absolutely fly on deadline. University of Oregon j-school, had the
photographer is a jerk — they do not
best advice I ever heard. He advised
Bret Bell, Savannah Morning News matter. The important thing is to be a
every young journalist to put 10 percent
true representative responsible to the
of his net paycheck each week into a
Reading upside-down and backward is integrity of the story.
“Go To Hell Fund.” The good and wise
a skill worth cultivating, and not at all JoNel Aleccia, Mail Tribune (Medford, Ore.)
professor reasoned — and it is true —
hard once you catch on. I once picked
that there will be times when you are
up a scoop on who would be the new
asked to do unethical things in your
city manager of Cincinnati with a little
furtive desktop perusal while interview-
career and you need to be able to tell Don’t turn in a story you
your editor to go to hell, and take a walk. wouldn’t read. And when
ing the mayor. I confirmed the name,
Peter Sleeth, The Oregonian
obviously, with other sources. they tell you newspapers
Randy Ludlow, The Columbus Dispatch are a business, believe
Don’t commit yourself to one single them.
technology. It will change.
I didn’t go to j-school, but the best Ken Fuson, The Des Moines Register
advice I ever got was from a crusty Andrew DeVigal, The New York Times
editor who told me to carry a pencil,
� Spend less time with journalists and
because a pen won’t work in rain or Don’t lean on “quotes.” Focus too much
cold. That advice saved me one rainy more time with people who read the
paper. They have better stories to tell. on finding them during reporting and
night when I covered a fatal plane crash. you’ll miss more telling details. Good
� Spend less time in the office.
John Reinan, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.)
� Call fewer corporate executives. Call quotes are rare. You can tell the story
more employees who work for those better than the characters in it. So after
executives. writing, go back and take out half the
I wish I would have David Lyman, Detroit Free Press quotes. And don’t quote me on this.
learned shorthand. Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nancy Gaarder, Omaha World-Herald With rare exceptions, by the third Editing is incredibly subjective. One
paragraph of every story, answer the editor’s idea of great versus so-so
two questions that readers doubtlessly journalism can be entirely different.
At my first journalism job, we were are asking: Don’t let any editor have you believing
taught: If your mother says she loves you, 1) What’s this story about? you are too good or too bad. It’s all
check it out. It sounded harsh at the 2) Why should I bother reading it perspective.
time, but the hard truth is, you’ve got to now? Alex Branch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
get confirmation and documentation. Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian
Don’t believe it until you’ve checked it The person I fear for most in today’s
out yourself. Got an interview subject who’s nervous newsroom is not the 50-year-old reporter
Deborah L. Shelton, St. Louis Post-Dispatch and intimidated? Ask where their learning to blog and shoot video, it’s the
bathroom is and go use it. That’s right, 24-year-old reporter who doesn’t want
If you ever, ever get a niggling feeling go potty. With this simple act of to have to learn anything different from
about something in a story, even the humility, you’ll break the tension, give what he or she left college with. “Evolve
faintest of niggles, don’t ignore it. For the subject a chance to relax, and most or die” is something we always have
it almost always comes true the next importantly, let the subject know that thrown at aging journalists. I’m surprised
morning. So make that extra phone call you’re a regular, humble person like by how many young journalists already
and sleep better. them and no one to be feared. refuse to embrace that notion.
Leah Beth Ward, Yakima Herald-Republic Matt Chittum, The Roanoke Times Tracy Collins, The Arizona Republic
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 63

WHAT’S THE WORST The inverted pyramid. What a crock.

PIECE OF JOURNALISTIC Alex Branch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram The worst piece of
ADVICE YOU EVER GOT? advice imparted to me
The worst advice I ever got is to pay as a reporter: There’s no
“If you can’t spell, you will never be a attention only to the stories I write.
reporter,” said a journalism prof who room for compassion in
True, we control only our own efforts,
sent me home crying. Now that I’ve but a newspaper is a shared endeavor. journalism.
been a reporter for nearly 15 years, I We sink or swim together. Karen Jeffrey, Cape Cod Times
think maybe I should give him a call. JoNel Aleccia, Mail Tribune
Rachel Stassen-Berger,
Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) Bad advice: No one will read a story One “dumb editor” told me never to
longer than 30 inches. Correction: use brand names in stories. I think he
The worst advice I ever got was a No one will read more than two inches actually changed a DQ Blizzard in a
warning that anyone who wanted to if it’s poorly written; they will read 100 feature to “ice cream product.” Tasty!
speak off the record probably was lying. if it’s well written. (I changed it back.)
This was from a veteran assistant city Mike Kilen, The Des Moines Register Beth Macy, The Roanoke Times
editor. I quickly learned that people will
tell you the truth in a lot of different set- I do remember some bad “advice” that Never start a story with a question??????
tings for a lot of different reasons under I gave myself. I failed miserably when I In my 20 years, I’ve used probably five
a lot of different conditions. tried to emulate the gruff, cynical veteran question leads. Sometimes it works.
Rick Bella, The Oregonian reporter sitting next to me. I learned I This was the lead to one of my stories
had to be myself, even if it meant being that won the state AP contest:
Most idiots deal in absolutes. For exam- bumbling and insecure. The average adult human heart is
ple, I’ve heard “Never write to be cute,” Nancy Gaarder, Omaha World-Herald about the size of a clenched fist and
or “Never end a story with a quote.” weighs only 11 ounces. So why, when
The only black and white in journalism Worst advice: Always outline. It’s just a parent loses a child, does the hole
should be the ink and paper. not true. in their heart feel like an abyss?
Michael Bockoven, The Grand Island Independent John Foyston, The Oregonian Deb Holland, The Rapid City Journal

HOW MUCH REWRITING I almost never rewrite. But I never start

DO YOU GENERALLY DO? I don’t write. I rewrite. writing a story until the reporting is
My stories come about complete and the story is developed.
A reporter who doesn’t rewrite has tight Why waste time half-writing a half-
deadlines, bad habits or both. (In fact, more like rocking a car
back and forth in a ditch reported story?
I rewrote the above sentence twice.) Mark Freeman, Mail Tribune
Writing can always be made better than a train going down
and tighter. I’ve won a lot of awards for the track. Eventually it gets I’m a rewriter. I think it’s fun. Honest.
writing, and I can’t recall any for sto- out and I’m on my way. I love getting a second shot at some-
ries — deadline stories included — that Tim Nelson, Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) thing, and am still shocked by how
I didn’t rewrite to some degree. Good
much better I can make a piece I
reporters don’t wait for their editors to
thought was ready to go.
tell them to improve their copy —
Who has time to do much rewriting? It’s best if I have a night away from
their satisfaction is not what you should
I think it’s valuable to be able to let it. Unfortunately, that’s rarely the
be aiming for. You should be trying to
complicated stories sit overnight and case. Arggh and damn. But even step-
satisfy your own standards, and that
tackle rewriting with a clear head the ping away for an hour or two gives me
involves tinkering with your copy as
next day, if time permits. If it doesn’t, fresh eyes. I can come back and distill
long as is humanly possible.
you find out how good you really are. a watery paragraph to a more potent
Ron French, The Detroit News
Carol Cole, thought, or simply see the shortest
I rewrite constantly, but a paragraph The Shawnee News-Star distance between two points.
Kim Ode, Star Tribune
at a time. The first paragraph has to be
exactly as I want it before I go on to the If I have the lead down — and the tone
second. Once the second is finished, established, complete with nut graf at Tons of re-writing. The first crack never
I revise the first two, and so on. It’s the end of a great scene — I’m in. If not, works. Playing with a story helps you
incredibly inefficient, but that’s how I I’m in hell. Tip: If it’s impossible to do say what you really want to say. Getting
do it. I’ve never been able to write a a nut graf, your story (and maybe even it out ain’t that hard. The trick is getting
rough draft. I’ve tried, but it always just your reporting) lacks focus. I had to it to sound right. (I’d like to go back
reads like another version of my notes. re-learn that one again, just this week. and revise this.)
Ken Fuson, The Des Moines Register Beth Macy, The Roanoke Times Todd Frankel, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
64 NEWSWRITING BASICS

CHOOSE THE BEST LEAD TOO MUCH OPINION?

Decide which lead is preferable and Read the following excerpts and decide:
determine what’s wrong with the others. Is the wording appropriate, or has the reporter
1. ___ a) At Lyman Airport, a helicopter colored the story with too much opinion?
crashed Friday night, killing the pilot. 1) Moe Mentum’s futile campaign came to a
___ b) A helicopter pilot died after disappointing end last night as the candidate
crashing at Lyman Airport Friday night. conceded defeat before 200 loyal supporters.
Answers to these exercises
are on page 303. ___ c) A helicopter pilot died in a tragic 2) Moe Mentum’s grass-roots campaign came
crash at Lyman Airport Friday night. to an end last night as the exhausted candidate
conceded defeat before 200 cheering supporters.
2. ___ a) The Oakdale City Council met Tuesday to approve a plan to increase 3) Logging continued in Conifer National Forest
residential water rates. yesterday, despite howls of protest from liberal
___ b) The Oakdale City Council voted 5-2 to approve a 20 percent legislators and environmental radicals who
increase in residential water rates on Tuesday. assailed timber workers as “rapists.”
___ c) If you live in Oakdale, your water bill will increase by 20 percent — 4) Legendary geezers the Rolling Stones will rock
an average of $12 a month — beginning Oct. 1. Memorial Coliseum tonight as they kick off the
first of three highly anticipated weekend concerts.
3. ___ a) On Saturday, June 3, two local students won a statewide dance 5) From “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart”:
championship. Jon Stewart: What’s your overall sense of the
___ b) Lena Genst and Nadia Hedd twirled to victory Saturday at the mood down on the Republican convention
prestigious FSSA State Dance Championships. floor? How did it feel to be there last night
___ c) Two Kennedy High seniors won $1,000 Saturday after finishing first during the speech?
in a statewide dance contest. Stephen Colbert: Well, John, as a journalist I have
to maintain my objectivity, but I would say the
4. ___ a) A Spudville man named Robbin Banks was arrested after robbing a feeling down here was one of a pervasive and
bank Friday. palpable evil: a thick demonic stench that
___ b) Police arrested a Spudville man Friday and charged him with bank rolls over you and clings like hot black tar, a
robbery. The man’s name: Robbin Banks. nightmare from which you cannot awaken,
___ c) Spudville police arrested a man named Robbin Banks Friday. His a nameless fear that lives in the dark spaces
crime: robbing banks. beyond your peripheral vision and drives you
toward inhuman cruelties and unspeakable
perversions — the delegates’ bloated, pustulent
5. ___ a) Pneumonia has taken the life of Justin Case, the oldest prisoner in bodies twisting from one obscene form to
Florida history. another, giant spider-shaped and ravenous
___ b) Justin Case, the oldest prisoner ever to serve in a Florida prison, wolf-headed creatures who feast upon the flesh
died Sunday of pneumonia. of the innocent and suck the marrow from the
___ c) Florida’s oldest prisoner has died at 97. bones of the poor.

UNSCRAMBLE We’ve scrambled the basic facts from four different news stories. Sort them out to determine which facts most
THE FIVE W’s logically belong together — then write the leads for each of these stories for a publication in Dayton, Nebraska.

WHO WHAT WHEN WHERE WHY

Abner Hoobler Was swept over Niagara Falls and lived Tuesday night The Living Jungle at Claimed he spends too much time
the Dayton Zoo clowning around with his friends

Victor, a labrador retriever Glued a clown mask to her husband’s Easter Sunday The bedroom of a Becomes the first Nebraskan
face while he was sleeping house in North Dayton to be 115 years old

Carlotta Tendant Bitten in the leg by a lion Midnight tonight Niagara Falls, N.Y. Jumped out of a pickup truck while
his family stopped at Waffle Hut

Rev. Faith Christian, Celebrates birthday 7 a.m. Saturday Twilight Nursing Home Says she leaped over the wall to
minister at the Dayton in Dayton convert the beast to Christianity,
Zealotic Church shouting “Jesus will save you”
 NEWSWRITING BASICS 65

BOIL DOWN THESE LONG-WINDED LEADS CHOOSE THE CORRECT GRAMMAR,

PUNCTUATION AND STYLE
Here’s how two different news stories actually started. Can you condense their essential Which of these versions is correct?
facts into tighter, more effective leads? (These exercises use “The Associated Press
1) The Rev. Thomas J. Reese, an American Jesuit who is a frequent television com- Stylebook” to settle all disputes.)
mentator on Roman Catholic issues, resigned Wednesday under orders from the 1. __ a) It’s not OK to wear T-shirts at
Vatican as editor of the Catholic magazine America because he had published articles practice, coach Carter said.
critical of church positions, several Catholic officials in the United States reported. __ b) It’s not okay to wear tee shirts at
2) What should have been a fun and exciting weekend turned into a destruction practice, Coach Carter said.
derby for some PCC students. It is a norm for students to gather to celebrate the 2. __ a) General Myers met ten times
weekend. Excessive damage was caused to the campus this weekend when some with former vice president Gore.
parties got out of control. What was the main cause of it all? __ b) Gen. Myers met 10 times with
“It’s typically directly related to alcohol consumption and too much of it,” Nate former Vice President Gore.
Buseman, Director of Housing, said.
The suites were the main site of destruction over the weekend. Buseman said ban- 3. __ a) He drove East from Seattle,
nisters were splintered, emergency lights broken, a window shattered and one of the Washington to Boise, Idaho.
doors was damaged due to abnormal bending at the top of the door frame. __ b) He drove east from Seattle,
Wash., to Boise, Idaho.
4. __ a) The FBI office has moved to
SUPPLY THE MISSING NUT GRAF 1250 Third Ave.
__ b) The F.B.I. office has moved to
This story is missing a nut graf. Write one and stick it where it belongs. 1,250 3rd Avenue.
When Tad Pole left the Lawton Library From now on, I’m walking.” 5. __ a) In the 90’s she received mostly
last Tuesday afternoon, he couldn’t Even Helmut Laws, president of the A’s in school despite being a
believe his eyes. campus cycling club, had his bike stolen rock-and-roll groupie.
“My bike was gone,” he said. “That’s during a club meeting last month. __ b) In the ’90s, she received mostly
the third bike I’ve had stolen this year. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said A’s in school despite being a
I had a huge honkin’ lock on it, too.” Seymour Butts, campus security chief. rock ’n’ roll groupie.
Lynn O’Leum had an expensive moun- “Whether it’s one thief or a whole gang,
tain bike stolen from outside Hoobler we can’t be sure. But it’s an epidemic.” 6. __ a) Aaron C. Reskew Jr. is the can-
Hall last week. “I know at least three In an average year, 50 bicycles are didate who will be elected mayor.
other people whose bikes have been reported stolen. So far this year, that __ b) Aaron C. Reskew, Jr. is the can-
boosted this year,” she says. “That’s it. number is 230, an all-time high. . . . didate that will be elected Mayor.
7. __ a) 17 clerks worked from 7-10 a.m.
in the morning and were paid
just five dollars an hour.
WRITE THIS NEWS BRIEF __ b) Seventeen clerks worked from
7 to 10 a.m. and were paid
Here are the facts for a short news story. Decide what’s important and write the story. just $5 an hour.
� Laura Lynn Hardy is 19. � Hardy immediately phoned the bank
8. __ a) Over 16,000 attended Game 1
� She’s a yoga instructor with red hair. and told them about the envelope. of the world series to see the
� She lives in Locust Valley, 10 miles � She then rode her bike back to Lincoln. Tiger’s 5-to-2 victory.
west of Lincoln, in an old farmhouse. � It was snowing. A total of six inches of __ b) More than 16,000 attended
� She ate lunch in Lincoln last Friday, snow eventually fell by morning. Game One of the World Series
Dec. 24, with her ailing grandfather. � Around 5 p.m., Hardy arrived at the to see the Tigers’ 5-2 victory.
� After lunch, while cycling past Lincoln bank. Xavier Mooney, president of
Federal Savings, she saw a thick manila Lincoln Federal Savings, was there. 9. __ a) Nearly 50 percent of adults say
envelope on the sidewalk. So was Fred Fenster. they’re concerned about
developing Alzheimer’s disease.
� She was in a hurry, so she stopped, put � They thanked Hardy and shook her
it in her backpack and bicycled home. hand while posing for photos. __ b) Nearly 50% of adults say
� Hardy then rode back home.
they’re concerned about
� When Hardy opened the envelope at
developing Alzheimers Disease.
home, she found it contained a total of � When contacted by phone, Hardy said,
$300,000 in cash and checks made out “It’s enough just to do the right thing.” 10.__ a) The nineteen-year-old girl was
to Fenster Ford. � When contacted by phone, Fenster born September 20.
� Fenster Ford is owned by Fred Fenster. said, “She’s a great little girl, the kind of __ b) The 19-year-old woman was
It’s the area’s largest car dealer. girl we in Lincoln should be proud of.” born Sept. 20.
66 NEWSWRITING BASICS

CRAFT LEADS 1) A sheriff’s deputy in Ridge- 2) Steve Relles lost his 3) Rick O’Shea, an electrician, 4) The London Zoo recently
FOR THESE BRITES crest, Calif., ticketed Linc and computer programming was admitted to Mercy Hos- opened an exhibit featuring
Helena Moore Friday after one job three years ago when pital Saturday morning after three men and five women
Amusing brites deserve
of their chickens allegedly it was outsourced to India. being electrocuted. Doctors (all swimsuited British volun-
amusing leads. Write a impeded traffic on the road Now he earns a living as failed to revive him, and he teers) caged on rocks behind
catchy, clever lead for each near their farm. A police a dog butler, scooping up was declared dead at noon. a sign that reads “Warning:
of these four stories. spokesman said that chickens dog droppings. Relles has But at 12:15, a nurse noticed Humans in Their Natural
in the roadway have been a more than 100 clients in O’Shea’s hand twitching — Environment.” The exhibit
problem in this small commu- Delmar, N.J., who pay him then his eyes popped open. will teach the public that “the
nity, but verbal warnings have $10 a month to clean the He’s now listed in serious human is just another pri-
failed to resolve the problem. poop out of their yards. condition at the hospital. mate,” a zoo spokesman said.

REWRITE THIS EMANCIPATION

PROCLAMATION LEAD
THE PROBLEM:
Modern news leads didn’t exist
in 1862. So when Lincoln issued his
Emancipation Proclamation, some
newspapers wrote garbage like this:
“The Arch-Fiend in the regions of woe
grins horribly a ghastly smile, for he and
his emissaries upon earth — the extreme
abolitionists — have succeeded in prevail-
ing upon Old Abe to issue a proclamation
of emancipation which will send a thrill of
horror through all civilized nations. . . .”
YOUR ASSIGNMENT:
We fired the reporter who wrote that
terrible lead above. We need you to
rewrite the top of this news story – just
the lead and the first few paragraphs – First Reading of the Emancipation Proclamation of President Lincoln
Francis Bicknell Carpenter, oil on canvas, 1864
to run in tomorrow’s paper (Tuesday,
Sept. 23, 1862).
THE HEADLINE: people whereof shall then be in rebellion OTHER RELEVANT FACTS:
Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation against the United States, shall be then, � Slavery was introduced to America in
thenceforward, and forever, free.” 1619.
WHO: President Abraham Lincoln
WHO WILL BE AFFECTED: � The war between the states started
WHEN: Monday, Sept. 22, 1862 At least 4 million slaves in only those April 12, 1861.
WHERE: Washington, D.C. states that have seceded from the � The Union army’s victory last week at

WHAT: An executive order that outlines Union. the battle of Antietam gave Lincoln the
what will happen three months from confidence to move forward with this
WHO WON’T BE AFFECTED:
now: On Jan. 1, 1863, all slaves in states preliminary announcement.
Slaves in the border states (Delaware,
� The final, official proclamation will be
that have seceded from the Union will Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri and West
be freed. issued three months from now, on Jan.
Virginia) which remain loyal to the
1, 1863. (It will be more detailed but will
THE CONDENSED VERSION: Union.
essentially make the same points.)
“I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the THE CATCH: � In the short term, the proclamation
United States of America, and Comman- If any seceding state rejoins the Union may have more symbolic value than
der-in-Chief of the Army and Navy before this measure takes effect, it can actual impact. But it clearly proclaims to
thereof, do hereby proclaim. . . that here- keep slavery — at least for now, until a the South (and the world) that the war
after . . . the war will be prosecuted for . . . Constitutional amendment can be is being fought not just to preserve the
the immediate or gradual abolishment passed. Secretary of State William Seward Union, but to end slavery.
of slavery . . . . That on the first day of criticized this loophole by saying, “We Hopefully, as Union armies occupy
January, in the year of our Lord one show our sympathy with slavery by more and more Southern territory, the
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, emancipating slaves where we cannot Proclamation will enable Federal troops
all persons held as slaves within any state, reach them and holding them in bondage to free thousands — perhaps millions —
or any designated part of a state, the where we can set them free.” of slaves.
 67

CHAPTER

Reporting
basics
Now that you’re familiar with the fundamentals of newswriting,
you’re ready to gather information and interview newsmakers.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
68 Where stories come from
Some stories are breaking news. Others are planned
events. Then there are those you dream up yourself.
70 Finding and using sources
A reporter is only as good as his sources, whether
they’re newsmakers, experts or official documents.
72 Using the Internet
For reporters, the Web is the ultimate research tool
— if you use it in an efficient, responsible way.
74 Observation
The ability to observe events accurately and record
details faithfully is the secret to great reporting.
76 Taking notes
What’s the best way to record the information you
gather for a story? Notebook? Tape? Computer file?
78 Interviewing
How to choose your best interview option — with
dozens of tips for conducting successful inteviews.
82 Quotations
The interview is over. You’re ready to write. How do you use those quotes you’ve collected?
84 Attributions
Advice and guidelines to ensure that readers understand who’s doing the talking in your story.
86 Math for journalists
From polls to percentages to pie charts, a survey of statistics every reporter must understand.
88 Diversity in news coverage
Ensuring that stories accurately reflect the various voices and viewpoints in your community.

PLUS: 90 The Press Room 92 Test yourself

Where stories come from
Stuff happens constantly. So how does it become a story?
When most people talk about stories, they usually mean fictional novels
or timeless fairy tales like “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.” But when
journalists talk about news stories, they mean real people and real events:
“Bears Terrorize Lost Girl in Abandoned Cottage.”
Where do news stories come from? They usually originate:
� from events that are sudden and unpredictable;
� from scheduled events;
� from news releases alerting the media to noteworthy events or topics; A TYPICAL DAY,
� from ideas generated by readers, editors or reporters. A TYPICAL PAPER —
AND WHERE THE
STORIES CAME FROM
Let’s analyze a typical
BREAKING NEWS EVENTS issue (Dec. 30, 2004)
When terrorists attacked America on Sept. 11, 2001, it of a small-town Oregon
was sudden, unexpected, horrific — the biggest breaking weekly newspaper: the
news event in decades. Reporters from big papers swarmed � The bigger the story,
Lake Oswego Review.
onto the scene; reporters from small papers explored the the more you need to
be on the scene as it
We itemized every bit
shock waves that rippled through their own communities. of news in the paper —
happens. Nothing beats
Fortunately, most breaking news stories aren’t that every story, every brief,
eyewitness reporting.
universally earth-shaking. But wherever you are, you need every calendar notice —
� Move fast. For break-
to be ready when a dorm catches fire. Or a professor quits. exactly 100 items in all.
ing news stories, quick
Or a tornado strikes. Or three crazed bears trap a little girl reflexes and writing What we found:
in a forest cottage. speed are crucial.
And in the aftermath of major news events — storms,
tragedies, zombie attacks — you may need to write what’s
� Always carry a cell
phone so you can call for 4 COVERED BREAKING
NEWS EVENTS
called a follow-up or second-day story to further analyze instructions or backup. The lead story on Page One
what happened, what it means or what happens next. recounted a brutal dog
� Carry a camera, too.
So be prepared. At any moment a phone call, the police attack. But beyond that, only
Shoot images to fill for three other stories dealt with
scanner, even campus chatter may send you running. As photographers who may breaking news (although we
foreign correspondent H.R. Knickerbocker observed years not arrive in time, to did count the “police blotter”
ago: “Whenever you find hundreds and thousands of sane post online, or just to listings as one big item).
people trying to get out of a place and a little bunch of jog your memory later.
madmen trying to get in, you know the latter are reporters.”
82 COVERED SCHEDULED
NEWS EVENTS
By far, most of the items
involved planned events,
SCHEDULED EVENTS from high school basketball
games to yoga classes at the
Many events happen on schedule and recur predictably:
senior center.
The mayor campaigns for re-election. The semester ends.
� Be sure your news- Of those 82 events,
The swallows, or cicadas, return. And almost every concert,
room keeps a complete
court case, public meeting and sports event is scheduled
weeks (or even months) in advance. calendar of upcoming
events: games, elections,
65 ORIGINATED FROM
PRESS RELEASES
In many ways, then, scheduled events are easier to cover Like most papers, the Review
special anniversaries. is quite dependent on news
than breaking events. You know when they’ll start and finish; releases: The majority of
� Bone up on history
you can often predict what will happen; you can decide in items printed in the paper
before events occur.
advance how important they are, which allows you to plan were rewritten from material
Search the Web or
the timing and scope of your coverage. Better still, you can review back issues of sent in by local agencies and
write advances, precedes or previews that explain the “who, your paper to see how event organizers, from gallery
what, when and where” for readers ahead of time. your staff handled openings to obituary notices.
But beware. Don’t become a publicity pawn for every things in the past.
speech, debate, meeting, march and press conference.
Historian Daniel Boorstin called these “pseudo-events”:
� For big events, team
up with editors, pho-
14 ORIGINATED FROM STAFF
OR READER IDEAS
Several of these were
illusions created for the media that crowd out real issues and tographers and other columns about local issues.
real events. If stories that just rehash meetings and replay reporters to plan your Several others were year-
speeches are filling your pages and boring your readers, try coverage and package end retrospective features.
generating your own ideas about issues and newsmakers your stories in advance. The rest were mostly profiles
(see the lower section of the next page). of local movers and shakers.
 REPORTING BASICS 69

NEWS RELEASES
Day after day, bureaucrats, event organizers and some news releases are sure to end up on your desk.
public relations experts send their news releases Those announcing tryouts for “Oklahoma!” or solic-
(also called press releases) to newsrooms big and iting baked goods for a Humane Society fundraiser � No matter how pressed you
small. They arrive by fax, e-mail and snail mail; may become calendar items. Others get routed to the may be for time and no matter
how reliable the publicist is,
many elaborate releases use video, link to Web sites copy desk to become news briefs and short features. do not print releases verbatim.
or include free samples of merchandise. But many handouts are genuinely newsy: the golf Rewrite them to cut fluff and add
In a flow so constant, team hires a new coach; an old professor retires; a balance, context and fairness.
student wins a prestigious scholarship. They may � Yes, you can trust information
contain useful bits of biography, background in news releases — if you’re
or statistics. To develop these into legitimate turning them into briefs and cal-
news stories, however, you’ll need to add your endar items. But to turn releases
own research. into longer stories, you need
Sometimes the news-release volume is so to be skeptical. Double-check
large, and the flow so persistent, that staffs all key information, determine
what’s missing and go after it.
feel besieged by publicists peddling their
Report the real story.
causes and clients. Newsroom folklore
� Quotes that appear in news
tells of a frustrated editor at The
releases have often been
Washington Post who once banned sanitized, pre-approved, even
all publicity handouts. That lasted fabricated. If you use them, say
just one day, because even a big “according to a news release” or
paper with a big staff needs to “in a prepared statement.” Better
know where to find all those yet, contact sources mentioned
bingo games, boat shows and in the release for real quotes.
bulimia support groups. x

YOUR OWN STORY IDEAS — OR SUGGESTIONS FROM EDITORS AND READERS

News stories typically focus on events. Feature stories, on the other “Whoa, that’s bizarre. Maybe I should do a story about that.”
hand, often focus on people, trends or ideas. And the ideas for feature Yes, when you’re a reporter, helpful story tips pop up everywhere:
stories can originate in surprising, unpredictable ways. in meetings with editors, in phone calls from readers, in the pages of
Maybe you’re walking down the street and you realize, “Everybody’s every magazine and Web site you browse. For many reporters,
wearing a nose ring these days. I should do a story about nose rings.” dreaming up cool story ideas is the most rewarding part of the job.
Or maybe you’re talking to a friend who says, “My mother just went Take the three engaging features shown below. Here’s how the
on a pork-and-pineapple diet and lost 300 pounds” — and you think, reporters came up with those ideas:

DAVE PHILIPPS on the idea for this story DON HAMILTON on the idea for this package
about sending critters through the mail, on baseball gloves — a blend of nostalgia,
in the Colorado Springs Gazette: history and advice — in The Oregonian:
“An AP story about an alligator chomp- “It was winter, I was cold and I needed
ing its way out of a box in a post office some baseball in my life. So I conjured up
ended with this matter-of-fact gem: this opening day story only to immerse
Alligators longer than 20 inches long myself in the game. I wanted history, lore
cannot be sent through the mail. When I and colorful characters. I wanted readers to
stopped laughing, I called the post office smell the leather, hear the thwock of the
and got a copy of the rules. From there ball and remember running onto the field
it was just a matter of fishing out the with a new glove with all the other kids.
ridiculous in the book’s vast reservoir THE FLIP-FLOP FLAP: As she sat in bed reading the newspaper, And I wanted to learn how to spell thwock.”
of mundane regulations.” Chicago Tribune editor Ann Marie Lipinski spotted a photo of
Northwestern University’s championship lacrosse team posing with
President Bush at the White House. Lipinski’s eyes were drawn to
the women’s shoes: in the photo, four of the women were wearing
flip-flop sandals. Flip-flops? At a White House ceremony?
“I ripped the picture out, set it aside and wondered if there was
a story there,” Lipinski said, “or if I just needed to get some sleep.”
The next morning, Lipinski showed the photo to other newsroom
colleagues — and a story was born. A team of reporters inter-
viewed fashion experts, members of the lacrosse team and their
mortified family members. The story created a national sensation,
inspiring follow-up coverage from Newsweek to the “Today” show.

Visit THE MORGUE for the complete text of these stories:

MAIL SPECIES 217 YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE? 222 GLOVE STORY 219

MORE ON GENERATING STORY IDEAS > 118 MORE ON NEWS RELEASES > 194
70 REPORTING BASICS

Finding and using sources

They provide the raw material that reporters turn into stories. Without them, there’s no news.
To write a story, you gather information. And the success of your story
depends on the quality of your information. As the newsroom adage goes:
A reporter is only as good as his sources.
So what are sources? They can be government officials. Facts in an almanac.
Records in a courthouse. Numbers on a Web site. They can illuminate and
explain — or they can confuse, distort, even lie. Which is why every reporter
must learn how to:
� select sources for relevance, to focus each story on what’s most important;
� check sources for accuracy, to ensure all facts and statements are true;
� balance sources for fairness, to represent all sides of every issue;
� cultivate sources for tips and story ideas in the future.
All stories require sources, but the types and numbers of sources vary from
story to story. A single source might supply all the information you need for a
short feature or news brief. But to get the best possible information for longer
stories on more complex topics, you’ll need to contact a variety of sources.
In the pages ahead, we’ll examine how to get information out of your sources
Asbury Park Press reporter Bob Cullinane (left) talks and into your story — whether you’re researching data or conducting face-to-
to corrections officers in a New Jersey state prison cell. face interviews.

USING SOURCES TO
WRITE A BREAKING
NEWS STORY THE STORY
Two students were injured Friday evening Six city firefighters finished dousing flames
You’re in the newsroom late at night 1
when a fire gutted the third floor of Gilligan shortly after 8 p.m., and police investigators 4
when you hear the first clues: chatter Hall, forcing almost 100 students into the began sifting through rubble immediately.
on the police scanner. Sirens echoing 2
chilly autumn air and temporary housing. The cause of the fire was not clear. “It’s
across campus. Fire!!! One student is being treated for second- too early to speculate,” Fire Capt. Dwayne D. 1
Yes, a dormitory is burning. And degree burns at General Hospital, university Pipes said shortly before midnight.
since stories like this don’t come to you, 1 spokesman Wayne Dwops said. The other, Constructed in 1924, the building houses
you’ve got to sprint to the scene. It’s treated for smoke inhalation, was released 300 students in 150 rooms. Half of its resi- 7
there you’ll find many of the sources before midnight. dents are now boarding elsewhere, campus
that will give your story credibility and 1 Neither Dwops nor hospital officials would administrators said.
release student names or hometowns. “Thank goodness my roommate is on a
color: injured students, frantic parents,
The fire started in the northeast corner of date. She doesn’t know we’re homeless yet,” 5
stunned neighbors, exhausted firefight-
the dorm’s third floor, and firefighters spent said Barbara Seville, an exchange student
ers, beleaguered administrators. 3
10 minutes rousting students from all four from Italy who lived on the third floor.
So go! Drop this book and get moving! floors, according to city police reports. Farley Davidson invited Seville to bunk at
Later, back in the newsroom, you can 5
Campus police logs show that emergency his house at 1515 Maple Ave., adding: “I just
phone the campus spokesman and look teams responded quickly, first to an alarm at wish I had room for everyone.”
3
through your paper’s archives to learn: 7:19 p.m. and then to a 7:20 p.m. call from an The dorm was last inspected in April, with
3
When was the last fire on campus? unidentified resident assistant. a May 19 report from a city fire marshal
What’s the history of that dormitory? The city’s fire department also recorded a showing no safety code violations.
Who are the best contacts to pursue? 3 911 call from a cell phone at 7:23 p.m., and two A police official indicated that an arson 6
Campus and hospital officials may engines arrived within 10 minutes. investigation is under way.
hold back specific information about
injured students, citing legal statutes.
But many local and state reports will THE SOURCES
be public, and some may even be 1 3 5 7
online: the fire alarm log, the fire Officials at or near Routine police and fire Ordinary people A news release posted
marshal’s recent safety inspections, the scene, speaking reports, all public at the scene, speaking on the university’s
reports on previous fires, statistics for on the record. records. on the record. official Web site.
the campus and the community. 2 4 6
READ THE COMPLETE TEXT
Tracking down the best sources Reporter’s direct Staff photographer’s A police official, OF A DORM FIRE STORY 230
before deadline will depend, as always, observation on the scene. direct observation. speaking anonymously.
on your instincts and initiative.

MORE ON QUOTING SOURCES 82

 REPORTING BASICS 71

THE WIDE WORLD OF SOURCES:

YOUR MOST RELIABLE OPTIONS
The more sources you use, the more your reporting provides: What does it mean to
� Depth. Your story will offer more information and insight. “attribute” something
� Context. Readers will broaden their understanding if you to a source?
approach the topic from different points of view. It’s a common journalistic
� Reliability. There’s less chance of inaccuracy or bias when term, so get used to using
you gather facts from a variety of sources. it. Take this sentence:
Take that dormitory fire, for instance. Suppose you’re writing a Sen. Smith said the war
follow-up story on the fire: how it occurred, who’s been affected is a reckless mistake.
and what happens next. Here’s a look at the main types of sources The phrase Sen. Smith said
is called an attribution. It
you might consult for this (or any) story:
identifies where the idea
that the war is a reckless
mistake came from. And
NEWSMAKERS SPOKESPEOPLE EXPERTS that’s important to specify.
These are the Who speaks for Whatever the Attributing facts and
people who, institutions, big topic, you can opinions to their sources
willingly or not, corporations or usually seek out shows readers that you’re
take part in news public agencies an expert — a reporting what’s been said,
events: the fire- like the police or not saying it yourself. x
professor, an
Look at the examples in
fighter who battles the blaze; the fire departments? Usually one author, a government official — the white boxes at left. See
player who scores the big goal; the person (or office) is responsible to provide analysis or opinion. how every fact and quote
singer who headlines the concert. for disseminating information Not all “experts” have official- is carefully attributed?
Their recollections, opinions and to the media. This helps stream- sounding credentials (a legendary
emotions validate stories and give line the process and eliminate local poker player, for example) What do journalists
them life. Who wants to read confusion, but it also gives those — but that’s OK, as long as their mean when they talk
about a dramatic rescue without organizations more opportunity insights are reliable and relevant about “anonymous”
hearing from the hero? to control or “spin” the story. sources?
to your topic.
Some sources are reluctant
to be named or quoted in a
EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: story. They’re afraid they’ll
Firefighter Dwayne D. Pipes raced University spokesman Wayne Justin Case, a Yale law professor be embarrassed, attacked,
into the burning kitchen to carry Dwops said the fire damaged the and author of “Death in the Dorm,” fired — even arrested. So
3-year-old Jim Pansey to safety. Human Resources offices on the calls the issue “a ticking time bomb.”
reporters might word an
“I heard a child screaming,” Pipes ground floor, but 99 percent of their Every dorm fire, Case argues,
attribution this way:
said, “so I hacked through a wall computer files had been saved. “proves that administrators would
and found him huddled in a closet. The dorm will remain closed for rather spend your tuition on sports One prominent senator
The poor kid was frozen in terror.” at least two more days, Dwops said. than make campus buildings safer.” called the war “a
reckless mistake.”
Granting anonymity to
nervous sources is often the
REFERENCE MATERIAL ORDINARY FOLKS only way to get information
OFFICIAL RECORDS into a story. But it can
All institutions Before the Internet Not every source undermine your credibility,
collect and store came along, most in every story must too, which is why editors
massive amounts research relied on be an authority generally discourage it.x
of information. In printed material. with an official-
How do you decide
most cases, all you But nowadays, sounding title. whether a source is
have to do is ask (or know where it’s faster and more efficient to Sometimes you want to hear the reliable?
to look), and you can unearth search encyclopedias, almanacs, opinions or anecdotes of the man
Be wary of every source
helpful statistics, reports, court dictionaries and phone books on the street or the woman on you use. Ask yourself:
records, etc. Private companies online. (For more on Web campus. Whether reacting to an � How does this person
are often secretive, but most pub- research, see the next page.) event or typifying a trend, quotes know what he/she knows?
lic records are available under the For instance, an Internet search from ordinary people add authen- � What’s the past record
Freedom of Information Act.x for dormitory fire statistics found: ticity that resonates with readers. of this source’s reliability?
� Does this source have
EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: some bias or self-interest
According to university records, According to the National Fire “I’m moving out,” said sophomore that compromises the
junior Claire Voyant sued the school Protection Association, more than Grace Quirrel. “Next term, I’m rent- integrity of what he/she
for $1.7 million after suffering third- 2,000 fires occur at U.S. colleges ing an apartment off campus. says? Am I being manipu-
degree burns in a 1987 dormitory and universities each year, result- “This dorm isn’t safe. There’s too lated for some reason?
fire. Voyant convinced a jury that ing in three deaths and 102 injuries much drinking, too many parties � Is this information
the fire had left her “too trauma- annually, on average. Most of those where yahoos go nuts and cause available from other sources
tized to continue her studies.” fires occur early in the morning. trouble for everybody else.” that would let me verify
or refute what he/she is
saying?

MORE ON OPEN RECORDS LAWS 141 MORE ON ATTRIBUTIONS 84 MORE ON ANONYMOUS SOURCES 81, 111
72 REPORTING BASICS

Using the Internet

The World Wide Web is every researcher’s dream come true.
With a few clicks of the mouse, you can scan the latest headlines. You can dig up terrific story
ideas. You can gather statistics, quotations, facts and opinions from every corner of the globe.
Yes, the Internet is the most valuable reporting tool ever created.
By now, you’ve already spent endless hours surfing the Web. But if you’ve never used the
Internet for serious research, you may need to increase your efficiency — and your skepticism. THE
As the AP stylebook points out, “The Web is a sprawling database that’s about ELEVENTH
one-quarter wheat and three-quarters chaff.” You can’t always find what COMMANDMENT
you need, and you can’t always trust what you find. You’re surfing the Web.
You stumble onto a phrase,
Keep in mind, too, that no matter how useful the Internet a paragraph — maybe even
may be, it’s no substitute for reality — for real an entire story — that is so
discussions with real human beings. Look at the exquisitely right, so swipe-
woman in this photo. She’s been staring at that ably perfect, that you copy
monitor for hours, mesmerized into a stupor. it and pretend you wrote it.
You’ve just plagiarized.
Don’t let that happen to you. At some point, It’s lazy. It’s wrong. And if
you need to get away from your desk, get out you’re caught, it could end
of the office and do some actual reporting. your journalism career.
With proper attribution,
to quote another’s thoughts
and words is appropriate;
plagiarism, however, is
cheating, and it may break
copyright law as well.
UH-OH! PLAGIARISM ALERT!
Yes, we confess: That entire
preceding paragraph was
plagiarized. It’s true. As
we were researching
plagiarism on the Web,
we found that quote and
dropped it into our story.
So how should we handle
that paragraph, instead?
We have three options:
THE REPORTER’S 1) Directly quote and credit
WEBLIOGRAPHY Ready to do some online reporting? Here’s a select
list of recommended Web sites to get you started. the source.
As grammarian Kenneth G.
Wilson once said: “With proper
RESEARCH & REFERENCE SEARCH ENGINES JOURNALISM TIPS & TOOLS attribution, to quote another’s
thoughts and words is appro-
Bartleby.com Google National Press Club online library priate; plagiarism, however,
www.bartleby.com www.google.com www.npc.press.org/library/resources.cfm is cheating.”
The one-stop site for all your reference The most impressive all-around search A clearinghouse of resources for reporters, 2) Paraphrase, while still
needs: dictionary, thesaurus, almanac, Bible, site, whether you’re looking for Web links, with links to everything from phone direc-
quotation finder, encyclopedia and more. maps, images or news updates. tories to FBI crime reports. crediting the source.
Quoting someone’s thoughts
State and Local Government on the Net Yahoo Newslink and words is appropriate,
www.statelocalgov.net dir.yahoo.com www.newslink.org grammarian Kenneth G. Wilson
The fastest link to all city, state or county The best directory site, with links to Looking for a newspaper, magazine, TV or says — provided you attribute
agencies, wherever you’re searching. thousands of useful topic categories. radio Web site? You’ll find the link here.
them properly. But plagiarism,
ProfNet Search.com Poynter Institute for Media Studies he says, is cheating.
www.profnet.com www.search.com www.poynter.org 3) Rework and reword the
Need an expert? ProfNet connects reporters A “meta” search engine that combines Helpful advice and engaging discussions on idea until it’s more ours
with 25,000 experts and spokespeople. results from a number of other engines. all aspects of the journalist’s craft. than theirs. But remember,
Urban Legends and Folklore Journalist Express readers deserve to know
www.urbanlegends.about.com For a more comprehensive list www.journalistexpress.com/public where all facts and ideas
The best place to verify or debunk those of the best Web sites for reporters, Another handy guide providing links to originate. So when in
dubious “stories” that circulate via e-mail. see page 326. hundreds of helpful resources for reporters. doubt, cite your sources. x

MORE ON PLAGIARISM > 151 AND COPYRIGHT > 147

 REPORTING BASICS 73

INTERNET � Try using directories AND search engines. as you monitor results, adding new words,
They’re both handy. A directory provides a deleting others, testing synonyms.
SEARCH huge list of Web sites organized by topics � Study the site’s search syntax. In other
TIPS FROM that get more detailed the deeper you words, learn a few tricks to increase your
THE PROS dig (Excite.com and dmoz.org are good efficiency. Take a moment to review the
Our number one examples). A search engine lets you enter tips on the search site’s “help” page to find
Internet research tip: key words or phrases, then scours the out if you should type quotation marks
Make friends with a Web to provide links to sites using those around phrases, or if capital letters matter.
librarian. No matter words. (The top search engines include At some search engines, typing Miami heat
how savvy you think Google.com and Yahoo.com). will dig up sites about basketball; typing
you already are, a � Bookmark your favorite search sites and Miami AND heat NOT basketball will show
smart librarian can get familiar with them. Don’t limit yourself you sites about Florida weather.
help you save time to one search site. They all have strengths � Watch your spelling. A misspelled word
and search more and weaknesses. Directories are generally forces your search engine to ignore the FAKES, FLUBS
effectively with tips best for providing broad context; search results you really want. But keep in mind SPOOFS, GOOFS
like these, compiled engines are best for zeroing in on specifics. that some words (theater and ecstasy) may AND HOAXES
from a variety of yield useful results if you deliberately enter
� Keep keywords as specific as possible. When a massive tsunami
library Web sites: alternative spellings (theatre and ecstacy).
When using search engines, avoid common struck South Asia in 2004,
words like money or sports. For best results, � Before you link to Web sites, study their several newspapers printed
enter several keywords at a time. Or use addresses. Do they look professional? this “exclusive” front-page
phrases. Then keep refining your keywords Reliable? Visit the most credible sites first. photo showing a crowd
fleeing the wave.
The problem? This
photo, forwarded around
WHO DO YOU TRUST? EVALUATING A WEB SITE’S RELIABILITY the world via e-mail, was
A reporter is only as good as his actually taken in 2002 on
(or her) sources. And when you use a AUTHORITY ACCURACY a beach in China, where
Web site as a source, you entrust your tourists flock to watch the
� Are you sure of the author’s � Did the information originate with giant surf.
credibility to faceless strangers. identity, reliability and credentials? this source — or does the author say
You can get burned doing that. “Mistakes like this make
� Is the site sponsored by a repu- where the information was obtained?
How? By reprinting information that a mockery of the media
table institution or organization? � Can you verify this information
looks reliable but turns out to be: � Does the information seem to from another reliable source?
and damage the image of
� fabrications or distortions be comprehensive and complete? � Are there grammatical or factual
journalists being trustwor-
disguised as truth, or � Is there a way to contact the author errors that cast doubt on this source’s thy selectors of news,” said
� statements misquoted or wrongly to verify or challenge information? professionalism or reliability? Guy Berger, a journalism
attributed to someone. professor in South Africa,
As you gain experience in online OBJECTIVITY TIMELINESS upon seeing this photo in
research, you’ll see that the closer you the Johannesburg paper.
� Is this site affiliated with a sponsor � Has this site been updated Bogus Web material
get to the original source, the more or a group with a slanted agenda? regularly and recently?
trustworthy the facts. You’ll also find appears in stories, too. In
� Can you trust this site to distin- � Are there publication dates on all
that institutions — whose Web ad- 1998, The New York Times
guish between facts and opinions? pages containing timely material?
dresses often end in .gov, .us or .edu — � Does this site present feedback � Can you ensure that all inform-
explained how popular
are more credible than personal pages. from readers who challenge its ation is up to date? movie titles had been
How do you assess the reliability of accuracy or correct mistakes? � Are the links to and from this translated into Chinese:
a Web site? By evaluating its authority, � Might this be satire or a hoax? page updated regularly? � The Crying Game
accuracy, objectivity and timeliness. became “Oh No! My
Girlfriend Has a Penis!”
� George of the Jungle was
“Big Dumb Monkey
BEYOND THE BASICS: E-MAIL, � E-MAIL. It’s the most efficient way to contact the Man Keeps Whacking
NEWSGROUPS AND BLOGS experts you find mentioned on Web sites you visit. Tree With Genitals.”
(Search engines can help you track down their e-mail � Batman and Robin was
Instead of gazing passively at Web sites, try using addresses.) It’s also a great way to conduct interviews “Come To My Cave
the Internet to interact more productively with news with multiple sources simultaneously. And of course, and Wear This Rubber
sources. Here’s how: reporters use e-mail to receive press releases, tips and Codpiece, Cute Boy.”
� NEWSGROUPS. Newsgroups are online bulletin boards feedback from readers, colleagues and sources. Sadly, the joke was on the
organized by topic. They’re a great place to find story � BLOGS. Most blogs dispense opinions. Some spread Times. Those titles were all
ideas and eavesdrop on conversations relevant to your rumors. But many do a fine job covering news events, spoofs from TopFive.com,
beat. If you have questions about a specific topic (and refining and refuting facts presented by mainstream a humorous Web site.
you have time to wait for a response), newsgroups can media. Monitoring blogs can produce terrific story “I made a mistake,” the
help you track down experts or generate authorita- ideas; information from blogs, if verified and cited, can reporter later lamented.
tive answers to the questions you pose. But be careful: run in your stories. And writing your own blog estab- “I should have checked
Don’t trust anyone whose identity you haven’t verified. lishes a dialogue with sources and readers. x each of these out.”

READ HOW INTERNET REPORTING HELPED CAPTURE AN ESCAPED MURDERER > 238 MORE ON BLOGGING 162
74 REPORTING BASICS

Observation
To bring news stories to life, you need to
engage your senses — and the reader’s, too.
There’s an old expression that editors and reporters
love to quote over and over: Show, don’t tell.
Suppose you’re covering a dorm fire. You talk to the
fire chief, the cop, the students. They tell you about
the alarm, the response, the damage — but where’s
the drama? The realism? The sense of tragedy?
Show, don’t tell.
When you’re at the fire scene, engage your eyes,
your ears, your journalistic radar. Who are the
victims? What are they doing? What are they wearing?
Are they clutching pets? Possessions? Each other?
As a reporter, you’re not simply a stenographer.
You’re an eyewitness, a spectator with a front-row
seat. You’re the eyes, the ears, the senses of the reader
who visits the scene through the power of your words.
The ability to observe accurately — to record events
so faithfully that details jump right off the page —
is the secret to great reporting. In fact, it’s the key to
success in any kind of writing, which explains why so
many successful novelists — Mark Twain, Stephen
Crane, Dorothy Parker, Ernest Hemingway, Willa
Cather — began as reporters.
Show, don’t tell. So rather than tell you any more,
we’ll show you some classic examples.

CHARLES WALLACE eavesdrops on a pearl merchant in Bahrain: MILTON BRACKER describes the scene
Hassan Arrayed opened a ragged square of red felt on the desk in in Italy in 1945 after dictator Benito
Yes, it’s time to
SIGHT retrain your eye- front of him and lowered his face like a falcon swooping on its prey.
With a cackle and a gapped-tooth grin, Arrayed held his prize out
Mussolini was executed:
Mussolini had changed in death,
balls to notice
to a woman customer who, as tradition still dictates in conservative but not enough to be anyone else. His
the little things:
corners of the Arab world, was enveloped in gauzy black silks down closely shaved head and his bull neck
the bald spot to her tattooed hands. were unmistakable. His body seemed
on the back of “This one is $6,000,” he said proudly. small and a little shrunken, but he was
a man’s head; Clutched in Arrayed’s hand was a lustrous pearl the color of never a tall man. At least one bullet had
the tattoos on a Devonshire cream. The pearl, which caught the sunlight flooding in passed through his head. It had emerged
woman’s hands; from the streets of Bahrain’s gold market outside the stall, was some three inches behind his right ear.
the exit wound behind the dictator’s ear. the size of a grape. There was another small hole nearer his
In the examples at right, notice how forehead where another bullet seemed to
vividly the visual details capture what have gone in.
TOM WOLFE describes the hair of an aging American author: As if he were not dead or dishonored
the reporter is seeing. Some of these
descriptions seem almost too poetic to As we approach from the rear, we notice a bald spot on the crown of enough, at least two young men in the
his head. It’s about the size of a Sunshine Chip-a-Roo cookie, this bald crowd broke through and aimed kicks at
be real. But the attention to detail lets
spot, freckled and toasty brown. Gloriously suntanned, in fact. Around his skull. One glanced off. But the other
you view the scene as if you’re looking this bald spot swirls a corona of dark-brown hair that becomes quite landed full on his right jaw, and there was
through the reporter’s eyes. thick by the time it completes its mad Byronic rush down the back of a hideous crunch that wholly disfigured
his turtleneck and out to the side in great bushes over his ears.x the once-proud face.

MORE ON TOM WOLFE AND FEATURE-WRITING STYLE > 120

 REPORTING BASICS 75

TOM WOLFE profiles a woman attending eeeeeeeeeooooooooooooh!” SUSAN ORLEAN

Capturing a new-age seminar in a California hotel: So she lets her keening sound rise up describes an African
sounds on the SOUND The trainer had said, “Take your finger
off the repress button!” Let it gush up and
into a real scream.
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeeaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiai!”
record store in Paris:
printed page If you walk down the
pour out! . . . So she starts moaning. And this rolls out in a wave, too, first
isn’t easy. In Rue des Plantes, you
“Oooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhh!” through those near her, and then toward
fact, you’ll find the far edges. will at first hear just the
And when she starts moaning, the most
some stories “Aiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaieeeeeeeeeeeeeeohhh- usual rumbling and
incredible and exhilarating thing begins to
(say, a profile happen. A wave of moans spreads through hhhheeeeeeeeeeaiaiaiai!” tootling and clattering
of a comic who the people lying around her, as if her ener- And so she turns it all the way up, into sounds of a Paris street,
does celebrity gy were radiating out like a radar pulse. a scream such as she has never allowed and then, as you pass
impressions) may be better suited for “Ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh!” herself in her entire life. the open door of Afric’
radio or video if they’re dependent on So she lets her moan rise into a keening “AiaiaiaiaiaiaiaAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR- Music, you will be
sound for their success. sound. RRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!” blasted by a few bars of
Still, skilled writers employ all their “Ooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh- And her full scream spreads from soul to a Congolese ballad, and
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!” soul, over the top of the keens and fading as soon as you step past
senses to capture the smells, tastes and
And when she begins to keen, the souls moans — the door, the ballad will
(yes) sounds of their stories. Notice
near her begin keening, even while the “AAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHaiaiai- suddenly be out of ear-
how the descriptions at right range shot, and the Paris street
moans are still spreading to the prostrate aieeeeeeeeoooooohhhheeeeeaiaiaiaiaiaia-
from subtle to extreme as they paint folks farther from her, on the edges of sounds will resume, as if
AAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!”
sonic pictures for readers. the room. — until at last the entire room is con- you had walked through
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooohhhhheeee- sumed in her scream. a harmonic cloudburst.

JUSTIN DAVIDSON reviews a BILL BLUNDELL wrote this lead to a story on the vanishing American cowboy:
classical musician in concert: Why are so
The pianist Evgeny Kissin pro-
The lariat whirls as the man on horseback separates a calf from the herd.
Suddenly, the loop snakes around the calf’s rear legs and tightens. Wrapping a turn ACTION many news
pelled himself stiffly onto the stage of rope around the saddle horn, the rider drags the hapless animal to his crew. stories so
of Avery Fisher Hall on Thursday, The flanker whips the calf onto its back, and the medicine man inoculates the dull? In part,
looking rather as if his joints needed animal. Amid blood, dust and bawling, the calf is dehorned with a coring tool, it’s because
oiling. He dutifully bent his mouth branded in an acrid cloud of smoke from burning hair and flesh, earmarked with nothing ever
into a labored and momentary a penknife in the ranch’s unique pattern and castrated. It’s all over in one minute. happens.
smile, gave a quick jerk of his torso There’s just
in lieu of a bow, and then sat at the no action.
piano where, in an instant, all his DAVID RHODE watches a street dentist at work in Pakistan:
If you want to write a dull sports
discomfort melted into power and As Mr. Sajjad sat on a small stool on a pedestrian bridge over a set of railway story, for example, just quote the
control. tracks, Mr. Jameel pried out brown chunks of dead tooth and flicked them onto coach and spout some statistics.
Watching the awkward young the red plastic tarp spread out under the stool. At one point, the amateur dentist
But if you want to bring that story
pianist plunge into music was like lit up a cigarette to smoke as he worked. At another point, a locomotive passed
seeing a seal slip into water, and in under the bridge, belching black diesel smoke onto the instruments and into the
to life, describe how the Big Play
the 40 mesmerizing minutes that patient’s mouth. unfolded, how the touchdown got
followed, Kissin gave one of the The factory worker showed no sign of discomfort as Mr. Jameel filed down scored, how the players celebrated
most lissome and lyrical perform- his false tooth. He did not even complain when his gums started bleeding. and the fans went nuts.
ances of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto Throughout the ordeal, he winced just twice. Afterward, he admired his new Verbs add verve.
No. 5 that I have ever heard. tooth in a small hand-held mirror and thanked his dentist.

COREY KILGANNON writes about Hermine Wilber, who has just undergone BOB GREENE describes the scene
It’s not easy. surgery to end a lifetime of deafness: as a daughter visits her mother,
Capturing the EMOTION “Are you ready?” asked the technician, named Sara Morton, who specializes
who’s dying of cancer:
moods and in cochlear implants. It was a Friday night. Her mother
emotions of “Am I ready?” answered Mrs. Wilber, after reading Ms. Morton’s lips. “55 years.” was in bed; she was hooked up to
Then Ms. Morton held a piece of paper in front of her mouth so that Mrs. an oxygen tank by a long cord. The
strangers,
Wilber could not see what her lips were doing. “Bop, bop, bop,” Ms. Morton said. daughter climbed onto the bed next
without to her mother, just as she had as a
adding inap- Right away, Mrs. Wilber repeated the sounds she had just heard. “Bop, bop,
bop.” little girl. The daughter sensed that
propriate goo her mother was thinking something
Everyone around her, all these people who loved her, started to cry.
or schmaltz, but not saying it.
“Come on,” Mrs. Wilber said with a happy smile. “Talk to me.”
is terrifically difficult to do. And it’s The mother looked over. She said
Her oldest daughter, also named Hermine, put her hand gently over her the words:
usually best reserved for the right
mother’s eyes and said words Mrs. Wilber had never heard before: “I love you, “I just don’t want to leave yet.”
moment in the right feature story. Mom.”
But notice, in these examples, how The two women both started to
Her grandson, Thomas, who is a teenager, tried to speak, but he was crying cry. They held each other, and the
the writers show you the scene, in too hard with happiness to get any words out. daughter could not tell who was
simple and direct language, without Her husband, Bill, walked up to her and said, softly, “I met you in 1946.” It rocking whom: the mother rocking
telling you how to feel. was the first time she had ever heard his voice. He asked her if he sounded as the daughter, as in days long ago,
she had imagined. Yes, she said, his voice was low and strong. or the daughter rocking the mother?

FOR TWO EXAMPLES OF STORIES USING DETAILED OBSERVATIONS, SEE OREGON PAYS TRIBUTE TO ITS VIETNAM VETS > 216 AND FOR THOSE CUT OFF, A LIFE PRIMEVAL > 227
76 REPORTING BASICS

Taking notes THE OTHER

REASON TO
CARRY A
What’s the best way to record the facts and quotes you gather for a story? NOTEBOOK
It seems ridiculously simple: People talk to you. You write it down. You type it up. Done. Next! While researching San
Not so fast, Lois. Reporting may not be rocket science, but the truth is: If you don’t take good notes, Francisco’s alternative
you cannot write a good story. And good lifestyles in the 1970s,
journalist Elizabeth
note-taking isn’t easy. It involves major Fishel found herself at
multitasking — lots of listening, interpreting, an orgy where every-
observing, evaluating, writing and reacting in body was naked.
Trying to be “a good
a hurry. Under pressure. About unfamiliar sport,” she disrobed.
topics. In strange places. And for the rest of the
night, Fishel doggedly
If you’re not careful, your notebook can
interviewed guests
become a confusing, chaotic mess, which is while scribbling in a
why every good reporter needs a system for notebook (“my shield,
my alibi, my fig leaf,”
recording information quickly and organiz- she called it) tightly
ing it efficiently — a system that guarantees clutched against her
that the data going into your story exactly naked body.
— The New York Times
Christina Leonard takes notes and makes a backup tape recording matches the data your sources give you. via anecdotage.com
while interviewing a county official for an Arizona Republic story. And it all starts with your notebook.

WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND ON 5 Most reporters prefer spiral-bound notebooks like the one shown here.
5 Choose a size that feels comfortable for you — big enough to suit your
A TYPICAL PAGE IN penmanship, but not too obtrusive or clumsy to carry. And remember,
A REPORTER’S you can usually write narrow columns faster than wide ones.
NOTEBOOK 6 Reporters can be fussy about the type of pen they use.
6
Suppose you’re covering Felt-tips are reliable, but they may smear when you write
a Memorial Day parade in the rain (which is why you should always carry a pencil).
1
in Dayton. Here are some Some reporters use different-color inks to distinguish
notes you might gather: between different speakers (Smith is red, Jones is blue).
1 A running log of the time. 7
7 If something seems important, find a way to
2 Joe Hyatt, 63, lives in Dayton. mark it (adding a star or circling an asterisk, as
He was a Marine lieutenant colonel in shown here) so you can quickly spot it later.
Vietnam. Hyatt said, “This is a proud 2
and sacred day for Dayton, a day when 8 Draw lines, if necessary, to separate
we celebrate what it means to be American.” one speaker from another.
Notice how, without learning shorthand, you 8
9 Be sure to put quotation
can speed up your transcribing by:
� Skipping small words (a, the).
marks around actual quotes to
� Using symbols instead of common words
distinguish them from non-
(“2b” for “to be,” “w/ ” for “when,” and so on). 9 quoted material.
� Abbreviating long words (“D” for “Dayton,” “Am”
for “American”). But it’s wise to review your notes and 10 For long inter-
spell out those abbreviations while your memory is fresh to views, try listing
3
avoid confusion. (Did he say “Americans” or “an American” ?) your questions
here, on the
3 Carefully spell out all important facts: names, phone numbers, inside back
statistics. Double-check them with your sources as you write them cover. Then you
down. When in doubt — if you gather material that you might want to can flip pages back
check later — circle it. Or draw a box. Or put question marks beside it. and forth, reading ques-
Or add a phrase like sp? (check spelling) or cq? (check the accuracy). tions and writing answers.

4 As soon as you have a free moment, review your notes to clean up any 4 Remember: The more you practice,
sloppy shorthand and add details that you were too busy to record at the time: the more adept you’ll become at:
physical descriptions, emotions, tone of voice. (For instance, Little Mary here was a � writing while looking somewhere else;
curly-haired blonde in a red-white-and-blue dress, clutching small American flags � talking about one thing while writing another;
in each hand.) Fill in any gaps in your data collection. Don’t worry about gathering � stalling for time (rephrasing a question, making small
too much material. You may not use it all, but you’ll regret what you don’t have. talk) while you furiously finish scribbling a quote.
 REPORTING BASICS 77

WHICH IS THE BEST WAY TO TAKE NOTES? A LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS
Ah, the simple notebook. It’s the most ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
indispensable, time-tested tool in your
� It’s low-tech. Nothing to � Since most people talk faster
toolbox. No matter how high-tech you break, no batteries to fail. Worst than you can write, quotes may
try to be, you’ll eventually end up case: Your pen runs out of ink, be inaccurate (unless you learn
NOTEBOOK someplace where your only option
so you borrow another one. shorthand).
is scribbling notes in a notebook (or, if � Written notes are easy to � Standing still to write can be
you’re really desperate, on gum wrappers, access and transcribe later. cumbersome and restricting.
envelopes, toilet paper — or your arm). So � You keep a permanent record � Some of your scribblings will
you might as well get good at it, to avoid of what you heard and saw. later seem illegible to you.
being caught unprepared.

Recording interviews is the best way to ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

ensure accuracy, especially for lengthy
� It’s the most accurate way � Replaying and transcribing
Q-and-A’s with fast talkers. Some care-
to capture every word spoken interviews wastes valuable time.
ful reporters even take additional during an interview.
RECORDING � If the background is noisy, it
notes while they’re recording
� If anyone tries to challenge can be impossible to make out
(as backup, and to add comments and your story, you have actual what’s being said.
observations). But remember, recorders proof of what was said. � If the machine fails, the tape
make some interviewees uneasy. And in � It lets you post interview jams or the battery dies, you’ve
some states, taping people without their audio on your paper’s Web site. got a serious problem.
permission is illegal. Always ask first.

Some reporters lug their laptops every- ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES

where, taking notes and writing stories
� It’s the fastest way to turn � Since most people talk faster
while they interview newsmakers or
your notes into a story, since it’s than you can type, quotes may
watch the Big Game. But laptops all right there on the screen. be inaccurate (unless you learn
TYPING are still buggy and delicate; their
� It’s the most efficient way to to type with blazing speed).
batteries can die unexpectedly. That’s gather last-minute details or � Computer problems can ruin
why most computer note-taking occurs fill holes in a story on deadline. interviews or destroy files.
in the newsroom, where reporters sit at � You can conduct an entire � You’re stuck sitting in one
their desks and work the phones hard, interview using chat or e-mail. place, staring at the screen.
typing up what they need as they talk.

Arm yourself with a small recorder, but keep For a series on adolescent girls, I recorded, to
it in its holster and take notes. The recorder is ensure I could capture the way girls talk. If the
often intimidating and you don’t have time to person speaks fast, I record. If the person has a
transcribe the tapes. If you discover, however, habit of changing their story or stretching the
that you can’t keep pace with your subject’s truth, I record. In interviews for daily stories,
logic or eloquence, fire up the recorder. however, I don’t record, unless it’s the governor.
Steve Duin, The Oregonian Monica Mendoza, The Arizona Republic
WHICH DO YOU PREFER:
I became dependent on tape recorders as a cub Both. Take the tape recorder, turn it on and
TAKING NOTES OR USING
reporter and had to wean myself from them. set it aside. Take clear notes. When you hear
A TAPE RECORDER?
I never use tape recorders. I only take notes. that perfect quote, check the meter on the tape
Deb Holland, The Rapid City Journal recorder and write it in your notes, so you can
Once I interviewed Ralph Nader for a find the exact quote when you need it.
Use a tape recorder. Only by listening to the story about a congressman. “His problem Phillip Pina, St. Paul Pioneer Press
tape later can we be properly appalled at how is he has no political guts,” Nader said into
badly we misheard a quote and/or bungled it my tape recorder. “Are you referring to his Tape recorders always fail (at the worst moments).
in our notes. work on health care?” I responded. “Yes.” Tape recorders make sources talk funny.
Jim Kershner, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) The quote ran and the congressman’s chief Recorders encourage lazy notetaking.
of staff hit the roof. “Nader says you mis- Recorders encourage lazy listening.
I detest tape recorders. They set an adversarial quoted him,” he said. “You tell Nader I’ve
got it on tape,” I said. Half hour later he Clip and paste on your tape recorder:
tone and make interview subjects less inclined
to relax and open up. Only the killer quotes called again. “Nader says you took it out of WARNING! Tape recorders
need be used and they can be accurately context.” When I stopped laughing, I told may be dangerous to your
captured with pen and paper. him about the context. professional health.
Randy Ludlow, The Columbus Dispatch Don Hamilton, The Columbian (Vancouver, Wash.) Don Fry, writing coach
78 REPORTING BASICS

Interviewing “One thing I’ve learned

about doing interviews:
Interviews, like stories, come in an endless variety of styles and structures. it’s important to establish
They can be fast five-minute phoners where you ask a senator for a sound bite (“What do you think early on that you’re not
a schmuck.”
of the proposed tax increase?”). Or they can be intimate interrogations of the rich and famous (like Joel Siegel, movie critic
the 1977 Playboy interview with Barbra Streisand that took nine grueling months to complete*).
“Interviewing is one of
Writing may be a solitary art, but interviewing is a social skill. You must be friendly, but aggressive. those skills that you only
Polite, but probing. Sympathetic, get better at. You will
but skeptical. You need to hurl hard never again feel so ill
at ease as when you try
questions at complete strangers who for the first time, and
may be shy, sneaky, suspicious of the probably you will never
media or emotionally distraught from feel entirely comfortable
the disaster they just survived. prodding another person
for answers that he or
But for many reporters, it’s the she may be too shy or
most fun part of the job. It offers you inarticulate to reveal.”
a fascinating opportunity to pick the William Zinsser,
writer, editor and teacher
brains of the stupidest and smartest
“If you let the other
and most successful people you’ll ever person control the inter-
meet. If you’re a good listener, you can view, then you’ve lost.”
be a great interviewer. Ted Koppel, ABC News

*Each month, the Playboy Interview provides a fine

“The better I treat
Orlando Sentinel reporter Ken Ma takes notes during an interview with example of a celebrity Q-and-A. In fact, many men people, the better the
former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield. read Playboy just for the interviews. No, seriously. information I get. My
M.O. is to remember
that just because I have
a press card in my
ASK YOURSELF: WHICH TYPE OF INTERVIEW SHOULD THIS BE? pocket, it gives me no
special claim. People
Anytime you talk to someone ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES have no obligation to let
to gather material for a story — me into their life and
facts, quotes, opinions, reactions — � It’s the best way to build rapport � You can waste time setting up a ask probing questions.”
it’s called an interview. IN and encourage sources to cooperate. meeting, traveling, waiting around, Ray Suarez, host of NPR’s
But no two interviews are alike. PERSON � A subject’s physical surroundings making small talk, etc. Talk of the Nation
They’ll vary according to the time often provide useful information. � Distractions (people, phone calls) “This is a sad fact:
you have, the facts you need and � You can pick up cues by watching often interrupt the interview. Sometimes the dumbest
the accessibility of the interviewee. a person’s gestures, body language. � If you’re uncomfortable, unlikable questions get the best
The most common options: or unpleasant to be around, face- answers. You’ve gotta be
� People take you more seriously
� A long, formal interview to-face interviews can go badly. willing as an interviewer
when you’re right in front of them.
where you sit privately in a room, to take chances and ask
asking probing questions and get- the dumb questions
ting revealing answers. � Fast, efficient way to get answers � It’s impersonal. You can’t tell every now and then.”
� A quick phoner where you
BY ( IF they answer their phone). what people look like, what they’re Steve Kroft,
seek fast facts to plug into a story.
PHONE � For many people, talking to a doing, how they’re reacting. “60 Minutes” correspondent
reporter isn’t as intimidating when � It’s difficult to record a phone
� A walkaround where you
they can’t see you taking notes. conversation without buying a “People are interesting.
accompany your interviewee as he/ reliable recording gizmo.
she does that newsworthy thing � With cell phones, conversations You just have to ask them
can occur anytime, anywhere — no � You’re much more likely to mis- the right questions.”
you’re writing about.
advance notice is even necessary. hear or misquote someone. John Travolta, actor
� An on-the-fly chat with a news-
maker (say, a politician or athlete) “Play with the quotes,
where you fire off questions as they � Gives interviewees time to ponder � There’s no personal interaction. by all means — selecting,
whisk through a public place. BY and construct intelligent responses. � The lag time between questions rejecting, thinning,
� A backgrounder where you E-MAIL � Offers the most flexibility; you can and answers makes it hard to ask transposing their order,
informally pick an expert’s brain ask and answer questions whenever immediate follow-up questions. saving the good one for
on a topic you’re researching. it’s convenient. � Some people take an hour to type the end. Just make sure
But before you start asking any � Since responses are typed, they’re what they could say in five minutes. the play is fair. Don’t
questions, decide whether it’s best easy to copy and paste — and they � Are you sure this is really the
change any words or
to conduct your interview in per- provide a record of all that’s said. person he or she claims to be? distort the context.”
son, over the phone or via e-mail. William Zinsser
 REPORTING BASICS 79

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEWS:

BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER
You’re a reporter. You’ve got stories to write. You need to interview people who have
information your readers require. So what do you do? Here’s how the process works.

� First, do your homework. Be persuasive and polite. If necessary, be

SETTING UP Get familiar with the topic. nicer than you actually are. Act like you
THE INTERVIEW Read old news stories. Do need help (which you do) and describe what
online research. Check with you want. People are more likely to assist
affiliated organizations. Talk to your editors. Then: you if they know what you’re looking for.
� Think through your story. Decide who your best � Decide when and where to meet. Find

sources will be. Who are the experts? Who’s in charge? a quiet, convenient location — or should you
Who’s being affected? Who has strong opinions? How meet them in their native habitat (a doctor
many different sources will you need to contact? in a hospital, a mechanic fixing a truck)?
Would background activity enhance your
� Determine the best way to interview those sources. reporting, or would it be distracting?
Who’s your top source? Should that interview be done � Ask if photos will be allowed or if tape-
face to face? Should others be done by phone or e-mail?
recording is OK. It’s always smart to clear A British reporter climbs a rope to interview an acrobat
� Set up the interview(s), usually by phone or e-mail. these issues in advance. practicing a circus routine in London in the 1990s.

� Continue your research. views, you may feel more confident writing out entire � Rehearse your interview with a friend if you’re not
PREPARING FOR The more you understand questions ahead of time. Some veteran reporters do that; feeling comfortable with the process. See how questions
THE INTERVIEW your subject, the more others simply itemize key topics on the covers of their sound when you ask them. Fine-tune your phrasing.
productive your interview notebooks, glancing at them as they scribble notes. � Get to the interview on time. And another thing:
will be. DON’T waste people’s time forcing them to � Prioritize. Decide which questions require simple � Dress appropriately. Don’t wear jeans and a T-shirt to
explain basic stuff you should already know; instead, yes-or-no answers (to quickly nail down essential info) interview a banker; don’t dress like a banker when you
use interviews to collect details, insights and opinions. and which should be phrased open-endedly (for more interview a poor farmer. Your appearance can actually
� Organize your questions. For your first few inter- detailed, thoughtful answers). help you gain the confidence of those you interview.

� Relax. Be friendly and part questions. It’s more efficient to ask one question at � Ask people to slow down if you’re falling behind in
DURING THE curious. Don’t be afraid. Granted, a time, about one thing at a time. your notes — or slow them down deliberately when
INTERVIEW interviews aren’t exactly casual � Limit questions that can be answered simply “yes” they get to the good parts of their stories, so you can
conversations, but the more or “no.” Questions like “Were you worried on election fish for more interesting details (“How did you feel
comfortable things feel, the more success you’ll have night?” are called close-ended questions, and they about that? So then what happened?”)
loosening your interviewee’s lips. often yield dull answers: “No, not really.” � Don’t worry about asking dumb questions if they
� Never forget: You’re in charge. Once the interview Instead, ask open-ended questions — “What was lead to smart answers. Better to sound stupid in an
starts, it’s your show. You’ll ask the questions, and you’ll going through your mind as you waited for the election interview than to write a stupid story later. Don’t ever
keep asking until you’re satisfied. Don’t let anyone results?” — to reveal thoughts and feelings that explain be embarrassed to say, “Sorry . . . you lost me.”
intimidate you, not even ticked-off bigshots. Remember, why and how things happened. � Remember to look around and note what you see.
there’s real power in that story you’re going to write. � Make sure every question gets answered. Pay What gestures, physical descriptions or activities will
� Start with the basics: name, age, address, title, etc. constant attention. Listen closely. Don’t let interviewees add color to the story — or trigger new questions?
Be sure to double-check spellings as you jot them down. out-clever you and sidestep sensitive issues. � Use reassuring body language (facial expressions,
� Budget your time. If you’ve only got five minutes, � Rephrase questions when you think an answer is nodding, making friendly eye contact, etc.). But keep
don’t waste time with chitchat or inessentials. Get right unclear or contradictory, or if you think you’ll get a unnecessary comments to a minimum.
to the meat of the matter. If it’s a longer interview: more quotable response. � Try using silence as a tactic to prod people into
� Begin with softball questions. Warm up with the � Ask follow-up questions. The best ones are: saying more. Often, just gazing blankly at somebody
big-picture, nonthreatening stuff. Save the complex, 1) How do you know that? makes them uncomfortable, and they keep talking.
controversial topics for later. 2) Can you give me an example? � Don’t interrupt.
� Focus your questions. Broad, vague queries (What’s 3) And . . . ? � Don’t take sides.
it like being on the soccer team?) aren’t as effective as � Stay flexible. Sometimes an interview takes a turn � Save your toughest question (“the bomb” ) for last.
precise ones (How’d it feel to score that winning goal?). you never predicted. Go with the flow. Some of your If they trust you, they’ll answer. If they stomp off in
� Keep it simple. Avoid long, rambling, two- or three- best material may come out of deep left field. anger, at least they answered all your other questions.

� Review your notes before � Ask permission to call back later in case you have � Review your notes again, privately, to add further
AFTER THE you end the session. Recap what more questions. If the interview went well, your subject observations, clean up illegible scribbles and mark the
INTERVIEW you’ve discussed to fill in gaps, will be glad to help further. most noteworthy passages. That’s always a good time
correct errors or clarify confusion. � Ask interviewees to call YOU if they think of any- to ask yourself: Do I have the lead for my story yet?
� Ask, “Who else should I contact?” Often, the most thing else that might be helpful to your story. � Check back with your sources after the story runs.
valuable thing you get from an interview is a link to a � Say thank you. And mean it. These people have just They may offer useful feedback or tips for new stories.
better source — a person, a Web site or an organization given you their time, their trust and their information.
you didn’t previously know about. Show a little gratitude, eh? FOR MORE ON INTERVIEWING, TURN THE PAGE
80 REPORTING BASICS

Interviewing (Continued from previous page) “If someone calls me up

and says her toaster is
talking to her, I don’t
GREG ESPOSITO, refer her to professional
The Roanoke Times: help. I say, ‘Put the
“After a day of covering toaster on the phone.’ ”
flooding throughout Giles Sal Ivone,
County, we saw a man Weekly World News editor
standing on his front porch,
surrounded by water. We “You may have to act like
yelled over to him to see if a jerk at times, or you
he needed help. Talking to may have to challenge,
him over the rushing water tease, coax or goad
proved impossible, so I put your subject into saying
my hand up to my ear to something provocative,
let him know I wanted to but that’s part of the
call him. He gave me his job description of an
phone number by holding
interviewer. You have
up his fingers. I sat down
on the edge of the road,
to be willing to think on
pulled out my notebook your feet, change direc-
and dialed my cell phone. tions quickly and take
The scene of Bill Turner charge.”
Lawrence Grobel,
watching ducks swim in celebrity interviewer
his front yard became the
lead for the story.” “I compare myself to a
gold prospector. . . I start
asking questions and up
comes all this ore, dirt,
everything. Now you
THE Q-and-A FORMAT: CAPTURING CONVERSATIONS VERBATIM gotta find the gold dust.
Interviews are usually worked into Q: Do you believe in an afterlife? why are they still around? How come apes I start editing, cutting.
stories. But for an engaging alternative, GIBSON: Absolutely. There has to be an aren’t people yet? It’s a nice theory, but I Now you’ve got to find a
you can run a transcript as a Q-and-A. afterlife. Otherwise, where is the evening- can’t swallow it. There’s a big credibility gap. form. Then it’s not just
Q-and-A’s usually look like the one out process? There has to be an after- The carbon-dating thing tells you how long gold dust; it becomes a
at right, with questions posed in one life because Hitler and I both walked something’s been around, but how accurate ring, a watch, a necklace.”
font, answers in another. They can be the planet and I’m not going to the is that, really? I’ve got one of Darwin’s Studs Terkel,
same place as Hitler. books at home and some of that stuff legendary oral historian
light or serious, long or short. You can
even edit remarks for brevity, as long Q: Is there a hell? is pretty damn funny. Some of his
stuff is true, like that the giraffe has “It’s pretty common for
as you don’t distort their meaning. GIBSON: Absolutely.
a long neck so it can reach the leaves. me to be in the middle
The best Q-and-A’s let us feel like Q: What’s your image of the devil?
But I just don’t think you can swallow of an interview, hear
we’re eavesdropping on a stimulating GIBSON: The beast with eight
the whole piece. something, and think,
conversation. Consider this excerpt tongues and four horns and fire and
Q: I take it that you’re not particularly ‘Well, there’s my lead.’
brimstone. Probably worse than any-
from an interview with Mel Gibson. broad-minded when it comes to issues such If I walk out of an
thing we can imagine, as paradise is prob-
“My ears were burning with joy!” ably better than anything we can imagine. as celibacy, abortion, birth control — interview knowing my
interviewer Lawrence Grobel recalled. GIBSON: People always focus on stuff like lead and my conclusion,
Q: Do you believe in Darwin’s theory of evo-
“I’ve talked to hundreds of movie lution or that God created man in his image? that. Those aren’t issues. Those are unques- I know I’m in pretty
stars, and not one of them had ever tionables. You don’t even argue those points. good shape.”
GIBSON: The latter. Steve Pond,
expressed such rigid beliefs on the Q: So you can’t accept that we descended Q: You don’t? music journalist
record. If this isn’t manna for an from monkeys and apes? GIBSON: No.
interviewer, I don’t know what is!” GIBSON: No, I think it’s bullshit. If it isn’t, — From The Art of the Interview “Long, complex, multi-
part questions generally
do not elicit very good
information. I find that
most of the news I’ve
THREE WAYS POST COMPLETE POST AUDIO L READERS JOIN
LET ever gotten in my career
TTRANSCRIPTS OR VIDEO TTHE CONVERSATION has been when I ask
THE WEB CAN very short and specific
ENRICH YOUR If an interview is unusually Most interviews are dull and Promote the interview in
interesting or newsworthy, routine. But if you land a advance on your Web site and questions that just come
INTERVIEWS don’t just edit the best sound conversation with someone ask readers to submit their to the point. And when
Whether you’re writing bites into a story and toss the famous or newsworthy questions ahead of time — I’m talking to young
for print or the Web, these rest. Instead, post the entire enough, consider recording or better yet, post questions, reporters, that’s always
options help maximize an Q-and-A online, using a format it so you can convert it into a answers and user comments my advice. Just ask the
interview’s effectiveness: like the example above. podcast or online video clip. live as the session unfolds. question.”
Bob Schieffer,
host of CBS’ Face the Nation
 REPORTING BASICS 81

“ON THE RECORD,” A soccer star quits the team, but she’s afraid to say why. A union boss says
the strike is nearly settled, but he won’t let you quote him. A rape victim is
“OFF THE RECORD” — willing to discuss her ordeal, but she doesn’t want you to print her name. “If you want some-
WHAT DO WE MEAN How do you handle delicate situations like these? Over the years, reporters thing to remain off the
WHEN WE SAY THAT? have adopted these conventions for conducting sensitive interviews: record, don’t say it.”
Anita Creamer,
lifestyle columnist

ON THE RECORD OFF THE RECORD ON BACKGROUND ON DEEP BACKGROUND “If you’re really going
The reporter’s source agrees The information cannot be The information can be used The information can be used, to do an in-depth inter-
that anything said during published in any form. If a in a story — and can even run but the source cannot be
view, then you have
the interview can be printed, reporter is told off the record as a quote — but the source revealed. The reporter could
to know an awful lot
and the source’s name can be that Obama plans to veto the cannot be identified by name: write that President Obama is
about the person, cer-
used: “Obama plans to veto tax bill, the reporter must “Obama plans to veto that tax expected to veto the tax bill
that tax bill,” said Roy G. Biv, confirm it from a separate bill,” a high-ranking commerce — but publishing unattributed
tainly enough to know
secretary of commerce. source before printing it. department official said. speculations may be risky. when he or she isn’t
telling the truth, isn’t
� Use the information? Use the information? � Use the information? � Use the information? telling the whole story.”
� Identify the source? Identify the source? Identify the source? Identify the source?
Barbara Walters, ABC News
� Run actual quotes? Run actual quotes? � Run actual quotes? Run actual quotes?
“Your purpose in
Obviously, it’s best for all conversations to stay on the Can I persuade this person to go on the record? conducting an interview
record. Uncertainty and mistrust emerge as soon as things Have I explained the benefits of telling this story openly is partly to get facts, but
go off the record — which is why, to avoid misunder- and the problems anonymous sourcing might create? you also want color;
standings, many reporters refuse to allow it. Ever. Can I obtain this information through another source you want anecdotes;
Editors are wary of printing information from anony- so I can avoid unnamed sources altogether? you want quotes; you
want material that will
mous sources, too. What if the source is lying? If you’re Do we all agree on the ground rules for this interview
give readers an impres-
being duped, your paper’s credibility could be damaged. and exactly how we’ll handle any sensitive material? sion of the interviewee’s
Still, unnamed sources often provide valuable material. Is our newsroom policy clear on anonymous sourcing? personality.”
They can leak stories you’d never find on your own; they You may be wise to stop the interview, place a quick Max Gunther,
can steer you to other sources you’d never know about. x phone call to your editor and discuss how best to pro- author
But before you agree to give any source anonymity, ask: ceed — before you make any promises to your source.
“The single most
interesting thing you
can do is ask a good
question and then let
ADAM SCHEFTER, The Denver the answer hang there
Post (in the white shirt and shades): for two or three or
“I don’t ask too many questions in four seconds as though
a setting like this. I try to save you’re expecting more.
most of my questions for one- You know what? They
on-one sessions, where I’m not get a little embarrassed
advertising to everybody else and give you more.”
what I’m writing about. If there’s Mike Wallace, CBS News
an issue that everybody knows
about — like, say, the status of “Listen NOW. When
whether the Broncos signed their people talk, listen
first-round draft pick, as was the completely. Don’t be
case on the date of this picture, thinking about what
which was the first day of training you’re going to say.
camp — I’ll ask it in a public setting Most people never
like this. Otherwise, for more listen. Nor do they
confidential subjects, I wait until I observe. You should be
can ask someone in private.” able to go into a room
and when you come out
A ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW � Many interviewers, many interviewees. You’ll find
know everything that
this in the “spin room” at political debates or during
IS YOUR BEST OPTION. BUT media gatherings at trade shows, where impromptu
you saw there. If that
room gave you any feel-
IT’S NOT YOUR ONLY OPTION. interviews arise in random clumps. (Tip: If you ever find ing, you should know
Sometimes you just don’t have the time, the ability or yourself lost and confused at one of these events, just exactly what it was that
the clout to schedule private interviews with news sources. shadow a veteran reporter who knows who’s who.) gave you that feeling.”
Depending on your beat, you may frequently find your- � One interviewer, many interviewees. It gets chaotic Ernest Hemingway,
self in situations where there are: talking to a crowd (teammates who just won the big reporter and novelist
� Many interviewers, one interviewee. You’ll find this game, assembled members of a rock group), so filter out
at formal news conferences (where politicians meet the the distractions and keep a careful note of who says what. “The reporter who
press) or at informal post-game media mobs like the one Keep in mind that e-mail may be the most efficient way believes all that he is
shown above. Reporters usually take turns tossing out told will not last long.”
to ask many people the same questions; just duplicate one Neil MacNeil,
questions, and everyone gets to share the answers. message to several sources, then wait for their replies. The New York Times

MORE ON ANONYMOUS SOURCES > 111, 248

82 REPORTING BASICS

Quotations
They make stories more appealing, more authentic — and yes, you can quote me on that.
Of course, you can write entire stories in your own words, without quoting a single source. But those stories often sound
like dull, dry news releases. Adding real words spoken by real people gives your stories personality. Authenticity. Humor.
Quotes provide the emotions, opinions and flavor often missing from objective newswriting.
So in each interview you do, keep your radar tuned for colorful quotes. But be selective. You’ll
need to weed out many of the quotes you gather simply because:
� People lie. They exaggerate. They fudge facts to make their case; they
bend the truth to win our approval. So stay skeptical. Never forget that
classic journalistic adage: When your mother says she loves you, check it out.
� People yammer. And stammer. And fumble around trying to express
ideas that you — a professional wordsmith — could say better. Take the
disjointed ramblings of former president George Bush at left. Who’d want to
read that stuff in a news story? As writing coach Chip Scanlan once advised:
“By all means, fill your stories with voices — but just as
you’d steer clear of a windbag at a party, spare your readers
those bloated quotes that deaden a piece of writing.”

President George H. W. Bush’s reply OK, YOU’VE FINISHED YOUR INTERVIEWS.

when asked about his ideas for HOW DO YOU USE THOSE QUOTES IN A STORY?
improving American education:
Direct quotes state When you summarize
DIRECT QUOTE exactly, word for word, PARAPHRASE what a source told you
“Well, I’m going to kick that one what someone said (or wrote). The quoted without using the exact words or adding
right into the end zone of the statements always begin and end with quotation marks, it’s called an indirect quote
quotation marks. A phrase identifying or paraphrase. It’s a common way to clarify
Secretary of Education. But, yes, the speaker — called an attribution — or condense someone else’s statements:
we have all — he travels a good usually follows the quote. Bears quarterback Bruce Easley claims
“Without a doubt, we’ve got the biggest, that this year’s football team will be
deal, goes abroad. We have a lot of fastest, best darn team in the league this the best in the league.
people in the department that does year,” said Bears quarterback Bruce Easley. Paraphrasing is necessary because — let’s
that. We’re having an international Use direct quotes when a source’s entire be honest — people don’t always speak
sentence presents ideas or opinions in a articulately or efficiently. Quoting them
— this is not as much education as concise, relevant way; otherwise, one of indirectly lets you rephrase their ideas in
dealing with the environment — these other options may be preferable. a clearer, more concise way.
a big international conference If a direct quote is too To capture a conversation
PARTIAL QUOTE long or awkwardly DIALOGUE between, say, two speakers,
coming up. And we get it all the
phrased, you may decide to insert just a you can reprint their actual dialogue:
time, exchanges of ideas. But I part of it — a clause, a phrase or even a “We’ll be number one in the league
think we’ve got — we set out there powerful word — into your own sentence: this year,” Easley said.
“And in the state, too,” added coach
— and I want to give credit to your Quarterback Bruce Easley calls this year’s
Buttkus. He winked at Easley.
Bears the “best darn team in the league.”
governor McWherter and to your But beware of overusing fragmentary quotes.
Easley groaned. “Geez, no pressure,” he
said.
former governor Lamar Alexander Using quote marks to “highlight” certain Buttkus smiled. “You can do it, son,” he
— we’ve gotten great ideas for a “words” may just make them look “odd.” said, punching Easley’s arm. “You’ll do fine.”

national goals program from, in

this country, from the governors Avoid “partial quotes.” They “get in the way of ” the reader, often
who were responding to, maybe, imparting a meaning to words not “intended” by the “writer.”
the principal of your high school, Or “speaker,” for that matter. Do you know what I “mean”?
Dick Thien, editor and writing coach
for heaven’s sake!”
 REPORTING BASICS 83

PROBLEMS TO AVOID WHEN PUNCTUATION ADVICE FOR

USING QUOTES IN STORIES USING QUOTES IN STORIES
� Don’t bore readers with dull, obvious quotes. � Use double quotation marks at the beginning and end
A cheerleader tells you “I’m very excited about our of direct quotes:
big victory.” Uhhhh. . . that’s news? A pianist says “the “I am not an animal,” said John Merrick.
concert will be at 9 p.m. Friday.” That may be true, but � Use single quotation marks for quoted statements
why quote him on it? Use quotes to add color or reveal inside other quoted statements. When one speaker
character — not to state the obvious. (That’s your job.) refers to something someone else said, it looks like this:
� Don’t rehash what a quote is saying. For instance: “I love that movie,” Sarah said, “the one where the
Ivan Oder boasts that he never uses deodorant. Elephant Man goes, ‘I am not an animal.’ ”
“I never use deodorant,” he says.
Either you say it, or shut up and let him say it. “The most � Put periods and commas inside quotation marks:
“I am not an animal,” said John Merrick in “The Elephant Man.”
� Avoid using a quote as a lead. OK, we admit it: essential gift � If you’re quoting someone’s question, put the
Occasionally, a wonderful quote will make a terrific lead.
But not usually. And most editors think it’s lazy. So
for a good question mark inside the quotation marks:
write the lead in your own voice, then let others talk. writer is At one point, John Merrick asks, “Am I an animal?”
BUT if you’re asking a question about quoted material,
� Don’t be telepathic. It drives some copy editors nuts a built-in, the question mark goes outside the quotation marks:
to read sentences like these:
Barb Dwyer dreams of being a rodeo clown someday. shockproof Does he actually say, “I am not an animal”?
She feels certain it’s the best career she could choose. shit detector.” � Colons, semicolons and dashes go outside quotation
How do you know what Barb feels? Have you actually marks. This usually occurs when the quote is used as
observed her dreams? Don’t put ideas in anyone’s head part of a longer, more complex sentence:
if you can’t support them with quotes. Instead, say: Ernest
Hemingway “I am not an animal”: Merrick’s plaintive cry still haunts us.
Barb Dwyer says she dreams of being a rodeo clown. Merrick’s cry — “I am not an animal” — was quite dramatic.
� Beware of monologues. Most quotes are one, maybe � When editing a quote, use an ellipsis (. . .) to indicate
two sentences. Some are one or two paragraphs. Beyond deleted words, phrases or sentences. But be careful not
that, it had better be brilliant, engrossing stuff — or you This liftout quote
is a design gizmo all
to distort the quote’s intended meaning:
risk letting some windbag seize control of your story. “I read no newspaper now but Ritchie’s,” Thomas Jefferson
publications use. It
� It’s best not to mimic someone’s dialect. Why? Because lets you pull a catchy wrote, “and in that chiefly the advertisements, for they
eef yoo bungle eet, den dey git veddy, veddy MAD atchoo! quote out of a story contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper.”
You might not think it’s insulting (or racist), but it is. and display it in a bold Edited version: “Advertisements . . . contain the only truths
Leave the dialects to novelists and comedians. way. Hemingway’s to be relied on in a newspaper,” Thomas Jefferson wrote.
� Beware of foul language. Every publication has its own advice, incidentally, is When the ellipsis comes at the end of a quote, use four
decency standards, so you constantly need to gauge worth remembering dots instead of three; the fourth dot represents a period
what your readers will tolerate and where your as you gather quotes ending the sentence.
for your stories —
editors will draw the line. Remember, you’re � Use parentheses to supply missing words. It’s a little
but what about his
ultimately responsible for every word that language? Is the “s” annoying, but in small doses this helps add meaning:
runs in your story. If you use a quote that’s word too offensive to “I think that he (Jefferson) is right about that,” Bush said.
offensive, you’ll be criticized; if you use a use in a magazine?
quote that’s defamatory, you could be sued. x � Capitalize the first word of a direct quote —
A family newspaper?
� Don’t distort a quote’s meaning by carelessly deleting A school Web site? Bush said, “No, Thomas Jefferson was not an animal.”
words or altering any phrasing — but it is OK to clean A reporting textbook? — but you don’t need to capitalize partial quotes:
up minor hemming and hawing (see below). Are we finished with this “not an animal” quote yet?

Stammering and the like are the their quotes will be incompre- Take out the um’s and ah’s, and
equivalent of typos — they can hensible without paragraph after that’s about it.
be fixed. But otherwise, I don’t paragraph of context to set it up. Jesse Fanciulli, Greeley Daily Tribune
mess with quotes, ever. There I give private citizens (“civilians”)
is no shame in paraphrasing — a lot more leeway and generally If your source is grammatically
quotes should be used only when clean up their grammar. challenged, you can better say
they illuminate, or say something Rick Bella, The Oregonian what he meant to say by para-
better than the writer can say it. phrasing. Run quotes verbatim
HOW FAR DO YOU Jerry Schwartz, I’ve interviewed a lot of foreign- if the manner of speech goes
GO WHEN IT COMES The Associated Press ers whose command of English to the essence of the story (i.e.,
TO CHANGING is not always the best. I have no clean up quotes in a story about
(OR CLEANING UP) I must admit to an inconsistent problem changing a “has” to a hip-hop and you lose credibility.
THE QUOTES YOU approach. I hold politicians, “have” on my computer screen if KnowwhatImsayin’?). Otherwise,
GATHER? public officials and public figures it means letting my subjects keep minimally clean up the quote to
to a high standard. I generally their dignity. avoid having the reader stumble.
use their quotes verbatim, unless Kevin Pang, Chicago Tribune Toni Coleman, Pioneer Press

MORE ON QUESTIONS OF TASTE > 148 MORE ON LIBEL > 144

84 REPORTING BASICS

Attributions
Make sure sources get proper credit (or blame) for what they say.
Sources provide you with facts, opinions and quotes. When you write stories, you must
clearly indicate where those facts, opinions and quotes came from.
That’s the purpose of attributions.
If a statement is considered common knowledge — the Earth rotates every 24 hours —
it doesn’t require attribution because it’s widely known and easily verifiable. But when
someone says something new and different — the core of the Earth contains seeds for
growing new Earths — you must source it in a way that’s clear to readers:
“The Earth’s core contains seeds for growing new Earths,” said astronomer Dr. Jean Poole.
“The time has come,” the Walrus said, Now, Dr. Poole may be wrong . . . or nuts. If so, you should find another source to
“To talk of many things: contradict her. (“Dr. Poole is sadly mistaken,” said professor I.M. Shirley Wright.)
Of shoes and ships and sealing-wax,
Of cabbages and kings —
The important thing, journalistically, is to keep your own opinions out of the story.
And why the sea is boiling hot, You can say that these two sources disagree with each other; you can explain how
And whether pigs have wings.” Dr. Poole’s ideas are considered odd. But you must stay as neutral as you can.
Lewis Carroll Collect facts, opinions and quotes from the best possible sources — then attribute them.

NINE GUIDELINES FOR WORDING AND POSITIONING ATTRIBUTIONS

1 The first time you identify a source, 4 When a quotation uses more than one 7 When inserting an attribution into a
use his/her full name (and title, if needed). sentence, it’s often best to put the attribution quote, try to find a logical spot for it, then
After that, use only his/her last name. at the end of the first sentence: insert additional quotation marks:

Ralph Nader, consumer advocate and political “I like to drive with my knees,” actress Sharon “One of the great things about books,”
activist, urged colleges to focus on academics, Stone said. “Otherwise, how can I put on my President George W. Bush once said, “is that
not athletics. lipstick and talk on the phone?” sometimes there are fantastic pictures.”
“If Martians came down from space and NOT: “I like to drive with my knees. Other- NOT: “It just makes you feel permanently
watched television, they would conclude that wise, how can I put on my lipstick and talk on like a girl,” said Brad Pitt, explaining his sex
universities are sports organizations,” Nader said. the phone?” actress Sharon Stone said. appeal, “walking past construction workers.”

2 For most attributions, it’s preferable to 8 Once you attribute the first sentence
5 There are times when it makes sense
put the noun ahead of the verb: to start a quote with the attribution: to set of a quote, you don’t need to attribute
up a partial quote, for instance. Or to avoid additional sentences that directly follow:
“I’d rather meet Madonna than the president forcing readers to scan a long quote without
of the United States,” Britney Spears said. first knowing who the speaker is: WRONG: “We are the caretakers of God’s
NOT: “I’d rather meet Madonna than the pres- creation,” said Burger King spokesman Rob
ident of the United States,” said Britney Spears. Keith Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones, Doughty. “We have a moral obligation to treat
explained that “rock ’n’ roll is always considered, them humanely, and, when we do slaughter
But put the verb ahead of the noun if that quite rightly, a juvenile music. That’s because them, to do so in a painless manner,” he said.
helps you avoid awkward phrasing: it’s young itself. But that doesn’t mean it has to
be played by young juveniles.”
9 Begin a new paragraph whenever you
“The kids let out an ‘oooh’ sound,” said James NOT: “Rock ’n’ roll is always considered, change speakers. To avoid confusion, add
Twomey, the father of a Kenosha, Wis., third- quite rightly, a juvenile music. That’s because
new attributions as soon as possible:
grader who was accidentally shown a porno- it’s young itself. But that doesn’t mean it has
graphic film in class. to be played by young juveniles,” said Keith
Richards, guitarist for the Rolling Stones. “When a man’s best friend is his dog, that
dog has a problem,” Edward Abbey said.
3 When a quote uses just one sentence, Groucho Marx saw things differently. “Outside
the attribution usually follows the quote: 6 It’s also acceptable to set up long quotes of a dog, a book is man’s best friend,” he said.
with an attribution followed by a colon: “Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.”
“I just wish people would love everybody else NOT: “You can put wings on a pig, but you don’t
the way they love me,” Muhammad Ali said. As Dylan told “60 Minutes”: “I never wanted to make him an eagle,” Bill Clinton said. “I like
NOT: Muhammad Ali said, “I just wish people be a prophet or a savior. Elvis, maybe. I could pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us.
would love everybody else the way they love me.” see myself becoming him. But a prophet? No.” Pigs treat us as equals,” Winston Churchill said.
 REPORTING BASICS 85

SO SHOULD IT BE SAID? OR SAYS?

News stories are almost always written in the past tense: EXAMPLES OF A balanced story requires a variety of
Coach Wormer said the victory was “a team effort.” ATTRIBUTION sources — some providing facts, others
providing opinions. But each source
But sometimes you’ll see an attribution written this way: IN A TYPICAL must be clearly attributed.
Coach Wormer says next week’s game will be a “motherwhomper.” NEWS STORY
So which should it be, said or says? Here’s a news story written by Chuck
That depends on the type of story — and sometimes, the style Slothower, a senior at the University of Oregon, while interning at
of your publication. Serious news stories almost always stick to the The Oregonian. Notice how each fact and quote is attributed. Notice,
past tense (said). But the present tense (says) is appropriate for: too, how the emotion in the story comes from one of its participants
� Reviews, which describe music or drama as if it’s happening now:
— not from the reporter.
At the start of the movie, Kane says “Rosebud” and drops dead. The film be- This incident was first reported
comes an inquiry into what that word meant, as a way to understand Kane. A pit bull attacked and mauled a
in a Friday-morning news release 28-year-old horse so severely that it
� Feature stories, especially the “you are there” types of profiles from the sheriff’s department had to be euthanized, Clackamas
where all the action seems to be occurring now: that cited findings from the County authorities reported Friday.
Loreen doesn’t know where she’ll go when the food runs out. “I got a son county’s animal control officers.
“I can only imagine the terror she
in Texas,” she says. “I used to, anyways.” She turns away and starts to cry. At a news conference Friday went through,” said Tami Serhan, 29,
But be careful not to mix past and present tenses carelessly or afternoon, Serhan and Manley of Boring, who had cared for the
inconsistently when you write a feature this way. (the spokesman quoted below) mixed Appaloosa-quarter horse since
answered questions. Notice how she was a young girl. “To me, this is
� Broadcast newswriting, where present tense is usually preferable.
this sentence structure requires like losing a child.”
the verb (said) to precede A neighbor’s 3-year-old male pit
Serhan’s name and description. bull escaped through an open gate
and attacked the horse in its pasture,
HOW ABOUT STATED? UTTERED? Details from the news release. Clackamas County Animal Control
SNORTED? SPOUTED? SHOUTED? and Sheriff’s investigators reported.
Paula LaRocque, writing coach: Serhan provides a description of The horse suffered extensive inju-
Stick to plain and neutral verbs of attribution. Said is safe and, the injuries. There’s no need to ries to its face and right rear leg,
verify them separately, since Serhan said. After a veterinarian
unless badly overworked, unobtrusive. Stated or added can work if
they match the sheriff’s report. gave the horse a slim-to-none chance
you’ve overused said. Explained and announced are fine if the source
of survival, Serhan decided to have it
really is explaining or announcing. Avoid the weird (opined, averred, put down.
snorted, laughed, chuckled, uttered, voiced, shrugged) or the overly Note how this attribution
combines Serhan said with “My baby, after 25 years of owning
emphatic (declared, proclaimed). her, ended up in the back of a meat
the phrase choking back tears.
Louis E. Catron, playwright and professor at the College of William and Mary: It’s more accurate and dramatic wagon,” Serhan said, choking back
Remember that said is invisible. . . . Familiarity breeds acceptance. than writing Serhan cried. tears.
That’s the way said works in dialogue: The reader just doesn’t notice A hearing is scheduled March 8 to
the word no matter how often it is repeated. Scheduling a hearing is determine whether the dog should
a matter of public record and be killed. In Clackamas County, dogs
Like a good actor, the invisible “said” supports the primary lead
needs no attribution. that attack another animal are sub-
but never calls attention to itself. Synonyms, however, are like a
ject to a hearing. A second attack
circus clown with an outlandish red nose, screaming for attention. Manley explained this process means automatic euthanasia, said
Rene Cappon in “The Word: An Associated Press Guide to Good Writing”: at the news conference. Again, Deputy Joel Manley, a sheriff’s
Never use verbs denoting nonverbal processes as attributives, like notice the placement of said. spokesman.
smiled, wept, laughed. You don’t smile words; you say them, smiling. Serhan wants the dog destroyed,
Some editors would change this noting that her neighborhood has a
“I’m fond of him,” she smiled, is no less absurd than “I’m very hot attribution to Serhan said she
this morning,” he radiated. school bus stop and many pets. She
wants the dog destroyed. also wants the dog’s owner charged
Roscoe C. Born in “The Suspended Sentence: A Guide for Writers”: Some editors might also move
with a crime. Manley said that isn’t
You seek a better word not for variety or novelty but to report the Manley paraphrase to a new
likely, but the investigation contin-
precisely how a person said a thing if he did it in some paragraph, though it makes
ues.
distinctive way. This from The Detroit News will illustrate: sense the way it’s written
Dog attacks against people some-
here.
Dirty Harry/Clint Eastwood is squinting down times result in assault charges against
the barrel of his .44-caliber Magnum. “Go This final paragraph the animal’s owner. An Aloha woman
ahead,” Eastwood aspirates, daring the resulted from research to was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months
dude to begin shooting. “Make my day.” find recent related stories. in prison after her pit bulls attacked
Because this case is a a 7-year-old boy and a woman who
Have you seen Eastwood in came to the child’s aid.
that scene? That is exactly what matter of public record,
no attribution is necessary.
he does: He aspirates. This writer
wasn’t seeking a cheap alternative to says One key source is omitted from this story: the owners
for variety’s sake; he wanted the precise verb of the pit bull. Slowthower said he wasn’t able to contact
that would describe how the man said it. And them by deadline. “I didn’t want to put their name in the
he found it. paper without talking to them,” he said. “I didn’t want to
Tim Harrower, “Inside Reporting”: accuse them of being negligent pet owners.”
Aspirates? What kind of high-falutin’ verb is that?

MORE ON WRITING FOR BROADCAST > 180

86 REPORTING BASICS

Math for journalists

Understanding the figures that factor in your stories.
Most reporters would rather craft words than crunch numbers.
They often shovel math into stories without decoding its meaning,
or worse — they skate past numbers they don’t understand. But
being able to interpret and explain budgets, ballots and statistics
is a crucial reporting skill. Without it, you’re forced to trust the
politicians, pollsters and bean-counters who feed you mathbabble
like this: In 2009, imports rose by 12 percent and the company earned
$22 million, a 26 percent increase over 2008, when sales fell 37 percent.
Confusing? Yes. Useful to readers? No. That’s why this brief review
of basic principles can help make your stories more relevant and readable.

CALCULATING FIGURING THE WORKING WITH

PERCENTAGES MEAN AND MEDIAN POLLS AND SURVEYS
To refresh your memory: a percentage is Suppose you want to find the average IQ, All surveys and public opinion polls are
the top part of a fraction whose bottom part or income, or weight of a group of people. estimates. Some are impressively accurate;
is 100. Thus, 50 percent ( ) is half of some- There are two ways to calculate that figure: others are subtly misleading. As a reporter
thing; 200 percent ( ) is twice something. the mean or the median. striving for accuracy, you’ve got to keep
Percentages are used to compare the sizes of flawed survey statistics out of your stories. So
two different things, or to show how much THE MEAN before you publish any poll results, consider:
something increases or decreases over time. This is a simple arithmetic average. Just add � The source. Was the data collected by
up a group of items, then divide that total objective researchers? A smoking survey
CALCULATING PERCENTAGE INCREASES by the number of items in the group. sponsored by the tobacco industry might be
Example: The city budget grew from $40,000 one Example: You want to find the average age less reliable than one conducted by a medical
year to $50,000 the next. What percentage is that? of four sisters who are 3, 5, 7 and 9. school. And though call-in and write-in
1 Find the difference: $50,000 - $40,000 = $10,000 1 Add 3 + 5 + 7 + 9 = 24. polls may be fun, they’re statistically bogus.
2 Divide the difference into the original amount: 2 Divide 24 by 4 (the number of sisters) = 6. (For all you know, three bored 12-year-olds
10,000 divided by 40,000 = .25 The sisters’ average age, or mean age, is 6. repeatedly answered all the questions.)
3 Multiply your answer by 100: 100 X .25 = 25 The mean can be misleading, though, � The sample size. The larger the sampling,
What your story might say: The budget grew especially if your numbers include some the more accurate the survey. Or to view it
by $10,000, a 25 percent increase over last year. extreme values that distort your results: another way: The smaller the sampling, the
Percentage increases and decreases always Example: A man runs a store and earns $1,000 a less trustworthy the results. Pollsters use a
measure changes in value by comparing the day. He has four employees. Each day, he pays the mathematical formula to determine the
difference to the original amount. first $10; the second $20; the third $30; the fourth margin of error for each poll — the plus or
$40. What’s the typical daily salary at that store? minus percentage that indicates the range
CALCULATING PERCENTAGE DECREASES 1 Add $1,000 + 10 + 20 + 30 + 40 = $1,100 within which poll results are accurate. The
2 Divide $1,100 by 5 people = $220.
Example: The budget was reduced from $50,000 more serious the survey, the more you need
one year to $40,000 the next. How much is that? The typical salary is $220? That seems out of to disclose its margin of error.
1 Find the difference: $50,000 - $40,000 = $10,000 whack. Let’s try again using the median: � The wording of the question. Avoid polls
2 Divide the difference into the original amount: that use leading questions. If you were to ask
10,000 divided by 50,000 equals .20 THE MEDIAN Do you feel the government wastes your hard-
3 Multiply your answer by 100: 100 X .20 = 20 The median is the halfway point, the middle earned tax money? you’ll steer respondents
What your story might say: The budget decreased number in a series. To find it, sort your list toward a predictable answer. But if you say
by $10,000, a 20 percent reduction from last year. in order, from smallest to largest, then find Most Americans favor a slight tax increase to
the value that’s exactly in the middle. strengthen homeland security; do you agree?
INCREASES OF 100 PERCENT OR MORE In the preceding example, the median daily you could easily steer them the opposite way.
A 100 percent increase is a doubling; a 200 salary at that store is $30. Two people make If questions are too vague or biased, or
percent increase is a tripling. Thus, if the fire more than $30, and two people make less. if people don’t fully understand every word
department reported 10 fires in May and 30 � Use medians when you’re averaging a series and concept, the results become infojunk.
fires in June, your story might say: of numbers that contain irregular extremes: � Other variables. Is the survey demograph-
� Firesincreased by 200 percent from May to June, or dollar amounts, for example, when you’re ically representative (by age, income, gender,
� The number of fires tripled from May to June, or analyzing incomes or housing prices. etc.)? How many respondents refused to
� Three times as many fires were reported in June. � Use means to calculate grade-point averages answer questions — or lied? How many
All are correct, but notice how that “200 or determine people’s average height, weight might have changed their minds since the
percent” figure could confuse readers. Those or shoe size — whenever the values don’t poll was taken? Any of those variables could
other options present the data more clearly. fluctuate too dramatically. significantly distort the survey’s accuracy.
 REPORTING BASICS 87

THE REPORTER’S GUIDE TO INFORMATION CHARTS AND GRAPHS

Pie charts depict percentage values or � Simplify, simply. Don’t
PIE proportions by showing the different parts HOW AMERICA VOTED (OR DIDN’T) IN 2008 swamp us with statistics;
CHARTS that make up the whole. More than 213 million Americans were eligible to vote. The results: convey one idea at a time,
They usually consist of: as clearly as possible. Strip
away all nonessential
1) a circle representing 100 percent of something; and McCain Obama words and data; focus
2) several wedges (like slices of a pie) dividing that 59,934,786 69,456,897 tightly on the key point
circle into smaller percentages. Each “slice” of the pie is 28.1% 32.6% you’re trying to make.
an accurate proportion. For example, a section equaling � Use understandable
25 percent of the total would be one-quarter of the pie. values. Avoid kilometers,
Tips: Too many slices (more than six, as a rule) make Other Didn’t
acres, knots per hour,
pie charts confusing. Apply a different color or shade to candidates vote temperatures in Celsius.
each slice, if possible. For variety, you can also try using 1,183,627 81,767,864 Convert foreign currency
other shapes: slicing a dollar bill into sections to show .8% 38.5% to U.S. dollars. Avoid (or
where your tax dollar goes, for example. explain) any jargon or
Source: United States Elections Project technical terms that might
confuse readers.
� Round off. “Economists
Line charts (also called fever charts) and financial experts need
LINE show connecting points on a graph that VOTER TURNOUT IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
CHARTS measure changing quantities over time. exact numbers,” says
Percentage of eligible voters who actually cast ballots, 1960-2008: writing coach Chip Scanlan.
They use three basic components: 65% “Readers don’t. So you
1) a scale running vertically down one side, can say nearly doubled
measuring amounts; 60% or about one-third and
2) a scale running horizontally along the bottom, remain accurate as well
measuring time; and as understandable.”
55%
3) a jagged line connecting a series of points, showing Readers confused by
percentages may prefer
rising or falling trends. 50% fractions instead: More
Line charts are created by plotting different points, than a third of the class
then connecting the dots to draw a curve. Obviously, a admitted cheating may be
line that rises or falls dramatically will impress readers 1960 ’64 ’68 ’72 ’76 ’80 ’84 ’88 ’92 ’96 ’00 ’04 ’08 easier to grasp than saying
more than one that barely shows a blip. 37 percent of the class
Source: United States Elections Project
admitted cheating.
� Put budget numbers
Bar charts compare two or more items into context. If tuition
BAR by depicting data as columns stacked
Total votes, in millions
goes up, explain how
CHARTS side by side.
HEAD 10 20 30 40 50 60
much it will cost a typical
They use two basic components: TO 1996
BILL CLINTON student. If taxes go down,
HEAD BOB DOLE show how that will affect
1) a scale running either horizontally or vertically
high-, low- and middle-
to measure the data; and Presidential AL GORE income taxpayers.
2) parallel bars representing items being measured. candidate 2000
GEORGE W. BUSH Make budget decisions
Bars are usually stacked in a logical order: either vote totals
meaningful by telling
alphabetically, chronologically or ranked by size. for the JOHN KERRY
last four 2004 readers what services
Tips: Every bar must be labeled clearly. Bars may be GEORGE W. BUSH they’ll gain or lose. View
elections.
screened, colorized or given 3-D shadow effects, as long budget changes at street
BARACK OBAMA
as the data isn’t distorted. To ensure that the bars are DEMOCRAT 2008 JOHN McCAIN level, through the eyes of
accurately proportional, the scale (the vote totals in the REPUBLICAN ordinary folks, not from
chart at right, for example) must always start at “0.” the cubicles of bureaucrats
Source: presidentelect.org and accountants.
� Above all, be accurate.
Use the most current and
Sometimes the smartest reporting is also reliable sources you can
FAST
FACTS the simplest. And the simplest way to 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS find, and cite them clearly
present data is to boil complex topics down Electoral votes needed to win: 270 in your story. Double-
to their essential who-what-when-where-why — then check their math — then
decide which of those facts should be highlighted OBAMA McCAIN have someone check your
in a fast-facts sidebar. math when you’re done.
The election-result box at right is one example, but
you don’t need to save this approach just for big stories.
365 � 173
17 � Learn how to generate
simple charts and graphs.
Electoral votes Electoral votes
Elector It’s not rocket science.
To examine a new property tax, for instance, create a Most chart-generating
box that simply shows typical homeowners What It Cost VOTE % 53% 46% VOTE % software is easy to learn.
This Year compared to What It Will Cost Next Year. If Don’t rely on editors or
you conduct a public survey, present the key findings TOTAL 69,456,897 59,934,786 TOTAL artists to tell you what
in a separate sidebar — then analyze the details and — Adapted from CNN.com infographics your stories
explain what it all means in the main text of the story. need. Take the initiative.
 88 REPORTING BASICS

Diversity in HOW THE

news coverage NEWS MEDIA

SAW AMERICA
IN YEARS PAST

Over the past few decades, journalists have

begun seriously questioning how accurately
their news stories reflect their communities.
In too many predominately white newsrooms, reporters
produce stories from an upper-middle-class perspective
aimed at a college-educated audience. The result? Faces
and voices become homogenized; they fail to reflect their
community’s diversity and depth.
The goal of diversity Minorities often appear only in
in news coverage sports and crime stories, while
should be to help business coverage focuses on
journalists acquire middle-aged white men.
Is this deliberate discrimination HOW THE
the ability to see a NEWS MEDIA
story from multiple — or just thoughtless habit? After SEES AMERICA
perspectives, all, beginning writers are told TODAY
including from the to “write what you know.” And
bottom and the most of us aren’t necessarily
margins. familiar with ethnic minorities,
— KIM PEARSON, gays, the disabled, the poor.
journalism instructor, We know they’re out there, but
The College of New Jersey when they’re outside of our
comfort zones, that often pushes
them outside of our news coverage, too.
So who are you writing about — and writing for?
Shouldn’t you include as many unique voices as you can?
And even if your publication focuses on a narrow niche
(like, say, SurfGirl magazine), doesn’t the best journalism
demand a diverse mix of people and perspectives?

BETTER SOURCES, STORIES AND STAFFING: THE THREE GOALS OF DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY IN YOUR SOURCES DIVERSITY IN THE TOPICS YOU COVER DIVERSITY IN YOUR NEWSROOM
To reflect your entire community, you need It’s important to include diverse faces and News organizations stagnate when everyone
a broad spectrum of voices in your stories. voices in your stories, but the topics of those looks and thinks alike. Bringing diverse voices
That means making a conscious effort to cast stories should be more multicultural, too. into a newsroom can broaden its perspective,
a wide net when you seek out sources. Too many journalists focus only on subjects helping staffers view the news through new
Listen to Tom Huang, managing editor of that interest them — and as a result, the and different lenses. Sending culturally diverse
the Dallas Morning News: “Whether writing shallow predictability of their stories reflects reporters into the community can increase a
a story about gardening, Mother’s Day or cell their own limited interests and experience. news organization’s accessibility and make its
phone etiquette, we make the commitment One of the benefits of diversifying your reporting more credible.
to populate the story with people from a wide sources, then, is that the more varied voices Stories involving gays, minorities or the
variety of backgrounds. We mainstream diver- you include, the more the focus of every story disabled may become more accurate if the
sity into all of our stories. We’d like to think is likely to shift in a fresh, compelling way. In reporter is a member of that community. They
that this happens naturally, and sometimes it every community, you’ll find people whose often provide truer insights, avoid stereotypes
does. But our source lists, social circles and the faces are seldom seen, whose stories are and receive cooperation from sources who’d
areas we visit to find people — these all tend seldom told. Telling those stories helps all otherwise be less accessible or frank.
to reflect our own experience and cultural your readers better understand the world Simply put: The breadth and accuracy of
backgrounds. We need to break out of those around them. And that’s a vital part of news coverage improves when the makeup of
boundaries to find new voices for our stories.” every journalist’s job. a newsroom mirrors the diversity of its readers.
 REPORTING BASICS 89

TIPS FOR MAINTAINING DIVERSITY

AS YOU PLAN AND WRITE STORIES “The highest and best
� Monitor your work patterns. Might you have cultural biases or purpose of a newspaper
unconscious habits that tilt you too predictably toward the “white is to tell us what we
world”? As you report and write stories, score yourself. Sort your don’t already know. If
sources by race, gender, age, nationality, religion, social status, people see themselves but
physical abilities. Who’s missing? Overlooked? Underrepresented? rarely see others, they’re
Challenge any work patterns or preconceptions that trap you being denied the best of
in ruts or keep you from including more minority viewpoints. what newspapers can
Years ago, reporters and editors in the Gannett newspaper chain do — bridging the gaps
between people.”
routinely totaled the number of minorities they featured in their
Dick Rogers,
stories and photos each month. That effort, called mainstreaming, reader advocate,
provided a systematic way to reinforce Gannett’s goal of making San Francisco Chronicle
its news pages more inclusive.
“I want to be able to
� Expand your horizons — and your comfort zone. Learn who
look a Latino leader or
lives in your community. (One way: study the U.S. Census a lesbian activist in the
Bureau’s profile of your city at www.census.gov). Compile a list of eye and say, ‘This is your
local organizations involved with multicultural affairs. Seek out newspaper.’ I want our
Web sites and publications geared toward different minority groups. pages to mirror the
Then start building new relationships. Hit the streets, and spend ethnic, gender, sexual
Not only should you use a diversity of sources in more time in minority communities. Visit ethnic shops, churches, orientation, socioeco-
your stories, but you should include diversity of restaurants and hangouts. Find out what minorities are angry, nomic, political and
faces in the photos and videos that illustrate those excited or concerned about. Learn more about their traditions, religious makeup of the
stories, too — like this cover of a pet tabloid from perspectives and lifestyles. Reach out to leaders, specialists and community we serve. . . .
the News Journal in Wilmington, Del. organizations who’ll provide alternative perspectives. Establish If readers don’t see
connections with influential activists and “real” people, too (those themselves and hear
who don’t carry a formal title). their voices in your
pages, they will no longer
� Honor the everyday, not just the exceptional. Too often,
view you as a credible
journalists celebrate stereotype-busting milestones (the first
source of information.”
Muslim NFL quarterback) or seek reactions during a crisis (Local David Yarnold,
Iranians Express Concern About the War) but ignore the daily lives, executive editor,
achievements and opinions of those same minorities. Remember, San Jose Mercury News
the foremost goal of diversity is to reflect your community by
including people of all races, classes, ages and genders routinely “I try not to talk about
in arts, business, news and feature stories — not just on special diversity. It’s a word
occasions. Covering a Cinco de Mayo festival is obvious and easy, with too much baggage.
I like to talk about the
but could it be journalistic tokenism? Genuine diversity means
changing demographics
including Mexican-American families in more “ordinary” stories of the U.S. I love talking
about refinancing mortgages or buying hybrid cars. about the best story of
� Avoid portraying minorities as monolithic blocks or stereotypes. 21st-century America:
It’s lazy and disrespectful to presume that all Arab Americans wear how this country will
traditional garb, that all gays talk or act in a particular way — or make the incredibly
even that all members of a minority group share the same political historic change from a
or religious mentality. There’s a diversity of opinions within each majority white nation
minority community. It can be misleading to assume that one to a majority minority
person symbolizes or speaks for an entire group — “leader” nation in the next 30
or not. “There are leaders who are black, but there is no such years. No other nation
thing as a black leader,” says Ron Smith, deputy copy chief at the has ever undergone the
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “Any community includes a wide kind of demographic
spectrum of people. Would we ever say white leader? Say what you change the U.S. will ex-
mean, and be specific.” perience in our lifetime.”
Bobbi Bowman,
� Above all, do good journalism. Diversity doesn’t mean diluting diversity and membership
your journalistic standards to give a minority special treatment. director, American Society of
Newspaper Editors
It doesn’t mean coloring or distorting the facts to paint anyone in
a preferential way. Maintain fairness, not favoritism; balance, not “We all should know
Diverse story topics introduce readers to people in bias. Don’t overthink diversity if it undermines objectivity. that diversity makes for
the community with different beliefs and lifestyles. Remember, all stories are different, and every story requires its a rich tapestry, and we
In 2006, this feature story in the Richmond Times- own combination of sources. Imposing sources that don’t belong must understand that all
Dispatch profiled a high-school student trying to is just as inappropriate as omitting those that do. Your goal as a the threads of the tapes-
educate his classmates about Sikhism. Though it’s journalist, above all, is to be as accurate and truthful as possible. try are equal in value no
the world’s fifth-largest religion, few residents of So for each story you do, select the sources and convey the facts matter what their color.”
the community knew much about it. that are most credible and relevant. Maya Angelou
90 REPORTING BASICS

TO SUCCEED AS A Just like there are little white lies, there

REPORTER, YOU’VE GOT are little white deceptions that reporters
TO HAVE MOXIE. SPUNK. commit to get a story.
GUTS. YOU’VE GOTTA BE Such was the case one frigid night
PUSHY. NERVY. BALLSY. when an explosion at a chemical storage
FOR EXAMPLE: facility in Elizabeth, N.J., rocked the
factory town and sent several fireballs
Once I wrote a story that fingered a into the dark sky.
guy as a fish-poacher, and game officers When I got to the scene, the entrance
wrote him $913 worth of tickets after ADVICE ON REPORTING AND WRITING to the plant was blocked by security
it ran. Minutes after the cops left, I went FROM VETERAN JOURNALISTS guards. Beyond them, I could see the
to his house to interview him. He was high wall of flames sending embers into
pounding a hammer on a fence, angry. the sky and the silhouettes of firemen as
After a few questions, he stopped and they raced about. I had to get inside.
stared at me. “So you’re the reason I got A few weeks earlier, I had purchased a
Working at a small paper, I have:
these tickets?” he said. hand-held walkie-talkie at a flea market,
� been in a car when it was struck
“Well, yeah,” I said. and I reached for it now. I drove my car
by lightning;
He stared at me, squeezing the hammer, up to the guards and rolled down the
� had to take cover in a ditch
wondering what to hit next. Then he window, holding the walkie-talkie to
during a tornado;
pounded a board out of the fence. � been shot by a taser gun during one ear.
No matter how angry they get, they a police demonstration; “What’ve we got?’’ I asked the guard,
never hit the reporter. � seen several dead bodies, a com- still holding the official-looking walkie-
Mark Freeman, Mail Tribune talkie to an ear.
pound fracture (bone sticking out
of the skin) and found a piece of a I could see the momentary hesitation
When a convenience store owner person who had been hit by a train; in the guard’s face, but then he said:
shot to death a drug dealer outside his � been kicked out of city hall “They said something about benzene.’’
business in a rough St. Louis neighbor- (three times); “Holy cow,’’ I declared. “Don’t let
hood, I wanted to ask him what it was � played golf with Alice Cooper. anyone in here. This could be trouble.’’
like to kill a man. Michael Bockoven, Grand Island Independent With that, I drove into the plant.
The cops warned me not to visit the Hours later, I drove out with my story,
store alone. They suspected the store passing a crowd of reporters huddled
owner was involved in a variety of I was once sent to the scene of a police behind barricades at the plant entrance.
crimes. But I went anyway. standoff, one of those ugly domestic I couldn’t resist giving that guard a
I found the owner, Big Mike, with two scenes that spiral out of control until a thumbs-up.
guns strapped in his shoulder harness drunken husband and cops are waving Bob Cullinane, Asbury Park Press
and another couple pointed toward me guns at each other.
on the table in front of him. He snarled This happened several counties away A little-known nudist camp let me
at me while I asked questions. late at night, and by the time I arrived cover its “Volleyball Superbowl” but
After about thirty minutes, he decided the next morning, 1) the man had killed suggested I uncover myself. So I revealed
to cooperate and gave me kudos for himself, and 2) the police had left. more than ever while reporting a story.
having the guts to confront him. The door to the mobile home was Conducted my first naked interview.
Heather Ratcliffe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch wide open, and I needed a story. So I No treat for the nudists, but for readers,
crossed the police tape, walked in and it was a quite an exposé.
wrote down everything I saw: cut-up Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
My nerviest moment came when I wedding photos, a shotgun blast through
crashed the wedding of a CEO and his the refrigerator door, blood on a La-Z-
reputed girlfriend/executive. When I was the new military reporter,
Boy and, soon, the bottom of my ten-
I insisted that the Free Press put me I profiled the wing commander for the
nis shoes. Police had fired tear gas into
up in the NYC hotel where the wedding local Air Force base. His schedule was
the trailer, and I kept running outside
was taking place, so I wouldn’t feel like to throw up before returning for more so busy that he wanted to do part of the
a trespasser. At the appointed hour, details. A man’s life and death were at interview during his daily three-mile jog
I dressed, signed the guest book, and my feet, and I wasn’t going to let a little on the base indoor track.
greeted people I knew or recognized nausea get in my way. I brought my sweats, but forgot my
(Gloria Steinem, Jane Pauley, the The kicker: The man’s mother-in-law running shoes. I ran it barefoot, which
Detroit People correspondent, an old lived nearby, and when I showed up at was very hard on the soles of my feet,
boyfriend’s father). The BF’s father, her door, she spoke to me and no other but convinced the guy that I may be
unfortunately, introduced me to the reporters — the tears in my eyes from crazy, but I’m dedicated. The blisters
company’s PR guy, who tried to get rid the tear gas convinced her I was more healed eventually.
of me. Too late: I had the story. empathetic than the other media slobs. Jim Camden,
Laura Berman, The Detroit News The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.)
Ron French, The Detroit News
 REPORTING BASICS 91

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE I love to explore motive in interviews. to rebuild your home in the Mississippi
QUESTION TO ASK One of the best questions for me has floodplain?” — and scientists and physi-
DURING AN INTERVIEW? always been, “Why was that important cians who tend to get prickly when their
to you?” If you can discover a person’s judgment is questioned by journalists
I always ask, “Is there anything I haven’t motive, you can find out what he or she and other undereducated people.
asked that you’d like to talk about?” is trying to achieve. And that can form Joe Verrengia, The Associated Press
Usually, there is, and even if the answer the structure of a story — will this
isn’t useful, they appreciate the question. person get what he or she wants? When someone seems to be on auto-
Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Ken Fuson, The Des Moines Register matic pilot — you know, the stars who
have given this interview a thousand
In this part of the country, asking some- I don’t have a surefire favorite question, times over — I might ask “What kind
one about their heritage is a way to but I do have a favorite technique to of kid were you?” or “If I’d met you as
endear yourself. “Oh, Anderson. Is that reliably soften people up. When getting a kid, is there anything I’d have seen
Swedish?” The older folks love that one. ready to ask something that is very per- that would give me a hint of what you
Michael Bockoven, Grand Island Independent sonal or provocative, I sometimes back are today?”
into it apologetically and say something David Lyman, Detroit Free Press
A question that’s saved a few interviews: like, “This is a real ‘journalist’ question,
“Tell me something about yourself (or but I gotta ask it and let’s just see what Silence. This was a hard one for me
that situation, or that time in your life) happens. . . . ” Usually, the subjects to learn, because I’m very chatty. But
that no one knows/Tell me something don’t take it so personally and they get I finally grasped the notion that people
about yourself that would surprise chattier than they would’ve otherwise. feel compelled to fill a silence, and I’ve
everyone, even your mother. . . .” It works both for real people — “Tell gotten better at sitting back and waiting.
Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review me why you thought it was a good idea John Reinan, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.)

WHAT’S THE DUMBEST While covering a major fashion

QUESTION YOU’VE While speaking with the convention in Montreal for a Chicago
EVER ASKED DURING family of a young man weekly, I asked a coat designer if her
AN INTERVIEW? electrocuted in a freak faux furs were real. The lesson: I was
clueless about fashion and should have
I was covering a (very bad) college accident, I actually said boned up considerably before taking the
football team for a college newspaper something about “what assignment.
and asked the coach, “Why is it that, a shock’’ his death must Erin Barnett, The Oregonian
when your team was down by 21 with a have been.
quarter to go, you called a draw play
Rita Price, The Columbus Dispatch Working with politicians, any time
that failed the three other times you
called it? Wouldn’t it have been better you ask a question that implies wrong-
to call a play that had worked?” A student pilot wrecked a plane. Every- doing on their part, they won’t like it.
His response: “I’m tired of you people body survived. When I encountered the My strategy has always been to pass the
coming in and playing reporter.” instructor, I uttered the following rude blame on the others: i.e., “some of your
My response: “Coach, you’re 2-5 on stupidities: “You the instructor?” critics say. . . ” or “other elected officials
the year. Do you think the alumni are “Yes.” are saying. . . .”
tired of you playing coach?” “I guess the instruction failed today, Bryan Dean, The Daily Oklahoman
His response: “Get out of my office, huh?”
you little . . .” Roy Wenzl, The Wichita Eagle A U.S. Senate aide once fumed to me,
Judd Slivka, The Arizona Republic “You always begin a question by saying,
The worst and dumbest thing I ever ‘Your critics say. . .’ .” He was right.
While interviewing the bishop of the did was fall asleep during an interview Unless you’re quoting a specific critic,
Cleveland diocese, a nervous young while an elderly man was describing just ask the question.
reporter asked, ``So, was your father a how he lost his entire family during the Jeff Mapes, The Oregonian
priest, too?’’ The conversation did not Turkish massacre of Armenians dur-
end, but let’s just say the bishop was ing the early 20th century. My hand After a school shooting spree, I
none too impressed. kept moving . . . and I awoke to find asked the emergency room manager to
Rita Price, The Columbus Dispatch scribble marks all the way down a legal- detail that workday, but went too far
size pad of paper. (The man apparently asking him to describe what exactly
I once covered the Miss California didn’t notice because he didn’t miss a —clinically — a bullet does to flesh.
Pageant and delicately tried to ask one verbal beat; however, I awoke as his wife The interview resumed after he
of the women how much she weighed. nudged my hand with a cup of black stopped weeping.
She was not amused. coffee.) Katy “How Insensitive Could I Get?” Muldoon,
Doug Hoagland, The Fresno Bee Karen Jeffrey, Cape Cod Times The Oregonian
92 REPORTING BASICS

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST QUOTES: PUNCTUATION AND ATTRIBUTION

SOURCES FOR THESE STORIES?
a) Cara Mehl, 9, is dying of leukemia. There are at least two things wrong with each of these
Members of her church raised $7,000 to news-story quotes. What are they?
send Cara and her entire family of 9 to a) Gov. Lew Swires said he’ll support a tax increase
Disney World next week. Who should on Tuesday. “It’s long overdue,” said Gov. Swires.
you talk to for this story, and why? b) “I adore Elizabeth Taylor,” gushed student actor
Answers to these exercises b) It’s early June. The local school board Art Major. “Did you ever see her classic performance
are on page 309. has announced that, due to budgetary in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf ?”
constraints, three high-school teachers c) “Assaults on campus increased from 20 in 2004
will be laid off at the end of the school year: English teacher Rita Book; to 33 in 2005,” Penn State University deputy director
science teacher Molly Kuehl; and computer science teacher Dot Matrix. of university police Ben Z. Dreen said. “That’s
You’re writing a story about the layoffs. Who should you talk to, and why? an increase of 75 percent.”
c) The local university has suffered a rash of thefts and vandalism, and a d) The mayor complained, off the record, that Smith
violent murder off-campus has everyone asking, “Is this campus safe?” was “a rat” for betraying him, he said.
Your editor wants to know how this year’s crime compares to previous
years — and how it compares to other schools, as well. What would be e) Ray Cleaves said, “When I was a boy, I saw
your main sources for this story? Muhammad Ali battle George Foreman on Wide
World of Sports. He was always my favorite boxer.”
d) A local man, Hugh Jass, was arrested after neighbors complained that
he was keeping a full-grown tiger in his two-bedroom apartment. Who f) “I hate rap music,” April Schauer says, “most of
are your best sources for this story? the time. It’s repetitive and annoying.”
“It’s the poetry of the street. It can be hypnotic and
e) The U.S. Forest Service announced it will begin logging old-growth imaginative,” Mike Raffone says.
redwoods in Conifer National Forest to improve the forest ecosystem and
protect nearby vacation homes from the threat of wildfires. What sources Rewrite the following statement: 1) as a direct quote;
should you consult before writing this story? 2) as a paraphrase; and 3) using a partial quote.
f) Soulful, sensitive singer/songwriter Claire Annette is returning to her “All too often, a story free of any taint of personal
hometown (where you’re a reporter) for a concert. It’s the first time she’s opinion is a story with all the juice sucked out.
been back since graduating from high school 10 years ago. Since then, she’s Keeping opinion out of the story too often means
sold millions of CDs, toured the world and been on the cover of Rolling being a fancy stenographer.” — University of Missouri
Stone. What are your best sources for writing an advance for her concert? journalism professor Geneva Overholser

WHAT QUOTES WOULD YOU USE ANITA BATH, a devoted local fan: RAMONA WASHBURN,
FROM THESE THREE INTERVIEWS? “Are you excited about finally Claire’s childhood piano teacher :
Suppose you’re interviewing sources for that Claire Annette story getting to see Claire in concert?” “I taught Claire for seven years.
(see question “f” above). Here are transcripts from three of those “Oh, come on. I mean, Jesus, this She studied classical piano, along
interviews. Highlight the passages you would choose to run as is like a dream come true for all of us with a little jazz and ragtime. I
direct quotes in your story. here. I can’t, you know, afford to fly had a studio in my living room,
to Japan or some big stadium concert and she’d come once a week.
CLAIRE ANNETTE someplace else.” She was a very . . . a very . . . oh,
You reach Claire’s manager on his cell phone in an airport somewhere in Japan. “What is it you like about her?” I don’t know . . . a very clean girl.
You tell him who you are and what you want. He says, “Hold on.” And then: “Oh, gosh, her songs are beautiful. I mean, the way she played. I
“Hi. This is Claire. I’ve gotta catch a plane in, like, two minutes, so talk fast.” Her lyrics are like poetry. And coming recall she had a very precise way
“OK. Thanks. How does it feel to come back home after all these years?” from the same place, geographically, of fingering the notes — she
“Home? Oh, yeah. We’re playing two shows at Adler Auditorium. God, it’s it’s like we speak the same language, hated to make mistakes — and I
gonna be . . uh . . . I don’t know. I mean, I lived there til I was, what? Eighteen? you know what I mean?” used to tell her, Claire, dear, it’s
But even though I really needed to get away — to start over, to find my true “Will you get to sit up close for not enough just to hit the notes.
voice — I’ve always kept that little town in my heart, I guess, even though it the concert?” You’ve got to put joy, and pain,
sounds corny to say it. And you know, it’s true that everybody sort of fantasizes, “No. We’re in the nosebleed seats. and love into everything you
you know, about fame and hitting it big. Well, hell, I may be famous, but I’m still Our tickets totally suck.” play. Now, I guess, she’s really,
basically the same lonely nerd I was back in high school. So, coming home. It’s “Any chance you’ll get to meet her you know, gone a little — well, I
sad. Well, maybe not. See, all my family has sort of moved away, or died, so it’s face to face while she’s in town?” was going to say overboard, but
really just sort of a painful reminder of, you know, life goes on, things change. “I’ve got a friend whose uncle used maybe it’s just me. I’m old, and I
“I’ll tell you, though: I’d love to see Mrs. Washburn again. She was my piano to live next door to her. But no, Claire’s think perhaps some of her songs
teacher for seven years. I still catch myself, in the middle of a concert, thinking, too important, and too busy. We’ll are a little too loud and vulgar for
Boy, if only Mrs. Washburn could see me now. Yeah, I suppose I should really try go to the airport, though. We’ll wave my taste. But when she plays soft
to get ahold of her. I mean, if I have time. We’ll see. hello when she lands, and we’ll wave and slow — oh, it’s a sweet thing
“Anyway, I gotta go catch a plane. Talk to you in a few weeks, OK? Bye.” goodbye when she leaves.” to hear, isn’t it?”
 93

CHAPTER

Covering
the news
Most news events fall into predictable categories. In this chapter,
we’ll offer advice on writing the most common types of stories.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
94 Covering a beat
Some journalists are general-assignment reporters,
but most cover specific topics or institutions (beats).
96 Writing obituaries
Death is news. Telling the life stories of prominent
citizens can be more rewarding than you realize.
98 Covering accidents and disasters
100 Covering fires
They’re common occurrences in every community,
a basic and often tragic form of breaking news.
102 Covering crime
Advice on writing stories that explain criminal
incidents and explore public safety issues.
104 Covering courts
Tips on writing trial stories — and a guide to
criminal and civil court procedures.
106 Covering speeches
Summarizing the public addresses of experts, politicians, celebrities and rabble-rousers.
108 Covering meetings
Watching clubs and committees debate and decide — then explaining public issues to readers.
110 Covering politics
A political reporter is part teacher, part watchdog, scrutinizing and demystifying government.
112 Covering sports
It’s not all fun and games. Advice on handling the deadlines and drama of the sports beat.

PLUS: 114 Test yourself

94 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering a beat LOOKING FOR IDEAS

AND ADVICE FOR A
SPECIALIZED BEAT?
News is everywhere, but beat reporters focus on specific topics or institutions. Good news: You’re not alone.
A variety of organizations
Some journalists are free-floating “general assignment” reporters, covering circus clowns one day, provide advice and resources
bike thieves the next. But most reporters are assigned to beats: Schools. Crime. Sports. Business. for journalists covering most
Beats vary from newsroom to newsroom. On a publication with a common beats. A sampling
of what’s available online:
When I was on a daily small staff, the government beat might include everything from courts
BUSINESS
beat, some young guy to school boards. But at a big daily, one reporter might cover only Society of American Business
county courts while another covers federal courts; one might work the Editors and Writers
asked me, “Doesn’t (www.sabew.org)
“night cops” beat while another focuses on City Hall politics.
this become dull?” CHILDREN/FAMILIES
At some publications, beat reporters are expected to produce several Casey Journalism Center on
And I said, “Only to stories a day, shoot video and write a blog. At others, reporters might Children and Families
dull minds.” RED SMITH produce just one long story every two weeks. Some editors insist that (www.journalismcenter.org)
EDUCATION
reporters attend every meeting on their beats; others urge reporters to National Education Writers
focus on issues, not meetings — to tell stories that involve real people. Association (www.ewa.org)
Like any new job, a new beat can be a strange, scary thing. Here’s how to survive. ENVIRONMENT
Society of Environmental
Journalists (www.sej.org)
FEATURE WRITING
YOU’VE JUST BEEN ASSIGNED A NEW BEAT. NOW WHAT? American Association of
Sunday and Feature Editors
Do research. Spend time in the newsroom library Meet people. Get out of the newsroom. Hit the (www.aasfe.org)
reading what’s been written about the people and bricks. Walk the buildings on your beat and intro- HEALTH CARE
agencies on your beat. Check state and local laws to see duce yourself to every potential news source. Obviously Association of Health
what their powers and responsibilities are. Learn their that means directors, department heads and other key Care Journalists
history. Study their budgets. Find out what they’ve been officials, but it also means their underlings: secretaries, (www.ahcj.umn.edu)
up to — and what they’re planning next. clerks, ordinary staffers. Bosses and bigshots may get OBITUARIES
their names, faces and quotes in the paper, but it’s often Society of Professional
Talk to your predecessor, even if he or she has left lowly clerks who provide background information and Obituary Writers
the newsroom, to get the inside poop you won’t (www.obitwriters.org)
alert you to stories — once you gain their trust.
read in old stories. Learn who’s who, what’s what, how Remember that ordinary folks play a role on your beat, POLICE and COURTS
information flows through the key organizations you Criminal Justice Journalists
too. What nonofficial connections should you make? (www.reporters.net/cjj)
cover. Who’s qualified (or allowed) to speak for them?
Where will news releases come from — and can you Make lists. Get organized. Create files and folders RELIGION
trust them? Who are the players behind the scenes? full of statistics, quotes, clips and background Religion Newswriters
information. Constantly update your lists of: Association (www.rna.org)
Which critics, activists and unofficial observers can
provide alternative perspectives on controversial topics? � Key sources — names, titles, areas of expertise, e-mail SCIENCE
addresses and phone numbers. National Association
Achieve a mind-meld with your editors. Find � Upcoming meetings and events — when sessions of Science Writers
(www.nasw.org)
out what type of coverage they expect — and will convene, reports will be released, budgets will be
more importantly, what types of stories readers want. prepared, decisions will be due. Stay ahead of the curve; STATE GOVERNMENT
Association of Capitol
Should you cover every public meeting and bureaucratic it’s your job to notify readers and editors what’s coming. Reporters and Editors
announcement, or just focus on major issues? Do � Story ideas — profiles, backgrounders, trend pieces, (www.capitolbeat.org)
editors expect a stream of briefs and updates, or longer, analyses. Don’t just cover meetings and wait for news SPORTS
more thoughtful analysis? Is the emphasis on break- to break (or for editors to tell you what to do). Be your Associated Press
ing news or enterprising features? Talk it all over, then own boss. Take the initiative to produce feature stories Sports Editors
establish priorities and agree on your goals. that explain issues and capture the flavor of your beat. (apse.dallasnews.com)

26 < MORE ON NEWSROOM BEATS

 COVERING THE NEWS 95
A beat reporter at work:
Betsy Hammond, the
education reporter for
The Oregonian, attends
a morning meeting,
works the telephone,
conducts an interview
and visits students in a
classroom before sitting
down to write a story
back in the newsroom.
PHOTOS BY MIKE LLOYD

DO familiarize yourself with your state’s open DON’T get too cozy with sources. Be careful about
WORKING records and open meeting laws. Study how they promising to write favorable stories or keep damaging
apply to all governmental organizations on your beat. information off the record. If you make promises you
A BEAT: Understand your legal rights and limitations before can’t keep, you’ll burn your sources; if you withhold
DO’S AND disputes arise so you won’t get caught flat-footed. x facts, you’ll cheat your readers.
DON’TS DO follow the money. Who controls it? Where does DON’T get used. Public figures attain power and
Every beat is it go? Study the budgets on your beat to see where the prominence by learning how to spin gullible new
different — and real power lies, as well as opportunities for fraud and reporters like you. Don’t be rude or confrontational,
over time, every incompetence. What does it all mean for readers? but don’t let them put you in their pocket, either.
reporter develops DO call sources back to verify facts before stories run. DON’T waste sources’ time with idle chitchat when
his or her rules It shows you’re serious about fairness and accuracy. they’re working. Focus your questions, get what you
and recipes for It enhances your credibility. And it keeps you humble. need and move along; don’t just drop in like some
success. Still, a DO write for your readers, not to impress the jaded aimless drifter and say, “Uhhh — what’s new?”
few general truths insiders and experts on your beat. Keep things simple. DON’T simply mimic what your predecessors did.
apply: Write with the voice of a teacher, not the voice of a Maybe they knew the beat better than you do, but that
bureaucrat. Never assume your readers are as savvy as doesn’t mean their stories were smarter. Take a fresh
you are (or that they’ve studied your previous stories). approach. Be original. Make the beat your own.

and why. It’s the bean counters takes the time to learn the details Be prepared for one of two things
who run the world. Show your of their profession. from the key sources on your
interest in their work. Heather Ratcliffe, St. Louis Post-Dispatch new beat: You might have to take
Tim Nelson, Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minn.) heat for the previous reporter’s
Beat Tip 1: Learn the vernacular of mistakes — or you might have
Coffee and conversation. Once the beat. Cops, teachers, soldiers, big shoes to fill.
a week, buy a key person coffee. engineers, politcos all speak in a Either way, get out and meet
Learn what they want from you jargon particular to their field. everyone you can and make con-
WHAT ADVICE nections. Don’t be annoying, but
before telling them what you want They have acronyms and abbre-
WOULD YOU GIVE A stop by often and get to know
from them. When possible, do in- viations and other shorthand that
REPORTER LEARNING your main sources before that big
terviews in person. Build relation- you need to know to understand
A NEW BEAT? story breaks. Pass out tons of bus-
ships. While on a story, log contact the meaning and the context of
Get your butt out of your desk info for good sources you meet. their statements. iness cards — give them to anyone
chair and get out there into your Then ask them out for coffee. who could become a potential
Tip 2: Be nice to the secretaries,
beat. Meet people. Talk to them. Erin Barnett, The Oregonian source or informant. Everyone’s
the desk sergeants, the midlevel
Find out how they connect to got dirt to share, after all.
managers. They know what’s
other facets of your beat. And, Kimberly Morava,
As a crime reporter, I won the going on better than the vice pres- The Shawnee News-Star
above all, do a lot of listening. hearts and trust of the cops using idents, the chiefs and the CEOs.
Jill Barrall, Hutchinson (Minn.) Leader the three “Bs”: baseball, boats and Jim Camden, The Spokesman-Review
baked goods. I’d bring in fresh- (Spokane, Wash.) The people you meet and inter-
Always start with the money: Get baked cookies to the homicide view regularly on the beat are not
the budget of whatever depart- office and then ask them about . . . Most of all, don’t follow the your readers. Resist the tempta-
ment or institution you’re cover- last night’s game and their latest pack. Report on the oddball stuff tion to write for them. Write for
ing, start asking on-background trip to the lake. Also, make sure in the beat and your editors will the people whose lives are being
questions about how it works and you know what kind of weapon think you’re a genius. affected by the sources on your
don’t quit until you can explain, they carry in their holsters. They Kevin Harden, beat.
at least basically, who pays, how always appreciate a reporter who Valley Times (Beaverton, Ore.) Ken Fuson, The Des Moines Register

MORE ON OPEN RECORDS AND OPEN MEETINGS > 141

96 COVERING THE NEWS

INFORMATION
THAT’S ESSENTIAL
IN AN OBITUARY
Death is news. When death occurs unnaturally — by fire, murder, accident or war — Write an accurate obituary
you write news stories, which usually print alongside other breaking news. But when and families will treasure it
death occurs naturally — by illness or old age — you write obituaries, which are forever; write one that contains
a sloppy mistake and it’ll annoy
often gathered together on an “obituary page” in most newspapers. them forever. Not all information
You may think obituaries are just a depressing public service that sent to you by amateur clerks
journalists provide for morbid old readers. (Writing about dead people? and funeral directors is accurate;
whenever possible, verify it
That’s . . . . . . . . creepy.) But these mini-biographies are usually read through phone interviews and
more closely, and by more people, than any other part of the paper. library research, as you would
They tell stories. They touch hearts. They honor and inspire. with any other news story.
Whether brief or in-depth,
“There’s nothing morbid about a good obituary,” a New York Times all obituaries should include:
editor once said, “because a good obit is about life, not death.” � Name: Use full names,
including middle name or initial.
Nicknames, if commonly used,
can be added in quotes. Please
double-check all spellings.
� Identification: Find a
phrase for your lead that best
summarizes who this person
was or what he/she did: John
Jones, a prominent local dentist,
or Jane Jones, author of 29
crime novels. Later in the story,
you can elaborate on the details.
� Age: State it simply unless
the family asks you to omit it:
Jones, 57, died Monday. Or say
Jones died Monday. He was 57.
� Day/place of death: Give the
day of the week. Omit the time
unless it’s relevant for some
dramatic reason. If the death
occurred out of town, name the
What’s the difference OBIT STYLE: WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE city; otherwise, give the local
between an obituary location (hospital, at home, etc.).
Most publications develop guidelines dictating how reporters handle:
and a death notice? � Cause of death: Some publi-
� Addresses. An obituary may identify the deceased as Jane Jones of 1234 Main cations omit this out of respect
Obituaries, death notices, funeral
notices — the terms mean different
Street. But is that address necessary? Or does it alert burglars to houses that are for the family’s privacy; some
things at different newspapers, and now unoccupied? Some editors delete home addresses from obits to protect omit it only in certain cases such
they’re often used interchangeably. families from criminals, overeager real-estate agents and insurance salespeople. as suicide or AIDS (see “Obit
Generally, death notices are brief � Cause of death. If a pop singer kills herself or an actor dies of AIDS, it’s juicy style” at left). Most avoid grisly
announcements providing basic national news. But what if it’s a local cheerleader? Or a beloved pastor? Most details, summarizing by simply
facts about a local person’s death families want embarrassing causes of death omitted from obituaries, and most saying he died of lung cancer.
(name, age, memorial service). Some � Birth date/birthplace.
editors agree. (In a national survey of managing editors, 62 percent said they
publications charge for these; some � Background: Education,
never use the word suicide in obits.) Instead of committing suicide, someone
run them in small type along the military service, honors, career
“died unexpectedly”; instead of succumbing to AIDS, someone “died after a achievements — the amount
bottom of a page, like classified ads.
long illness.” Unsure about your newsroom’s policy? Check with an editor. of personal history you include
Obituaries are longer, providing
more history and detail. Publications � Past personal problems. Not everyone leads a blameless life. But is an obitu- will vary. The more prominent
often charge for these, too. They’re ary the proper place to remind readers that John Jones was jailed for drunk the person, the more in-depth
frequently written by funeral homes driving 20 years ago? Why re-open old wounds for grieving families? Granted, the obit usually is, incorporat-
or families, not staff reporters. Many you shouldn’t ignore crimes or mistakes made by public figures, but before you ing anecdotes and quotes from
short obits follow a standardized dredge up unnecessary dirt about private citizens, weigh the pros and cons.x friends, family and colleagues.
format that’s simple and goof-proof. � Flowery phrases. Ministers and morticians like to use euphemisms to describe � Survivors: Name those in
But when prominent citizens die, the immediate family: spouse,
how “our dearly departed brother passed into the arms of the Lord” and now
it’s news; their obituaries become children, parents, siblings.
“dwells among the angels.” Most editors prefer simply to say “he died.” Avoid
news stories written by reporters. � Funeral/burial information:
funeral-home clichés. Don’t speculate about the deceased’s celestial activities. Include the name and phone
Forms from funeral homes may
supply the basic facts, but inter- � Other terminology. Funerals are scheduled, not held. Masses are celebrated, number for the funeral home,
views with friends, colleagues and not said (and Mass is capitalized). People die unexpectedly, not suddenly, since so readers can call for details.
family members add details that are all deaths are sudden. People die after surgery, not as the result of surgery, (You should call, too, to verify
crafted into a fuller story. unless the surgeon was at fault. A man is survived by his wife, not his widow. that your facts are correct.)

MORE ON THIS QUESTION OF ETHICS > 148

 COVERING THE NEWS 97

HOW TO TALK TO
FAMILIES ABOUT
WRITING A STANDARD NEWS OBITUARY THE DECEASED
Life isn’t fair. There just isn’t room, or time, to The more prominent people are, the more you Writing your first obituary
write a memorial tribute to everyone who dies. That’s should supplement their histories with quotations may make you uncomfortable
why obituaries are generally reserved for prominent (both about and by the deceased) to capture their — especially the task of inter-
or influential people — though in a small town or a personalities and assess the legacies they leave. viewing the family and friends
school, that may include nearly everybody. Here’s an example from the obituary of Gene Miller, of the deceased. But it’s impor-
That’s also why, in the lead of a news obituary, you a legendary Miami Herald reporter: tant to verify the facts before
want to emphasize the person’s significance: printing any obit. Some tips:
Judy Miller, the Herald’s managing editor, called him � Don’t be squeamish. People
the “soul and conscience of our newsroom.” are rarely too upset to talk; in
Edward E. Hughes, founder of the city’s oldest and fact, they may appreciate your
largest law firm, died of pancreatic cancer Tuesday at “I can’t tell you the depth of sadness in this newsroom
and in newsrooms around the country today,” she said. interest and actually enjoy the
Mercy Hospital. He was 78. opportunity to reminisce.
“He came in my office practically every day he was here,
OR: Clifford E. “Duby” Tucker, 101, a classic swamp saying, ‘Toss me a story.’ ” � If you’re not sure what to
Yankee who dined on fried eels and delighted in say, try reading from a script.
reminiscing beside his potbellied stove, died Sunday Years ago, a staff memo from
at the Westerly Health Center. After you’ve profiled the deceased — recounting the Amarillo (Tex.) Globe-News
NOT: Funeral services will be held Monday for Ophelia all personal / professional highlights — list the names advised reporters to open the
Pulse, of 1234 Main St., who died of pneumonia Friday. of survivors: spouse, siblings and descendants. (Some conversation this way:
publications include “companions.”) List the number “Hello. This is John Smith with
of grandchildren rather than naming them all: the Globe-News. I have the
The lead of a news obituary will usually supply the information about Mr. Lefode
person’s name; major achievement or occupation; from the funeral home, and I
day, location and cause of death; and age. That’s a lot Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Daniel Hohn wonder if you or someone could
to include, which is why writers usually arrange those of Madison; two children, Brooke E. Cooper of Lincoln and go over the facts with me to
facts in the same reliable, predictable sequence. Jeffrey Darling of Tampa, Fla.; and 12 grandchildren. make sure everything is correct.”
If the cause of death is natural, most of the story � Be supportive. Sympathetic.
will focus on the deceased’s personal history. If the Information about memorial services or burials Human. As veteran obituary
death is unnatural (crime or accident) or the circum- usually runs at the end of the story, though some writer Robin Hinch suggests,
stances are unusual, details about the death should insert yourself into the conver-
publications display those details in a separate “fast-
sation, when it’s appropriate,
precede the deceased’s background information. facts” sidebar that accompanies the obituary. x to let the family know you
understand what they’re going
through: “Yes, I come from a
ADDING DEPTH AND CHARACTER: THE FEATURE OBITUARY big family, too.” That may
help put them at ease.
Some reporters specialize in a popular new style of The best feature obits reveal intimate details — so
� “Be willing to listen to
story: the “common man (or woman)” feature obit. intimate, you can’t believe the reporter didn’t actually
the longest, most drawn-out
Instead of celebrating the lives of prominent citizens, know the deceased — along with a surprising candor anecdotes or recounting of a
these tell the life stories of ordinary folks using tech- that captures people as they really were, warts and all: long illness,” Hinch advises,
niques you’d never see in a standard news obituary: “even if you know it’s stuff
During the winters, he did lapidary work, leather craft, you can’t use. Good detail can
She read her Bible and romance novels — nothing too and painted by number — tasteful naked women. come from those discussions
explicit. Reading was OK, but she wasn’t much for sitting. . . . Although he adored his daughters, he intimidated and a comfort level develops
TV? A waste of time. his grandkids, and he sometimes drank. He could be for talking to you.”
She had no patience with people who weren’t produc- ornery and mean, but he loved to sing and mixed up the � If you’re planning to write a
tive. She asked what her children had accomplished. She words to songs: “Chantilly Lace,” “Purple People Eater,” long feature obituary, gather as
was a little more lenient with her grandchildren. She took “God Bless America.” much detail as you can by ask-
in any stray cat that wandered by — too many, actually. ing follow-up questions: What
She gardened in her flower bed: hydrangeas, daylilies, kind of dog did he have? What
honeysuckle, roses and lilacs. Even late at night, there was This illusion of intimacy would be shattered if every was its name? What did they
Judy, out there planting by flashlight. detail was attributed (he sometimes drank, his daugh- do together? It’s the small,
ter claimed). So in an unusual departure from news- telling details that best capture
Notice the difference? The style is looser, friendlier, writing protocol, feature obits omit attributions. someone’s true personality.
and full of curiously engaging details: That’s risky. But a reporter with reliable radar can, � Avoid the awkwardly obvious
after multiple in-depth interviews with friends and (“Are you sad that he died?”),
family, discern which details are typical and true. but don’t be shy about asking
Ruby Anderson was a tomboy who ran barefoot through personal questions.
Amy Martinez Starke is The Oregonian’s obituary
the Minnesota swamps, third daughter of a Norwegian dirt “They can refuse to answer,”
farmer. She used onion tops for straws, scared off lynxes specialist whose stories are excerpted here. When she
writes, Starke becomes “the god of omniscience,” she Hinch says, “but more often
while bringing home the cows and made tepees out of than not, they’ll tell you lots
birch bark. says — “because I know, having talked to enough
of interesting things.”
people, that this is true.”
If people start to cry, ask a
practical question: What kind
of car did she drive? “It snaps
For full-length examples of both a standard news obituary and a feature obituary, visit THE MORGUE 224 them out of tears,” Hinch says.

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98 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering accidents and disasters

It’s tragic, but true — every day, cars collide. Lightning strikes. Planes crash. Homes flood.
Yet if we wrote about every accident and disaster, the news
would become an endless torrent of destruction and horror.
Critics often accuse the media of sensationalizing tragedy
(if it bleeds, it leads, cynics say), but most editors maintain
standards for determining which incidents deserve coverage.
One key factor is severity: death, damage or injury. A fender-
bender isn’t as newsworthy as a fatality; a windstorm isn’t
a story until it knocks out power or tosses trailers around.
And that’s another factor: how many people are affected.
If a tree falls in the forest, it makes no sound, but if it falls on
a school bus, it makes the 11 o’clock news.
Of course, the more local the incident, the more impact it
has on readers and viewers. We often become numb to floods,
famines and fires in the Third World — at least, until a tsunami
Police and firefighters attempt to move the driver of an overturned car devastates entire countries — but whenever tragedy strikes
after a five-vehicle collision on a New Jersey highway. close to home, reporters must be ready to tell the story.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING STORIES ON TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

WRITING THE LEAD WRITING THE REST OF THE STORY
Begin by remembering that traffic accidents are commonplace. When writing a story
As we’ve previously warned, there’s no need to overload your lead
If this is all that’s happened — on an accident, be sure
with details: to include:
� Victims: names,
Two cars collided on Walnut Street Friday morning. Laurel Jones, 5, and her parents, John and Jane ages, addresses, other
Jones of Fairfield, were seriously injured on Walnut relevant personal
Street near Third Avenue at 9:35 a.m. Friday when information. (Double-
— then you might not have a story worth reporting. Though it their sports utility vehicle skidded on a grease spill
may sound cold-hearted, several factors are usually required for check all spellings.)
and collided with a garbage truck driven by Thad Hertz, � Extent of injuries/
accidents to become newsworthy: serious injury or death — who suffered minor cuts and bruises, police said. cause of death. Identify
hospitals where any
A Fairfield man was killed in a two-car collision on injured were taken.
Walnut Street Friday morning. Instead, start with a delayed-identification lead, then distribute the
key facts in a logical sequence through the first few paragraphs: � Cause of accident,
according to police, not
— or unusual circumstances: victims or bystanders.
A child and her parents were seriously hurt Friday � Location.
morning when their car hit a grease spill on Walnut
A school bus collided with an ambulance on Walnut � Time.
Street and skidded into a garbage truck.
Street Friday morning. No injuries were reported. � Circumstances: road
Laurel Jones, 5, fractured both arms in the collision,
conditions, weather, etc.
OR police said. Her parents, John and Jane Jones of Fair-
� Vehicles: number,
Distracted by a dog fight in the back seat of his cab, field, received head injuries and were rushed to Mercy type (i.e., car, truck, van,
a taxi driver crashed into the lobby of Lincoln National Hospital, where they were listed in stable condition. bicycle — not the exact
Bank on Walnut Street Friday morning. “Some jerk spilled about 50 gallons of industrial lub- make or model), brief
ricant onto the road,” said Fairfield Police Officer Stan description of damages.
Dupp, who investigated the accident. “That was enough � Arrests or citations
Notice how that second example leads with the why. That to turn that patch of street into a skating rink.” . . . made by police.
approach succeeds only if the why is compelling, significant or odd. � Comments from
Accident stories usually lead with either the what or the who. police, eyewitnesses,
And unless the who is a recognizable name — In most stories, it’s not necessary to identify police officers by
name unless they’ve done something heroic or provided a quote. victims or passengers.
You can generally refer to them as police, officers or investigators. � Acts of heroism or
Fairfield mayor Denton Fender escaped injury when Remember to use caution when explaining what caused an dramatic rescues.
his limousine collided with a garbage truck on Walnut accident. Witnesses may give you distorted, unreliable opinions; � Relevant facts about
Street Friday morning. even police officers make mistakes. Be sure to attribute all facts drivers’ destinations,
and allegations. Use the attribution police said as often as speed, reasons for travel,
— it’s best to delay naming the victims until the second or third necessary. Above all, avoid assigning blame or reponsibility. driving histories, etc.
paragraph. Don’t say Jones was speeding; say police cited Jones for speeding.
 COVERING THE NEWS 99

WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE YOUR NEWSROOM WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE ON THE SCENE
� Anticipate your worst-case scenarios. Every community is uniquely � Go where the action is. “Hit the road immediately and start assessing
vulnerable to different natural catastrophes (earthquakes, hurricanes, the damage,” Meyer says. “Find out where the dead bodies are and go to
tornados) as well as man-made disasters (oil spills, plane crashes, them.” Or, as a St. Paul Pioneer Press disaster-reporting manual advises,
nuclear accidents). Identify the major risks in your region and discuss “Head for the biggest mess and look for people who are visibly upset.”
how your newsroom would cover them. This is also a good time to: � Question authorities first. Authorities won’t have much time to talk,
� Check your history. Do research now, while you have the time and says Steve Lackmeyer, a reporter for The Oklahoman, and what you
electrical power, to find out your community’s worst floods, biggest get in your first few minutes may be the only official information you
blizzards, deadliest epidemics. You’ll need this infor- receive. “Witnesses and victims tend to linger and
mation to put breaking news in perspective. usually are accessible for a while after the tragedy,”
� Obtain information on local agencies’ emergency DISASTER WEB SITES Lackmeyer says. “But often times rescuers and emer-
planning. Identify who’s who in emergency response: Among the best online resources: gency responders at disaster scenes can point you to the
the local, state and federal authorities responsible for www.fema.gov most interesting situations early on. Do you really want
public safety, relief efforts, evacuation, etc. Find out if Reliable information and advice to be spending your first minutes interviewing a victim
they’re sufficiently prepared for every type of disaster on disaster preparation and when you can be witnessing a dramatic rescue effort
— if not, that’s a story worth running now. relief from the Federal Emer- that is still under way?”
� Keep a phone list handy with numbers for editors, gency Management Agency. � Talk to victims and eyewitnesses. Be sure to get their
reporters, photographers, emergency agencies, even www.colorado.edu/hazards phone numbers in case you need to reach them later.
home numbers for public officials. A complete library of disaster “If you have a chance,” Lackmeyer suggests, “walk with
� Devise a newsroom battle plan that details who’s data from the University of them through the disaster scene. Sometimes that will
in charge, where you’ll meet, who’ll cover what. “The Colorado Natural Hazards Center. spur more detail and add color to your story.”
first few hours after a disaster are often the most www.yahoo.com/Society_ � Record details that capture the scene — like the
important in capturing the drama and detail that will and_Culture/Environment_ reporter covering the aftermath of a tornado who saw
be used later,” says Josh Meyer, veteran reporter at the and_Nature/Disasters pink insulation scattered everywhere and wrote that the
A comprehensive set of links to
Los Angeles Times. “To expect the unexpected and town looked like it was covered in cotton candy.
every imaginable disaster topic.
let the news dictate the stories, you must be ready for � Check in often with your editors. And collaborate.
anything, to go anywhere at a moment’s notice.” Keep your colleagues apprised of your whereabouts,
� Prepare a field kit with emergency supplies: pencils, pens, notebooks, especially photographers looking for dramatic images. Assess the poten-
camera, batteries, bottled water, nonperishable food (a couple days’ tial for graphics, too; supply your editors with facts for diagrams, time-
worth), boots, a change of clothes, a first-aid kit, even business cards — lines and especially maps. Remember to record the names of streets and
to help those at the scene contact you after the chaos dies down. buildings so you can later reconstruct the parameters of the scene.

DEALING WITH VICTIMS There’s no easy way to interview a mother Give them time to compose their thoughts. If
OF A TRAGEDY? TRY TO whose son just drowned in a flood, or a man they seem distracted or confused, ask them to
whose home just collapsed in an earthquake. repeat details, double-check spellings. Above all,
USE EXTRA SENSITIVITY But it’s your job to tell their stories honestly and ensure that all facts in your notes are accurate.
professionally. Some advice on how to proceed: � Empathize — but watch what you say. Treat
� Ask permission. Identify yourself and your victims with respect. Control your emotions,
affiliation. Tell them you’ll be as brief as possible. no matter how awkward or traumatic the situa-
Say “I’d like to talk for a few minutes about what tion may be. Speak calmly, but avoid saying:
happened,” or “I’d like to ask you a few questions >“I’m sorry I have to ask you about this, but” —
about the accident, and I realize this is a painful Never make your questions sound intrusive.
topic for you. Is that OK?” If victims refuse, don’t If victims don’t want to talk, they’ll let you know.
press; if they respond with hostility, don’t judge. >“I know how you feel” — No, you don’t, as
Accept it. Back off and tell them how they can they’ll be quick to point out. Don’t project.
contact you later, if they choose. >“It could have been worse” or “You’re lucky” —
� Go slow. Cover the essentials first (names, ages, Blurting out thoughtless, pat responses may
A relative is comforted at the scene of a fire addresses, etc.), then ease into more descriptive, provoke anger or frustration. It’s better to nod,
that killed two children in Brockton, Mass. emotional details. Be patient; let them ramble. remain quiet and let the victim fill the silence.

FOR AN EXAMPLE OF ACCIDENT COVERAGE, SEE THE MORGUE > 226

100 COVERING THE NEWS

When writing a story on a

fire, be sure to include:
� Victims: names,
ages, addresses, any
other relevant personal
information. Double-
check all spellings.
� Extent of injuries/
cause of death. Identify
hospitals where the
injured were taken.
� Type of building:
home, trailer, warehouse,
etc. If it’s a commercial
building, what do they
make or do there?
� Location.
� Time: when the fire
started, how long fire-
fighters fought the blaze.
� How the fire was
discovered or reported.
� Cause of the fire,
according to informed
More than 70 hogs lost their lives when this barn caught on fire outside of Urbana, Ohio, in 2005. authorities. Avoid any
speculation by victims
The bigger the fire, the bigger the story. Small fires are common in
Covering
or bystanders.
kitchens, barns and grassy fields — and unless someone is injured, � Number of fire-
fighters required to
they’re usually treated as briefs or listed in weekly “fire run” round-

fires
put out the fire.
ups. You can write those up without leaving the newsroom, using � Estimated cost of
facts provided in fire department reports or news releases. damage and extent of
But for fires where death, displacement or major damage results, insurance coverage.
Some may be harmless, you need to visit the scene — ideally, while firefighters are battling � Acts of heroism or

but others make history the blaze — to supplement the basic facts with quotes, color and
dramatic rescues. Who
was saved? By whom?
— and headlines. dramatic tales of risk and rescue. Emphasize this aspect of
the story.
� Weather, especially if
wind, rain or heat affect-
GUIDELINES FOR REPORTING AND WRITING FIRE STORIES ed the fire’s behavior or
� Identify yourself. If you’re not � Get as close as you can, but protect � Watch your wording. Dramatic firefighters’ efforts.
carrying a video camera with a your own safety. (Fires, collapsing fires may inspire you to wax poetic � Effect of the fire

station logo on it, make sure your structures, even the blast from a stray about those brave heroes subduing the on evacuees — those
driven from their homes
press credentials are in plain sight. fire hose can kill you.) Observe any blazing inferno amid rivers of fire. But or forced out of work.
� Find the command post — or yellow DO NOT CROSS lines. And unless stick to the facts. Instead of calling
� Plans to relocate
“Command,” as it’s usually called. you’re specifically given approval or them towering flames, be specific and victims or rebuild
Look for a marked car parked beside escort, don’t trespass on private prop- describe them as flames 50 feet high. structures.
the fire scene (often with a flashing erty or contaminate crime/fire scenes. Other words to use with caution: � Arrests or citations
green light). That’s where you’ll find � Wear boots. And be prepared to go > Destroyed means ruined beyond made by police. Is arson
the fire battalion chief who’s coor- home stinking of smoke. recovery. A building is either destroyed suspected?
dinating the operation. If you’re not � Remember, firefighters can provide or it isn’t; don’t write that it’s partially � Anecdotes and
sure where to go, ask directions from dramatic details, but individual fire- destroyed or totally destroyed. When in descriptions from fire-
a police officer or firefighter. fighters rarely know the whole story. doubt, use the word damaged. fighters, eyewitnesses,
� Introduce yourself to Command. As a rule, only a battalion chief or > Conflagration is used to describe a victims, building owners
They’ll either assist you or direct you PIO can be trusted to convey the big raging, destructive fire that’s large or neighbors.
to a public information officer (PIO). picture accurately. (several city blocks) or uncontrolled. � Any other unusual
Ask essential questions immediately Firefighters can gauge structural > Holocaust means “destruction of aspects of the fire: Did it
life by fire.” Because of its association shut down traffic? Create
(Where’s the fire? Is it under control? damage (i.e., light, moderate, heavy or
power outages? Have
How’d it start? Anyone hurt?), then a total loss). But for the official cause with the Nazi’s extermination of Jews, there been previous fires
get out of the way and let the team do of the fire or estimates of the damage avoid using it in routine fire stories. at this site, or other
its job. Avoid interfering with rescue costs, talk to the PIO, the fire marshal > A fire guts a building by destroying recent fires that reveal
workers or firefighters unless it’s or the building’s owner. Don’t attempt its interior. A structure is razed when a pattern that’s worth
obvious that they’re free to talk. to make guesses yourself. it is leveled with the ground. investigating?
 COVERING THE NEWS 101

A TEAM EFFORT:
COVERING CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES
Luis Davila carries AT THE LOS ANGELES TIMES
his 2-year-old son, The deadly wildfires that ravaged
Abraham, through the Southern California in 2003 were
charred remains of the most destructive in the state’s
their home in Medford, history, taking 26 lives, destroying
Ore., after it was more than 3,600 homes and causing
destroyed by fire in $2 billion in damage.
2005. “He was the one At the Los Angeles Times, 76
inside the house when reporters contributed stories on the
the fire started,” said fire. As a result, “for its compelling
Davila, cradling the and comprehensive coverage of the
boy. “He had smoke massive wildfires,” the Times was
coming out of his nose.” awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for
breaking news reporting.
Visit THE MORGUE for the
full text of this story > 232
Geoff Mohan, one of the Times’
primary reporters on the story,
explains that “a wildfire is just like
a war: chaotic, often incomprehen-
OPTIONS FOR ORGANIZING YOUR DETAILS AND DRAMA sible up close, and dangerous even
in its most benign moments.”
WRITING THE LEAD COVERING THE AFTERMATH The hardest part of covering a
As in any other breaking story, if death or injury is the most Some fires are important or emotionally charged enough to
wildfire? “Fires can overcome and
newsworthy element, it should leap to the top of the lead: warrant follow-up coverage. You may need to report new
details about the fire’s cause, its impact on the community overwhelm you in a matter of sec-
or the status of its victims. The human tragedy of those onds,” Mohan says. “Over time,
Six firefighters were injured and nearly 150
senior citizens were left homeless Wednesday victimized by fire produces powerful journalism. (For an the heat and smoke leave you tired,
night after a fire ripped through a retirement example, see the story behind the photo above.) dehydrated and in poor condition
community in west Milford. to make decisions. Every action
ADDING DRAMATIC NARRATIVE must be calculated carefully, and
Certain events (fires, disasters, crimes) offer opportunities has to include a viable escape route,
If no one was hurt, the lead should focus on the most for narrative storytelling. Tales of struggle and survival good communcation about where
compelling aspect of the story. And though this works — provide extra suspense and realism when they unfold the fire is (and is going), and team-
chronologically. work to keep lookout.”
An early-morning fire Friday destroyed a farm- One option: Begin your story with a standard news lead,
house south of Springfield.
And covering a destructive fire
then segue into a dramatic narrative when it’s appropriate.
(There’s a story form — the Martini — that does this x).
is emotionally difficult, too. “Wild-
OR you can begin the story with the narrative, crafting a fires destroy everything down to
— try not to overuse the same basic what lead over and
suspenseful anecdotal lead as this story does: the rims of cars, let alone cherished
over (“A fire destroyed a warehouse Monday” . . . “A fire
tore through an Eastview trailer park Tuesday. . .”). Look
photographs and other mementos,”
for other lead options: the who or the why, for instance — Mohan says. “It is heart-rending to
As firefighters finished dousing flames in the watch someone literally sift through
wood-frame bungalow Wednesday, neighbors the coals of their former life.”
Two Brookdale children escaped a fire that of Clement Williams held their breath.
Still, Mohan says, covering a wild-
broke out in their bedroom Sunday by leaping Did he get out before the fire consumed
fire is an unforgettable experience.
out a second-floor window. his side of the duplex? Had he walked down
the street to Abella’s restaurant and left his
“Imagine being paid to witness such
Illegal fireworks sparked a fire that destroyed Oldsmobile parked in the driveway?
an awesome spectacle and in the
a South Lyon home Friday afternoon. Diane Miller held her hand to her mouth and process getting a close understanding
repeated, “Please don’t let him be in there,” of both human and mother nature,”
over and over. he says. “The ups far outweigh the
If appropriate, you can use an alternative lead approach — But her husband, David Miller, who kicked in downs for me.”
Williams’ door but couldn’t find anything in the
Jay Walker left his Portland home shortly thick smoke, shook his head.
before noon Saturday to grab a cheeseburger. “I know he’s in there,” Miller said quietly
That burger might have saved his life. in the middle of the commotion. “He’s always
Minutes after Walker drove away, his neigh- home this time of day, taking a nap.”
bors heard an explosion and saw flames leaping Minutes later, as firefighters acknowledged
out of his house on Thurman Street. . . . that Williams, 54, had been trapped inside,
Diane Miller began sobbing and fell into her
— but remember, feature-style leads convey less urgency husband’s arms. . . . [Angela Moore, St. Petersburg Times ]
than news leads. And you must be careful never to make
light of someone’s personal tragedy.
To read how the Newark Star-Ledger covered a fatal fire To read the full text of another fire story that effectively
in a university dormitory, visit THE MORGUE > 230. incorporates dramatic narrative, visit THE MORGUE > 234.

50 < MORE ON THE MARTINI STORY STRUCTURE COVERING FIRES ON THE RADIO > 183
102 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering crime
Monitoring criminal incidents and public safety issues.
Crime news both attracts and repels readers. Murders, assaults, thefts,
scams — these have real impact and reader appeal, especially when
they hit close to your home or threaten your sense of security.
Yet surveys show that a steady stream of crime reports (especially
violent crime, which TV newscasts often thrive on) prompts the
public to accuse the media of sensationalism. Loud, lengthy crime
stories create a false sense of danger and crowd out worthier news.
So how much crime coverage is enough? Every newsroom sets
its own threshold. Some address every incident, either in stories
or briefs; others focus less on random events but instead analyze
trends, expose threats to public safety, tell stories about victims,
educate readers on how to protect themselves — and cover only
crimes so important or unusual that they demand attention.

CRIME-WRITING STYLE AND STRUCTURE

THREE CRIME LEADS Add color, not clutter. Cops have accused or alleged, either. Some editors THREE CRIME BRIEFS
BY EDNA BUCHANAN their own lingo. You’ll need to learn insist that accused robber John Smith FROM ARCATA, CALIF.
The Miami Herald’s legendary to decipher jargon and codes before still makes him sound like a robber; Publications often run “police
crime reporter Edna Buchanan you can talk shop with them or saying that he allegedly committed a logs” that itemize the week’s
was notorious for crafting monitor a police scanner effectively. robbery seems to imply guilt, too. most notable law-enforcement
gripping leads like these: activities. For example:
Just don’t let copspeak creep into When in doubt, run it by an editor
The man she loved slapped your stories (the perpetrator was (or an attorney) to make sure you’re 1 p.m. Police received a report
her face. Furious, she told him apprehended upon T-boning the using acceptably neutral wording. x of beer cans and other trash
never, ever to do that again. dumped behind the Stop ’N’ Go.
vehicle). Keep your language clear Explore chronological story forms.
“What are you going to do, kill But in California, the Arcata
me?” he asked, and handed
and simple, as Edna Buchanan does Most crime stories are breaking news, Eye (“America’s most popular
her a gun. “Here, kill me,” he in the excerpts at left. Or, if your so they’re written in inverted-pyramid obscure small-town newspaper”)
challenged. editors allow it, you can add some style. The lead usually contains the writes its police-log entries
She did. attitude like those excerpts at right. essential who-what-when-where-how with wit and sarcasm. Readers
Crime is serious, yes, but it also (though the whodunnit and why may love them. Three examples:
Gary Robinson died hungry. provides fascinating glimpses of
He wanted fried chicken, the
remain unknown). 8:57 a.m. A man in a green
human behavior. Good reporters Crimes involve dramatic sequences hooded jacket carried on the
three-piece box for $2.19. Drunk,
loud and obnoxious, he pushed
learn to add color and drama to their of events, however, and they’re often regurgitation tradition down
ahead of seven customers in narratives without overdoing it. best told chronologically. Note how at the Community Center,
line at a fast-food chicken outlet. all three of Edna Buchanan’s stories simultaneously gut-horking
Avoid sloppy allegations. Anyone
The counter girl told him that and digging through a trash
suspected of a crime is innocent until at left use chronological narratives. can. Police asked him not to
his behavior was impolite. She proven guilty — so as you write, So before you start writing that
calmed him down with sweet multitask in such a manner —
keep the suspect separate from the traditional just-the-facts news story, in fact, not to be there at all.
talk and he agreed to step to the
end of the line. His turn came crime. It’s acceptable to say that consider using an alternative such
just before closing time, just a robbery was committed. John Smith as the Martini story form, which we 9:14 a.m. A woman experi-
after the fried chicken ran out. is being held. But until he’s convicted introduced back on page 50: enced the miracle of the digital
He punched the counter girl in court, you must never say that age when she discovered
so hard her ears rang, and the You begin with an someone, somewhere making
John Smith committed a robbery. charges on her credit card.
security guard shot him — three inverted-pyramid lead
Don’t write that John Smith was And so the paperwork began.
times. to summarize the key facts.
arrested for robbery, either. Instead,
You shift into a chronology
Angel Aguada saw a stranger say that John Smith was arrested and here, at which point your 11 p.m. On Tavern Row, a
across a crowded room. Their charged with robbery — or that John story recounts the dramatic traveler apparently dropped a
eyes met. The moment was Smith was arrested in connection with events step by step. puppy, which died from injuries
spoiled when her husband shot the robbery. See the difference? sustained in the fall, thus
You end with a meaningful
Aguada three times. avoiding a career as an ill-fed
It may not help to add qualifiers like detail or quote: a kicker .
Romance can be murder, fashion accessory on a string.
Miami police said Sunday. For more, visit www.arcataeye.com
For full-length examples of several crime stories, visit THE MORGUE 236

SEE PRINT IT OR PULL IT FOR MORE DISCUSSION OF "ALLEGED" BY LIBEL ATTORNEYS > 145
 COVERING THE NEWS 103

ADVICE ON COVERING THE CRIME BEAT MORE EFFECTIVELY

� Get to know everyone on your beat: cops, coroners, extra batteries, pens, power bars and a flashlight. When writing stories on
chiefs and especially clerks. The public information officer � Think trends. Look for patterns, connections between homicides or assaults,
(PIO) will keep you abreast of breaking news, but other crimes. Monitor crime statistics so you’ll recognize when be sure to include:
sources may provide better scoops and story ideas. incidents — bike thefts, dog attacks, rapes — are on the � Victim’s name and as
� Find out what information is available from the police rise. That’s often what the real story is. much relevant personal
department and the court clerk’s offices. Ask for blank � Remember, crime isn’t just about cops. It’s about real information as possible.
copies of all the forms they keep on file so you’ll know people. So get out of the office and talk to victims, their Double-check all spellings.
� Extent of injuries /
what to request when researching an incident later. families, even the families of the accused. (A good opener:
cause of death.
� Get familiar with police procedures. Arrange for ride- “The police are saying bad things about your son. We just � Location of the incident.
alongs with night-shift cops, a tour of the forensics lab, want to get an accurate picture. Tell us about him.”) � Time of incident and
hands-on firearm instruction. Take every opportunity to Convey the human drama that unfolds when crimes police response.
educate yourself and build relationships with sources. occur. Tell stories; capture emotions. Don’t view every � Circumstances, including
� “The scanner will be the life and death of a good cop incident through the cold eyes of law-enforcement sources. weapons used, other clues,
reporter,” says Kathryn Sosbe of the South Florida Sun- � And remember: If a crime involves a teacher, a coach, suspected motive.
Sentinel. “Do not let it out of your sight or let the battery a minister or a public official, it’s a big story. � Description of suspect,
die.” Keep a list of ID numbers and codes handy (and � Most publications don’t print confessions. Suspects if one is being sought.
memorize the essential ones) to decipher transmissions. often confess because of misunderstandings or coercion; � Name and identification

� Be prepared for anything. For ordinary days, wear clear troubled people often confess to big crimes for publicity of anyone arrested;
charges filed, if any.
identification; carry a cell phone and camera. For those or as a cry for help. Don’t trust confessions until they’re
� Comments from police,
unexpected big stories, keep an emergency bag in your admitted as evidence during a trial. neighbors, friends, family.
trunk with a change of clothing, bad-weather gear, boots, Below, other details you might choose not to publish: � Unusual factors: similar
recent crimes, etc.

WHAT DETAILS SHOULD YOU are kept secret and why law enforcement Endangered victims: If naming victims When writing stories on
agencies are often legally forbidden to threatens their safety or exposes them to thefts, be sure to include:
WITHHOLD FROM STORIES? disclose names of minors arrested for further harm, publications may honor their � Type, value of items
When identifying those involved with crimes. News organizations may choose requests to withhold identification. taken.
a crime, especially suspects, use complete to withhold the identities of lawbreakers Suspects: Because it’s often difficult to � Victim, identification.
names to avoid any misidentification. A under 18, too, unless the crimes are excep- determine why police are investigating � Location and time.
middle initial might prevent readers from tional or the defendants are tried as adults. someone in connection with a case, it’s � Circumstances, including
confusing Moe D. Lahn with Moe A. Lahn, Victims of sensitive crimes: Many state best to avoid labeling anyone a “suspect” weapons used, other clues.
but for popular surnames like Smith, it’s laws forbid police or court personnel from until he or she is actually arrested. � Description of suspect,
wise to add complete middle names, too. revealing the identities of sexual assault And to avoid stereotypes: Referring to a if one is being sought.
In some cases, however, your publication victims, to protect them from public stigma defendant’s race, religion or lifestyle may � Name and identification
might omit names altogether. For instance: and scrutiny. Newspapers often voluntarily reflect negatively on an entire group of of anyone arrested; charges
Minors: Most people agree that committing withhold the names of both rape victims people. Omit that information unless it filed, if any.
a crime in your youth shouldn’t ruin your and defendants — at least, until defendants factors into the crime, or unless police seek � Comments from police,
chances of becoming a productive adult. are convicted — as well as the names of the public’s help in identifying or locating a neighbors, friends, family.
That’s why juvenile court proceedings victims humiliated by financial scams. suspect by releasing a detailed description. � Unusual factors: similar
recent crimes, etc.

FRANK MAIN, crime reporter,

Chicago Sun-Times (in the suit with red tie):
“I stood at the edge of a forest preserve in Zion, Ill.,
where two girls had been found bludgeoned that
morning. I was waiting for something to happen.
That’s when I saw a woman approaching, holding a
little girl’s hand. Her daughter was the best friend
of one of the slain girls. The mother had driven her
to the crime scene in an attempt to find ‘closure.’
Other reporters realized the daughter might be
able to tell us about the dead girls, who were not
yet identified. I felt terrible to be in that pack,
questioning a 9-year-old about her murdered
friend. I have two boys about the same age and
cannot imagine them being grilled by reporters. But
professionally, I knew her mother had placed her
daughter in that situation, and I had to be in that
scrum. The low point: the girl pulled out a photo of
her dead friend and the cameramen jostled each
other for position to copy it. I saw fear in the girl’s
eyes. Someone suggested we take turns copying the
picture and order was restored. The mother finally
stepped in and escorted her daughter away from us.”
104 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering courts
Tracking and translating trial procedures.
At this very moment, the guilty and the innocent are pleading
their cases and awaiting their verdicts in county, state and
federal courts. You can’t cover every trial — most just
aren’t newsworthy — but some cases are exceptions:
� Murder cases. Violent life-and-death dramas
resonate with readers. The more compelling the
story and colorful the characters, the more these
trials become headlines.
� Celebrity trials. Whether they involve famous
faces like Michael Jackson and Martha Stewart, infamous al-Qaida terrorists or notable
local figures (the mayor’s wife arrested for shoplifting), big-name court cases make news.
� Important legal rulings. It’s always significant when the Supreme Court rules on issues
that affect all Americans, though lower courts deliver influential decisions, as well.
� Human-interest stories. Cases become newsworthy if they’re heartwarming, humorous,
horrifying or odd enough (for example, when a 79-year-old woman sued McDonald’s
for millions after she burned herself by spilling their scalding hot coffee in her lap).
If covering courts seems intimidating to you, think of it this way: You sit in the stands,
describe the action and tell readers who won. It’s a lot like covering sports.

TIPS FOR REPORTERS COVERING THE COURT BEAT

� Do your homework. You don’t need a law nothing’s going on. Study the court calendar so BE CAREFUL, OR YOU MIGHT
degree to cover courts, but you do need to you can be there when it counts: for opening WIND UP IN COURT YOURSELF
understand how the system works, who the and closing statements, crucial testimony, the Yes, there are ways you can land in court as
players are, what the terms mean. Study case verdict and — what’s often most important — a participant rather than an observer. You could
histories and key issues. Cultivate sources the sentencing. be sued for libel (for instance, if you identify
(scholars, attorneys) who can translate terms � Don’t trust everything attorneys tell you. someone as murderer John Doe instead of
and technicalities for you — so that you, in Remember, lawyers are paid big bucks to calling him defendant John Doe). Or you could
turn, can explain them clearly to readers. manipulate facts and sway people’s opinions, be forced to testify in a case where you’ve inter-
viewed confidential sources who possess crucial
� Learn to navigate court records. There’s a including yours and your readers’. Some
information. If you refuse to cooperate —
whole universe of transcripts and dockets to attorneys are even smarter than you are, so honoring your promise to protect your sources —
monitor and decipher, so get familiar with stay skeptical. Don’t get played. the judge could jail you for contempt of court. x
what you need and where you find it. Some � Stay neutral. A defendant might look sinister Contempt of court can result anytime a judge
records are available online; some require a and sneaky; a victim might look helpless and believes you’ve disobeyed a court order or under-
trip to the courthouse; some are accessible with pure. But things aren’t always what they seem. mined trial procedure — for example, if you:
a phone call if you make friends with Cops screw up. Witnesses lie. Remind yourself � Use a camera in a courtroom where photos
the right clerks. that what’s said in court is an allegation, not have been forbidden.
� Be vigilant about monitoring future cases. a fact. Attribute all testimony accurately: the � Talk to jurors or witnesses while a trial is
Scan the dockets regularly to spot upcoming prosecutor alleged, the witness said. Report the under way.
� Print names (usually of victims, defendants or
trials that look interesting or important. Urge charges and the denials, keeping the coverage as
witnesses in sensitive cases) or testimony that
your contacts (prosecutors, attorneys, even balanced as you can. Verdicts may surprise you. the judge has ordered the media not to publish.
judges’ clerks) to alert you to newsworthy � Double-check all your facts. Make sure all
� Talk loudly, use a cell phone, read the paper or
cases in the judicial pipeline. personal information — names, ages, addresses, behave in any rude way that annoys a judge.
� Study the background of every case before occupations — is accurate, and that all charges Your right to report on a trial might sometimes
you enter the courtroom. “You can’t raise your are worded correctly. Charging someone with conflict with the judge’s power to regulate court
hand to interrupt a district attorney who has the wrong crime (or charging the wrong person) proceedings. If you’re ever unclear about what’s
brought up a name or location or date in his can damage reputations and irritate judges. permissible, contact the judge’s office, talk to
questioning of a witness,” AP court reporter � Be a storyteller. Be balanced and careful, your editor or consult an attorney.
Arthur Everett once said. So it’s helpful to yes — but if you have dramatic dialogue, Remember, laws may vary from state to state.
bring background notes or files to the trial. colorful characters or explosive revelations And moods may vary from judge to judge.
� Be there for key moments in big trials, but to report, play them up. Don’t bury the good
don’t waste time sitting in courtrooms when stuff. People love juicy courtroom drama. MORE ON OPEN COURTROOMS:
What to do when a judge closes
a trial to media coverage > 141
To compare different treatments of Michael Jackson’s trial verdict, visit THE MORGUE 242

MORE ON SHIELD LAWS AND CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES > 140

 COVERING THE NEWS 105

A GUIDE TO To explain judicial proceedings to readers, you need to understand the process When writing court stories,
yourself. There’s a big difference, for instance, between being arrested and being be sure to include:
CRIMINAL AND charged with a crime; losing a lawsuit is not the same thing as a “guilty” verdict. � The court name and
CIVIL COURT Though court names and procedures may vary from state to state, this chart location of the trial.
PROCEDURES illustrates, in a general way, how the criminal and civil court systems work: � The judge’s name.
� The specific charges
being brought against the
MISDEMEANORS FELONIES CIVIL SUITS defendant(s).
Most states divide crimes into two major Felonies are serious crimes (such as In criminal cases, the government moves � Translations of jargon
categories: misdemeanors and felonies. murder or rape) with more severe against a defendant for breaking the law; or legalese — any terms
Misdemeanors are minor offenses punishments: payment of fines and/or in civil cases, an individual or group that could confuse readers.
(traffic violations, loitering) punishable imprisonment for a year or more. moves against a defendant to resolve This might even include
by fines and/or short jail terms — In extreme cases, some states sentence a dispute, recover a right or obtain legal definitions of such
usually a year or less. convicted felons to death. compensation for an injury. commonly used words as
manslaughter, carjacking,
ARREST OR CITATION ARREST OR CITATION SUIT FILED even arson.
� A brief recap of the
A person is either cited (given a traffic Attorneys for the plaintiff (the party case, even if you’ve run
ticket, for example) or arrested — instituting the action) file a lawsuit. stories on the trial many
that is, taken into police custody. FIRST COURT APPEARANCE The defendant then files an answer times before.
Within 72 hours of an arrest, the admitting or denying the charges.
The defendant learns the status of � Descriptions and
government must either file
the case. From here, proceedings details that bring the
charges or release the defendant.
usually move to either a grand jury, courtroom proceedings
a preliminary hearing or HEARINGS & MOTIONS to life: facial expressions,
an arraignment. gestures and activities of
CHARGES REVIEWED Attorneys may file requests asking defendants, attorneys,
the court to limit evidence, issue relatives, jurors, the judge.
A prosecutor (or district attorney) restraining orders, change the trial’s
� Quotes and dialogue
reviews the case to decide which GRAND JURY venue or render a summary judgment
charge or charges to press. that capture the emotions
— a dismissal declaring that, even
For important cases, prosecutors of the trial, especially any
though the allegations are true, the
will convene special juries to meet tense exchanges between
issues don’t deserve a trial.
in secret, examine the evidence and attorneys and witnesses
ARRAIGNMENT decide whether to file charges (issue or dramatic highlights from
an indictment) against a suspect. OR: opening or closing state-
The defendant appears before a ments.
judge to hear the official charges. PRELIMINARY HEARING PRETRIAL CONFERENCE
� What happens next.
The court encourages both parties to Explain what’s planned for
A judge hears arguments from the
reach a compromise that avoids a trial.
prosecutor and the defendant to the days ahead, if the trial
By some estimates, 90 percent of all
PRETRIAL CONFERENCE determine if there’s enough is still in progress. If a ver-
civil cases are settled before trial.
evidence to bring charges. dict has been reached, are
The defendant and the prosecutor
there plans for an appeal?
negotiate the issues or discuss plea
bargains. Cases are often settled here.
TRIAL When writing verdict
ARRAIGNMENT stories, also include:
Some actions require court trials
� The sentence or, in civil
(where a judge decides the case),
PRETRIAL MOTIONS cases, damages awarded.
PRETRIAL CONFERENCE/MOTIONS while others permit jury trials.
Both sides can file requests to narrow � Details about the jury
the trial’s focus or limit evidence. deliberations: the length
of time they took to reach
TRIAL JUDGMENT a verdict; the jury’s demo-
graphics — gender, age,
TRIAL If the plaintiff prevails, the judge racial composition — if they
may order the defendant either to do were a factor in the trial;
Both sides argue whether the VERDICT/SENTENCING something or to stop doing something
accused committed the crime; either even the number of jurors.
(via an injuction or restraining order).
a judge or a jury decides the verdict. (There aren’t always 12.)
Or a judge or jury may require the
� Reactions from central
APPEAL defendant to pay damages.
characters in the trial:
Anyone convicted of a crime may prosecutors, defendants,
VERDICT/SENTENCING attorneys, jurors, as well
appeal the decision, asking a higher
Sentencing for misdemeanors usually court to review the conviction, the APPEAL as others affected by the
occurs immediately after a guilty plea sentence or the court proceedings for trial’s outcome.
or verdict. Punishment may involve legal errors. Appellate courts review As with criminal trials, this asks a � What it means. Will this
fines, jail time, probation, community only the record of court proceedings higher court to review the judgment verdict have special signifi-
service, restitution or rehabilitation. and don’t consider new evidence. or court proceedings for legal errors. cance for your readers or
leave a lasting effect on
the community?
106 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering speeches
Conveying a speaker’s remarks fairly — and with flair.
Speech stories are relatively easy to report and write. Unlike breaking news, the events
are prearranged; you know in advance who’s involved, where and when the speech will
occur. Unlike interviews, the speaker does all the work preparing, organizing and
explaining the material. You just need to show up on time, pay attention
and take careful notes. If everything goes smoothly, an hour later you’re
ready to write your story. . . usually.
Other times — if it’s a major address by a political candidate or a
passionate plea by a world leader — covering a speech is a stressful test
of your ability to process information on deadline, distill what’s most
important, fact-check what’s dubious, sift through a mass of remarks
to select the most compelling quotes, then explain to the rest of us
why we should even care.

TIPS FOR COVERING SPEECHES: BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER

� Research the speaker. Ask the organizers to � Request an advance copy of the speech. It’s often available, When writing a story on a
BEFORE send you the speaker’s bio. In addition, do online especially from prominent figures on speaking tours. During the speech, be sure to include:
THE SPEECH research. Read old news clippings. Then: speech, follow along to note where the speaker deviates from the � The speaker’s name.
� Research the topic. This will help you to better understand the prepared text. Identify quotable excerpts you can transcribe later. � Relevant credentials
speech and provide you with ammunition if you need to confront � Ask if picture-taking will be allowed — and if so, when. Some and background informa-
the speaker with follow-up questions afterward. speakers find photographers distracting. tion about the speaker.
� The reason for the

� Grab a good seat. Sit where you can see and when describing the audience and atmosphere in your story. speech. Is it part of a
DURING series or conference?
hear clearly. The front rows are best; an aisle seat � Monitor the mood of the crowd. Gauge how they’re responding
THE SPEECH � The sponsor of the
will allow you to move freely if you need to take to the presentation. Are they supportive? Hostile? Rowdy? Zealous?
pictures, interview audience members or sprint to the podium to ask Include examples of colorful crowd behavior in your story. speech.
questions when the speech is done. � The time, day and
� Take along a recorder. Even if you only use it for backup,it’ll
� Estimate the size of the audience. Better yet, ask the organizers help you quote fast-talkers accurately. But take careful notes, too. location of the speech,
for an official head count. You’ll want to include this information Always assume your technology will find a way to malfunction. along with a brief
description of the venue,
if it’s relevant.
� Set up the story with a compelling lead. Most � Avoid topic leads like this one: The founder of the American UFO � A description of the
WRITING of the time — but not always — speech stories will Society spoke Tuesday on the subject of alien abduction. Remember,
THE STORY audience: the size of the
conform to a standard formula: the occurrence of a speech isn’t your story; the Big Idea of the speech crowd, the type of people,
> The lead summarizes the most newsworthy or provocative point is your story. One in four of us will be abducted by aliens, the founder their demeanor, behavior
the speaker made, usually presented as a paraphrase or partial quote. of the American UFO Society warned on Tuesday. and reaction.
> The second paragraph is often a powerful quote from the speech � Include a minimal amount of background/biographical data. � Quotes — direct quotes
that reinforces the point you made in your lead. Convey enough details to establish the speaker’s credentials, but and paraphrases — that
> The third paragraph explains where, when and why the speech don’t bog readers down in unnecessary history. convey key points made
was given. � Highlight the speaker’s key points. Use direct quotes, clearly by the speaker.
> The rest of the story combines quotes, descriptions, background attributed, as often as necessary, especially when statements are � Comments from those
information and audience reaction to convey the speaker’s message phrased dramatically or eloquently. Avoid quoting the speaker if in attendance. The more
and to characterize how it was received. you can paraphrase those ideas more concisely. controversial the material,
This format isn’t rigid, of course. For some speeches, the reaction Arrange those points in descending order of importance. You the more necessary it
of the audience — booing, cheering, pie-tossing — might be lead- don’t need to rehash the speech chronologically, unless the speaker’s becomes to collect a
worthy (see example on the next page). Other speeches simply won’t organization of ideas works best for your story, too. representative sampling
yield a single, representative point that distills into a lead. And some � Convey the tone of the speech. If the mood was serious and of quotes and feedback.
speeches may be best served by anecdotal or descriptive leads. solemn, your writing should reflect that; if the speaker was zany and � Responses to critical
� Put the speaker’s name in the lead only if it’s familiar to most of irreverent, your story should lean that way, too. remarks or allegations,
your readers: Globalization has created an “explosion of democracy � Beware of false or libelous statements. If a speaker makes a claim if necessary, from those
and diversity,” former President Bill Clinton told an enthusiastic you know to be untrue, you can either omit the remark (especially if it who are the target of
audience at Eastern Michigan University on Monday. was a simple misstatement of fact) or you can supply facts that refute those statements.
Otherwise, identify the speaker by job title (the president of the the claim. If a speaker defames someone in his speech, you and your � The speaker’s fee, if
Sierra Club) or credentials (the former U.S. ambassador to Mexico), publication could be sued for libel.x When in doubt, check with your the amount is exorbitant
then name him or her in a subsequent paragraph. editor or attorney to see if a speaker’s allegations cross the line. and newsworthy.

MORE ON AVOIDING LIBEL > 144

 COVERING THE NEWS 107

PRESENTING
Most speech-story leads
A MULTIMEDIA
convey a newsworthy SPEECH STORY
idea from the speech. ON THE WEB
This story’s lead doesn’t,
A well-written story can accurately
for two reasons:
convey the key points of a speech.
� The polarized, partisan
But capturing the tone, the flavor, the
crowd behavior was dramatic nuances in a speaker’s voice
as newsworthy as the — that’s difficult to do in print.
controversial speech A multimedia package on the Web,
that provoked it; and however, combines photos, video,
� Coulter’s speech was audio and text to capture the event in
more a collection of a compelling, multidimensional way.
jabs and zingers than The story at left appeared on
a concise thesis. LJWorld.com, the Web site of the
Lawrence (Kan.) Journal-World. The
The first three paragraphs text, written and posted immediately
capture the flavor of the after the speech, was the same story
speech and the activity that ran in the next day’s newspaper.
in the hall. The fourth The Web site’s most valuable addition
paragraph gives the to the reporter’s story was a selection
crowd size and details of audio clips that let readers listen
on the lecture series. to Coulter’s unfiltered remarks. That
enhancement alone made this online
By now, it’s apparent this
version superior to the print version.
is as much a news story
But there are other packaging options
about the behavior of the
for online speech stories, too. When
crowd as it is a speech
Democratic vice-presidential candidate
story. The content of
John Edwards made a campaign stop in
Coulter’s speech is
Lawrence in 2004, LJWorld enhanced its
receiving less coverage
Web coverage with the extras shown in
than the actions of her
the box below, which accompanied the
hecklers and supporters.
online Edwards speech story. Along with
But fortunately . . .
the text story, the Web site included
both audio and video of Edwards’ entire
. . . this sidebar of
speech, a 34-image photo gallery, a
“Internet Enhanced”
360-degree photo panorama of the
extras provides several
crowd, and links to related stories.x
minute-long audio clips
from Coulter’s speech,
along with a video clip
from the local TV news,
a reader forum on Ann
Coulter, a previous story
(with biographical data
on Coulter) and a link to
Coulter’s Web site.
The reporter used a
small, handheld recorder
to capture the audio clips
posted here.

Most speech stories

would include more
quotes from Coulter’s
address than this story
does. But because
several speech excerpts
are available as audio
clips, there’s no need
to repeat them here, in
the text. Instead, the
reporter focuses on
the crowd, collecting
quotes from Coulter fans
and protesters.

MORE ON LJWORLD AND MULTIMEDIA WEB SITES > 173

 108 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering meetings
Watching clubs, councils and committees debate and decide.
Government is like an iceberg. It’s big. It’s slow-moving. And 90 percent of it
exists beneath the surface: the secret alliances, the hidden agendas, the partisan
deal-making and the bureaucratic wrangling. What’s visible to the public is
what goes on at meetings. Which is why covering meetings is so important.
Private, nongovernmental organizations hold meetings and conferences
too, and those provide useful material for stories (though you may need
special permission to attend). But whether you’re covering the school board,
the state legislature or the Amateur Orthodontists’ Club, it’s your job to explain
what the issues are, how decisions are made, and what it all means to readers.

TIPS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE MEETING COVERAGE

� Start with research. Read old news stories to learn about issues,
personalities, controversies. Identify the key players, both official
� Group/agency name.
and unofficial, on both sides of important issues; call them and
Double-check to ensure
ask them to brief you on their goals, projects and problems. For proper wording (is it the
government agencies, review the minutes of previous meetings Planning Commission?
and study the agenda for the sessions you’ll be covering. Planning Committee?
� Clarify. Condense. Concentrate. Meetings often sprawl in 10 Planning Authority? ).
different directions, so figure out what’s truly significant to readers Explain any acronyms.
— and what’s meaningless. If you write an advance to explain the � Location and length
goal of the meeting, focus on just one or two key topics. of meeting.
� Topics of debate,
� Encourage readers to attend meetings by giving them a graphic
including background
nudge. A fast-fact sidebar like the one on any issues unfamiliar
at left catches readers’ eyes and distills to readers.
CITY COUNCIL MEETING the information they need. A format like � Important decisions.
The Sunnydale City Council
that is useful for other stories, too: sports Discuss any significant
invites public comment on
events, movie reviews, even obituaries.x votes taken or policies
the proposed expansion of
� Go early. Chat with participants before
adopted. What effect will
Sunnydale Airport.
these decisions have?
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday. the meeting starts. Grab a seat where you
� Quotes from officials,
Where: City Hall, 102 Main St. can see and hear, yet still move freely to experts or others who
For more information: Call interview speakers and spectators. (The addressed the group.
555-1212 or visit the council quotes you collect are often more lucid � Reactions from
Web site: www.sunnydale.us than what’s said during the proceedings.) speakers, spectators
� Dress appropriately. Blend in as and those affected by
unobtrusively as you can. Dress conservatively if it’s a banking decisions, even if they
conference; skip the tie if it’s a labor-union convention. You need weren’t at the meeting.
� Crowd size.
to do your job without drawing unnecessary attention to yourself.
� Atmosphere. Was it
� Stick around after the meeting. Ask follow-up questions. Get
friendly? Angry? Rowdy?
reactions from the crowd. Make new contacts. Collect names and � Graphics. Add a map
phone numbers so you can gather additional information later. whenever geography
� Distill all the meandering malarkey into meaningful news. plays a crucial role in a
Make it real. Tell readers why it matters, what it costs, who wins, story; get drawings to
who loses — and how to get involved at the next meeting. illustrate new design
proposals; create charts
� Remember, meetings are not automatically newsworthy.
that simplify budget
They’re often just rubber-stamp rituals or ceremonial displays to expenditures.
placate the public. That’s why you should focus on the issues, not � Any unusual events
the meetings. Partisan quibbling and passionate proclamations or departures from the
are often just superficial drama while the real story unfolds some- agenda.
where else. Your job — your real job — is to dig until you find it. � What happens next.

MORE ON OPEN MEETING LAWS:

Reporters have no legal right to attend meetings of private groups, and they must leave if
asked. But they are entitled, by law, to attend all public meetings of government agencies
and report what goes on there. For more on this often-controversial topic > 141.

MORE ON SHORT-FORM ALTERNATIVES > 132

 COVERING THE NEWS 109

PERSONALIZING MEETING STORIES:

MEETINGS MAY A few reminders WRITE ABOUT REAL PEOPLE, REAL ISSUES
BE DULL AND to keep your meeting
There’s a danger, when you cover govern- HEATHER SVOKOS began a 1996
coverage as compelling
LONG-WINDED, as possible — and
mental process, that you’ll focus only on the story on a West Virginia county
BUT YOUR politicians and bureaucrats. The movers and commission meeting by focusing
to help your readers on a colorful local character:
STORIES DON’T shakers. The key players.
focus on what’s
But what about ordinary citizens? What Dodie Griffin sits on her concrete
HAVE TO BE most important. about . . . . . . us? porch, aims her Mossberg shotgun
Smart reporters find ways to get ordinary across the way and blasts her target.
Whether you’re advancing an upcoming meeting or covering folks into their stories: their struggles, their Over the last few years, she’s
bagged a slew of snakes and rats
one that just ended, avoid leads that sound like calendar listings: goals, and the effects of political decisions
that take refuge most of the time
on their lives. Telling one victim’s tragic tale in an abandoned house next door.
There will be a meeting of the Sunnydale Planning can personalize a social problem in ways no She told Putnam County com-
Commission at 2 p.m. Monday in City Hall. meeting story ever could. missioners Monday how she had
OR: The Lincoln Board of Education met Thursday Many news organizations don’t even cover thought of gathering up her dubious
to review its budget for the upcoming school year. meetings unless they’re truly newsworthy. bounty and plopping it onto the
Instead, they write stories that focus on issues desk in their chamber.
Dull, dull, dull. Remember, the meeting is not the story; what and people. They take the lead in educating But she thought better of it and
happens at the meeting is the story. And in the lead, especially, readers about community concerns instead addressed the commission without
you must give readers a reason to care. Focus on the issue that of simply rehashing the debate at meetings. visual aids. This time.
dominated the meeting. Place it in context, if you can: Beware, however. By personifying an issue, Griffin recalled creating a stir
20 years ago when she brought
you could compromise your objectivity by
commissioners a dead dog. It had
Long lines at the ticket counter. Frustrating delays
unwittingly taking sides. You can tell the sad apparently been mistreated at the
at security checkpoints. Lost luggage. Delayed flights. story of a poor grandmother victimized by county’s animal shelter.
Everyone agrees that Jackson Airport is too small strict land-use laws — but what about the “I’m gonna be nice about this
and old-fashioned for today’s travelers. On Tuesday, forests and wildlife those laws help to save? in the beginning,” she said after
county commissioners will debate what to do about it. There are always two sides to every issue. Monday’s commission meeting.
Be careful you don’t always choose the most “But if something isn’t done about
photogenic, feature-friendly side. this, then I’m gonna be nasty.” . . .
Keep your language simple, even when issues are complex.
Nothing ruins readability like bureaucratic fuddlespeak. For
example, try slogging through this deadly, reader-repelling lead:
PERSONALIZING MEETING STORIES:
LOOK FOR WAYS TO INVOLVE READERS
The Lofton City Council voted approval Monday to
implement a proposal for restructuring residential
The worst meeting stories aren’t just BRYAN GILMER began a story advancing
water rates as part of a debt restructuring option to dull — they’re irrelevant. They describe a 2002 city council meeting by speaking
offset unexpected consumption increases. unknown officials making unintelligible directly to YOU, the reader:
decisions about unfamiliar problems. Do you live in St. Petersburg? Want to
Those stories may be well-intentioned, help spend $548 million?
Huh? Instead, try writing your lead in English, like this: but readers relentlessly ask, “Why should It’s money you paid in taxes and fees
I care?” — and if the answer isn’t obvious, to the government. You elected the City
they tune out. Council to office, and as your representa-
Water rates will increase by 50 percent for Lofton
The best stories engage us. They not tives, they’re ready to listen to your ideas
residents next year, the city council decided Monday.
on how to spend it.
Angry homeowners immediately vowed to fight the only inform us about important issues,
Mayor Rick Baker and his staff have
increase. “We’ve been squeezed out of the process, they stimulate us to react, to get involved, figured out how they’d like to spend the
and that stinks,” said Jill Out, one of 60 protesters to care. That’s why meeting stories money. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Baker will ask
marching outside City Hall as the council met. should provide tools, explain options, the City Council to agree with him. And
make themselves useful. council members will talk about their ideas.
In some cases, the actions or reactions of attendees may be just Roy Peter Clark, a writing coach at the You have the right to speak at the
as newsworthy as the issue being debated. If that’s the case, Poynter Institute, insists “that journalists meeting, too. Each resident gets three
convey those emotions; capture the controversy. Be a reporter, must take responsibility for what readers minutes to tell the mayor and council
not a stenographer. Your readers don’t want the minutes of the know and understand about the world; members what he or she thinks.
meeting rehashed — which is why it’s usually best to focus on that civic clarity is more important than But why would you stand up?
one or two key topics, itemizing the remainder with bullets: Because how the city spends its money
literary grace; and that we need to experi-
affects lots of things you care about.
ment with the way we tell the bread-and- It’s the difference between whether the
In other business at Tuesday’s meeting, the council: butter stories of community journalism Walter Fuller Pool is open and heated in the
� voted to postpone discussion of the 2009 budget — including the dreaded city council winter or not. It determines whether there
until its June 28 meeting; budget story.” (See story at right.) will be a new basketball court in North
� approved a $410 request from the Safety Committee
“Innovation,” Clark concludes, “must Shore Park. It determines whether the
for new fire extinguishers in the city skating rink;
� requested additional architectural drawings of the
attach itself to basic reports, not just beloved volunteer coordinator at the Office
surprising stories.” on Aging for senior citizens gets laid off. . . .
proposed expansion to the Cooper Street transit mall.

For the full text of these and other meeting stories, visit THE MORGUE 244
110 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering politics Veteran political

reporter Helen Thomas
interviews President
Keeping tabs of governmental policies and players. John F. Kennedy in
1960. Thomas, who
Government is too important to be entrusted to politicians. covered the White
That’s why the press plays such a critical, controversial role in House for nearly half a
public affairs. As a political reporter, you’ll become part teacher, century, once advised
young reporters:
part watchdog; you’ll take a front-row seat from which to “Remind the politicians
scrutinize and demystify key aspects of the government beat: you interview that you
� Decision-making. How issues are debated, how laws are pay them, that they
are public servants.
passed, how policies are implemented — and why they matter. Remember every
� The election process. Who the candidates are, what they do question is legitimate.
to get elected, and how they perform once they’re in office. And don’t give up.
� Money. Political schemes and dreams boil down, ultimately, There’s always a leak.
There’s always someone
to money — where it comes from, where it goes, and how who’s trying to save the
public policies and programs affect every taxpayer’s pocketbook. country.”

WHERE DO YOU GO FOR Presidential candidate

FACTS YOU CAN TRUST? Mitt Romney talks
to reporters during a
Smart reporters stay one step ahead of the
2008 campaign stop.
news by monitoring a variety of sources.
As candidates travel
The usual suspects include:
by bus or plane,
� Meetings. As discussed on the previous
they’re accompanied
page, meetings reveal decision-makers in by dozens of reporters
action: city councils, student senates, school and photographers —
boards, even private organizations. members of the
� Speeches. You can’t cover every speech
national press corps.
by every public official, but watch for major At campaign stops
announcements or policy statements by like this one, the
key players. candidates also talk
� News releases. These are mailed, e-mailed
to local journalists.
and faxed by agencies, advocacy groups
and political staffs to call attention to issues ADVICE ON COVERING CAMPAIGNS AND ELECTIONS
or alert you to newsworthy events.
� Prioritize. The smaller your news outlet, talk about the issues that are important to your
� News conferences. The bigger the story,
the fewer campaigns you can cover. So focus viewers,” says Frank Wolff, assignment editor at
the bigger the crowd of reporters trying to
on the races and issues most important to KCRA-TV in Sacramento. “Don’t let candidates
cover it — which makes press conferences
your readers. The bigger your newsroom, the or spokespeople set the agenda.”
an efficient way for politicians and spokes-
more you can specialize: one reporter covers � Brainstorm story ideas. As the campaign
people to convey their messages (as well as
major races, for example, while another season starts, collect ballot information and
generate publicity).
monitors tax proposals and ballot measures. candidate profiles to see what interesting ideas
� Your network of sources. Politicians use
� Get to know the candidates up close and you can find, Wolff advises: “Maybe it’s the
press releases, news conferences and speech-
personal. What are their goals? What’s their first woman to run for judge, a high number
es to tell you what they want you to hear.
message? Who’s supporting them? Who’s of unopposed candidates, controversial or
To dig up the rest of the story, you need to
financing them? Most importantly: What interesting local measures. Include the obvious
talk to bureaucrats, lobbyists, members of
kind of leaders will they be? Readers depend on stories that you know you’ll cover, like voter
advocacy groups and other public officials
you to cut through the campaign rhetoric. turnout, need for poll workers, third-party
to verify and contradict what’s being said.
� Do your homework. Candidates expect to candidates.”
� Documents. Can you trust all those
sources we just mentioned? Not as much as manipulate lazy reporters by feeding them � Spread onto the Web. Just because print

the facts you’ll find in government reports pre-packaged propaganda. Anticipate canned space is limited (as is the attention span of
and records. Great stories, disturbing trends responses; follow up with hard facts and most readers), that doesn’t mean you should
and shocking statistics are waiting to be tough questions that demand real answers. boil campaigns down to briefs and sound
� Line up reliable experts (professors, acti- bites. There’s unlimited space on the Web for
uncovered — if you know where to look.
When in doubt, follow the paper trail. vists, retired public officials) who can respond extended Q-and-A’s, speech transcripts, photo
to allegations, explain complex issues and help essays and in-depth analysis. Create charts that
you avoid being misled or manipulated. explain the candidates’ stands on issues and
MORE ON OPEN RECORDS LAWS:
� Decide what really matters. You’re not keep them there, updated constantly, through-
The press and the public have a right
to access nearly all government required to chase every news conference and out the campaign. Compile your best stories
records. For more > 141. “Yes On Whatever” rally. “Make the candidates into a handy Web-based voter’s guide.
 COVERING THE NEWS 111

THE ADVANTAGES
(AND DANGERS) OF
UNNAMED SOURCES
Sometimes insiders want to leak
information to you, but they don’t
want to jeopardize their careers by
UNFORTUNATE
5
TRUTHS ABOUT
doing so. The only way they’ll share COVERING POLITICS
what they know is if you promise not
to quote them or name them.
Anonymous sources are enormously
helpful. Some simply point you in the
right direction; others appear in your
stories, unnamed: “According to an
administration official . . .”
Ideally, all information given to you
by anonymous sources can be verified Advice, commentary and a sprinkling of cynicism aisle, there’s a good chance that you are.
by other reputable, named sources — from a panel of veteran political reporters: Take pains to be as neutral as possible, even in
thus eliminating any need to mention casual conversations with sources. Listen when
“unnamed sources” in your story. POLITICIANS LIE they criticize you, but always consider the source
But what if an anonymous source is complaining. Check your stories to make sure
Yes, politicians can be honest and trustworthy. you’re reflecting their perspective.
your only source of vital information? But they can also distort, duck and dodge the
Can you trust that it’s reliable? If you’ve done a diligent job of ferreting out as
truth to advance their agendas. So beware. much truth as you can, then don’t let the political
What if the source is simply using The best politicians are magicians, masters of
you to spread misinformation or take players wear you down. Just be ready to defend
illusion. So are their strategists and consultants. the process you used to find that truth.
revenge on a political opponent? Even the nicest politicians lie by omission and
Won’t it damage your credibility if spin everything. When you’re around them, put PEOPLE DON’T WANT TO READ
readers think you’re in cahoots with up your force fields and activate your BS detector. ABOUT GOVERNMENT PROCESS
partisan gossip-mongers? Then feel free to interrupt their self-serving
Worst of all, suppose a criminal They’re bored and confused by complicated
soliloquies and nail them on specifics. Ask tough stories about lengthy hearings, partisan bickering
investigation results from a story you follow-up questions. Insist on real answers.
write, and a judge orders you to reveal and election strategy. Readers want to know how
Don’t allow juicy “sound bite” quotes to stand they will be affected by government actions; they
your sources. Would you betray your alone; provide some rebuttal. This is best done
pledge of confidentiality — or would don’t want to keep track of every turn of the
with a declarative sentence that reflects your own screw. That’s our job, though it’s not what we
you risk going to jail for contempt? authority and knowledge — not a quote from
Yes, thorny questions arise when- should automatically write.
an opponent, which turns the discussion into a Government affects everyone, some more than
ever anonymous sources creep into he-said, she-said mudbath.
news stories. That’s why many editors others. Get out there and find out what happens
forbid them; they’re concerned about POLITICIANS WILL SCHMOOZE YOU when the rubber meets the road. Remember,
getting duped into publishing dubious SO THEY CAN USE YOU politicians are elected to do the people’s work —
information from deceptive sources. people being the operative word. “You need some
They’ll try to charm you just like they charm RPs,” my editor would say. RPs are Real People
On the other hand, without Deep the voters. “He’s my friend,” you will say to
Throat, reporters might not have commenting on how legislation affects them.
yourself, “so maybe I shouldn’t write anything
exposed the corruption that plagued bad about him.” YOU MUST PEEL AWAY LAYER
President Nixon’s administration. Well, if they’re your friends, you’re in the AFTER LAYER TO GET TO THE TRUTH
wrong business. And if they think they’re your In politics, everything important happens
friends, they’re in the wrong business. behind closed doors. If you’re not getting what
DEEP THROAT: HERO OR TRAITOR?
Visit the Morgue to read commentary
In truth, both sides use each other. Politicians happened behind the scenes, you’re simply not
on the legacy of the most famous need the press to get their word out; the press getting the story.
unnamed source in history needs politicians for comment and access. Journalism is one of the few keys that can open
> 248 The trick is in playing the game successfully. those closed rooms. You usually can find what
Base your decision about what to write on you need if you talk to enough people and ask the
what you owe your readers. You owe politicians right questions — again and again, if necessary.
nothing more than fair and balanced stories. Much of what you need is in plain sight, if you
Don’t get too close to your sources . . . ever. know where to look. The things that aren’t are
There must always be a line. what makes the beat challenging (and fun).
EVERYBODY THINKS Two good sources for information: Paper
YOUR STORIES ARE BIASED records and enemies. The records sometimes
Readers and public officials will forever accuse reveal key nuggets of information. And no one
you of distorting the “truth.” If no one ever calls likes to talk about someone’s actions or motives
your stories biased, you probably aren’t doing more than their enemies.
your job; if, over the long run, you get comparable — From contributions by Rick Bella, Toni Coleman, Emily Dooley, Harry
numbers of complaints from both sides of the Esteve, Dave Hogan, Jeff Mapes, Matt Neznanski and Larry Peterson

71, 81 < MORE ON ANONYMOUS SOURCES

112 COVERING THE NEWS

Covering sports When writing a game

story, be sure to include:
From baseball diamonds to ice rinks, from stadiums to speedways . . . � The final score. This
will usually run in the first
Sports play a central role in paragraph if the story uses
every community, which is why a summary news lead;
sports coverage is so popular. otherwise, it runs as high
in the story as possible.
(It’s usually the second most- � The teams’ names and
read topic in most newspapers, the type of sport, if it isn’t
behind “general news.”) obvious from their names.
Sportswriting may seem like � When and where the
game took place.
fun and games, but it requires � The key players and
accuracy, insight, statistical savvy the key plays. If one
and cool nerves on tight deadlines. play or player dominated,
And though sports reporters that’s probably your lead.
� Quotes from players
often explore dramatic issues — and coaches on both sides.
drugs, greed, the rise and fall of � Strategies that affected
heroes — their basic mission is to the outcome.
provide a reliable daily accounting � Key statistics, including

of results (scores and winners) and any records set.

� Injuries.
reasons why teams succeeded . . . A throng of sports reporters surrounds basketball star Kobe Bryant as the U.S. � Both teams’ records
or disappointed their devoted fans. men’s team practices for the 2008 Olympics in China. and the effect of this
game on the standings.
� What this game means
for upcoming games.
SPORTSWRITING: THE THREE MOST COMMON TYPES OF STORIES � Other relevant factors
GAME STORIES FEATURE STORIES COLUMNS such as weather, crowd,
noise, athletes who sat
Most sports coverage takes the You can produce feature stories on The best sports reporting is full out the game, etc.
form of game stories: news reports any imaginable topic, from a history of emotion and opinion — but not
that recap who won and what the of team uniforms to How To Throw the writer’s. Sportswriters can slip
When writing an advance
highlights were. a Tailgate Party. But the two most a little attitude into their stories, for a sporting event or
Minor events (prep sports, clubs, common types of sports features are but not too much. If you want to tell game, be sure to include:
recreation leagues) often become analysis stories and profiles. readers why the coach is a bum or the � Significance of the
short stories or briefs. Many are Analysis stories explain how steroids goalie got screwed, write a column.x game, match or event.
rewritten from reports phoned in by work, why the new coach is a genius, Columnists are different from � History: rivalries, high-
correspondents attending the events. what the new stadium will cost. They regular reporters. It’s their job lights from the past, won-
But for important games, you need can run at the start of a season (Why to get fired up and honked off like lost records, results from
to witness events in person, taking the Bears Are Super-Bowl Bound) or ordinary fans do — only more so. the most recent matchup.
detailed notes, compiling statistics, at the end (How the Bears Can Start “You’ve really got to have flair,” � Key players — those
interviewing players and coaches. (See Rebuilding for Next Year). says Los Angeles Times sports editor most likely to dominate
checklist at right for more details.) Game advances are analysis stories Bill Dwyer. “Then you’ve got to have or influence the outcome.
Reporters often write game stories that alert fans to upcoming games innovation and creativity. . . . I need � Records and recent
using a traditional summary lead: or matches, explaining who to watch to feel the person’s passion or anger. performance of both
for and what to expect: A column needs some emotion.” teams or key players.
Jason Giambi’s four home runs led the
New York Yankees to a 17-2 victory over For example: � Quotes from coaches
The U.S. Open will begin tonight with
the Tigers in Detroit on Sunday. (and players, too, though
aging Andre Agassi playing under the The Royals are never going to win coaches may forbid them
But some sportswriters argue that, bright lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, another baseball game. That’s clear now. to speak to the press).
since fans often know the final out- but likely will end in two weeks with They are going to lose the last 50 games
� Strategies that might
Roger Federer lifting the silver trophy. this year. They are going to lose all 162
come before they read your story — affect the outcome.
Profiles are stories that give readers games next year. After that, it’s hard to tell.
they saw the game or caught the � Injuries and players’
Maybe they will win a game in May 2013.
score on TV — you should use a a glimpse of the guy beneath the hel- physical/mental condition.
What else can you say after that ninth
more featurized approach: met, the girl with Olympic dreams. inning Tuesday night? It was, without � Other factors — venue,
Four swings. Four home runs. A successful profile takes readers question, the worst inning of baseball I weather, atmosphere,
For Jason Giambi, Sunday’s 17-2 victory behind the scenes, providing a close- have ever seen. There should have been crowd behavior — that
over the Detroit Tigers signaled the end up look at athletes’ behavior both on written notes of apology after that inning. may come into play.
of a frustrating three-week slump. . . . and off the playing field. x — JOE POSNANSKI, Kansas City Star � Who’s favored.
� Time, place and ticket
information for fans who
Visit THE MORGUE for examples of game stories 250, 252 . . . a feature story 254 . . . and a sports column 256
plan to attend.

MORE ON WRITING PROFILES > 124 MORE ON WRITING COLUMNS > 135
 COVERING THE NEWS 113

COMPILING & TIPS FOR REPORTERS

CRUNCHING ON THE SPORTS BEAT
SPORT STATS COVERING EVENTS
You can’t cover a sporting
event without including key � Know the sport. Don’t try to fake it. Do
statistics. A few guidelines your homework. Study clips. Talk to experts.
on playing by the numbers: Understand the rules, strategies, players,
� Conduct solid research. positions and priorities for each event you
Before each game, study cover. True fans can always spot a pretender.
team and individual records � Cultivate your sources. Get to know the
to see who the stars and
players and coaches — as well as the trainers,
slackers are, to identify the
players’ true strengths and the administrators, and their secretaries. Get
weaknesses. Is the fullback them to know and trust you, too. Get inside
carrying the team? Is the their practices. Get inside their locker room.
goalie skating on thin ice? LINDA ROBERTSON is a sports columnist at the Miami Get inside their heads. Great sportswriting
Numbers don’t lie (though Herald, where she has covered the Olympics, World Cup, Tour de is about people; it’s not just a rehash of what
coaches and players do). France, Wimbledon, Final Four and Super Bowl. happened on the field.
� Take careful notes. At On being a woman covering sports: When I started 25 years ago, � Ask tough, pointed questions. Find out
most big collegiate and pro I was mistaken for a water girl on the sideline of a football game. exactly what went wrong, how players really
events, official scorekeepers I was impeded at certain locker room doors, despite the law. The
provide the press with stats felt. Don’t be intimidated, but don’t be
environment has improved dramatically but sexism is alive and well,
as the game progresses. But too confrontational or accusative, either.
just more subtle: condescending attitudes outside the office and
at smaller events, you’ll have lower status inside the office.
Remember, without colorful quotes and
to devise your own system I never played in the NFL but I can write about football, just as non- insights, your stories are doomed to dullness.
of scorekeeping. If you’re lawyers can cover the courthouse and non-politicians can cover the
new at this — tracking the WRITING STORIES
White House. If you are relentlessly inquisitive, you can cover anything.
play-by-play hits, outs, goals � Think plot, not play-by-play. When writing
or sacks — talk to veteran On gender bias in sports coverage: Look at the attention lavished
on Anna Kournikova, who never won a tournament. Cuteness counts. game stories, envision the game as a movie.
reporters and get them to What’s the theme? Where’s the drama?
share their methods of Women’s basketball is constantly compared to men’s. Sports talk radio
statistical shorthand. is filled with juvenile references. And where do the strip club ads run “Boil the sequence of events down to those
� Use stats selectively. in the newspaper? In the sports section. What does that tell you? that are essential to the plot of your story,”
How many statistics should Who’s the toughest critic: athletes, coaches or readers? advises writing coach Steve Buttry. “Identify
you include in a story? That’ll Readers tend to be the most appreciative and the most obnoxious. the most important characters, the key
depend on how important If they don’t agree with one of my columns, they’ll call me names and moments, the most telling details.”
the event was — and how tell me to get a husband and have babies, which I’ve done, by the way. � Avoid jargon and clichés. Each sport uses
much space you have. Use specialized terms (you can’t cover baseball
stats to highlight trends and without balks and suicide squeezes), but don’t
turning points (after going
WHO’S ON FIRST. . . . OR IS IT 1st? let your story get too technical for ordinary
1-for-12 in the third quarter,
readers. When complexities arise, explain
Smith scored 24 points in the A BRIEF INTRO TO SPORTS STYLE them clearly. And beware of corny, worn-
fourth) or to quantify pivotal
successes and failures (Jones “The Associated Press Stylebook” offers comprehensive advice out clichés: The pitcher served up a lollipop,
threw seven interceptions, a on sports style. (For instance, coach is a job description, not a title. and Fenster knocked the cover off the ball.
team record). But don’t over- It’s not capitalized.) But every publication customizes its own rules, � Remember, it’s a game. Sports are
do it. Too much irrelevant which reporters need to learn. Some of the most-used guidelines: supposed to be fun. So are your stories.
math turns off ordinary
TEAM NAMES NUMBERS Avoid the somber tone and conventional
readers and makes you look
like a sports-trivia nerd.
leads you’d use with hard news. Featurize
Team names are usually plural, but city Most publications observe AP style,
� Add charts, graphs or names used as team names require spelling out numbers lower than 10:
your writing style; keep your approach lively
sidebars, if needed. That’s singular verbs. The Yankees are in He threw two strikeouts in the third and informal. A little attitude is acceptable
smart for two reasons: first place, but Boston is closing in. inning. But there are exceptions: at most publications (check with your editor
1) They provide a home for Girls, boys: Refer to athletes in high Measurements: Use figures. He ran for on this), but if you want to nitpick or offer
bonus statistics that could school or younger as girls and boys; 7 yards on third down and was tackled advice, write a column — not a story.
bog down your story; and team names use no apostrophes. The on the 2-yard line. She set a new high-
2) They provide visual appeal girls soccer team lost 5-0. Athletes jump record at 7 feet, 1 inch. A FINAL CAUTION ABOUT CHEERLEADING
that attracts readers. older than 18 are men and women. Scores: Use only numerals, adding Journalists should never take sides, even at
Use sidebars to tabulate Leagues: Use abbreviations for all a hyphen for team scores. The Bears sports events. Though you’re friendly with
team scoring leaders, to sort well-known leagues and events: beat the Lions 7-3. The golfer shot a 5 the players and attend every game, you’re
data by category (rushing, NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA, NASCAR. on the third hole, but was 2-under-par not an ordinary fan. So don’t cheer. Don’t
passing, fumbles, punts), or Indian team names: Some publications after nine holes. The 6-10 center sank
to highlight impressive stats:
boo. Don’t write about our team or the way
maintain that certain team nicknames five 3-pointers in the fourth quarter.
we beat our dreaded archrivals, the Mudhogs.
17 NUMBER OF PENALTIES
IN THE THIRD PERIOD
are racist and offensive to Native
Americans. Thus, some sports editors
Times: Use numerals, and spell out
minutes and seconds on first reference:
For big games, write big stories — but
keep your reporting fair and objective. If the
refuse to print the Cleveland Indians 2 minutes, 7.5 seconds. For
5 NUMBER OF PLAYERS
EJECTED FOR FIGHTING logo (right); stories avoid mention-
ing the team name by saying the
subsequent times, abbreviate fans are joyous, say so; if they’re despondent,
capture their mood. But keep your personal
using colons and decimal
8 NUMBER OF STITCHES IN
BENSON’S LEFT CHEEK Tigers defeated Cleveland 5-1 . points: 2:23.6. hopes, fears and obsessions to yourself.
114 COVERING THE NEWS

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS LEAD? WRITE THIS CRIME STORY LEAD
At least two things are wrong with each of It’s Thursday morning in Springfield. A few
these leads. Identify the problems and explain hours ago, police found a body in a downtown
how to fix them. alley. They’ve identified the victim as Stormy
1) The jury reached a shocking verdict Snowe, the perky and popular weather forecaster
Wednesday in the dramatic murder trial of on WUGH, Channel 2. Police say that Snowe’s
Amanda Lynne. ex-boyfriend, Hagar Samuels, has confessed to
Answers to these exercises hitting her with a crowbar after stalking her last
are on page 312. 2) Stan Dupp entertained a crowd of half a night and watching her kiss another man.
dozen spectators at Oak Bank Library with
slides of his Hawaiian vacation last year. 1) What lead would you write for a breaking story
posted immediately on a Springfield news Web
3) A Honda VTX1800 motorcycle collided with a 2007 Lexus GS sedan at site?
the corner of Fourth and Main Friday, sending the motorcycle’s driver to St.
Vincent Hospital with a broken neck. 2) Since local TV and radio stations will give this
story big play all day long, what lead would you
4) After nearly a year of fierce debate, name-calling and pressure from com- write for a story appearing Thursday afternoon?
munity organizations demanding a return to 2003 tax levels, the Polk County
Commissioners met Monday to revise the county’s property tax ordinance.
5) “We have to stay focused and give 110 percent,” coach Rick Shaw said, but
for his Mudhogs, it’s do or die when they face the Swamp Toads this weekend. WRITE THIS ACCIDENT STORY
6) Vicksburg police officers were called to a hit-and-run accident at the corner Here are the facts provided by the Benson County
of University Avenue and Second Street at 5:12 p.m. on Oct. 13. Sheriff’s Office. Write this up as a news brief
7) Frieda Wales, after suffering from crippling diabetes for five years, finally (150-200 words).
passed away on Sunday at Golden Slumbers Nursing Home in Durwood. WHEN: 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17
8) The captain of the 2005 Madison High football team has been arrested for a WHERE: U.S. Highway 111, as it winds through
string of murders, based on confidential tips provided to police by his ex-wife. mountains five miles west of Butteville.
WHO: Cooper Black, male, 16, of Green Lake in
Benson County. Arial Bookman, female, 14,
of Green Lake. Geneva Franklin, female, 16, of
COVER THIS JOURNALIST’S SPEECH Green Lake. Gill Sans, male, 13, of Green Lake.
WHAT HAPPENED: Black and Sans were riding
In the Morgue, on page 296, you’ll find a speech together on an all-terrain vehicle. Black was
delivered several years ago by Michael Gartner (right). driving. Both were wearing helmets. Heading
But suppose that speech was delivered yesterday on east on Highway 111, they encountered ice on a
your college campus. You were there to cover Gartner’s curve on the bridge at milepost 23. Their vehicle
address for your campus newspaper. Using the facts skidded into the edge of the rock cliff east of the
below (plus any other biographical data on Gartner bridge, then hit a tree 20 feet below, which sub-
you want to research on the Web), write a 400-to-500- sequently dislodged both individuals, who fell
word story on the speech. another 80 feet to the rocky creek bed.
WHEN: 10-11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Following in a second ATV were Franklin and
Bookman. Franklin was driving; both reported
WHERE: The ballroom at the Memorial Union.
wearing helmets. Their vehicle also skidded on
WHO ATTENDED: The crowd of 195 consisted mostly of journalism students. the bridge but stopped at the edge of the cliff.
WHY: Gartner spoke as part of the William Henry Fox First Amendment Seeing her friends unconscious in the creek bed
Lecture Series, a program sponsored by the university’s school of journalism below, Franklin ran for help and called police
that invites journalists to speak several times a year. Former NBC anchor Tom from a telephone in a house one mile west on
Brokaw is scheduled to speak next month. Highway 111. Sans attempted to climb down to
THE MOOD OF THE CROWD: Very responsive. Gartner’s remarks were greeted with the creek but fell, injuring her leg.
laughter and applause. Fifteen students asked questions at the end. Rescue crews arrived at 11:13 a.m. Backup
AFTER GARTNER’S SPEECH: Eaton X. Benedict, dean of the journalism school, gave workers with ropes and harnesses were immedi-
Gartner the William Henry Fox Prize, awarded by the school of journalism ately requested to access the victims. By 3 p.m.,
each year to a distinguished journalist. all three victims had been extricated to the road-
REACTIONS: From Benedict: “Gartner is a national treasure. His speech hit a nerve.” side, where Black and Sans were pronounced
From sophomore business major Polly Esther: “I’m not really a journalism dead. Bookman was treated for a fractured leg
major or anything, but he had some pretty good stories to tell.” and taken by helicopter to Providence Hospital
From junior journalism major Forrest Ranger: “This is the kind of stuff you in Dawson. She is currently listed in satisfactory
never read in textbooks. But it’s valuable to hear it.” condition.
 115

CHAPTER

Beyond
breaking news
There’s more to journalism than breaking news. Profiles, reviews,
investigative reports, columns — the opportunities are endless.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
116 The world of features
An introduction to feature writing, with a
look at the most common topics and formats.
118 Generating story ideas
You’ll find ideas everywhere you go, but
turning them into stories requires planning.
120 Feature style
Standard newswriting requires a somber tone,
but things loosen up when you write features.
122 Feature story structures
Goodbye, inverted pyramid. Feature stories need to be organized in a more compelling way.
124 Writing profiles
Creating colorful character sketches that bring newsmakers’ biographical details to life.
126 Enterprise projects
Writing special stories and series that explore people and issues in greater depth.
128 Investigative reporting
With dogged determination, you can uncover the truths that public officials try to hide.
130 Package planning
Think reporters always work alone? Wrong. You’re part of a team. Here’s how to collaborate.
132 Short-form alternatives
Bio boxes, checklists, timelines, diagrams — sometimes you need to condense the data.
134 Writing editorials and columns
Your personal views have no place in news stories, but on the opinion page, they’re essential.
136 Writing reviews
Giving readers guidance on everything from movies and concerts to computers and cars.

PLUS: 138 Test yourself

116 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

The world of features

Personalizing the news with stories that educate and entertain.
Some crusty old-timers treat news and features as if they’re two separate things.
News, they insist, is the factual reporting of serious events (i.e., real journalism),
while features involve all that other, nonessential stuff (i.e., fluff).
Ouch. It isn’t that simple, though. Journalists often find it difficult to distinguish
between news and features. News stories usually focus on events that are pressing and
public: government, crime, disasters. Feature stories often focus on issues that are less
urgent, more personal: trends, relationships, entertainment. News stories tell
you what happened, while feature stories offer you advice, explore ideas, make
you laugh and cry. As we’ll see in the pages ahead, features include topics,
treatments, styles and structures you won’t find in standard news stories.
An anonymous editor once observed that when a dog bites a man, that’s
news. How fast the dog was running is sports. The litigation that results is
business. How the man tasted when the dog bit him, why dog attacks are on
the rise, first-aid tips for treating dog bites . . . those are features.

FASHION, FOOD, FITNESS AND FUN:

FEATURES EXPLORE A UNIVERSE OF TOPICS
We live in a diverse culture where everyone has different interests. No single subject will
appeal to every reader. Thus, the more variety a general-interest publication or Web site offers,
the greater its chances of success.
That’s why feature stories — and feature pages and feature sections —
play such major roles at newspapers and magazines. Take a big-city
daily like the Detroit Free Press, for instance. Out of 220 writers, editors,
designers and photographers in its newsroom, 40 are devoted primarily
to producing features like those at right.
You can write feature stories on every conceivable topic, of course.
But at most publications, features fall into these common categories:
� Lifestyles. That top page at right is from a Free Press section called
“Life” — a vague but accurate classification of lifestyle stories that explain
and explore issues and trends affecting our minds (goals, relationships,
jobs, families) and our bodies (fads in fashion and fitness). Since everyone
wants to live a longer, happier life, that leads to:
� Health. Is wine good for your heart? How much sunscreen do you need?
Why do we belch? Readers want help improving their health, whether it’s
a dieting tip, exercise advice or medical news, all of which result from:
� Science and technology. Readers don’t want long-winded research
papers, but they do want environmental issues and technological advances
explained in an easy-to-understand way, especially when it improves
their lives, computers, stereos, TVs or anything else related to:
� Entertainment. If it’s something folks do for fun, it ends up here, in
the “entertainment” category. Movies, concerts, theater, art galleries,
books, recordings, computer games, beer festivals, restaurants —
yes, even dining out is considered entertainment, because people love
stuffing their faces with:
� Food. Readers want kitchen-friendly advice on how to buy it, bake it,
even grow it, though that usually falls into the category of:
� Homes and gardens. This is where experts tell us how to dig it, weed
it, repair, rewire and redecorate it.
In addition, publications often produce specialized pages for kids,
seniors, golfers, bowlers, pet owners — the list goes on and on.
Which all goes to show that features mean entirely different things
to different people. Stories can be short or long, trivial or profound,
serious or funny. Features are fantastically flexible.
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 117

DAVID AUSTIN,
The Oregonian:
“Who the hell really under- “Whenever you interview
stands what a feature is? I’ve someone, whether it’s a
worked for over a decade as top city official or a home-
a feature editor, and I’m not less person, it’s best to
engage them in a conver-
sure I could define the word
sation that draws out
‘feature’ for a freshman
their personality. This girl
journalism class. You can had just been named a
nail down a news or sports or Rose Festival princess.
business story — but grabbing We were sitting in uncom-
the essence of a feature is like fortable seats in the middle
wrestling a squid: It’ll soon of the gym. We talked
depart in a cloud of ink. about typical high school
Good editors just know. Don’t things until I asked her
ask me how. They just do.” the question: ‘What sets
Richard Cheverton, you apart from your class-
The Orange County Register mates?’ She stopped and
thought for a few moments
“Features is the news below and it generated a number
the surface; features is the of responses that got the
shadow truths we don’t conversation going.”
always recognize, but that
affect us all the same; features
is the mysterious world on the
“HARD” NEWS,“SOFT” NEWS: WHAT DO THOSE TERMS MEAN?
other side of the mountain Think of all stories as a continuum. At one end, solemn voice using an inverted pyramid structure.
and all the amazing people you’ve got hard news: serious breaking news events like That’s appropriate for hard news.
and places and things that we murder. War. A fire in a nursing home. On the other hand, a story where the Rose Princess
need to know about, even if At the other end of the scale, you’ve got soft news: Shares Her Makeup Secrets would be lighter. Friendlier.
we don’t know it yet.” lighter, less urgent, less somber topics, like how to buy More casual. That’s the style best suited for soft news.
Abraham Aamidor, a puppy. Cookie recipes. A profile of Leaky the Clown. Some stories can go either way: Springfield Girl
reporter, author, journalism professor “Hard” and “soft” are relative terms that describe Crowned 2009 Rose Princess could be treated as hard
“The feature writer’s aim is both the topic and the treatment of a story. For news, as a softer feature or as some combination of the
the dramatist’s aim: make ’em instance, you’d expect a story about Three Killed as two, depending on the approach the writer decides to
laugh; make ’em weep.” Stage Collapses at Beauty Pageant to be written in a take — and how seriously his readers regard the event.
Mary J.J. Rimm,
The Elements of Journalism

“The news writer tells you the 1 PERSONALITY PROFILE 7 FLASHBACK

bridge fell in and how many Readers love to read about famous people, POPULAR Commemorative stories usually run on the
cars fell off. The feature writer unusual people, heroic and idiotic people. anniversary of a historic event — Sept. 11,
They want to know how newsmakers think, TYPES OF for example, or the 100th anniversary of
tells you what it was like to
have been there: ‘When Joe talk, act and look. A successful profile, then, FEATURE City Hall — combining facts, photos and
combines quotes, facts and descriptions to STORIES interviews to explain why the event was
Smith began to walk across
reveal someone’s true nature. important, and why it still matters now.
the bridge, it began to tremble,
and he grabbed the railing’ — 2 HUMAN-INTEREST STORY Features come in all sizes, shapes 8 HOW-TO
that sort of detail.” When you’ve got a tale to tell about real and styles — brief and in-depth, This popular, interactive format teaches
Jules Loh, people — a situation that’s tragic, funny, humorous and heartbreaking — readers how to do something: Play poker.
AP feature writer
odd or inspirational — you can unleash your but these popular formats are the Buy a dog. Invest money. Quit smoking.
“This, I think, is the very storytelling skills to set the scene, describe ones feature writers use most. It often works best presented as an easy-
essence of feature writing. the characters, capture the mood and get to-follow checklist, diagram or step-by-
You have to be passionately readers to laugh, cry or tell their friends: step sequence of tips.
interested in everything. You “Hey, did you see that story about . . . ?”
5 TREND STORY 9 CONSUMER GUIDE
have to want to learn about 3 COLOR STORY This type of feature is often more engaging Readers need to know where to find the
frogs or cancer or assassins, “Color,” in this case, means flavor or mood. than a backgrounder on a social problem. tastiest pizza. The hottest jazz. The cheap-
everything there is to know. It’s the type of piece you write when you’re Trend stories keep readers plugged in to the est shoes. And they expect you (the instant
You have to know five times asked to attend an event — a parade, a people, places, things and ideas affecting expert) to tell them. Almost everything we
as much as you’re ever going strike, a funeral, a disaster — and capture today’s culture — the latest/hottest/ do, buy or eat can be rated in a way that
to use in the story. The only the experience by interviewing participants coolest/oddest — from fads and fashions dictates what’s good, bad and ugly.
really essential quality of a and describing the sights and sounds. to lifestyles and entertainment.
writer is crazed curiosity.”
10 PERSONAL NARRATIVE
Cynthia Gorney,
4 BACKGROUNDER 6 REACTION PIECE Editors usually discourage stories written in
The Washington Post Also called an analysis piece. Through When news breaks or a dramatic issue the first person (“There I was, face to face
research and interviews, you focus on an confronts your community, a reaction with Bigfoot. . .” ). But if you have a gripping
“It is hard news that catches issue or event in the news, explaining how story provides a sampling of opinions from tale to tell — a romantic travel adventure,
readers. Features hold them.” it happened, why it matters — and what experts, victims, even ordinary folks. For a brush with disaster, a bout with a deadly
Lord Northcliffe, comes next. It’s like teaching a crash course controversial topics, it provides a way for disease — writing a personal narrative may
British newspaper tycoon on a complex topic for readers in a hurry. key players to tell their side of the story. be the best way to re-create the drama.
118 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Generating story ideas HOW TO TELL

IF YOUR IDEA
IS A GOOD ONE
There are great stories everywhere, just waiting to be discovered Here are eight ways to assess a
According to “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles,” story idea before you try selling
the four best angles for stories are 1) how to save time, 2) how to save money, it to an editor:
3) how to be loved, and 4) how to make money. Where did your idea come from?
If it came from reporting, it’s
That may be true — but it’s ridiculously oversimplistic, too, because probably a stronger idea than one
when it comes to feature writing, the varieties of story ideas are endless. that just popped into your head.
As Robert Stein, former editor of Redbook and McCall’s, once observed: Did your reporting suggest a trend?
Did it turn up a fascinating person?
“If you gave a dozen writers identical instructions for an article — to report, let’s say, on the largest Did something puzzle or intrigue you?
maternity hospital in the city — one writer, whose beat is scientific, would come back with a detailed report
Is the idea original?
on new medical techniques for delivery. Another would write about natural childbirth. A third, with a sense of the
Have you done a Web search? If
dramatic, would bring back a narrative of the hospital’s fight to preserve the life of a premature baby. A fourth
something has been written about
would string together humorous anecdotes of mothers and fathers who barely got to the hospital on time. A fifth writer your idea already, look for oppor-
might bring back an article on the high costs of maternity care. . . . Send a hundred writers, and no two of the resulting articles tunities to find a new angle or local
will be the same. Because no two writers have identical interests, curiosities, enthusiasms or ways of expressing what they see.” perspective on the subject.
Does the idea surprise you?
If not, how will it surprise your
WHERE TO FIND THOSE GREAT (BUT ELUSIVE) STORY IDEAS readers? Will they invest the time
to read 50 inches of a story if they
Need good story ideas? Sure-fire, crowd-pleasing, (or browse the archives) so you’ll know what’s been already know pretty much everything
award-winning story ideas? Do what every smart reported — and what tales still need to be told. by reading the headline?
feature writer does: Start making a list. Look for � Your competitors. Just because they beat you to
Does the idea have movement to it?
ideas everywhere you go, then jot them down in a an idea doesn’t mean it can’t be updated or upgrad- What’s movement? It’s change,
notebook, in a computer, on napkins and match- ed. Look for ways to add your spin to their stories. motion, direction — something
books — but collect dozens. Hundreds. Many of � TV, magazines, newspapers, Web sites. Become that’s new, something people are
them will never pan out; despite your best efforts, a voracious reader. Seek out national trends, issues developing interest in, starting to talk
they’ll be too dull, too dumb or too difficult to do. and statistics you can localize for your own readers. about, or think about, or plan for.
Organize your ideas by topic (people, places, � News releases. Your newsroom receives a steady Is there a STORY there?
trends) or by treatment (profiles, photo stories, stream of news releases and media kits promoting Is there a tale in your idea that will
how-to guides). Mark timely or seasonal ideas on products, services, activities and awards. Many have draw the reader along — a story that
your calendar or compile what’s called a “tickler” the potential to become fascinating features. has a beginning, middle and end?
file to plan stories months, even years ahead. � Reader suggestions. Yes, readers (and editors) Is there tension?
The best ideas often pop up unexpectedly, so will pester you with idiotic story ideas. But they may Tension comes with conflict, a
keep scanning the horizon with your journalistic occasionally have terrific ideas, too. So be ready. problem to be overcome, a mystery
radar. The best places to look for ideas include: � Brainstorming. Creativity doesn’t have to be a to be solved. Tension is reading the
� Your publication’s archives. Stay abreast of local solo effort. Bouncing ideas around with friends or first paragraph of a story and not
people, trends and events, because they contain the colleagues often generates solutions you couldn’t knowing what the last paragraph is
going to say.
seeds of future stories. Read your own publication produce alone. Try this brainstorming method:
Is the story true?
There are an awful lot of compelling
How to give a great Best, worst jobs Students who’d ideas — about inventions, and social
CREATE AN IDEA MAP movements, and diseases, and
History, commencement for grads rather travel or
Alone or in a group, write your speech loaf than work vitamins, and truisms, and philoso-
traditions and
topic in bold letters in the middle Job hunting, phies — that turn out not to be
folklore JOB
of a big sheet of paper. Then start interview MARKET Student true. Before you propose a story,
blurting out any related concepts, THE tips survey: do enough work to make sure you
Fashion tips:
phrases and terms you can think
How to
CEREMONY attitudes know what you’re talking about.
of — who, what, when, where, about the But remember: If something that
customize your
why. It may seem chaotic, but future everyone thinks is true turns out not
cap and gown
don’t judge. Don’t censor. Just true in some way you can prove,
brainstorm and jot it all down. GRADUATION you’ve got a great story.
Finished? Now study the results. A look back: the year’s Playlist: all-time best
Identify the strongest themes. Look winners and losers graduation tunes Do YOU like the story?
for “clusters” of ideas. Draw circles You’re going to be spending a lot of
Stories Last-minute time working on this piece. Shouldn’t
or lines to link related words and THE horror stories: PARTIES
concepts. On a new sheet of paper, of students it be something you love doing?
overcoming GRADUATES flunking, How can you expect your editors
reorganize your key themes into unpaid
hardships How to throw and readers to enjoy a story if you
a “map” or “web” like the one at library fines Best and
and other an awesome worst haven’t?
right — then jot down story ideas Demographic profile:
that explain or illustrate different screwups party graduation — Excerpted from “Testing Your Ideas:
statistics about this
gifts Ten Pre-Proposal Checks”
aspects of those key concepts. year’s class by Amanda Bennett, former editor,
The Philadelphia Inquirer

69 < MORE ON GENERATING STORY IDEAS

 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 119

THINK YOU’VE GOT A GOOD IDEA?

HERE’S HOW TO TURN IT INTO A STORY
Suppose you discover ants in your house. Lots of ants. So you call an
exterminator. He says that carpenter ants have been a huge problem this year,
infesting a record number of homes. You think: Hmmm. This could be a story.
Now, you could just do some research, type up your notes and hand in a
story. That’s a reliable way to produce a predictable 20-inch chunk of text that
nobody needs to read. A successful feature — one that’s clever, compelling and
visually engaging — takes teamwork and planning.
Here’s how a good idea expands and evolves into a successful story:

SEE IF IT’S BEEN DONE FOCUS YOUR ANGLE TALK TO YOUR EDITOR DO YOUR RESEARCH
Why waste energy on a story if Let’s be blunt: Every reporter is Whether you work for a print The fun begins. Phone calls, inter-
your publication (or a competitor) full of ideas doomed to become newspaper, an online magazine views, library research — you know
already ran it? Check back issues. dull, unreadable stories. Why? or a TV station, remember: You the drill. This is where you find out
Do a Web search. Bounce ideas off Because those ideas are half-baked. don’t own the story; it’s always a how solid your idea actually is. Are
your newsroom colleagues. Find Too predictable. Too fuzzy. collaboration. Sure, you’re a terrific your sources cooperative? Facts
out what’s run and what hasn’t. Smart writers know how to zero writer, but you’re part of a produc- supportive? Many a good story has
Even if your idea isn’t original, it in on an idea, play with it and spin tion team that includes editors, been ruined by oververification, as
may still have potential. How long it into something fresh. Ask your- photographers and designers with publisher James Gordon Bennett
ago did previous stories run? It may self: What’s the most compelling ideas as valid as yours. sarcastically noted a century ago.
be time for an update. How was way to tell the story? What’s the So before you start producing a If the truth takes you somewhere
the idea handled last time? Maybe cleverest way to hook the reader? story, talk to your editor. Once you you didn’t plan to go, either follow
you can add more depth, present How do I make this information as sell the idea, you need to work out faithfully — or pull the plug if the
fresh facts, give the topic a whole useful and engaging as possible? when the story is due, how long it story gets too shaky to salvage.
different spin. Old stories often Beware of vague generalizations should be, what you must include This might be a good time to
inspire new ideas; just be careful that sound more like boring essays and what you should avoid. A good remind you that feature stories
not to recycle outdated material than inviting features. Don’t pitch editor can shape and steer stories require the same degree of
or plagiarize what’s been printed. an idea about patriotism — instead, even better than you can. accuracy, fairness and attention to
Remember, some story ideas tell the tale of “The Oldest Flag in Don’t be defensive. Learn how to detail as news stories do. Though
— like “Hot Toys for Christmas” — Town.” Don’t just ponder the share. Collaboration makes good your topics may be softer, that
never get old, even when they run problem of cheating — find out ideas better. Selfish isolation makes doesn’t mean your reporting
year after year. After year. “The Top 10 Ways Students Cheat.” weak ideas worse. standards are any lower.

WRITE THE STORY PLAN THE PACKAGE

By now, you know how long it Started writing your story yet?
should be, when it’s due, what the Wait! Stop! Hold on for a minute.
angle is and how the package will Before inking your ideas into
look. You’ve done all the research permanent, perfectly phrased
and reporting. paragraphs, take one more whack
So go write. And rewrite. at collaboration. Some journalists
And rewrite some more. call it a Maestro session — but
But instead of crafting one long whatever you call it, this final
narrative story, try turning your story conference gives editors,
research into checklists. Fact boxes. photographers and designers
Short copy blocks that dovetail another opportunity to reshape
with informational graphics. your story’s presentation before
As you work, your colleagues you start structuring it in writing.
may have last-minute corrections, Should these facts be presented
additions or deletions. as an interactive quiz? Would this
But the biggest questions still material work better as a diagram?
await: How well did your ideas Shouldn’t we shoot photos of these
score with readers? What clicked? people now, before the story gets
What bombed? The best writers cold? If you’re cooperative and
find ways to evaluate the success open-minded, you can explore new
of every story, relentlessly asking: ideas to make your story as visual
How can I do better next time? and reader-friendly as possible.x

MORE ON PLANING STORY PACKAGES > 130

120 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Feature style
Face it: Some stories require a looser, livelier, more literary voice.
Back in the 1960s, a reporter named Tom Wolfe — that’s him at right, in his trademark
white suit — got fed up with “the pale beige tone” of standard news writing.
“Readers were bored to tears,” Wolfe observed. “This had nothing to do with objectivity
or subjectivity or taking a stand . . . it was a matter of personality, energy, drive, bravura
. . . style, in a word.” Wolfe began bending and breaking the rules in stories with titles
like “There Goes (Varoom! Varoom!) That Kandy-Kolored (Thphhhh!) Tangerine-Flake
Streamline Baby (Rahghhh!) Around the Bend (Brummmmmmmmmmmmmmm). . .”
So successful was Wolfe’s feature-writing style — and the styles
of such colleagues as Hunter S. Thompson and Gay Talese — that
Wolfe dubbed it “The New Journalism.” What was so new about it?
Mostly, reporters began borrowing four literary techniques from novelists:
1) realistic dialogue; 2) vivid reconstruction of actual scenes that were 3) viewed
through the eyes and minds of the characters, while 4) recording everyday details —
clothing, furnishings, gestures, poses — that contained the most symbolic resonance.
The New Journalism is old news nowadays. But successful feature writers still rely on
literary techniques you won’t find in standard news stories. Some examples:

SYNTAX AND PHRASING VOICE AND TENSE

When you write news stories about fires or city council meetings, News stories are written in the past tense: The votes were counted.
you don’t try to jazz things up. You write simple declarative The bill passed. But features are often written in the present tense, as if
sentences in a solemn, objective tone. Just the facts: no flash, please. you’re right there, witnessing the events, and they’re happening now:
But when you write feature stories, the rules loosen up. Your
editors won’t go freakin’ nuts if you use slang or contractions.
Let’s begin with his pickup truck. It’s green, it runs, its windshield wipers
You can phrase for dramatic effect. Even write sentence fragments: don’t squeak. Those are the nicest things you could say about it.
Otherwise, it’s noteworthy only for what it contains in the cab, namely,
a world. Peter Bacho’s world. A quick look-around will give you clues to
Ten seconds. Count it: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine.
everything you need to know about the man. Immediately, you might notice
Ten. Ten seconds was roughly how long it lasted. Nobody had a stopwatch,
his world needs vacuuming. The ashtray overflows with cigarette butts and
nothing can be proven definitively, but that’s the consensus. The tornado
ashes. He’s been smoking a lot lately, a result, he says, of being celibate
that swooped through Utica at 6:09 p.m. April 20 took some 10 seconds
(more on this later). . . . — Alex Tizon, The Seattle Times
to do what it did. Ten seconds is barely a flicker. It’s a long, deep breath.
It’s no time at all. It’s an eternity. — Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune
Notice how the reporter puts you in the truck and talks to you as
he writes. News stories don’t do that. But feature writers often use
See how the stylistic flair of those short sentences grabs you and
the second-person voice to connect directly with you, the reader (or,
enhances the story’s drama? There’s drama, too, when sentences
in “how-to” stories, to give you advice. Like we’re doing here).
get longer. This next example describes a photographer climbing
to capture the perfect shot. Notice how the writer weaves facts and In the excerpt below, notice how the writer uses both the second
imagery together in an almost poetic way: person and the present tense to put you inside a carnival sideshow:

Behold the fat man. Go ahead. Everybody does. He doesn’t mind, honestly.
Up and up and up, climbing hand over hand into the huge black sky, That’s how he makes his living. Walk right up to him. Stand there and stare.
five stories, then six, up through the dark cylinder of the old ferry terminal, Gape at the layers of fat, the astonishing girth, the incredible bulk. Imagine
his bulky Linhof lashed to his back, tripod and film holders banging against him in a bathtub. Or better, on a bike. Or better yet, on one of those flimsy
his sides, crepe-soled shoes slipping on iron ladder rungs spattered with antique chairs. Boom! If you’re lucky, maybe he’ll lift his shirt. If you’re real
pigeon dung. lucky, maybe he’ll rub his belly. Don’t be shy. Ask him a question.
Up and up, until he pushed through the roof flap and popped out into the “What’s your name?”
salty warm July night, scanning the horizon, his brain calculating wind speed “T.J. Albert Jackson. Better known as Fat Albert.”
and bridge angle and cloud viscosity while the bay breeze dampened his “How much do you weigh?”
shirt. All thought of work-work-work (this was work, too, but it wasn’t) — “Eight hundred and ninety-one pounds.”
and of clients and bills was as far away as Timbuktu. It was just him and the “Gawd! How many meals you eat a day?”
camera, way, way out there, like a spinnaker off the bowsprit, a bat on the “Three.”
night breeze, happy, happy to be alive. — Mary Battiata, The Washington Post “What — three COWS?” — David Finkel, St. Petersburg Times
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 121

HELPFUL TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL FEATURE WRITING

TOM WOLFE displays his dazzling descriptive flair Mount Everest. Got an urgent need to talk about
� Write tightly. Keep it short. Select only the liveliest
in this feature on socialite Baby Jane Holzer:
quotes, the most telling anecdotes. As Voltaire said, yourself? Write a column or launch a blog.
Bangs manes bouffant beehives Beatle caps � Stay objective. You’re writing to serve and inform
“The secret of being boring is to tell everything.”
butter faces brush-on lashes decal eyes puffy
� Vary your sentence structure. Force yourself to the reader, not to cheerlead, ridicule or editorialize.
sweaters French thrust bras flailing leather blue
jeans stretch pants stretch jeans honeydew bot- avoid ruts in word choice, phrasing and syntax. Your goal, always, is to paint as realistic a picture as
toms eclair shanks elf boots ballerinas Knight Deliberately mix it up: long sentences, short possible — not to distort reality or filter it unfairly.
slippers, hundreds of them, these flaming little sentences, long paragraphs, short ones. � Either learn shorthand or use a portable recorder.
buds, bobbing and screaming, rocketing around � Match your treatment to your topic. Don’t inflict a Two reasons: 1) Good dialogue always flies by faster
inside the Academy of Music Theater underneath frivolous tone upon a serious issue (or vice versa). than you can write it, and 2) Sometimes it’s the
that vast old moldering cherub dome up there — Stay flexible; use different styles for different stories. phrasing and fumbling — “oh, geez” and “yeah, you
aren’t they super-marvelous! Try to enhance and complement your subject — betcha” — that capture people’s true personalities.
“Aren’t they super-marvelous!” says Baby not overwhelm it. Or to put it another way: � Find your voice. Editors (and college professors)
Jane, and then: “Hi, Isabel! Isabel! You want to sit � Don’t overdo it. Yes, it’s fun to write colorfully, have strong opinions and rigid rules about what
backstage — with the Stones!” but using too much color is like wearing a clown is and isn’t “good writing.” Some hate semicolons;
. . . What the hell is this? She is gorgeous in the suit and a big red nose: “Hey, look at me! At me!!!” some hate dashes — and italics — and exclamation
most outrageous way. Her hair rises up from her
Tone it down, clown. Don’t make every story about points!!! It’s gonna honk you off (they hate slang,
head in a huge hairy corona, a huge tan mane
around a narrow face and two eyes opened —
you. And speaking of self-indulgence: too), but your success as a writer will depend upon
swock! — like umbrellas, with all that hair flow- � Avoid first-person stories. It’s always safe to write your ability to satisfy your bosses, please your read-
ing down over a coat made of . . . zebra! Those in the third person (he, she, they). It’s often OK to ers and stay true to your own voice. That’s not easy.
motherless stripes! Oh, damn! Here she is with use the second person (see examples below). But But it’s the goal of all creative journalists.
her friends, looking like some kind of queen bee editors usually frown upon stories written in the � Read. And read. And read. Find writers you love.
for all flaming little buds everywhere. x first person (I, we) unless they’re recounting some Study how they work. Steal their secrets. You can’t
dramatic adventure: How I Beat Cancer and Scaled be a successful writer if you’re not an avid reader.

DETAIL AND DESCRIPTION OTHER DRAMATIC TECHNIQUES

News stories usually feel like they’re written — well, in a newsroom. When you write fiction, you can conjure up colorful dialogue and
But features attain a you-are-there immediacy by precisely detailing thrilling action. But in journalism, everything you write must be true.
people’s actions and appearances, as Tom French does here: You can’t fabricate facts, but you can present them in dramatic ways,
borrowing techniques from traditional storytelling. For instance,
you can hook readers by telling stories chronologically:
He’s in the back seat of the family Volvo, headed to school. His mom and
dad are talking up front, but he’s not listening. He is still waking up. His light
blond hair is uncombed as usual; a micro-pebble of sleep dust clings to the Bam! The blow to the side of her head was quick. Stunned momentarily,
lashes of his right eye. Through headphones, a man is singing into his brain. she raised the hammer in her right hand and backed Larry into the living room,
into the arm of the red velour love seat.
“Larry, don’t hit me no more,” she screamed. He hit her again, this time on
See how effectively those details capture the moment? her left temple.
Or take the following example, a description of the guy we met The hammer fell. Larry fell. Blood leapt from the left side of his head, onto
driving that green pickup in the “Voice and Tense” column at left: the yellow curtains, onto the love seat, onto the brown and yellow shag carpet.
— Pat Donahue, The Stockton Record

He talks with one hand on the wheel. With or without a cigarette, he has
a ventriloquist’s way of speaking, as if his teeth have been wired shut. The Note the intense realism of that scene — and the lack of attribution,
lips do all the work. He opens his mouth wide only to laugh, which he does too. Some editors are uneasy about depicting the acts, words, even the
often and raucously, mostly at his own jokes. — Alex Tizon, The Seattle Times thoughts of characters without attribution. But feature writers often
try to re-create the “interior monologue” of people in the story, as
demonstrated in the Pulitzer Prize-winning example below. It’s a risky
Now notice how smoothly Katy Muldoon blends all the elements technique; it’s best used only after you’ve extensively interviewed your
we’ve discussed — voice, tense, syntax and description — to paint sources and can vouch for the accuracy of every word you write.
this portrait in a feature about a surfing competition:
Please, God. Don’t let it be kids.
Steve Mikkelsen’s chin hasn’t communed with a razor in a few days. That was Edgcomb’s single thought, the one that kept pace with his racing
His unruly graying hair displays spikes of independence. Salt crystals cling heart as he ran toward Milestone: Please, God, no kids. Please. Please.
to the laugh lines in his face. And yet, when he stands, straightens his He’d been a firefighter for 25 years, he was a powerful, well-built man, a
back, stretches his arms elegantly north and south, and proceeds to dance, natural leader, and nobody would call Dave Edgcomb weak, no sir. He carried
you’d swear this crusty character was Fred Astaire. an air of can-do confidence.
A few nimble steps up. A few dashing steps back. A spin. A dip. A head- But right now he was, in his thoughts, on his knees:
stand. All aboard a 1960s-vintage Corky Carroll model Hobie surfboard — Please, God, just don’t let it be kids.
and it’s not parked on the beach, but gliding toward shore at the front of He knew it was bad, real bad, and he knew he could handle anything —
a softly breaking wave. — Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian but not kids. No dead kids. — Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune

74, 75 < MORE EXCERPTS FROM TOM WOLFE

122 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Feature story structures

Suppose you want to write a special feature story for Valentine’s Day . . .
Should you organize your text into a traditional structure, or create a short-form package?
As you’ll see on these two pages, you have a variety of options — but you’ve got to plan ahead.
“Feature writing presents you with a choice: You can fight organization as an annoying waste of time,
or you can accept it as a challenge that will sharpen both your thinking and your writing. Once you begin
to concentrate on organizing, you may amaze yourself by starting to enjoy it — even the outlining. Suddenly
an idea will fall into place with an almost audible click, and you’ll remember why you wanted to be a writer.”
Jane Harrigan, journalism director at the University of New Hampshire

STANDARD STORY STRUCTURES

Using traditional text to convey information
Before you start writing any story, you For a story about “How Local Couples Either way, the body of your story will
should review the material you’ve compiled — Celebrate Valentine’s Day,” you could inter- progress in a logical way. But you can also
your facts, quotes, opinions and anecdotes — view three local couples. To organize the story, add structure to the beginning and ending of
and try to decide: you could simply move from couple to couple: a story, too, by using the “kabob” (or Wall
� How long should this story be? What’s the I. The lead / the nut graf Street Journal) format.x
most appropriate length for this topic? How II. COUPLE 1: Memories, romantic rituals and advice. Suppose your topic is “Couples Who Ignore
much depth will satisfy readers? III. COUPLE 2: Memories, romantic rituals and advice. Valentine’s Day.” To use the kabob format,
� What’s my best material? What deserves IV. COUPLE 3: Memories, romantic rituals and advice. you would begin with an anecdotal lead:
the most emphasis? What’s expendable? Or you could organize the story by topics: John and Jenny Smith are madly in love. And
� What key points should I make? And what’s I. The lead / the nut graf for Valentine’s Day this Friday night, John’s going
the most effective way to make them? II. GIFTS: anecdotes and quotes from all three couples bowling with his buddies. Jenny’s going shopping.
Suppose you’ve interviewed the oldest III. WINING AND DINING: anecdotes and quotes Why? Like a growing number of modern
couple in town for a Valentine’s Day feature. IV. ROMANTIC GETAWAYS: anecdotes and quotes couples, John and Jenny hate Valentine’s Day.
You’re ready to write a 15-inch story The story begins with John and Jenny;
that combines history, anecdotes and it will end by returning to John and Jenny,
advice. You outline the story: too. They’re like bookends, with the
I. A sweet anecdotal lead story’s key sections stacked in between:
II. A description of the couple I. An anecdotal lead with John and Jenny
III. Their history: how they met, courtship, II. Nut graf (Some couples hate Valentine’s Day)
triumphs and tragedies over the years III. GRIPE 1: It’s too commercial (quotes + facts)
IV. Their advice on love and marriage IV. GRIPE 2: It’s too expensive (quotes + facts)
V. Cute ending V. GRIPE 3: The social pressure (quotes + facts)
That works. Or you could arrange the VI. Ending: We return to John and Jenny for
main sections of the story into a final quotes that sum up their feelings
different, yet equally logical order: Another popular way to structure
I. The lead: a quote or proverb about a story is to arrange the material in
making love last forever chronological order. If you want to write
II. Romantic advice from our local couple “A History of Valentine’s Day,” a linear
III. Their history: how they met, etc. timeline would certainly make sense.
IV. A description of the couple today But other stories, too, are truly . . .
V. Cute ending: An anecdote and quote well, stories. Like movies, they have a
that show their love for each other beginning, middle and end. Telling
Same material, different structures. the story in a linear, narrative way
Both versions work just as well. becomes the most logical, engaging
Notice how writing a simple solution.
outline can provide a useful Many reporters and editors encour-
overview of your entire story. age chronological narratives
If you find you’ve got more good for both news stories (dramatic
material to include, just keep rescues and crimes) and features
adding or rearranging sections (colorful slice-of-life profiles).
until everything’s accounted for. It’s an approach that would work
Some stories can be structured wonderfully for a Valentine feature,
in a loose, intuitive way. Others of course: Boy meets girl. They fall
may need to be organized more in love. They live happily ever after.
rigidly, so readers won’t get This feature from the St. Petersburg Times uses a chronological narrative The story at left provides a
distracted or confused. to tell a sentimental love story. To read the full text, visit THE MORGUE >260. sweet, heart-rending example.

50 < MORE ON THE KABOB STORY STRUCTURE

 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 123

ONE STRUCTURE For breaking news, the inverted THE NEWS LEAD
pyramid is your best choice. For People who smoke marijuana because their doctors recommend it to ease pain
FEATURE STORIES features, though, it’s weak. can be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws, the Supreme Court ruled Monday,
RARELY NEED: THE In fact, one of the easiest ways overriding medical marijuana statutes in 10 states. — The Associated Press
INVERTED PYRAMID to distinguish news stories from THE NEWS FEATURE LEAD
features is that news stories use inverted pyramids. Features seldom do. Rebecca LaFore isn’t sure the U.S. Supreme Court really considers her a human being.
Take the examples at right. A straight news story begins by summarizing LaFore, who’s had five kinds of cancer, carries an Oregon card that gives her access
key facts, then continues to add facts. And more facts. And more facts. to medical marijuana, which she smokes for pain control.
But a news feature on that same topic humanizes the facts by viewing Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal government may prosecute
people who smoke marijuana with a doctor’s prescription, as authorized under
the event through someone’s eyes, embellishing the drama and appealing
medical marijuana laws in Oregon and nine other states.
to our emotions in a way news stories rarely do. “They’ve ignored the fact I’m a human being,” LaFore said. “They’re taking away
The inverted pyramid is an efficient way to organize facts in a news the quality of my life. I will not die in agony. I’d put a dog down that felt as bad
story, but it’s not an engaging way to organize ideas in a feature story. as I do without it.” — Portland Tribune

SHORT-FORM STORY STRUCTURES

Using alternative approaches to convey information
Ages ago, when dinosaurs ruled the Earth — On page 132, you’ll find examples of If your story is significant or appealing
say, back around 1980 — a “story” had to be 10 popular alternatives to traditional text: enough, editors will make it the lead story
a series of paragraphs stacked together in a lists, quizzes, diagrams, timelines and so on. or centerpiece — that is, the story that’s the
gray clump. The more important the story, You can use them to add sidebars to your biggest, with the loudest headline and the
the bigger the clump. main story, or you can use them to organize most compelling design. Thus, the more
Unfortunately, many English professors, your main story, too, as popular publications successfully you plan a story package, the
journalism instructors and newspaper editors such as USA Today have done for years. more prominently it will be displayed.
believe that’s still true today. The best time to consider using short-form For example, we compiled some Valentine’s
So what do you call a . . . thing . . . like the alternatives is before you write. As we pointed Day lists a moment ago. Suppose we create a
“Perfect Kiss” page reprinted below? Is it less out on the previous page, you need to decide: centerpiece package that combines several lists?
of a story because it doesn’t use paragraphs What key points do I need to make? And what’s We could call it “A Global Spin on Valentine’s
stacked together in big gray clumps? the most effective way to make them? Day.” It could consist of:
Pages like “The Perfect Kiss,” illustrate The answer is not always “20 inches of text.” � How to say “I love you” in 50 languages;
the convergence of two modern-day � How other cultures express affection;
journalism developments: � How animals express affection;
1) Colorful, creative layouts are easier � The best romantic foreign-film rentals;
to produce than ever before, freeing both � The world’s most famous lovers (Romeo
writers and designers from gray clumps and Juliet, Antony and Cleopatra, etc.).
of text and rigid rectangles of art. That package could consist of five
2) We see layouts like this in books different lists designed alongside each
and magazines everywhere we go (let other with photos and illustrations.
alone multimedia Web sites). These You’d probably write an introductory
packages both satisfy and encourage paragraph or two, too, to set things up
our increasingly short attention spans. for readers.
So what does that mean if you’re You can also combine different
producing a Valentine’s Day feature? short-form structures into one big
If your story is basically a catalog of feature package. For a Valentine story
items or ideas — “Our Favorite Love titled “What Makes a Perfect Lover?”,
Songs” or “Most Romantic Gifts for you could combine a:
Under $20” — you could write the � Quiz (“How Romantic Are You?”).
story in the traditional way, using � Checklist (“20 Blunders Great
paragraphs of text that segue from Lovers Never Commit”).
one item (or idea) to another. � Quote collection with memorable
Nothing wrong with that. advice from poets, philosophers, films
Or, for a more visual approach: and music lyrics.
� You could write the story as a � Poll — the results of an earlier
long list of bullet items, like this. survey that asked readers for their
� You could number every item opinions about romance.
and make the headline numerical, Creating multi-element packages
too: “Our 10 Favorite Love Songs,” takes collaboration and planning.
for example, or “20 Romantic And remember: These features may
Gifts for Under $20.” use less text than traditional stories,
� You could write each item as a but they’re not fluff. The same high
separate chunk x to be designed This Valentine’s Day page from the Cleveland Plain Dealer views kissing journalistic standards for reporting
as in the example at right. from a dozen different angles. For a closer look, visit THE MORGUE >265. and writing always apply.

MORE ON "CHUNKING" STORIES ONLINE > 165 MORE ON SHORT-FORM ALTERNATIVES > 132
124 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Writing profiles
Capturing personalities by painting word pictures
Everyone’s got a story to tell. But some folks are more newsworthy
than others, so we write profiles to explore their backgrounds,
examine their characters and document their struggles.
Profiles are biographical, but they’re more than a who-what-
when-where-why rehash of facts. A good profile reveals feelings,
exposes attitudes, captures habits and mannerisms. The finished
story should be just as entertaining as it is informative.
In-depth profiles can take days, even weeks, to assemble. You
may need to check someone’s credentials, dig up Web documents,
read old news clips, meet with colleagues, family and friends.
But in the end, it all comes down to interviewing. Profiles provide
the ultimate test of your interviewing skills. How well can you coax J. Kyle Keener, Detroit Free Press: “I often shoot symbolically, so a
complete strangers into sharing intimate details of their private lives? portrait becomes both a likeness of the subject and an icon for the
idea I am trying to communicate. This image was part of a photo
essay, ‘Stars and Stripes Wherever,’ about how a diverse group of
Americans interpret the flag. Tattoo artist Nate Leintz, 28, represents
� Solicit your subject’s support. Make preliminary
HOW TO the idea that patriotism is important to many Americans, not just
contact with the person you’re profiling. Explain World War II veterans. Shot from a low angle, with fists clenched,
RESEARCH who you are, what you’re doing, how long it may head held high and the classic sky background, Leintz looks strong
AND WRITE take. Explain how you’d like to conduct interviews, and proud, almost Superman-like. Often, in both writing and photog-
SUCCESSFUL watch them at work, talk to their friends and raphy, less is more. Showing all of Leintz’s tattoos would have made
colleagues. Be open, honest and nonthreatening. the portrait too visually complex. With one spotlight illuminating
PROFILES the flag tattoo and a second light shining on his face, I can direct the
� Interview and observe. You’ll need at least one
intensive interview session, if not several. Collect quotes, anecdotes and detailed viewer’s eye right to the heart of the photograph.”
descriptions: how your subject looks, talks, dresses, acts and interacts with oth-
ers. (For additional tips, consult the section on interviewing > page 78.) EVERY PROFILE DESERVES
� Find your focus. After your first interview, review your notes. Reflect. Ask
yourself, “What have I got here? What am I missing?” And most importantly: MEMORABLE PHOTOGRAPHY
“What’s the most interesting angle for this story?” The best profiles are those Don’t just take our word for it — listen to these words
that focus on an intriguing or newsworthy aspect of your subject’s public or of advice from J. Kyle Keener, chief photographer at the
private life. Develop a theme that will help you plan your next step: Detroit Free Press and a widely respected photojournalist:
� Follow up with further interviews and research. Talk to your subject, and On collaborating with photographers: Talk to a photographer
as many other sources as necessary, to flesh out when you’re thinking of possible stories to pursue because we’re
your focus with facts, quotes and anecdotes. Take great resources for brainstorming. We tend to be out on the streets
SAMPLE STORY nearly all the time with our eyes wide open. Talented photographers
STRUCTURE every opportunity to watch your subject at work
or play in a setting that’s relevant to your focus. see things that other people do not. When you spend your whole
I ANECDOTAL LEAD life looking, you learn to see better. At the very least, get a photog-
An engaging, revealing This is where profiles demand the greatest invest-
rapher involved as soon as you start your reporting so that you two
little story to lure us in. ment of your (and your subject’s) time. Yes, you
don’t miss any key moments to photograph and write about.
II NUT GRAF can write single-source, single-interview stories; on
On giving orders to photographers: Avoid suggesting exactly what
Summarizes why this a tight deadline, that may be your only option. But kind of photos we should take. Most photographers and photo editors
person matters now. the fewer sources you interview and the less time
III SCENE 1 consider this insulting and a sign of an inexperienced reporter who
you spend with your subject, the more your profile doesn’t have a clue how to function as a team. How would you feel
We watch our subject in
action using dialogue, risks being inaccurate, shallow and dull. In fact, you if I gave you a list of questions to ask the subject?
details and descriptions. shouldn’t even call a single-interview story a profile. On the time it takes to shoot successful photos: Everyone thinks
IV CHRONOLOGY � Structure your story. Review your material and that we just come in, snap-snap-snap a few pictures, then leave.
A recap of our subject’s decide how long your piece deserves to be. Is this a This is as far from the truth as you can get. Just like you need time
past activities. brief vignette? A day in the life? A full-length profile? to get to know and understand the subject of our profile, we need
V SCENE 2 time to observe and get them comfortable with us hanging around
Before you start writing, organize an outline like
Another look at our sub- taking photos. Great photographs for a profile don’t just happen out
ject in action, leading to: the sample story structure at left.
Decide how best to open and close the story. Craft of the blue, but evolve as the photographer gains the trust of the
VI WHAT LIES AHEAD
an appealing lead, a solid nut graf, a fitting finish. subject to get more intimate and storytelling photographs.
Plans. Dreams. Goals.
Barriers to overcome. In the main body, avoid fact-choked chronologies, On working a story collaboratively: If the story is a long-term,
VII CLOSING QUOTE rambling monologues, meaningless anecdotes. Be in-depth profile, I want be there to see and photograph what you
see and write about. In this way, our words and pictures will
fair to your subject — but be kind to your readers.
complement each other. High-quality writing and pictures working
together have a much stronger power to communicate.
For two full-length examples of profiles, visit THE MORGUE 266, 267
 125

CAPTURE DETAILS It’s not necessary to write every

profile from the detached blandness
“There’s a story in every “If we wanted to spend our time of a newsroom. Immerse yourself
man. The challenge is to reading resumés, we’d all be personnel in your subject’s world and show us
find it. Then the problem managers,” says Jack Hart, a retired what goes on there. Fill your profiles
is to tell it without putting writing coach. “And yet the with verbs, not just adjectives.
the customers to sleep.” conventional newspaper profile all
Jim Murray, too often consists of nothing more ADD QUOTES
legendary sportwswriter
than a tedious recounting of AND DIALOGUE
“I firmly believe that a biographical facts.”
Want to bring characters to life? To write a successful profile, you
good reporter can make
a story — a story both Study them closely, then use all your need good quotes both by and about
newsworthy and hon- senses to paint a revealing portrait: the person you’re profiling.
est — out of anyone. The But as every novelist knows, good
Sonny Glick, of St. Helens, stands 5 feet
trick, I think, is finding dialogue is a terrific device for
6. What he lacks in height, he makes up
the soul that makes that in attitude. He uses volume rather than RE-CREATE SCENES revealing character and capturing
person unique and yet inflection to make his point. drama, too. You can record dialogue
allows others to identify
These can be slice-of-life moments as you hear it or craft it from the
Most days, the 240-pound man wears
with him or her.” muscle shirts, hiking shoes and strong you actually observe, scenes that catch anecdotes your sources tell you.
Laurie Becklund, cologne. Court is the only place he forgoes people in the act of being themselves. Here’s a sweet example from a
former Los Angeles Times reporter wearing a baseball cap. A thick gold chain Or you can recapture meaningful profile of baseball player Tony Pena:
hangs from his neck, and a barbed-wire anecdotes from someone’s past: They drove around a beautiful
“When I interviewed a tattoo encircles his fleshy right biceps. He
former nun, one of the first Glick remembers going back to the jail community near Santiago. “Isn’t this
often gets “fired up” and has participated dormitory, hoisting himself on the top nice?” he asked his mother.
things I wondered was, in 28 anger-management classes. bunk and pulling the cover over his head. “Yes,” she said. “It is beautiful.”
does she date and what His childhood was as rough as his He had hit rock bottom many times. They then drove through a neighborhood
does it feel like to be in edges are now. . . . Now he was free-falling into an abyss. they had driven through before, many
the arms of a man and be — Michelle Roberts, The Oregonian
He remembers crying for the first time times. “I love these homes,” Rosalia said.
kissed again, after 10 years But be selective. Give us details that since he was 19, when he’d looked into a “I know,” Tony said. “I know.”
in the convent? I finally matter, that reveal facets of a person’s coffin at the father he’d never known. And they pulled up to the nicest home.
got that question out personality. Don’t bother describing As Glick hid his tears beneath the “What do you think of this one?” he
about two hours into the how the professor sat in a chrome and scratchy jail blanket, something deep asked her.
interview, and by that time inside of him shifted. “It is the home of my dreams,” she said.
black-leather chair gazing at a chestnut- “I was a loser, a jerk,” he says. “I didn’t
we were communicating He reached into his pocket, pulled out a
backed chickadee in the 40-foot-tall know how I was going to do it, or if I even key, gave it to her.
so well that she answered
oak outside his office window. Those had a right to try. But I vowed I would never “It is yours,” he said. They both cried for
it without hesitation.
are meaningless details. All they do is do drugs again. That I would raise my sons. a long time.
Don’t be afraid to ask
what you’re wondering.”
make your story longer. That I’d be there for them.” — Joe Posnanski, The Kansas City Star

Mary Anne Pikrone,

reporter and editor

“Nothing is more valuable

to a writer than anecdotes.
HOW COMPLETE IS YOUR PROFILE? FIND OUT WHAT’S IN THE WAL-MART
Why? Few people are Questions to ask when reporting and writing profile stories, SACK, AND DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT IT
from Susan Ager, columnist at the Detroit Free Press:
able to stop reading an “I once was profiling a murderer and had an
anecdote until it is over.” � Do readers understand why they should care about my subject? interview with his ex-wife. I established rapport and
William L. Rivers, � What do average readers want to know? asked great questions and she gave great answers.
author and journalism professor � What’s the payoff for my subject? Why should he/she submit to “But I quickly realized what I needed from her
this process? wasn’t the interview itself. In the chair next to her,
“The writer makes his � Can I provide insight and/or inside details about my subject? she had a plastic Wal-Mart sack, the kind that you
living by anecdotes. He
� Can I watch my subject work/live/play? haul a couple big toys home in at Christmas time.
searches them out and
craves them as the raw
� Is my story plump with vivid, memorable details about how my In it were journals she had written in her grief over
subject works and lives? the murder of their daughter (he was acquitted),
materials of his profes- � Do I capture my subject in a real-life scene or two? financial records, virtually every piece of paper this
sion. No hunter stalking woman had dealing with her life with this man.
� Can I conduct two, three or more interviews, even if they’re brief?
his prey is more alert to This Wal-Mart sack was her file cabinet.
the presence of his quarry
� Will I keep the interviews conversational?
� Will my questions be fresh, direct, specific? “I talked her into letting me take the sack back to
than a writer looking for my hotel. I spent three hours and about $30 at
small incidents that cast
� Will I ask about mundane as well as touchy, intimate matters?
Kinko’s that night.
a strong light on human � Are the quotes spicy and telling?
“In addition to providing valuable details such as
behavior. To the writer, � Have I cut out all long, dull and predictable quotes? exact dates, the Wal-Mart sack provided my lead.
the universe itself begins � Have I talked to others who understand my subject or might see It came from a letter she had written to her dead
my subject with different eyes? daughter in one of the journals, saying she knew
with a single case, a
single emotion, a single � Are the turning points in my subject’s life obvious to the reader he would kill again. (He did, and I was writing the
and explored for their lasting impact? profile to run after his sentencing.)”
encounter — in short, a
single person.”
� Do I, by the end of my reporting, understand what motivates my Steve Buttry,
subject, and will I make that clear to readers? information content conductor, Gazette Communications
Norman Cousins,
editor and writer
126 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Enterprise projects
Special stories allow reporters to reach beyond the routine.
Reporters spend their days “feeding the beast,” covering a mix of crimes, crises,
politics and public proceedings defined as news. Those ordinary news stories are
necessary, of course — but most are relatively predictable and familiar.
Enterprise stories, on the other hand, are those that reach beyond the routine.
They’re creative. Ambitious. Unique. They offer reporters a chance to stretch their HOW DO I FIND TIME
skills; they give readers a chance to meet colorful characters, to confront complex FOR ENTERPRISE?
controversies, to explore the why, the how, the what happens next. Enterprise stories take time — lots
Enterprise projects often become special sections or multipart series that take weeks, of time — and time is one thing most
even months to research. Most provide in-depth examinations of people and issues: reporters don’t have. Covering a beat
is a full-time job, and editors are wary
of setting you loose to chase down
story ideas that may never pan out.
PEOPLE So what’s a reporter to do?
An in-depth profile of a newsworthy person, family � Work with your editors. Explore ways
or group, often representing a social concern or trend. to maximize your efficiency so you can
< IF I DIE satisfy your beat’s daily demands and
Publication: The Sun (Baltimore, Md.) still seize time for special projects. Decide
Reporter: Diana Sugg wrote the story, with photographs what’s essential and what’s optional.
by Monica Lopossay. Discuss how to shorten routine stories,
The topic: Children die, though our culture has difficulty turn them into briefs — or drop them
accepting that fact. As a result, critically ill children often altogether if they’re not worth the effort.
suffer far too much as doctors do all they can to prolong � Make lists. Long-term: Maintain a list
their lives. of stories you plan to tackle in the near
To illustrate this problem, Sugg focused on one dying future. This helps you keep projects in
child — 12-year-old cancer victim R.J. Voigt — revealing the pipeline. Short-term: Plan tomor-
how his tragic, inevitable death affected his family, the
hospital caregivers and R.J. himself.
row’s tasks each day before you leave the
How long the project took: For two years, while producing
newsroom; this helps you streamline the
other stories, Sugg researched and organized this project. time you spend chained to your desk.
She spent 25 days in the hospital observing R.J. around � Prioritize. Manage your daily schedule
the clock. Afterward, she spent another three months on efficiently and ruthlessly. Eliminate
additional reporting and four months writing the story. time-wasting distractions, office chitchat,
How it was presented: The finished piece ran as a four- unnecessary phone calls and e-mails.
part series on four consecutive days. Each story began on � Devote time each day to enterprise.
the front page, then jumped to two full inside pages. The Start researching story ideas with small
series was later reprinted as a 16-page special section. chunks of free time. Once you’re sure
a story is solid, pitch the idea to editors
and enlist their support.
ISSUES “An hour a day gives you a chance to
A detailed look at a social controversy or problem, make steady progress on the long-term
exploring what it means and what lies ahead. goal,” says writing coach Steve Buttry.
“It also will give the enterprise story
< WHY DO WE SPEED? momentum that sometimes will help
Publication: USA Today. you demand more time for it.”
Reporters: Rick Hampson wrote the story using statistical � Keep your project organized. “Set
research provided by database editor Paul Overberg. goals for completion of key tasks, and
The topic: More and more Americans drive too fast, result- update those goals as delays occur,”
ing in more accidents, more traffic tickets and more drivers Buttry advises. “Don’t look at the long-
addicted to the thrill of flying along freeways at 100 mph. term story as one huge daunting task,
How long the project took: Overberg took seven months but as a series of feasible tasks.”
to collect and crunch data; Hampson spent a couple of
� Don’t overwork yourself. Too many
months reporting and writing the final story.
long days and late nights will burn out
How it was presented: The story began at the top of Page
One, then jumped inside the section, where the related even the most dedicated reporter. You
sidebars and graphics filled an entire page. can ruin a good story by rushing it, so
maintain a realistic, reasonable schedule.
Allow time to reflect, redirect and
Visit THE MORGUE to read excerpts from “If I Die” 272 and “Why Do We Speed?” 277 rewrite as necessary.
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 127

EXPERT ADVICE ON REPORTING

AND WRITING ENTERPRISE STORIES
Thinking about undertaking an ambitious project? Before you begin,
consider these words of wisdom collected from a panel of veteran reporters:

� Start with a thesis. find something they think is important.

DOING THE
What are you trying to Let them know how much effort you’re
REPORTING
say? A thesis gives you expending.
something to talk about (and you should � Control the material or the material
talk about it). Test it with some initial will control you. If you wait until the
reporting to find out if you’re on target, writing stage to transcribe or organize
or if the thesis needs to be changed. your notes, tapes, etc., you will be lost.
It helps to give the project a name, Devote time each day to organizing the
though you might need to revise that, too. material. You can do it by date, by
� Do your research. Read a lot to get subject or by person, but you have to
background. Nibble at the edges first; constantly monitor the mountain of
work the peripheral sources before information you collect. Doing it daily
you get to the heart of the matter. For also helps you spot holes, trends or
Reporter Diana Sugg spent a month taking notes in the hospital room
instance, if you’re doing a story about a questions you need to address. of R.J. Voigt, a young boy dying of cancer, for her series, “If I Die.”
football player who killed someone and On weekends, do file maintenance: To read an excerpt from Sugg’s dramatic story, see page 272.
his coach was his closest friend, make Re-read all your notes and files. (New
the coach your last interview. You want ideas and connections will emerge each
to know everything that happened before time you read them.) Reorganize the � Keep a running list of questions and pair of eyes and ears. Find an editor who
you talk to that coach. files to better fit your story organization. things to do on a legal pad or on your wants to hear what you’ve learned that
� R eport. Report. Report. Talk to as Make notes to go back and re-interview computer. Don’t rely on your memory. day. It’s invaluable. Remember, too,
many pertinent people as possible. Follow people based on what you find. Little or big, jot it all down. When you that when it’s time to edit and design the
every conceivable paper trail. Identify the � Look for universal connections. This answer a question, cross it out. At the end story, you want somebody in your corner.
experts and understand where conflicts, is something to think about constantly: of the day, it will give you a psychological � Cooperate with photographers,
debate, obstacles and fresh opportunities What is it about your story that readers boost and remind you that you really are designers and the online staff — but
lie. Read the reports, do the legwork, can relate to in their own lives? making progress even when you don’t once you and your editor agree on a
make the contacts and make a lot of Remember, the longer your story is, yet have a story in the paper. focus, enlist her support to prevent other
them. And then ask those people for more the more compelling your subject needs � Talk to your editor every day. It heads staffers from turning the project into a
sources. Let them know what your story is to be. The best stories are those about off misunderstandings later. Besides, you Christmas tree that adds so many periph-
about and ask them to contact you if they people, not impersonal themes. sometimes need a fresh and encouraging eral elements that you lose your focus.

� Write from the first. Writing while the interview is still long project to know what your ending It needs to be somebody you can trust,
WRITING
Begin writing as soon fresh ensures accuracy, especially if is going to be. Otherwise it’s like begin- who will be willing to hurt your feelings.
THE STORY
as you have your idea your handwriting is bad or if you have ning a trip without knowing what the (Wives generally have no problem with
for the story. You may start with just a trouble reading old notes. You will be destination is. this, I’ve found.) Don’t overdo it, though.
paragraph to yourself or your editor. You more likely to remember important � Save often, print a lot. It seems long This isn’t a committee project. But one
may start with a few paragraphs that details about the setting and the projects are destined to be lost. Don’t of the things that will happen is that you
resemble a lead. You may start with a speaker’s mood and mannerisms. leave at night without printing a copy. It will work on this project so long, you
plan for pursuing the story. But writing � Rewrite each time. Each time you will save your sanity if your files are lost. will no longer be able to see it the way
at the idea phase helps focus you on the return to the story, read through what � Don’t be afraid of the edit. Good a first-time reader would. You need a
project’s eventual goal. you’ve already written and rewrite as stories need revision. They need an fresh pair of eyes at the end.
� Write after each interview. Don’t needed. This will put more polish on outside force to scrutinize and ask the � Enjoy the process. Rare is the reporter
simply transcribe your notes (though your story. It will also help launch you question your readers will want, not the lucky enough to focus on just one project.
that’s better than not writing at all). each time, cutting down those long details you’ve become obsessed with. Appreciate the opportunity. Kick butt.
Start writing the story. Work on a lead if blocks of time where you stare at the � Seek outside input. When your project And then come up with another project.
you can. If you think the interview might screen, waiting for momentum. is nearly done, ask a friend or spouse to — From contributions by Ken Fuson, Steve
produce just a couple of paragraphs for � Plan your ending. Everyone does read it. Tell them to mark any spots Buttry, Emily Dooley, Steve Paul, Judd Slivka,
the story, write them. endings differently, but it’s vital in a where they get confused or bored. Larry Peterson and Mike McGraw

BUT BEFORE I always fall back on the wisdom I heard at a panel discussion I My philosophy is this: I’m glad newspapers make room for
attended years ago in Pennsylvania. On the dais were writing-award projects. I’m glad we spend manpower on projects. I’m glad we
YOU UNLEASH winners in diverse categories, and sitting side by side were an odd reach for projects, because if we didn’t, no medium would. But
THAT EPIC OF couple. One was a dressed-to-the-hilt big-city reporter, perfectly we cannot expect people to read them. The best we can hope
ENTERPRISE, groomed and filled with more rhetorical gas than the Hindenberg. for is that people will realize we did them and will appreciate
HEED THESE He talked ponderously for 10 uninterrupted minutes about the that we care enough to try to explain our complicated world.
SOBERING cosmic significance of the 12-part series for which he won his award. My one piece of advice for reporters embarking on a project is
WORDS OF Next to him sat a bearded, smirking wiseacre wearing a golf shirt, this: Always, always, always think story-story-story. Never just
jeans and sandals, no socks. He probably had won his award for gather facts. Always see how facts will fit into the story. Don’t
CAUTION some sarcastic sports column. After Mr. Big City finished pumping the get caught up in the moment, in the thrill of getting juicy infor-
From Jim Stasiowski, room full of helium, Mr. Wiseacre punctured the presentation this mation, a colorful quotation, a touching anecdote. Most stories
writing coach way: “Long stories, huh? I don’t write ’em, ’cause I don’t read ’em.” fail because of too much information, not because of too little.
128 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Investigative “I don’t put people in

jail. I put them in the
reporting newspaper.”
Robert L. Bartley,
editor, Wall Street Journal
In a free society, some journalists do “There is not a crime,
more than just explain — they expose. there is not a dodge,
there is not a trick,
Yes, the stories you write can inform and inspire — there is not a swindle
but most nobly of all, they can “comfort the afflicted which does not live by
secrecy. Get these things
and afflict the comfortable,” as Finley Peter Dunne out in the open, describe
once wrote. It’s the journalist’s job, as society’s them, attack them,
watchdog, to monitor the conduct and misconduct ridicule them in the
of government and business, the rich and powerful — press, and sooner or
later public opinion
the “comfortable,” in other words. will sweep them away.”
America boasts a proud tradition of investigative Joseph Pulitzer,
reporting, from Nellie Bly’s exposé of 19th-century one of the first newspaper
publishers to crusade
insane asylums to Woodward and Bernstein’s historic against corruption
revelations about Watergate. x
“There should be
Yet many fear that this noble journalistic tradition relentless exposure of
is in decline. Though some news organizations and attack upon every
continue to publish bold investigative reports (like evil practice, whether in
politics, in business, or
the Detroit Free Press at right), others are too fearful in social life. I hail as a
of appearing biased, offending readers, alienating benefactor every writer
advertisers or instigating messy legal battles. Smaller or speaker, every man
staffs and shrinking budgets also force publications who, on the platform,
or in book, magazine
to curtail the “luxury” of lengthy investigations — or newspaper, with
no matter how worthy those projects may be. merciless severity makes
such attack, provided
always that he in his
turn remembers that the
DIGGING UP DIRT: ADVICE FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTERS attack is of use only if it
� Be skeptical . . . Just because documents look legitimate � Cast a wide net. Collect as much information as you is absolutely truthful.”
and politicians look sympathetic doesn’t mean there aren’t can and cultivate as many sources as possible. “It’s impor- Theodore Roosevelt
distortions and deceptions lying beneath the surface. tant to develop sources before police and lawyers shut
“Among the things I
Assume that all public officials and PR spokespeople have them up,” says Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David
learned was how hard it
hidden agendas. Trust no one. Barstow. “Be an optimist. You never know when they’ll can be to dig out things
� . . . but remain objective. Admit it: As tell you something they’d usually never tell. that people, especially
a reporter, you’ve got an agenda, too. So WHAT IS Put your best efforts into finding human powerful people, don’t
don’t let your emotions and biases hijack INVESTIGATIVE sources, on finding warm bodies, even if want the public to know
your news judgment. A sense of outrage REPORTING? they’ll only talk off-the-record or on back- ... which, very often —
and revenge is understandable when you’re It is the reporting, ground. They’ll give you a direction.” more often than not, in
exposing creeps and crooks, but don’t turn through one’s own work � Keep your nose clean. “Avoid doing fact — turn out to be
into a vigilante. Remain a journalist. product and initiative, of illegal or unethical things that, if somebody things that your fellow
matters of importance found out, could be used against you as citizens need to know.
� Focus tightly. Avoid flat, flabby “umbrel-
which some persons or blackmail to drop or change a story,” I also learned that when
la” series on generic topics like teen preg- organizations wish to
advises veteran reporter Jerry Uhrhammer. you do this kind of
nancy and campaign finance. Instead, tell keep secret. The three
“You can’t worry about threats to yourself reporting, not everybody
a good story. Focus on just one case, one basic elements are:
and your family. I’m more concerned with is going to love you or
corrupt official; find ways to make your � that the investigation
even respect you for it.
discoveries resonate with readers. be the work of the being set up. You never know when some-
reporter, not a report one will try to use something against you.” And that even when
Above all, avoid the “notebook dump”: your reporting is right
of an investigation made
sprawling stories loaded with unnecessary � Work the Web to connect the dots — — sometimes especially
by someone else;
details. “Ninety percent of your reporting � that the subject of the
to find documents, identify players, study when it is right — you
should stay in your notebook,” says David story involves something the law. Better yet, go online for help at will catch hell and pay a
Boardman, managing editor of the Seattle of reasonable importance www.ire.org/resourcecenter, the Web site price for it.”
Times. “It hurts your credibility to spill a lot to the reader; and of Investigative Reporters and Editors, to Dan Rather,
of ink over something that isn’t worth it.” � that others are attempt- read stories and tip sheets from the pros. CBS reporter and anchor
ing to hide these matters
from the public.
MORE ON NELLIE BLY 206 / ON WOODWARD AND BERNSTEIN 248 — Investigative Reporters 72 < MORE ON USING THE INTERNET
and Editors, Inc. (IRE)
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 129

HOW AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORT ON PARKING-PASS ABUSE CAME TOGETHER

In 2008, Indianapolis Star reporters meter revenues in several comparable
Tom Spalding and Heather Gillers cities. Without exception, those cities
filed a series of stories probing down- were making more money than
town parking-pass abuse. Here, in a Indianapolis.
piece written for The IRE Journal, they We also spoke with business-
explain how they got the story. x people and customers. A local retiree
described eyeing shoes in a downtown
THE PROBLEM sneaker store but then skipping the
This story ended with the city of shop and heading for the mall because
Indianapolis confiscating hundreds of she couldn’t find a parking space.
parking passes from its workers. A dry cleaner complained that the
It started with an offhand comment. same cars parked in front of his shop
A man who hoped to open a sand- for hours at a time every day and kept
wich shop downtown complained to people from patronizing a business
Star business reporter Tom Spalding that relies on quick in-and-out trans-
that parking never seemed to be avail- actions.
able near his storefront property. The The director of a popular down-
parking spaces had meters, but there town market – the home base for a
wasn’t much turnover. Cars hogged large cast of mom-and-pop vendors
the spaces for days at a time. – said the lack of parking was hurting
Stopping by, Spalding noticed that business.
each car displayed a bumper sticker- We stopped one of the placard
sized colored placard on its dash- holders – an employee for the city’s
board that seemingly left it immune Information Services Agency – on the
from parking tickets. He went back way to his car. He said his boss had
to his desk and picked up the phone. never advised him that the passes
Spalding assumed he could clarify the The Star reporters worked with news design were intended only for short-term use.
situation with one or two calls. director Ryan Hildebrandt to label each car in Kelly No one understood the extent of the prob-
Instead, each question led to another. Wilkinson’s photograph of a street constantly lem better than parking meter enforcers, who
Spalding carved out time for interviews clogged with parking offenders. They pointed out had been told not to write tickets to anyone
between other assignments and began to the retired investigator who was still using his with a placard. We followed one around for
realize the scope of the problem. placard even though he no longer worked for the a day and watched her bypass rows and rows
county — and the administrative judge’s “mystery
The city and county had issued 3,300 of cars with placards peeking through their
permit,” which they couldn’t trace to any agency.
placards – more than the 2,600 parking spaces windows.
in Indianapolis’ downtown Mile Square. Even
the ombudsman charged with keeping an THE INVESTIGATION THE AFTERMATH
eye out for citizens’ best interests had two We obtained spreadsheets listing the holders Top officials thanked us for bringing the
placards. One administrative judge appeared of the 3,300 passes: 850 given out by the city problem to their attention. In fact, city and
to be using a homemade pass with impunity. and 2,450 by the sheriff’s department. When county leaders sprang into action before we
Officials said the placards were intended we sorted the spreadsheets alphabetically, could finish the story.
for short-term city business that would allow we found that some people had two or three After the scope of the abuses was made
employees to dash in and out of downtown permits – often more than one issued by the clear to his staff in interviews, the director of
offices. But simple observation made it clear same agency. the public safety department, which supervises
that workers parked in the morning and We also found some people who didn’t parking meter enforcement, announced he
stayed all day. City ordinance stated some work for the government on the list, including wanted all 850 city employee parking passes
placards were valid only on certain streets. a sports team owner, a utility company CEO on his desk in the next week.
But employees – even those who worked in and the head of the county Republican Party. (The following day – the day the story ran –
the prosecutor’s office – ignored local law (Each said they used their pass for govern- the sheriff said he would invalidate the 2,450
and parked outside the boundaries. ment-related business.) We later posted the passes issued by his office and distribute new
Meter enforcers, unable to distinguish lists of placard holders online with the story. permits to a much smaller group.)
between legitimate and illegitimate placards, We also kept a close eye on the streets. As we were hurrying the story to press,
were told not to ticket anyone who had one. Nearly every morning, one or both of us we visited the City-County Building for a last
Meanwhile, downtown shoppers drove around walked areas of the Mile Square – usually the round of interviews. Waiting for the elevators,
and around looking for places to park, and the blocks around city and county buildings – we heard a disgruntled city employee chatting
city lost money as parking meters sat unused. that we had identified as hot spots for placard with his co-workers. We thought we knew
Spalding knew he had a story of abuse, but parkers. We marked locations of cars display- what he was angry about, but we butted in
he also knew it would be hard to document. ing the passes. Then, after two hours had and asked him anyway.
To make sure we could get the story, editor elapsed – the maximum time a citizen driver The city had told the man that the conve-
Alvie Lindsay put it on the news budget and can spend in a metered space – we returned to nient meter spot he parked in every day was
loaned metro general assignment reporter see which cars were still there. now off limits – unless he wanted to start
Heather Gillers to Spalding for a week. At Lindsay’s urging, we looked at parking paying in quarters.

TO READ THE STAR’S STORY ONLINE, VISIT indystar.com/starwatch

130 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Package planning
Teamwork can help turn stories into appealing packages
Most newsrooms are like factory assembly lines: the reporter reports.
The photographer photographs. The editor edits. And then, at the
last minute, the designer designs.
That assembly-line process works fine if you’re making sausages,
but it won’t consistently produce reader-friendly pages. Lavish layouts
rarely succeed when they’re slapped together on deadline.
So how do you retool your newsroom to produce packages like this?
By planning. If you institute a collaborative brainstorming process,
you can shape stories before they’re written.
A few years ago, Buck Ryan – journalism professor at the University
of Kentucky — devised the Maestro Concept, a method of integrating
writing, editing, art and design. Ryan proposed that each newsroom
appoint a maestro, a visual journalist who could orchestrate the interplay
between key staffers. And to streamline the process, participants would
use a story planning form like the one reprinted on the next page.
How does it work? Suppose you’ve gathered information for a big
story. Before you start writing, there’s a brief meeting. That’s where you, the editor, the photographer and the designer, with
the maestro’s help, explore the story’s potential using a form like the one below to produce a package like the one above.

USING A PACKAGE-PLANNING FORM TO IMPROVE A STORY’S PRESENTATION

The story idea: Can Headline/deck: Why
you summarize the wait until the story is
story in 25 words or written – and the clock
less? That’s a good test is ticking – to write a
to see if your focus is headline? Chances are
tight enough – or if you have enough info
you’re still struggling to kick around a clever
with a fuzzy concept. headline right now, or
at least generate key
Questions readers words you can refine
will ask: The first later. Writing the deck
question every reader now also helps the team
asks for every story is members clearly define
“Why should I care?” the story angle.
Try to answer this
question in a useful,
visual way – with a Staff, deadlines,
headline, a photo, lengths: One last
a sidebar. Now: What chance to ensure that
other questions will everyone agrees on
readers have, and how when the different story
can you best answer elements are due, what
them? That list of side- sizes they’ll be, and
bar options provides most important, who’s
alternative ideas for responsible for what.
reporting and design.
Photos or illustrations: Too often, photographers are excluded from Rough layout: While those ideas for photos, sidebars and headlines are
story-planning conferences, then sent on assignment with hardly a being kicked around, the designer can sketch a layout that integrates all
clue what the story’s about. But when photographers are included in the key ingredients with their proposed shapes and sizes. Everything is
this preliminary discussion, they can shape the direction of the imagery subject to change, of course, but by the end of the meeting, all the partici-
AND the reporting. By this point in the planning meeting, an attentive pants should agree on this preliminary vision of the page. Remember, this
photographer should be able to suggest photo ideas – or, if the story is is just a starting point — the actual page should only get better. After the
better served by illustrations, staffers can weigh those options instead. meeting, this form is photocopied and distributed for future reference.

A PLANNING FORM FOR ONLINE STORIES AND PROJECTS > 175

132 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Short-form alternatives MOVING CHECKLIST

One month before you move:
To reach readers, sometimes you’ve got to condense the data. � Make arrangements with a rental
truck or moving company.
We’ve said it over and over: Narrative text is not the only way to convey information. � File a change of address with post
It’s often slow and inefficient. And if that’s all you ever do — forming words into office.
sentences, sentences into paragraphs, paragraphs into stories — your old-fashioned � Transfer children’s school records.
� Sell or donate unwanted items.
editors may be satisfied, sure. But what about your audience?
Tomorrow’s readers will have shorter attention spans than any previous generation. One week before you move:
� Contact utilities to change service.
They’ll be more impatient. More distracted. Less tolerant of rambling text. � Empty and defrost refrigerator.
So tomorrow’s smart reporters will need new tools in their journalistic toolbox. � Make an inventory list of all your
They’ll need to deliver data more efficiently by using alternative formats like those belongings.
� Start packing boxes.
demonstrated here. Short-form options won’t replace narrative stories, but they’ll
help you condense information into reader-friendly chunks. The day you move:
� Turn off water and lights.
� Lock all windows and doors.
� Make a final walk-through to
check for personal belongings.
Pittsburgh PROFESSOR’S PROFILE
Steelers
vs. Susan Mango Curtis
CHECKLIST
Arizona Position: Assistant professor,
Want readers to grab their pencils and
Cardinals Medill School of Journalism
interact with the guidance you’re giving them?
Where: Tampa, Fla. Specialty: Visual journalism
Add a checklist. It provides an inventory of
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Sunday Professional credentials:
activities — but it also makes the information
TV: KGW, Channel 8 (NBC) Design consultant; former
assistant managing editor for more meaningful, accessible and personal.
Radio: WUGH (1130 AM)
the Akron (Ohio) Beacon < MORE EXAMPLES of checklists can be found
Journal; former art director in this book on pages 59, 100 and 125.
for the National Rifle Association; active member
FAST-FACTS BOX of the National Association of Black Journalists
Readers appreciate it when you distill the and the Society for News Design, where she
who-what-when-where-why into a concise recently completed a one-year term as president.
package. With a fast-facts box, you can high- Currently working on: A design ethics code for THE TOP VILLAINS
light key facts without slowing down the text — the Society for News Design.
Greatest accomplishment: Being part of the OF ALL TIME
or provide essential data for those who may
Beacon Journal team that won the 1994 Pulitzer Selected by the Online Film Critics Society
not want to read the text at all.
Fast-facts boxes can deliver statistics. History. Prize for a series titled “The Question of Color.”
Greatest passion: To empower visual journalists 1. Darth Vader,
Definitions. Schedules. Trivia. They can update The Star Wars saga
readers on what just happened, or try to to become strong voices of change in newsrooms
around the world. 2. Hannibal Lecter,
explain what happens next:
Private pleasure: Eating banana pudding. Silence of the Lambs
Nobody knows I’m: very uncomfortable in large 3. Norman Bates,
groups of people Psycho
A FLAWED LAW I’ve never been able to: learn how to swim.
The law: A Warrenton ordinance 4. Hans Gruber,
I’d give anything to meet: Congressmen Adam
which states, “Riding of bicycles Die Hard
Clayton Powell Jr.
and skateboards is prohibited in If I could change one thing about myself: 5. Frank Booth,
certain areas.” I would like to be taller. Blue Velvet
Why it was passed: To protect Favorite quote: “My good friend, I’ve got a
citizens walking on sidewalks. 35-millimeter camera in my pocket. You’ve got a
When: Enacted in 1988. 45 automatic in yours. But I feel my weapon is
Fine: $25 to $250. probably more powerful than yours.” LIST
The problem: Judge H. Dudley — PHOTOJOURNALIST GORDON PARKS What’s the best-selling DVD of all time?
Payne ruled that the town cannot The biggest fast-food chain? The most popular
enforce such an ordinance because Christmas toy? The most prestigious college?
state code permits cities to regulate Readers love knowing who’s the biggest,
only bicycles — not skateboards. BIO BOX richest, fastest, best — and the most concise
What happens next: The General You can learn a lot about a person — and compress a lot of way to convey that data is by compiling a list.
Assembly will consider a bill that information into a small space — by distilling biographical data Lists can be entertaining (the top movie vil-
will allow towns to prohibit skate- into a bio box like the example above. Some publications run lains), provocative (the worst local polluters),
boarders in certain areas; if passed, expanded boxes like this as stand-alone features. (If they’re even spiritual (the Ten Commandments).
it would go into effect July 1. comprehensive enough, they don’t require any accompanying < MORE EXAMPLES of lists can be found in this
— The Fauquier Citizen text at all.) But most reporters use them to supplement longer book on page 8 and 9. (Even the pages you’re
profiles by compiling personal facts in a tidy, logical way. looking at now are basically just one big list.)
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 133

QUIZ
How to care for If you’re a student reading this, WHAT’S YOUR ELVIS IQ?
an amputated body part: you’re probably sick of quizzes. But 1. How many Elvis albums 5. Which of Elvis’ records was
Wrap the severed part in plastic readers aren’t. They like interacting reached Number One? his own favorite?
kitchen wrap or a plastic bag. with stories, whether the topic is 2. What was Elvis’ major in 6. What was the name of Elvis’
Do not use cotton on open wounds. health (Are You Too Fat?) or sports high school? flamboyant manager?
(Test Your Soccer IQ). True/false, 3. What was Elvis’ middle 7. How much did Elvis weigh
Wrap again in gauze or soft
yes/no, multiple choice — whatever name? when he died?
fabric, and place the package in
the format, tests add interactivity. 4. What was Elvis’ ironclad rule 8. What was Elvis doing when
a container filled with crushed ice.
< MORE EXAMPLES of quizzes can during concerts? he died?
Mark the container with the be found on pages 7 and 145.
time of injury and the victim’s
name. Give it to medical personnel.
— ACEP First Aid Manual

Pounds of waste a pigeon produces each year: 26

FACTUAL INDEX
Percentage of Japanese grade-school children who Often called a “Harper’s Index” (after Harper’s
STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE say they’ve never seen a sunrise or sunset: 50 magazine popularized it decades ago), this is an
These simplify a complex process — from appealing way to present statistics: write the setup
Chances that a U.S. woman giving birth is
baking a cake to adopting a baby — by breaking unmarried: 2 in 5 in text, then follow it with the punch line — usually
it down into a logical, interactive series of steps. a number, in boldface type.
Percentage of Republicans who believe in hell: 69
< MORE EXAMPLES of step-by-step guides can Percentage of Democrats who do: 52 < MORE EXAMPLES of factual indexes can be found
be found in this book on pages 42 and 119. in this book on pages 14 and 27.

HOW TO TELL A REAL $20 BILL DIAGRAM QUOTED

FROM A COUNTERFEIT Sometimes showing is better H.L. MENCKEN,
than telling. For instance, you American journalist:
Hold the bill up to the light. Hold the bill up to the light. could use words to explain the
You should see the words If the bill’s authentic, you’ll anti-counterfeiting design Love is the triumph
“USA TWENTY” and a small see a watermark: a faint features on the $20 bill, but it’s of imagination over intelligence.
flag on a plastic security strip image of Andrew Jackson, much more effective to show
an example and point to the Democracy is the theory that the
embedded in the paper. similar to his portrait at left.
details you want to explain.* common people know what they want
You don’t have to be a skilled and deserve to get it good and hard.
graphic artist to create a simple It is the dull man who is always sure,
diagram like the one at left. and the sure man who is always dull.
If you want to examine what Any man who afflicts the human
you’ll find on a typical student race with ideas must be prepared to
transcript — or an eviction see them misunderstood.
notice, or the new parking
The average man does not want to
tickets, or a typical painting by
be free. He simply wants to be safe.
a featured artist — you simply
reproduce the document and
surround it with what are called
Look for tiny These subtle When you tilt the callouts (or factoids) to point QUOTE COLLECTION
microprinted greens, blues and bill up and down, out key facts. Entertaining and informative, quote collec-
words, difficult to peaches are tough color-shifting ink < MORE EXAMPLES of diagrams tions are usually organized in one of two ways:
replicate, on this to copy — as is in the number can be found in this book on a sampling of one person’s opinions on a variety
border beneath the “feel” of the “20” should pages 29, 76 and 163. of topics (above), or a sampling of opinions on
the treasurer’s paper, a blend of change from one topic from a variety of sources.
signature. cotton and linen. copper to green. * Before attempting to reproduce U.S.
currency, be sure to check regulations < MORE EXAMPLES of quote collections can be
at www.moneyfactory.com. found in this book on pages 36, 37 and 62.

TIMELINE 1918 1957 1968 1998

It gets confusing when you try to put things MAJOR Spanish flu Asian flu Hong Kong Sydney
in historical perspective using narrative text. OUTBREAKS pandemic kills pandemic flu pandemic strain flu
But constructing a chronology or timeline can kills 33,800
help readers more easily visualize a sequence
OF FLU 500,000 Americans, kills
Americans
epidemic
20 to 50 million 69,800 kills 64,700
of events. Timelines usually show the passage IN THE worldwide Americans Americans
of time as a straight line, with key events UNITED
arranged in chronological order.
STATES 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
< MORE EXAMPLES of timelines can be found
in this book on pages 8-13, 24 and 271.
134 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Writing editorials and columns

If you’ve got opinions and an urge to express them, here’s how.
By now, it’s been hammered into you: Reporters must remain neutral. Balanced. Fair.
But opinion-writing is different. In editorials, columns and reviews, writers’ view-
points aren’t just allowed, they’re encouraged. They’re essential.
Opinion columns appear throughout most newspapers. Commentary on current
events is usually concentrated on the editorial page and the page opposite (called,
appropriately, the “op-ed” page). Specialized columnists comment on sports for the
sports section, on business for the business page — while in the feature section, you’ll
find advice columnists, gossip columnists and reviewers. Beyond that, many publications
maintain a stable of columnists, each with a distinctive voice, to ponder life, crusade for COMMENTATORS:
noble causes, or tell offbeat stories that might otherwise fall through the cracks. ARE THEY TRUE
In short, publications need editorials and columns to provide the personality and JOURNALISTS?
passion that news reporting doesn’t allow. A 2005 survey revealed that 40
percent of Americans considered
talk show host Bill O’Reilly to be a
journalist. More than a quarter said
EDITORIALS: WHERE PUBLICATIONS TAKE A STAND Rush Limbaugh was a journalist,
America boasts a proud tradition of opinionated too. But only 30 percent thought
editors dating back to Ben Franklin and Isaiah that Bob Woodward was one.
Thomas, who not only expressed strong political Professional journalists disagreed.
2 views but ran the presses that printed them. Only 11 percent of polled journalists
Today’s editors confine their opinions, arguments said O’Reilly was “somewhat close”
and recommendations to the editorial page, where to being a journalist; 3 percent said
space (and reader patience) is limited — which that about Limbaugh. But 93 percent
means that, to write an effective editorial, you must: called Woodward a journalist. x
� Keep it tight. There’s no time for rambling and Are we just quibbling over the
preambling. Have a point and get to it. Recap key definition of journalist? Or does this
facts and summarize your case like a prosecutor point to a more serious problem:
1 trying to sway a jury. the blurring of the line between
Or to make this point more visually: The longer objective fact-finding and biased
your editorial, the more daunting that gray block commentary?
3
of text will look, and the fewer readers may read it. We live at a time when 85 percent
� Keep it relevant. Select a timely, newsworthy of Americans believe that news
topic that genuinely matters to readers. If necessary, reporting is biased (according to
explain why it ought to matter to them. a Missouri School of Journalism
� Take a stand. Craft a strong thesis statement study), yet many of these same
that urges action or invites reaction. Avoid broad, Americans avoid newspapers and
bland platitudes: asking readers to “support newscasts, getting their news from
America” or “study both sides of the tax plan.” talk radio, “The Daily Show” and
� Attack issues, not personalities. Avoid name- partisan Web sites instead.
1 Editorials: These columns usually run from 300 to 500 calling and mud-slinging. If someone’s actions are So back to the question: Are
words, commenting on current events, criticizing or praising a problem, criticize those actions and tackle the commentators, columnists and
public officials, endorsing candidates and explaining what problem without cheap shots that make it personal. bloggers journalists? Yes. And no.
issues mean to YOU, the reader. Editorials are usually un- � Don’t be a bully. As journalism professor Walter Journalists are those who gather
signed, thus appearing to express the opinion of the paper — Spearman used to say, “Use the rapier, not the and report facts — ideally, as fairly
which means, at small publications, the editor or publisher. sledgehammer.” Be precise, subtle and clever. Sway as possible. Commentators gather
At larger publications, an editorial board debates topics as and persuade, don’t bluster and bludgeon. facts selectively, which isn’t fair.
a group, then assigns one board member to distill the
� Control your anger. Beginners often find it (Some ignore and distort facts, too,
discussion into an editorial.
easier to write an editorial (or a song, or a poem) which is intellectually dishonest.)
2 Editorial cartoon: Combining art and commentary, this
when they’re hurt or angry, Spearman observed. If Then they mix in their own views
cartoon renders current events in graphic form, lampooning
public figures by turning them into exaggerated caricatures. you’re extremely steamed, go ahead and write it — to promote their own agendas.
then toss it out and try again without the shrillness. The more comment you insert
3 Column: Unlike editorials, these opinion pieces are
� Write a strong lead and a solid finish. Grab our into your writing, the more you’re
signed. The opinions are solely those of the writer — and
the most successful writers are those whose views attract a attention at the start, maintain our interest, then obligated to label yourself a com-
loyal following. Columnists usually work for one publication, wrap things up with a thoughtful ending. Don’t let mentator, not a journalist — out
but some sell their columns to national syndicates that your arguments just dribble away; reward us with a of respect for the ideals of fairness
distribute them to publications worldwide. conclusion that smartly caps the case you’ve made. every true journalist should have.

FOR AN EXAMPLE OF EXCELLENT EDITORIAL WRITING, SEE THE MORGUE > 285 RESULTS FROM OUR OWN STUDENT POLL > 300
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 135

COLUMNS: TOPICAL COMMENTARY PERSONAL MEDITATIONS SLICE-OF-LIFE

THE OPTIONS The most numerous and popular columnists Some columnists mine their personal Columnists can be storytellers, too,
ARE ENDLESS are those who react — with insight, outrage lives for universal truths that resonate roaming the streets, eavesdropping
or humor — to political events and social with readers. Sharing painful, poignant on ordinary folks, capturing slices of
All columnists share the same controversies. Over time, readers learn to and humorous insights about families, everyday life. The best practitioners of
goal: to build a loyal following. recognize both their predictable partisan friends and social relationships, their this form use dialogue and narrative in
And one way to do that is by biases and distinctive writing styles: columns often read like diary entries: dramatic, evocative ways:
specializing.
Some columnists specialize in
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen any- A slate roof is a humbling “I would not say,” Scoop said,
sports commentary. Others focus
thing as odd as the right wing’s thing. The one we’re putting on “that I am the world’s greatest
only on music. Or movies. Or TV.
insistence that global warming the old farmhouse is Pennsyl- shoeshine boy.
Some dispense advice, like
does not exist. I’m not a climat- vania blue-black, and it’s meant “But I have heard it said.”
Dear Abby, answering readers’
ologist, but I can read what they’re to last at least a hundred years. If not the world’s greatest shoe-
questions about relationships, saying. In fact, they’re screaming it. shine boy, Wilford (Scoop) Antley
Jeff the roof guy showed us
cars, gardening, even sex. Rush Limbaugh is not a climat- is among the world’s greatest talk-
the copper nails he’s using to
(Sex-advice columnists are ologist, either; nor are any of the ers. Scoop can talk. He can hardly
hang it; they’re supposed to
popular in many campus news- rest of these pinheads who seem get the shoes shined down at the
last just as long. So will the
papers and Web sites.) to think the whole thing is some Tate Barber Shop for talking.
massive beams upon which
Some columnists become figment of liberals’ imagination. the slates rest. “Solid as a can- “I am a professional,” Scoop said.
clearinghouses for tidbits on There’s nothing liberal about nonball,” Jeff says. Looking up “I am now 35 years old, and I start-
local social events. Others write global warming. It’s science. at the roof taking shape slate ed when I was 10. I’m better now
celebrity gossip columns, dishing There seems to be some element by enduring slate, it is difficult than I’ve ever been. I’m at my peak,
dirt about the rich and famous. of childish spite in the refusal to not to think about the fact you might say.”
Many columnists, however, recognize it: “Boy, we can drive the that by the time it needs to be He popped the rag, like the pro-
prefer to tackle a broad range liberals crazy by pretending it’s not replaced, we will be long gone. fessional that he is. He squirted
of issues. While their choice of happening, ha-ha-ha.” In this fast-food, face-lift, no- shoe cream out of an oil can.
topics may vary, they maintain If you read right-wing blogs, you “That’s the secret,” he said.
fault-divorce world of ours, the
a recognizable style and voice find a kind of Beavis-and-Butt-Head “Plenty of shoe cream, plenty of
slate roof feels like the closest
by adopting one of the common attitude about the subject, a sort elbow grease. I take shoes like they
we will come to eternity. It, and
approaches described at right. of adolescent-jerk humor. What’s come. Lots of boys don’t like two-
the three children for whom it
astonishing is finding the same atti- tones. Shining two-tones comes to
is really being laid down.
tude among members of Congress. me like chewing this tobacco.”
Visit THE MORGUE for examples — Anna Quindlen
— Molly Ivins — Charles Kuralt
of column-writing > 282, 284

WRITING COMMENTARY: commentary, you’re just rehashing old news. � Avoid jumping on the bandwagon every
Successful columnists know how (and time a celebrity goes on trial or a scandal
ADVICE FOR COLUMNISTS when) to weave facts into their commentary. erupts. If you don’t have fresh insights to
� Develop a distinctive voice. “It’s not so “It’s your voice with facts embedded in it,” says share, why add to the media-circus noise?
much what you say as the way you say it,” says political columnist David Sarasohn, “not a On the other hand, when major news grips
Keith Waterhouse, a veteran British columnist. huge pile of facts held together by your voice.” everyone’s attention — if a terrorist attack or
“Your column must have a distinctive voice, to � Do your own reporting. Reading previously disease epidemic is all anyone can think about
the extent that if your byline were accidentally printed stories may not tell you everything — it’s your job to come up with fresh insights
dropped, your readers would still know who you need to know. Columnists often research for your column. “There is no point in writing
was writing. If your style isn’t instantly recog- public records, conduct their own interviews about anything else,” Waterhouse says, “since
nizable, what you have there is not a column with sources and grill reporters for extra nobody will be talking about anything else.”
but a signed article.” details that weren’t written into news stories. � Always have a backup column, something
� Base your opinions on facts — and present � Choose worthy topics. “Feeling passionate generic and timeless, ready to run on those
those facts. It’s a delicate balancing act: If you about a subject does not necessarily make it days when you simply cannot find anything
leap to conclusions without providing facts to interesting reading,” Waterhouse observes. worthwhile to write about. Better still, keeping
support them, readers will think you’re just “Having something to write about is not the two backup columns handy provides a safety
a raving loon. Yet if the facts crowd out your same as having something to say.” net that greatly relieves the pressure to produce.

But how
do readers
recognize
S uppose I’m writing
a reporting book,
and I suddenly
decide to express my
outrage about the unfair
ME MY &
Publications usually
provide visual cues to help
BIG MOUTH readers identify opinion
Tim Harrower
columns. These include:
� An initial cap. That’s design jargon
for the big capital “S” that begins the
first paragraph of this column.
These design devices signal to readers
� Column logos, such as that this is not just another typical story.
that THIS federal laws regulating the one at left, which label It’s special — it’s opinion, not news.
story is an monkey cloning. Won’t that be confusing commentaries using the writer’s name Responsible journalists know there’s a
to readers? Shouldn’t we find a way to and photo along with a title or topic. line between objective facts and personal
opinion differentiate the textbook material from � A headline font that’s different from opinions. It’s important to draw that line
column? my opinionated commentary? the style that standard news stories use. clearly and visibly for readers, too.
136 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

SO YOU WANT
Writing reviews TO REVIEW
SOMETHING?
Readers need your expert guidance to find the best performances and products. Publications always need
Today’s consumers are overwhelmed with choices. They’re bombarded with books, movies, music, knowledgeable critics to
write reviews of:
TV shows, high-tech gadgets and gizmos — and to allay their confusion, they seek critics to praise
� Movies — theatrical
what’s good and pan what’s bad. releases and DVDs.
Reviewing is a specialized form of writing: part journalism, part � Music — concerts

commentary, part nerdy fanaticism. The best reviewers are passionate “I am sitting in the and new releases, both
classical and popular.
and knowledgeable about their beats, writing with a critical voice that smallest room in my � Television — new
speaks to both aficionados and ordinary readers. house. I have your review shows and specials, from
And while most people use the words “critic” and “reviewer” inter- in front of me. Soon it Oscar telecasts to Super
Bowl commercials.
changeably, there is a difference. Criticism is the study, evaluation and will be behind me.” � Theater.
interpretation of the arts (which is not the same thing as criticizing). — MAX REGER, � Other performances —
Criticism ponders the meaning, context and social significance of an 19th-century German composer, dance, comedians, magic
writing a reply to a savage concert review acts, circuses, etc.
artist’s work, whether that artist is a poet, painter or pornographer. � Books.
Reviews, on the other hand, are less theoretical. They’re written on � Art — gallery shows
deadline to help ordinary readers answer the question: “Is this thing worth my time and money?” and museum exhibits.
� Food — most reviews
Most of what you read in print or online, then, are reviews. And though critics love to expound at
focus on restaurants and
great length on the social significance of cultural phenomena, readers are usually too impatient for nightclubs, but some
scholarly treatises. Most prefer a quick “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down.” critics specialize in wine.
Or even beer.
� Games — video and
computer games and
On his reviewing process: I like to know as little as possible
devices.
about a movie before I go in. I take notes. If several weeks
� Technology — the
or months have passed since I saw a movie (at a festival, for
latest audio, video and
example), I try to see it again. I never discuss my reaction
computer hardware and
with colleagues. Like most newspapermen, I write the review software. Web sites, too.
not far in advance, but during the week before it is due.
� Cars.
On rewriting: Most reviews come out first draft. Then what I
� Consumer goods.
do is tweak. Magazines such as
On writing to satisfy a diverse audience: I am aware that Consumer Reports have
different readers will be interested in an Iranian art film and a shown that readers
Marvel superhero epic. But in a way I like to think all my readers need help choosing
read everything. My first editor told me: “Anyone who spends everything from cold
the money to buy a newspaper should have a fair expectation remedies and lawn
of being able to understand just about everything in it.” mowers to the best
ROGER EBERT of the Chicago Sun-Times is holiday toys for kids.
one of the best-known film critics in America. In 1975, he On being too critical of actors: I try to avoid personal attacks.
I am aware that while actors have a lot to do with good per- � In addition, many
became the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize. In 1978, reviewers specialize in
he began co-hosting “Sneak Previews,” a weekly TV show formances, they may not be entirely responsible for bad ones.
travel advice, rating
famed for its thumbs-up/thumbs-down film rating system. The three truths he’s discovered on the job:
hotels, restaurants and
Ebert estimates he’s viewed more than 8,000 films and 1) The Muse visits during the act of writing, not before. tourist spots. Others
considers “I Spit on Your Grave” to be the worst film he has 2) A movie is not about what it is about, but how it is about it. offer business advice on
ever seen. His Web site: rogerebert.com 3) No good movie is depressing. All bad movies are depressing. choosing investments:
stocks, mutual funds, etc.
 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS 137

GRAPHIC “The critic writes not what

The Dark Knight 2010 Ford Fusion
EXTRAS THAT is true, but what is true for
MAKE REVIEWS
Starring: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger,
Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal.
•••••
What is it? Gasoline-electric hybrid
him.” B.H. Haggin,
MORE READER- Lowdown: A dark, dazzling reinvention version of a midsize four-door sedan. music critic
of the Batman-Joker comic-book duel. How much? Starts at $27,995 ($3,295
FRIENDLY Rated: PG-13 for intense, violent action.
“Readers sometimes used
more than similar gas model). With to corner me during inter-
Some critics (not you, of course) Now showing at: Eastport Plaza. all factory options, about $32,435. missions in Los Angeles.
have trouble summarizing their How powerful? 2.5-liter gasoline
opinions. This frustrates impatient If you’re really so smart, so
y A fact box for a movie review. engine rated 173 horsepower at 6,000
readers, who often skip to the last talented, so authoritative.
rpm; electric motor rated 106 hp at
paragraph of a review hoping to A fact box for a car review. > they invariably began with
6,500 rpm. Continuously variable
find a clear verdict. x A fact box for a restaurant review. automatic transmission blends power a sneer, how come you’re
One solution: Get to the point. from the gas, electric powerplants. not up there on the stage?
Another solution: Add a rating How fancy? Free six-month satellite ‘You don’t have to be able
system. Many reviewers evaluate McKenzie Grill radio service, six-CD stereo, dual- to lay an egg,’ I’d sigh, ‘to
products or performances by zone climate control, backup alarm. know if you’ve been served
awarding stars (five usually means How big? On the small size of the a rotten one.’ ”
excellent, one means awful ), while Location: 26 S. Main St. (555-3896) midsize scale. It’s 190.6 inches long, Martin Bernheimer,
others assign letter grades (from Cuisine: Seafood in an upscale setting. 72.2 inches wide, 56.9 inches tall, Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic
A to F) or graphic icons, such as Specialties: Crab cakes, pesto-crusted with 99.8 cubic inches of passenger
those forks in the box at right. halibut, lobster stew. space, 11.8 cu. ft. in the trunk. “A wise skepticism is the first
To make reviews even more Price range: Expensive; most entrees How thirsty? Rated 41 miles per attribute of a good critic.”
reader-friendly, publications often $12-$25. gallon in town, 36 on the highway. James Russell Lowell,
Extras: Full bar; valet parking; 19th century poet/critic
create fast-fact boxes like those Tank holds 17 gallons.
shown here. These provide a way disabled access; all major credit cards. Overall: Best hybrid on the market. “Criticism, more than most
to highlight information that might Serving: Lunch and dinner every day. — Adapted from USA Today
types of writing, is based on
otherwise bog down your story. love of one’s subject. Unless
one can keep the freshness
and interest that people only
have when they’re doing
HOW TO WRITE CRITICISM THAT GETS GOOD REVIEWS things for fun, criticism can
� Structure your reviews. Don’t ramble and rant. a five-star restaurant. Transcend your personal prejudices be deadly and unrewarding.”
Outline and organize your ideas before you write. so you can connect to the broadest possible audience Robert C. Marsh,
You might structure a film review this way: Lead, Story- instead of imposing your narrow tastes on readers. Chicago Sun-Times music critic
line, What’s Good, What’s Bad, Summary. For a product � Eschew pomposity. Some critics like to show off their “Readers don’t want to be
review, try this: Lead, Product Description, Special erudition with sentences such as: “Patterns of imagery or preached to or patronized.
Features, Performance Pros and Cons, Recommendations. fragments of significance are oracular in origin and derive They come to a reviewer
Outline the key points you want to make, then spend from the epiphanic moment, the flash of instantaneous looking to be informed and
at least one paragraph analyzing each point. Build your comprehension with no direct reference to time.” enlightened without being
case clearly and logically, like a prosecutor swaying a Uhhhhhhhh . . . . . exactly! made to feel inferior. It is
skeptical jury. Keep it simple. Aim for pithy insights that resonate a fine line to walk, but one
� Balance reporting and opinion. A successful review with readers: “Last night, the Salem Philharmonic reviewers cannot avoid.”
combines fact and reaction — information and insight. played Brahms. Brahms lost.” How about: “The covers Ealasaid A. Haas,
film critic
The trick is finding the right balance. of this book are too far apart” (Ambrose Bierce). Or:
If you spend too much time regurgitating the plot, for “This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should “The ideal critic is an
instance, a film review becomes just a pointless rehash. be thrown with great force” (Dorothy Parker). enthusiastic introducer.
(Two or three paragraphs of synopsis is plenty.) Yet � Don’t be cruel. Be tough, yes. But be fair. Use your True, he must dismiss the
if you spend too much time pontificating, the review reviewing soapbox to inform your readers, not to insult shoddy as such. But his
their tastes. Nobody likes a grumpy loudmouth. primary function is not
becomes a self-indulgent monologue about you.
to go slamming about the
Be a reporter, not just a critic. Provide accurate details OTHER DON’TS: place and showing what a
(descriptions, background history, sample dialogue, etc.), � Don’t ever reveal surprise plot twists or story endings. bright boy he is, but to act
then explain why things worked — or why they didn’t. (Those are called “spoilers.”) as a persuasive, not a
� Know your stuff. Don’t try to fake it. You can’t survive � Don’t add unnecessary phrases like I think or in my dictatorial, guide. He can
as a critic if you don’t demonstrate an acceptable level opinion. Obviously, the whole review is your opinion. dismiss his dislikes briefly;
of expertise, especially if you’re reviewing a specialized � Avoid vague adjectives like boring, awful and fantastic. his admirations he should
topic for a smart audience. In other words, if you don’t Substantiate your opinions with descriptive details. communicate as fully as
know Brahms from Beethoven, don’t even think about � Don’t write negative reviews of amateur concerts or possible.” Ivor Brown,
reviewing an orchestra; if you can’t tell egg from egg- children’s plays unless you enjoy being a heartless bully. British author and drama critic
plant, don’t attempt an upscale restaurant review. � Don’t get personal. Criticize the performance, not the
“Asking a working writer
� Be aware of your biases and compensate accordingly. performer’s private life, appearance, political beliefs, etc. what he thinks about critics
You may not enjoy science fiction, � Don’t take it personally when readers
is like asking a lamppost
but that doesn’t make Star Wars a point out that you’re a clueless idiot. what it feels about dogs.”
For three examples of reviews
bad movie; you may love waffles, visit THE MORGUE 286-291
It comes with the territory. These days, Christopher Hampton,
but that doesn’t make Pancake Pit everybody’s a critic. playwright
138 BEYOND BREAKING NEWS

Answers
to these GENERATING IDEAS FOR FEATURE STORIES
exercises
can be The city’s oldest church — a huge, Gothic-style Catholic cathedral in the
found on heart of downtown— has been condemned. After two centuries of fires,
page 314. floods and rotting timbers, it’s ready to collapse. But the mysterious Elvis
Trump, a reclusive billionaire who lives in a nearby mansion, has generously
volunteered to rebuild the cathedral with his own money (though Trump’s
cathedral will feature ultramodern architecture).
Next Saturday, a demolition crew led by famed explosives expert Barney
“Boom-Boom” Rubble will implode the old cathedral. With the push of a
button, hundreds of explosive charges will detonate, collapsing the structure
in seconds. Thousands of onlookers are expected to converge downtown to
witness the implosion.
Using the list of feature story types on page 117, generate a list of story ideas
— one for each category, and at least 10 in all — that could run both before
and after the cathedral’s destruction.

GENERATING IDEAS FOR SIDEBARS AND INFOGRAPHICS

Take that same story about the imploding cathedral. In a planning meeting,
your editor says, “Look — I’m worried that all you reporters are just gonna
write long, boring stories that nobody’s gonna read. So I want you to
collaborate with the graphics department to create as many sidebars and
graphics as possible. What can we come up with?”
Suggest ideas for:
� A fast-facts box � A list
� A timeline � An opinion poll
� A diagram � A bio box
� A step-by-step guide � A checklist
� A map � A quote collection

HARD NEWS vs. SOFT NEWS WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE REVIEWS?
Rank these stories from the hardest to the softest. You’re free to express your opinions when you write reviews, but there are still
Give the hardest a 5, the softest a 1 — and explain some things you shouldn’t say. What’s wrong with each of the following excerpts?
your reasoning.
1. The Lobster Factory’s most popular entree features pan-seared scallops
�A local businessman announced plans to open nested on a bed of rice and asparagus — but I’ve always found the taste of
a new bar called “H-2-Oh!” featuring bartenders asparagus unpalatable, and this dish did nothing to change my mind.
and waitresses wearing skimpy bikinis and thong
2. On the CD’s third track, “Drinkin’, Drivin’, Dreamin’ About You,” guitar-
swimsuits. A local church group plans to protest
ist Carson Trucks unleashes a heavily distorted Strat riff obviously inspired by
at tonight’s city council meeting.
Robin Trower’s thunderously Hendrixesque solo on the epic “Whiskey Train”
� An angry Burger King customer, upset at from Procol Harum’s otherwise unremarkable 1970 release, “Home.”
getting the wrong order, slashed the throat of an
3. The Farmington Children’s Theater Workshop sucked the joy right out
employee in the restaurant’s parking lot last night.
of the holiday season with its excruciatingly amateurish, painfully off-key
�A dying woman has decided to will her world- production of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” last weekend.
famous collection of Barbie dolls — worth nearly 4. The orchestra, in my opinion, suffered from Hill Hall’s abysmal acoustics.
$2 million — to the local Humane Society.
5. “Recipe for Murder” opens in the stockroom of a Chicago fast-food
� Turkey isn’t just for Thanksgiving anymore. restaurant. Wally (Jude Law) is romancing the night manager, Wanda
Here are recipes and cooking tips to help you give (Jennifer Lopez), whose husband, Tito (Don Cheadle), is a hit man for the
your family the bird all year long. mob. Tito unexpectedly bursts in, discovers the lovers and shoots Wally
�A line has begun forming at a downtown between the eyes. The audience is led to believe that Wally is dead — but
theater for “Star Wars: Revenge of the Phantom unknown to Tito, Wanda and the audience, he spends the rest of the movie
Sith Clones.” The movie doesn’t open for another disguised as Consuella, Tito’s mistress, revealing his identity in the film’s
three weeks, however. surprising climax.
 139

CHAPTER

Law and ethics

We interrupt this textbook to warn you about the trouble
that results when you write the wrong thing, intentionally or not.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
140 Press rights
First, some good news: The Bill of Rights
guarantees journalists certain privileges,
protections and access.
142 Press wrongs
Now, the bad news: You could be jailed,
sued, fired or verbally harassed if your
writing or reporting crosses the line.
144 Understanding libel
How to safeguard your stories from careless
errors that lead to defamation lawsuits.
146 Invasion of privacy
The legal problems that arise when you use (or misuse) ordinary people for a story.
147 Copyright law
How it protects you — and prevents you from illegally reprinting the works of others.
148 Taste and decency (and censorship)
Where do editors, administrators and readers draw the line when material becomes offensive?
150 The Seven Deadly Sins
Deception, plagiarism, fabrication, theft, bias, burning sources and conflict of interest.
152 Journalistic ethics
Concerned about public criticism, newsrooms try to raise standards for reporters’ behavior.
154 Ethics survey
Questions on journalistic values that let you compare your answers to those of the pros.
156 Test yourself

DISCLAIMER: This chapter provides an extremely brief look at some extremely complex legal issues.
We’ve done our best to make this as painless as possible — trust us, this stuff gets incredibly tangled and
thorny — but please remember, we’re not attorneys (thank God), so do not use this book for legal advice
if you find yourself in doubt or in trouble. In the pages that follow, we’ll explain broad concepts in a
general way; for detailed answers to specific legal questions, consult a qualified libel attorney.
140 LAW AND ETHICS

Press rights
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press. . . .
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

Press freedom is a noble idea, but

in reality it’s a threat — a threat to
shady politicians, crooked corporations,
military censors and bungling bureaucrats
who try to promote their own welfare by
restricting the free flow of information.
Which is why journalists constantly fight
to protect their rights, rights they’ve earned
through years of court battles and legislation.
These rights fall into two main categories:
� privileges and protections for journalistic
The third article of this Bill of Rights was the first to be amended
activities, and to the Constitution — thus, it’s known as the First Amendment.
� access to government operations and records.

PRIVILEGE AND PROTECTION FOR SOURCES AND STORIES

Over time, laws and precedents have evolved to FREEDOM FROM NEWSROOM SEARCHES
“Our liberty depends on the free- provide legal protection for journalists as they gather Suppose you interview a source who’s involved
dom of the press, and that cannot and publish information. The guidelines vary from with a crime. You promise not to print her name,
be limited without being lost.” state to state, but generally, these are the principles but police demand to know who she is. Can they
Thomas Jefferson every reporter needs to understand: obtain a search warrant to raid your home or news-
“The press can be trivial, yes, and PRIVILEGE room looking for files, notebooks or photos? No.
it’s not always trustworthy. But Privilege is a common legal term. (You’ve heard of The federal Privacy Protection Act protects you from
despite fakery, plagiarism, distor- doctor-patient privilege? Attorney-client privilege?) It’s such searches and seizures unless officials suspect
tion, lies, government secrecy and used to describe benefits enjoyed by a specific group you’re involved with the crime, you’re planning to
media stupidity, there is an ongoing — in this case, journalists. When reporters publish destroy the evidence, or someone’s about to be hurt.
communal drive in the American their work, they’re protected by: You’re protected, but you’re not off the hook yet . . .
media to ferret out the truth. This � Fair report privilege. This allows journalists to report SHIELD LAWS
is the single most valuable thing we anything said in official governmental proceedings Suppose a criminal trial results from a story you’ve
can do to preserve a free society: without being sued or censored, no matter how written. You’re ordered to testify. The judge insists it’s
protect the right to know what’s slanderous or defamatory the facts or quotes might in the public interest for you to divulge everything
going on in our world. Argue for it, be. All reporting must be accurate and fair, however. you know; you insist that your credibility and your
insist upon it, work for it.”
� Opinion privilege. This protects written opinions newsgathering ability will be ruined if you break
William Kennedy, novelist
(especially insulting ones) from libel suits by rec- your promises to confidential sources. If you refuse to
“The theory of the free press is that ognizing a crucial distinction between facts and cooperate, can you be jailed for contempt of court?
the truth will emerge from free opinions. For example, if you write that someone is Currently, 34 states have “shield laws” that protect
reporting and free discussion, not a thief or a liar, they can sue you for libel (see page reporters by preserving the confidentiality of their
that it will be presented perfectly 144), and they’ll win if you can’t offer provable facts notes and sources. But because that protection isn’t
and instantly in any one account.” to support your claim. But if you call someone a absolute (no shield laws exist in many states or in
Walter Lippmann, knucklehead, or if you claim that “she should be federal courts), reporters are often forced to choose:
editor and columnist fired” or “he’s the worst coach ever” — well, those either reveal confidential information or go to jail.
statements aren’t provably true or false. They’re just A final question: Are bloggers entitled to the same
“Suppression of opinion and opinions. Thus, they’re protected . . . usually. rights and protections as mainstream media report-
censorship of news are among the
� Fair comment and criticism. Like the opinion privi- ers? Some say yes: Any independent journalist is
mortal weapons that dictatorships
lege, this allows you to criticize performers, politi- just as legitimate as one working for an institution.
direct against their own people.”
cians and matters of public interest (see page 145). Others say no: Any bozo with a computer can call
President Franklin D. Roosevelt,
in early 1941. Eight days after the attack on
Now, these three privileges apply to material after himself a blogger — and giving protections and
Pearl Harbor, he established the Office of it’s printed or published. Other rights and privileges privileges to reckless, untrained hacks could encour-
Censorship to control the flow of information. protect the notes you take and the sources you use: age abuses that make life difficult for real journalists.
 LAW AND ETHICS 141

JOURNALISTIC ACCESS: The public has a right to monitor what its government is up to. And ONLINE RESOURCES
you, as a reporter, have the right to cover its trials, attend its meetings FOR REPORTERS
LETTING THE SUN SHINE and examine its documents. That’s called freedom of information or
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS “the right to know” — but it’s a right that’s often tested and contested. The Reporters Committee
for Freedom of the Press
(www.rcfp.org)
The issues: Does media coverage criminal trials must remain open to the media except for Offers a comprehensive
harm trial defendants? Can it bias a rare instances when an “overriding interest” justifies clo- collection of news stories,
jury? Do cameras turn courtrooms sure (usually to protect the defendant’s fair trial rights). links and guides to issues
into circuses? Should the press be The confusing gray areas: Some proceedings remain closed: ranging from shield laws to
banned from certain kinds of trials? grand jury investigations, military tribunals, etc. And in media rights. Highlights:
OPEN Why this matters: In the words of certain sensitive trials, publishing names of jurors, under- � “How to Use the Federal
COURTROOMS “The Associated Press Stylebook”: age defendants or victims of sex crimes is forbidden. FOI Act” (www.rcfp.org/
Access to judicial “The public has a right to know how What you can do: If a judge closes the courtroom, be pre- foiact/index.html)
An online do-it-yourself
proceedings the court system is handling crimi- pared to make a statement. Reporters often carry cards to
booklet giving step-
nal matters, what kind of deals may read from, which say something like: “Your honor, I am by- step tips on using
be struck by prosecutors and defense lawyers, what kind ______ , a reporter for ______ , and I object to this pro- the federal Freedom of
of evidence may be kept from the jury, and what sort of posed closing. I respectfully ask the Court for a hearing at Information Act.
police or prosecutorial acts or omissions have occurred.” which our attorney is prepared to make arguments that this � “Tapping Officials’
What the law dictates: The Supreme Court has ruled that closure violates the First Amendment. . . .” Secrets” (www.rcfp.org/
ogg/index.php) A roundup
of every state’s open
The issues: Should public officials be receive revenue from taxes are subject to open meeting records and open meetings
allowed to make decisions behind laws (or “sunshine” laws, as they’re often called). School laws.
closed doors, free from scrutiny? boards, city councils, student senates, parking committees � “Can We Tape?” (www.
At what point does governmental — they’re all required to open their sessions to the public rcfp.org/ taping/ index.
secrecy become a serious concern? and notify the media in advance of all meetings. html) A state-by-state
Why this matters: It’s all about trust. The confusing gray areas: State laws are often vague about guide to laws regulating
OPEN the taping of conversations
MEETINGS Every citizen has a right to monitor what constitutes a “meeting.” Some are allowed to remain
and phone calls.
Access to official the government’s activities and hold private if they involve legal matters or employee reviews,
� Legal Defense Hotline
public business public officials accountable for their or if a quorum of members isn’t present. Some executive (1-800-336-4243). Offers
decisions. And it’s the press’s job sessions (where no votes are taken) may also be exempt. free advice to journalists
to monitor meetings on the public’s behalf. If journalists What you can do: Sadly, many sunshine laws have no teeth. and media lawyers 24
don’t act as watchdogs, who will? If the law is violated, make noise, in person and in print. hours a day.
What the law dictates: It varies from state to state. Generally, Write stories anytime you’re denied access. It’ll publicize
all local, state or federal boards and commissions that the problem and let officials know you’re watching them. Student Press Law Center
(www.splc.org)
Monitors breaking news
The issues: Shouldn’t all government upon request. Every state has its own version of FOIA and offers help with legal
records be accessible to the public? covering schools, courts, cops, government, etc. issues facing high school
Who gets to decide what’s available The confusing gray areas: The law exempts some material and college journalists.
— and what’s off-limits? Does from public access: defense secrets, medical files, sensitive � “Open Records Law
invoking “national security” simply law-enforcement data. etc. But most gray areas result Request Letter Generator”
(www.splc.org/ foiletter.
OPEN allow some agencies and officials to from confused bureaucrats and nervous public officials
asp). A fill-in-the-blank
RECORDS operate in secret, free of oversight? who don’t understand or obey the law — and thus deny form to help you request
Access to public Why it matters: Public officials must or ignore legitimate requests for information. state or local public
documents be held accountable for the money What you can do: To access records, first contact the agency records.
they spend, the actions they take, and make an informal request by phone or e-mail. If you � SPLC Virtual Lawyer
the mistakes and corruption they often try to conceal. hit a wall, submit a written FOIA request (see resources at (www.splc.org/ virtual_
What the law dictates: In 1966, Congress passed the land- right). But be patient. Requests can take weeks, months, lawyer). Quick answers
mark Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), requiring all even years. Improper rejections can be appealed or — to press-rights questions.
federal agencies to make most of their records available if you can afford it — challenged in court.
People say, “Why are you
poking your nose into
Yes, you should always be polite and respectful, but remember, if you somebody else’s business?”
YOU’RE A My response is, “It’s not
REPORTER. find yourself nose-to-nose with a bald, burly bureaucrat who tells you
somebody else’s business.
to bug off because his files are off-limits to pushy reporters like you,
BE TOUGH. instead of slinking away in defeat you should grit your teeth and vow
It’s YOUR business
DON’T LET to yourself: “Listen, pal, just because you work for The Man in this fancy
we’re poking into.
THOSE BIG Aren’t you inter-
office does not make it YOUR information. It’s OURS: we the people. ested in our find-
BLOWHARDS So how dare you keep the public’s information from the public? I won’t ing out for you
PUSH YOU be intimidated. I will get what I need eventually, and if you don’t give what’s going on?”
AROUND. it to me I will get it another way, even if it makes you look stupid.” x Arthur Sulzberger,
publisher,
The New York Times

104 < MORE ON COVERING COURTS 108 < MORE ON COVERING MEETINGS READ AN EXCELLENT ESSAY ON THIS TOPIC BY DAVID SIMON > 292
142 LAW AND ETHICS

Press wrongs During the funeral

of rapper Biggie
Smalls in 1997, a
What happens when your big story leads to big trouble? scuffle broke out
between cops and
“The power of the press” isn’t just a noble-sounding cliché. It’s real. rowdy fans. Julia
Journalists do have power; their words can comfort the afflicted, afflict Campbell, a free-
lance reporter for
the comfortable, educate and entertain audiences of millions. The New York
But power often leads to trouble. William Randolph Hearst once Times, was arrest-
boasted that “you can crush a man with journalism,” and he was right. ed and charged
You can crush the guilty — but if you’re not careful, you can crush the with disorderly
conduct. “I acted
innocent, too. And in return, you can be sued. Disgraced. Dismissed. as a professional,”
Yes, bad things happen to bad reporters who lie, cheat, plagiarize and Campbell insisted,
victimize. But bad things happen to good reporters, too. They often pay though police
a price for being society’s watchdogs, getting knocked down, locked up, claimed she used
harsh language
cussed out and hauled into court. Journalism does get dangerous. and pushed an
We’re not trying to frighten you. But if you’re willing to exercise the officer. All charges
power of the press, you’d better be prepared when things go wrong. were later dropped.

more a reason to smile than call I would have realized he’d kept up on my doorstep or call me at
the police, as most of the people the bust secret from his family all home. The threats range from
doing the threatening are basically those years. This I learned from “I’m going to call a lawyer” to
big fish in small ponds who run his invasion-of-privacy lawsuit. “I’m going to kick your ass.”
things the way their idol Boss For outing his secret, the paper The mother of a man convicted
Hogg did. It’s cute, really, as long as settled for an undisclosed sum. of child molestation (he and a
they’re not armed with projectiles. Jeff Sturgeon, The Roanoke Times partner held free puppet shows for
Michael Bockoven, children) literally jumped on my
TROUBLE IN THE Grand Island Independent
After readers complained about back as we exited the courthouse,
NEWSROOM: WHAT not enough “good news” in the sending us both tumbling down
DID IT TEACH YOU? An alert reader called our college the steps. An assistant district
newspaper one day, tipping us off paper, I once wrote a satirical
column filled with obviously attorney pulled her off.
A cop was shot. I needed informa- to what turned out to be about
bogus “good news,” including: Karen Jeffrey,
tion. An ambulance crew invited a dozen film reviews by a single Cape Cod Times
me to look at their police dispatch author plagiarized from other “Due to a computer error, all losing
computer. “It’s public record any- newspapers. Whoops. The plagia- lottery tickets are actually winners
way, right?” they said, beckoning rism was blatant and extensive, so this week.” The next morning, I Getting sued for libel is a great
me inside. Then things got compli- we fired the reviewer, who claimed learned the dangers of satire. We investigative tool. I learned that
cated. Police came; the crew denied he had been under a lot of stress were deluged with calls, including when I was sued over a story I
the invitation; prosecutors started and didn’t know that what he was one from the State Lottery Office wrote in 1990 for Willamette
talking felonies. I had to hire my doing was wrong. We are very where 30 people were lined up to Week, Portland’s alternative
own attorney and could afford deliberate now about about telling collect their $1 million. One angry newsweekly. I wrote that police
only to plea to misdemeanor new staffers each semester what is caller said, “So you’re telling me suspected rock promoter Larry
“attempted computer trespass.” and isn’t proper. And we made a that everything in that column of Hurwitz had murdered his public-
Good reporting, my editor said at very embarrassing apology phone yours is just a bunch of B.S.?” ity director, Tim Moreau. Hurwitz
first. Later, he decided he didn’t call to the most-ripped-off paper. “No!” I replied. “Well, yeah — sued Willamette Week and me
believe me and I was fired. Lucas Grundmeier, that is what I’m telling you.” for libel for $5 million a year
Don Hamilton, former managing editor, Iowa State Daily Jim Kershner, later. During the depositions, our
former reporter with The Columbian The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, Wash. lawyers were able to ask Hurwtiz
While a court reporter in Ventura, (This incident happened at another paper.) detailed questions about his pri-
Community journalism is fun, Calif., I talked my way inside the vate and business life that he had
especially in small towns because courthouse’s trial-evidence vault Covering police and courts yields to answer, under oath. Among
people are eager and unafraid to for a feature story. After viewing numerous threats in person and other things, he was forced to
tell you what they think of you weapons, bloodied clothing and by telephone, most often from reveal he lied on his taxes. After
and your product. In small towns such, I learned the oldest item still mothers, wives or girlfriends of the libel suit was dismissed, I used
I’ve been spit on, told “I wouldn’t in storage was a $5 bill used in the accused or convicted. I use a his answers to continue reporting
use your paper to wipe my ass” by a marijuana transaction decades post office box for an address, use on the case. Hurwitz was eventually
a town’s mayor, shoved, threat- earlier. I knew I had my lead. I another name in the telephone charged with the crime, pleaded
ened (“I’d watch your back, boy”) could not find the pot buyer to book, and use my work phone no contest and is currently serving
and followed out of town to make interview but ran his name in number on personal checks to time for murdering Moreau.
sure I left. In each case, it was the story. Had I contacted him, avoid having angry people show Jim Redden, Portland Tribune
 LAW AND ETHICS 143

The reporter’s guide to Reporters enjoy a certain amount of freedom, privilege and power. But there’s a downside to
reporting, too: you can land in all kinds of trouble. The chart below will help you gauge the
severity of common problems that can arise from bad luck, bad judgment or bad intentions.

TROUBLE We’re not trying to make you paranoid. We just want to alert you to some common dangers
you need to avoid. In the pages ahead, we’ll explore some of these topics in more detail.

THE OFFENSE EXAMPLE HOW TO AVOID IT

With help from a confidential source, you write a Most states have “shield laws” that let journalists
CONTEMPT OF COURT story exposing a criminal scandal. During the trial protect the confidentiality of most (but not all)
Refusing to tell a judge the source of that results, you’re ordered to reveal your source. sources. If those laws don’t protect you, you’ll
controversial material used in a story. You refuse. The judge jails you for contempt. have to choose: name names or do time in jail.

You’re snooping around a crime scene, or stalking It varies. If you’re in a public space and you’re
TRESPASSING a celebrity’s home, or covering a riot, or pestering not interfering with police activity, you have a
Or, in some cases, it might be called a tight-lipped politician in City Hall. The cops right to be there. Try to reason with the police if
STORIES THAT “Failure to Obey a Lawful Order.” ask you to leave. You argue. They arrest you. you can — but you may still be detained anyway.
CAN GET YOU
JAILED SEDITION You’re a reporter in a foreign country (say, China
or Ethiopia) and you write a story criticizing the
Thankfully, sedition is no longer a crime in the
U.S. (though it was, as recently as World War I).
Publishing material deemed too critical government. You’re jailed, without trial, for “aid- But overseas, reporters are still imprisoned for
of government leaders or policies. ing the enemy” or “conspiring to incite unrest.” attempting to expose official wrongdoing.

Something in your story — a description, quote, Truth is the best defense. As long as you can
LIBEL photo, even a headline — insults, misrepresents prove that what you wrote is true, you’ll win —
Publishing a falsehood that holds or defames someone. If they can prove you were uhhh, probably. But there are lots of variables
someone up to public ridicule or scorn. careless or malicious, it could cost you millions. that make libel law messy. (See the next page.)

You write a story called “Who’s the Old Hermit Always ask: Am I dragging this person unwillingly
INVASION OF PRIVACY in That Creepy House?” with quotes from neigh- into the spotlight? Exposing someone’s personal
STORIES THAT Using someone in a story in a way that bors and photos peeking into the windows — secrets without consent? If a story exploits or
violates their right to be left alone. all of this without the owner’s consent. He sues. hurts ordinary folks, it may have crossed the line.
CAN GET YOU
SUED BREACH OF CONTRACT You interview a source and agree not to use
his/her name in your story. But somehow — by
Avoid promising confidentiality, if you can. Some
courts hold that a reporter’s promise to conceal
Publishing the name of a confidential mistake or under legal pressure — the source’s a source’s name is a legally enforceable contract;
source after promising you wouldn’t. identity becomes publicly known. others say it’s a moral, not a legal, obligation.

You’re researching a story (or a column, or a There’s no shame in quoting other sources, as
PLAGIARISM review). You find that someone else has already long as you attribute any words you recycle.
Passing off words or ideas of others written terrific stuff on this topic, so you Don’t forget: Once online, your story will be just
as your own, without attribution. “borrow” entire sentences without giving credit. as searchable as the text you plagiarized from.

Maybe you lost your notes for a story, so you try Everything you ever write must be provably true
FABRICATION reconstructing them from memory. Or maybe — (see libel, above), no matter how inconvenient
Manufacturing or falsifying any worse — you need a juicy quote, so you concoct a that is. Once you lose the trust of your editors,
STORIES THAT facts, quotes or events for a story. bogus new source with a likely-sounding name. you might as well start cleaning out your desk.
CAN GET YOU
FIRED LAPSES IN ETHICS You’re a reporter covering City Hall. Your editor
discovers that you’ve been concealing a sexual
As a reporter, you represent your news organi-
zation. To readers, you are the news organization.
Behavior on or off the job that could relationship with a controversial city council Thus, editors will judge your behavior in and out
damage your publication’s reputation. member. Conflict of interest? Yes. You’re fired. of the newsroom. Don’t let them down.

You write a consumer story: “How NOT To Get Never forget, there are at least two sides to
BIAS Ripped Off by Used Car Dealers.” Angry dealers every story. That’s obvious for topics like politics
Taking sides in a story, or failing to claim you never contacted them — and because and religion, but unconscious biases can taint or
present both sides of an issue fairly. of your one-sided story, they yank all their ads. slant anything you write if you’re not careful.

At a banquet, a sleazy local politician tells a Sometimes you just know you’ll inflame readers
BAD TASTE racist, sexist joke. Your editor says, “Let’s teach with what you’re printing. That’s OK, as long as
STORIES THAT Using words or ideas that some of that jerk a lesson. Print it.” Hundreds of readers you’ve cleared it with The Boss. It’s far worse to
CAN GET YOU your readers may find offensive. are now blaming you for spoiling their breakfast. be blindsided by a careless or tasteless slipup.
ANGRY You misquoted me, you idiot! You misspelled my Of all the problems on this page, those inevitable
PHONE BLUNDERS & BLOOPERS wife’s name, you moron! You printed the wrong typos, misspellings and factual flubs may be the
You name it — somebody will find a address for my bake sale, you nitwit! You claimed hardest to avoid, no matter how many editors
CALLS reason to get upset with your story. Captain Kirk’s alias on the planet Organia was . . . . proofread your stories. Sadly, we’re only human.
144 LAW AND ETHICS

Understanding libel
It’s essential to know the difference between what’s acceptable and what’s defamatory. EXPLOSIVE
Ben Franklin believed that journalists should be free to write anything they WORDS:
HANDLE
like without fear of being arrested or sued. And what if a reporter abused his WITH CARE
power and damaged your reputation? “Break his head,” Franklin suggested. According to
“Waylay him in the night, attack him behind, and give him a good drubbing.” legal experts,
Drubbings never really caught on. Instead, we have lawyers. As a result, these common
words and
if you write something that’s damaging and untrue, you can be sued for libel. phrases, used
Libel’s a slippery thing. It’s harder to prove in some states than in others; carelessly, are
most likely to
it’s harder to win if you’re a famous celebrity or politician. The legal boundaries lead you into
shift over time, too, as new cases create new precedents. libel litigation:
So what’s a reporter to do? The most concise advice we’ve yet come across adultery
AIDS
is this, written years ago by libel attorney William A. DeFord: alcoholic
Be sure of your facts. Remember than when you make a statement that might be considered damaging altered records
(and, of course, a faithful reporter must often do that), you must not only believe it or even know it, atheist
but you must be able to prove it. Remember that “they say” or even that some authority “said” is bankrupt
not sufficient proof, and that the publication of a libel as a rumor does not make it less a libel. blackmail
bribery
buys votes
cheats
child abuse
AT A GLANCE: THE BEGINNING REPORTER’S GUIDE TO LIBEL Communist
Who can sue for libel? How do I defend myself if someone How can I avoid libel? con artist
Any living person can be defamed; claims that I libeled him (or her)? � Verify any questionable material before
corruption
coward
dead people can’t. Small groups (clubs Generally, the best defenses include: you print it – whether it originates in a crook
and businesses) can be defamed; the � Truth. Nothing beats the truth. The quote or a document, whether it runs in deadbeat
government can’t. plaintiff must prove that what you wrote a story, a caption or a letter to the editor. drug addict
Before we go further, always keep in was false, so you’re safe if you can prove � If people are likely to be offended or drunkard
mind that being sued or threatened with your story is true (or substantially true; damaged by a story, give them a chance ex-convict
a suit doesn’t actually mean you’ve done minor errors sometimes don’t matter to defend themselves in that story. fraud
anything wrong. But libel suits are costly if the “gist” of a story is accurate). � Remember that public officials often gangster
and time-consuming even if you win. make careless, unofficial claims and gay
� Consent. If someone allows you to
graft
Who is it that gets sued? Me, the reporter? publish a defamatory statement about charges that can lead to libel, and using herpes
Usually, it’s the publication. But the him, he can’t sue you later — even if the words like “alleged” and “reportedly” hit man
reporter can be dragged into court as a statement starts causing him damage. won’t always protect you in court. hypocrite
defendant, too, along with any editors � Privilege. If you don’t take sides, the � If you make a mistake, check with your illegitimate
who worked on the story. And if the suit fair report privilege allows you to report editor or attorney and respond immedi- illicit relations
stems from a libelous quote you ran, the on newsworthy statements and public ately. Run a correction or retraction to incompetent
person quoted could be a defendant, too. controversies. You’re entitled to print set the record straight. A sincere, printed infidelity
informer
So what exactly constitutes libel? anything said during most legislative or apology often convinces injured parties
intimate
All five of these criteria must be met: judicial proceedings, too, as long as your to call off their lawyers. intolerance
1. Statements must be false, based on story is accurate and fair. x You’re free BUT: Don’t ever let the threat of a libel Ku Klux Klan
facts that are wrong or unverifiable. to insult performers when you review suit frighten you into withholding crucial liar
2. Statements must be defamatory. their work, too (see top of next page). information. Be brave. If it’s true, print it. Mafia
mental illness
It can be libelous, for example, to accuse
Neo-Nazi
someone of a crime or immorality, to dis- perjurer
Are libel laws different for famous or influential people?
credit a person professionally, or to imply plagiarist
that someone has a loathsome disease. Yes. For ordinary folks like you and me to win a libel suit, we
need to show only that a publication acted negligently. But public prostitute
3. Statements must be published. rape/rapist
figures and public officials (see definitions at the bottom of the
Any form of communication counts, next page) must prove that publications acted with actual malice
scam
whether it’s printed, broadcast, posted seducer
by recklessly deliberately printing lies or disregarding the truth.
on the Web or just sent to a friend. slacker
Angry celebrities occasionally sue supermarket tabloids for libel.
4. Plaintiffs must be identifiable. They smuggler
However, those suits can be costly, humiliating and difficult to sold out
must prove that they’re the ones named, win — thus, they’re commonly resolved with cash settlements. spy
described or pictured. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman settled their 1999 suit against the suicide
5. The defendant — that’s you — must Star after it alleged they needed a “sex coach” to make their movie swindle
be at fault either through negligence love scenes seem convincing; Martha Stewart settled her $10 million thief
(failure to exercise appropriate care) libel suit against the National Enquirer for claiming she was insane. unethical
or malice (see box at right). unprofessional

140 < MORE ON JOURNALISTIC PRIVILEGE

 LAW AND ETHICS 145

THE CHERRY SISTERS vs. “FAIR COMMENT AND CRITICISM”

There once was a vaudeville trio called the Cherry The Cherry Sisters appealed to the Iowa Supreme
Sisters. And they were horrible. In 1901, a critic for Court — and lost there, too. “Any performance to
a small Iowa newspaper caught their act and wrote: which the public is invited may be freely criticized,”
Their long, skinny arms, equipped with talons at the extrem- the court ruled. “Also, any editor may publish
ities, swung mechanically and anon waved frantically at reasonable comments on that performance.” YOU MAKE THE CALL
the suffering audience. The mouths of their rancid features Thus, the legal principle known as fair comment
opened like caverns, and sounds like the wailing of damned and criticism was established. Because the Cherry
souls issued therefrom. . . . Sisters chose to expose Here are seven situations you might
Upon reading this review, themselves to public opin- face as a reporter. What would you
the Cherrys went bananas. ion, they had no right to do? We asked four prominent legal
They felt humiliated and retaliate when that opinion authorities these same questions.
degraded. They sued for got ugly. That’s why all Compare your answers on page 316.
libel. But they lost. critics of books, films, plays, 1 A football coach tells you he’s
Why? For one thing, the sports events, restaurants or benching the school’s star quarter-
judge saw them perform. politics are free to publish back because “he’s been lazy and
“If ever there was a case negative opinions. But they stupid. His head’s not in the game —
justifying ridicule and aren’t free to publish dam- he’s too busy partying and getting
sarcasm,” he said, “it is aging facts that aren’t true. laid.” Can you print that quote?
the one before us now.” That’s called libel.
2 Professor Smith publishes a paper
theorizing that Asians are genetically
superior to blacks. Professor Jones
BORING BUT IMPORTANT: FIVE LANDMARK LIBEL CASES tells you that those ideas are “racist
Nothing makes your head swim AP v. WALKER and The Court ruled that Gertz’s garbage.” If you print that, can Smith
faster than unraveling knotty legal CURTIS PUBLISHING v. BUTTS rights had been violated because, sue you for calling him a racist?
rulings. But here’s a roundup These two 1967 Supreme Court though well known, he was still a
3 A local jazz musician dies. You’re
of Supreme Court decisions that decisions extended the Sullivan private citizen, not a public figure; collecting quotes for a profile about
helped shape modern libel law: ruling on “actual malice” to cover he hadn’t actively tried to “engage her, and one woman says, “She was
well-known public figures, not the public’s attention.” The Court a brilliant pianist, but the heroin
NEW YORK TIMES v. SULLIVAN also ruled that, because private turned her into a thief and a whore.”
just governmental public officials.
This ruling was a turning point Walker, a retired Army general, citizens “are more vulnerable to Can you print that comment?
in libel law, so please pay attention: sued The Associated Press for a injury,” they need more legal pro-
In 1960, civil rights groups ran tection. Thus, to win a libel suit, 4 After a weeklong manhunt,
story that claimed he encouraged
an ad in The New York Times ordinary folks need only show police finally track down Daryl Lickt
a riot. The court ruled that the and arrest him for murdering his
describing abuses inflicted upon story was written under deadline that a defamation resulted from
wife. In the story about his arrest,
protesters in the South. The ad pressure and its errors were inad- negligence, not actual malice.
you refer to Lickt as “the alleged
contained minor factual errors vertent. Thus, because the story murderer.” Is it safe to say that?
and made Southern authorities showed no malice, Walker — a HUTCHINSON v. PROXMIRE
look violent and criminal — so public figure — wasn’t libeled. Sen. William Proxmire used to 5 A professor abruptly quits amid
L.B. Sullivan, police commissioner Butts was a famous football hand out “Golden Fleece Awards” rumors that he sexually harassed
in Montgomery, Ala., sued the coach who filed a libel suit after to agencies guilty of wasting tax a student. (See the Jenny Deadline
Times for libel. a story in The Saturday Evening dollars. In 1975, he gave an award comic on page 22.) Can you report
Sullivan lost. The Supreme Post alleged he’d fixed a game. to Ronald Hutchinson, a monkey that those rumors exist?
Court ruled that “debate on pub- The sloppy reporting had ignored researcher at a hospital.
6 A local doctor who specializes in
lic issues should be uninhibited, warnings of inaccuracy, the Court Hutchinson sued Proxmire for
nutrition says that food served in your
robust and wide open,” even if said. Thus, it showed malice. libel and won. The Court ruled school cafeteria is unfit for human
mistakes sometimes occur. Public that Hutchinson was not a public consumption and that school cooks
officials should be tough enough GERTZ v. WELCH figure and his research was not are unqualified to know the difference
to take criticism about their con- In 1973, attorney Elmer Gertz a matter of public controversy. between healthy and unhealthy food.
duct while in office. Thus, any sued Robert Welch’s conservative Though Proxmire’s speeches on Should you print her comments?
public official suing for libel must magazine for libel after it called the Senate floor were protected
prove that damage was done with Gertz a “Communist” for repre- from libel suits, his press releases 7 In your paper’s gossip column,
“actual malice” (see lexicon below). senting clients suing the police. and newsletters were not. you write: “Adam Zapple, that studly
quarterback for our macho football
team, was seen parking his Corvette
A LEXICON Opinion: It’s safe to express Public official: Someone athlete) or has participated in front of the Purple Pickle Saturday
ideas (“John’s car is ugly”) who exercises power or in some public controversy night. The Pickle, we all know, is the
OF LIBEL that don’t claim to be factual influence in governmental (a protester or social activist). area’s raunchiest gay nightclub.”
Actual malice: It doesn’t and thus cannot be “false.” affairs (a police officer, mayor Slander: Defamation that’s The item will run with a photograph
mean showing ill will, as you But saying “John’s car is or school superintendent). spoken, rather than printed.
showing Zapple in front of the bar.
might think. In libel cases, it stolen” is a statement of Public figure: A person (Defamation that’s broadcast
means knowing you’re lying fact, not an opinion — and if who has acquired fame or by TV or radio is treated by
If you print this, can Zapple sue you
or disregarding the truth. it’s false, it can be libelous. notoriety (a performer or the courts as libel, however.) for insinuating that he’s gay?

WANT MORE LIBEL PRACTICE? TEST YOURSELF > 156

146 LAW AND ETHICS

Invasion of privacy
When unfair reporting victimizes unwilling people.
Some people crave publicity. They want to read their names in the paper
and see their faces on TV. So they run for Congress, sing in a band, race on
the track team or yap happily when reporters ask for their political opinions.
Other people become newsworthy involuntarily. They survive an accident,
witness a crime, win the lottery or find themselves enmeshed in a scandal.
They may not choose to be news, but public interest outweighs their desire
for privacy . . . for a short time, anyway.
And that’s where the problem is. When do ordinary people have a right to be
let alone — to stay out of the news, if that’s what they want? Is there a right to
privacy? The courts say yes; unless people are public figures or involved in an
event of public interest, you can’t drag them into the spotlight without consent. Fantastic! A libel suit where a reporter plagiarized
You’ve previously seen how libel cases challenge journalistic accuracy. As copyrighted material that invaded my client’s privacy .
you’ll see below, privacy cases challenge journalistic ethics and judgment. Ka-ching!

THE FOUR MOST COMMON WAYS Though privacy rights and guidelines vary from state to state, most courts
TO INVADE SOMEONE’S PRIVACY recognize four situations that provide grounds for invasion of privacy lawsuits:

1 INTRUSION 2 PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF PRIVATE FACTS

If you gather information unethically — in a Publicizing personal details — about someone’s
situation where someone has a right to expect sex life, say, or their medical history — may
privacy — you can be sued, even if you never cause emotional distress if the material is:
write a story. This might involve: �Private: known only to family or friends
�Trespass: walking (or snooping) on private and not of legitimate concern to the public.
property without the owner’s consent. �Intimate: something personal that people
�Secret surveillance: using hidden cameras, wouldn’t ordinarily want revealed.
recorders or other bugging devices. �Offensive: liable to humiliate someone if
�Misrepresentation: disguising yourself to the information became widely known.
gain unauthorized access to a private area. FOR EXAMPLE > Suppose you finally interview
FOR EXAMPLE > A journalism professor at a that professor. She agrees to let you use that LIVING WITH
local college abruptly quits her job and drops out of sight. You call her, but she photo. You later learn, from her colleagues, the HEMORRHOIDS
won’t answer the phone. You visit her house, but she doesn’t answer the door. real reason she quit: severe hemorrhoids. She
While standing on her porch, you see her sitting by the window. You snap this asks you not to print the story, but you run it
picture. But because you trespassed on her property and photographed her anyway. Though your facts are true, she sues,
without consent, if she sues, you may lose — even if you never print the photo. claiming the story caused pain and humilation.

3 FALSE LIGHT 4 APPROPRIATION

This claim arises anytime you run a story, a Appropriation is the unauthorized use of
photo, a headline, even a photo caption that someone’s name, photo or words to endorse
portrays someone in an inaccurate way — or sell a product or service — a problem that
as something he or she is not. If it can be usually occurs more often in advertising
proven that you acted recklessly and that the departments than in newsrooms. To avoid
portrayal is “highly offensive to a reasonable headaches (and lawsuits), don’t use anyone,
person,” you’re guilty of invading privacy — celebrity or not, to sell anything unless
which makes these types of privacy lawsuits they’ve signed a consent form.
similar to libel suits. (In some states, they’re FOR EXAMPLE > Speaking of headaches:
considered the same thing.) Suppose this photo somehow falls into the
FOR EXAMPLE > Months after that photo was
Women facing hands of an ad agency — or a staff artist
When
taken, a reporter finds it stuck in a drawer and BANKRUPTCY assigned to design some new ads. This
headache
decides it’s a perfect way to illustrate a story woman looks like she’s got a headache, so
pain hits,
on bankruptcy. But when this woman sees the photo seems to work perfectly. But if
reach for
herself in the paper, she says, “What? I’m not the woman sees it and sues, she’ll win —
relief.
bankrupt!” If she sues, the paper may lose, because she was used to promote a product Odvil.
because this page is embarrassing and untrue. without giving her consent.
 LAW AND ETHICS 147

Copyright law FROM A (APPLE)

TO Z (ZIPPER):
RESPECTING
It protects you from theft (and stops you from stealing). TRADEMARKS
There are two ways to look at copyright law: Just as writers copyright
� It’s a blessing. It prevents thieves and plagiarists from stealing their stories to protect them
your work and publishing it somewhere else — protection you’ll be from theft, businesses register
their names and logos as
grateful for when you finally write The Great American Novel. But: trademarks to prevent them
Years ago, this symbol was � It’s a pain. It makes it dangerous to copy that excellent stuff you from being stolen, too.
required on all printed material find on the Internet: stories, quotes, songs, movies, photos, etc. Logos are those distinctive
in order to establish copyright designs that companies stamp
protection in the United States.
As a reporter, you must respect the law. After all, it benefits you.
on their signs and products:
Nowadays, it merely serves as a Whenever your stories appear in the paper or online, they’re auto-
warning. So if you see this — matically protected. (Your publisher usually owns the copyright.)
© 2009 The Daily News But that same copyright protection also applies to everything
— you’ve been warned that
the attached material legally you encounter in print or on the Web. So before you “borrow” APPLE MERCEDES- SHELL
COMPUTERS BENZ OIL
belongs to someone else. someone else’s material, you’d better brush up on the rules.
But names are registered as
trademarks, too. And corpo-
rations get very protective of
AT A GLANCE: A JOURNALIST’S GUIDE TO COPYRIGHT their names.
Which is why, if you write a
What is copyright, exactly? “fair use” to show readers what makes it newsworthy
sentence like this, you might
It’s government-approved protection for all forms by reprinting images or excerpts. However:
actually receive nasty letters
of creative expression: stories, books, images, songs, � The more you excerpt or reproduce, the closer
from corporate attorneys:
Web pages, etc. A copyright legally establishes who you come to violating copyright. A sentence or two
owns a creative work — and thus, who controls its is safe; a paragraph is probably OK. But several Larry spent the day playing scrabble,
eating jello and tossing a frisbee.
sale and reproduction. About 100 years after the work paragraphs may be pushing it, especially because:
is created (the law gets messy here), the copyright � You must not diminish the value of the original The problem? Scrabble,
expires and the work enters the public domain. work. If you reprint the juiciest passages from a book, Jell-O and Frisbee are all
All work becomes protected by fewer people will buy it, which trademarks. And corporate
copyright automatically as soon will greatly annoy the author’s attorneys get paid to prevent
as it appears in concrete form. attorneys. Remember, too: reporters like you from using
� You must always credit the their product names in a
What happens if I’ve plagiarized generic way. Why? If everyone
copyrighted material?
source of all excerpted material.
Better still, tell readers where starts refering to all photo-
If your editors catch you, you copies as xeroxes, for instance,
they can buy the book or song
could be fired — especially if the Xerox trademark loses its
you’re excerpting, thus demon-
you stole a lot of material in a uniqueness — which is what’s
strating your good intentions.
way that embarrassed your pub- happened to words like aspirin,
lication. If the copyright holder What about using copyrighted zipper and yo-yo. They were
catches you, you could be sued photos or illustrations? all company names years ago,
and forced to pay damages. Again, size matters. Small until the words slipped into
images, like the book cover common usage and became
Suppose I’m writing a story and
I want to run an excerpt from a
at left, are usually safe to worthless as trademarks.
book — or, say, some song lyrics. reprint, as long as they serve a You’ll find many commonly
How much can I legally reprint? legitimate journalistic purpose. used (and misused) trade-
This is a murky legal area with I write for a small paper. Do marks in the AP Stylebook,
no precise answers. But generally, Is it legal to create a parody? lawyers from big corporations which advises you to either
the safest thing to do is obtain Yes. You’re allowed to spoof popular really care if I use their material? capitalize the product name or
permission from the author or characters and creations as long as you That’s what everybody thinks find a generic synonym:
publisher by notifying them, in use them as a springboard for your own — right before they get sued. INSTEAD OF: YOU SHOULD SAY:
writing, of your intent. (The goal, witty ideas and clever commentary. You You may think you’re tiny and
can’t simply copy the original; you have Jell-O . . . . . . . . . gelatin dessert
of course, is to get permission undetectable, but remember: Band-Aid . . . . . . adhesive bandage
without shelling out any money.) to add new material for comic effect. Once you publish something, it Realtor . . . . . . . . real estate agent
Take this Harry Potter parody (above),
But consent isn’t crucial. As a in which Barry Trotter helps Hogwash
becomes evidence for all to see. Xerox . . . . . . . . . photocopy
journalist, you’re legally allowed If a smart lawyer sniffs you out Jacuzzi . . . . . . . . hot tub
headmaster Alpo Bumblemore battle
“fair use” of copyrighted material, and finds you’re attached to a Muzak. . . . . . . . . elevator music
the evil Lord Valumart. By cleverly
which boils down to this: transforming the original novel’s plot, school or publishing company And so on.
� If something is newsworthy — characters and book cover, the parody worth millions, you could land Miswording trademarks isn’t
a popular book or controversial becomes new, different — and funny. in court faster than you can say illegal, but it’s still wrong —
photo, for example — then it’s “My reporting career is over.” sloppy journalistic manners.
148 LAW AND ETHICS

Taste and decency (and censorship) “Censorship is telling a

man he can’t have a steak
Even this book is Who draws the line when subject matter becomes offensive? just because a baby can’t
subject to censorship. chew it.”
Take the Dick Cheney At every publication, there are restrictions on what you can say. When these Mark Twain
story on the facing restrictions are imposed from outside the newsroom — by courts, the military “Did you ever hear anyone
page. Though The
Washington Post
or school administrators — it’s called “censorship.” When the restrictions say, ‘That work had better
printed the actual originate inside the newsroom, it’s called “conforming to community values” be banned because I might
f-word, our editors read it and it might be very
or “meeting our editing standards” — though many call it “self-censorship.” damaging to me’?”
asked us to delete it.
That racy magazine Self-censorship is common, but is it always necessary? For every XXXX Joseph Henry Jackson,
writer and editor
cover, too, had to be you try to print, there’s an editor who’ll delete it because it’s “too offensive”
carefully positioned “If all printers were deter-
to conceal the nipple.
for readers. For every XXXXXXxxyxxxe you threaten to expose, there’s a
mined not to print anything
(We don’t want book nervous publisher ready to spike your story. Journalists constantly debate
sales to suffer due to
till they were sure it would
whether to delete profanities from quotes, remove photos of corpses from offend nobody, there would
reader outrage.)
See? Issues of taste war stories, or withhold allegations about xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx be very little printed.”
and self-censorship that might anger the administration. Benjamin Franklin
are a concern for
writers everywhere. The answers aren’t always easy. You’ll need to develop radar that senses “We do not have censorship.
when you’ve crossed the line. The problem is, the line’s always moving. What we have is a limitation
on what newspapers can
report.”
Louis Nel, South African
Deputy Minister of Information
YOU CAN’T SAY THAT: FIVE REASONS
WHY YOUR STORY MIGHT GET SPIKED “As long as I don’t write
about the government,
� VULGAR LANGUAGE. Editors often bleep profanities to avoid offending religion, politics, and other
readers. But which words deserve deletion? Obscenities range from institutions, I am free to
serious (the f-word, the n-word) to mild (words like bitch and fart). print anything.”
What about crude phrases (kiss my ass)? Racial epithets? Blasphemy? Pierre Beaumarchais,
Decisions will depend upon the character of your publication and the 18th-century French writer
context in which words are used. You can argue that slang and vulgarity “Newspapers are read at the
accurately reflect our culture — but when in doubt, most editors delete. breakfast and dinner tables.
� OFFENSIVE TOPICS. Nothing unnerves a squeamish editor faster than God’s great gift to man is
a story about sex, drugs or a morally questionable lifestyle (especially appetite. Put nothing in the
if it’s accompanied by juicy photos). All it takes is one editor saying, paper that will destroy it.”
“Oh, that’s sick,” and your story gets tossed on the trash heap whether William Rockhill Nelson,
founder, Kansas City Star
it’s well-written or not. Many publications are either too timid or too
conservative to run “threatening” stories about sensitive political or “If a tabloid prints that sort
religious issues. Over time, reporters stop arguing and start self- of thing, it’s smut; but when
censoring — which is why controversial topics often go unreported. The New York Times prints
� CONFLICT OF INTEREST. At some papers, you can’t write a story about
NOOKY’S BAKERY: it, it’s a sociological study.”
“How to Sell Your Own Home” because angry real-estate agents will
SWEET OR TASTELESS? Adolph Ochs,
The story: In a Houston suburb, Charlotte Times publisher, defending the
threaten to pull their ads. At other publications, critics are warned to paper’s coverage of a grisly murder
Daingerfield and her daughter Jackie opened
write only positive restaurant reviews so they don’t offend advertisers.
Nooky’s Erotic Bakery, selling X-rated fortune “The fault lies with this
Yes, stories that anger or embarrass your boss’s clients or political cookies, chocolate Viagra pills, penis-shaped
allies may get spiked even if they’re legitimate news — leaving you messy world we inhabit, not
lollipops (called “Hand Jobs”), cakes shaped
to debate whether to quit in protest or become a “team player.” with your newspaper. We
like breasts and giant phalluses (“King of
the Dickheads”), along with dozens of other
could conceal all the mean,
� LEGAL/ETHICAL ISSUES. Some things are illegal to print: military
crudely comical, sexually suggestive gag messy, tragic and unhappy
secrets, copyrighted material, stolen memos. Some things are legally aspects of our existence from
dangerous to print: statements that defame someone or stories that gifts for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
The dilemma: Suppose two women opened you. We could print only
invade a person’s privacy. And some things may be unethical to print: the bright, sunny ‘news’ on
the names of sex-crime victims, for example. (Should you protect the a store like this in your community.
� How would local news outlets react? Page One and squeeze all
privacy of those who’ve been humiliated and hurt — or does the the bad stuff into briefs on
� Is this bakery too offensive to publicize —
public have a right to know who’s making criminal accusations?) or could you write an acceptable story the last page of the clas-
� REPORTING FLAWS. Sure, some stories may be too unpolished to print. in a lighthearted, non-vulgar way? sifieds, but we don’t think
They may suffer from grammatical errors, sloppy fact-checking, unfair � Would local readers be offended if you that’s what you want from
treatment of sources. But beware: Occasionally, when editors say “the accurately described the items for sale? us.”
What if you ran close-up photographs? Don Wycliff,
story wasn’t ready” or “it wasn’t up to our standards,” they actually after readers complained about a
mean they didn’t want to risk running it and just won’t admit it. � Could Nooky’s run ads in your publication? graphic photo of earthquake victims
So write clean, solid copy — and demand honesty from your bosses. in the Chicago Tribune
 LAW AND ETHICS 149

CASE STUDY #1: CASE STUDY #2:

DICK CHENEY DROPS THE F-BOMB A CONTROVERSIAL CAMPUS COVER
In 2004, Vice President Dick Cheney uttered a memorable obscenity The story explored “erotic body modification”: students who pierce
on the Senate floor. As the Washington Post described it: their nipples, split their tongues and implant jewelry in their genitals.
A chance meeting with Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (Vt.), the ranking Democrat on the But it was the cover that caused the uproar.
Judiciary Committee, became an argument about Cheney’s ties to Halliburton Co., The photo showed the breast of an Arizona
an international energy services corporation, and President Bush’s judicial nominees. State University student, pierced through
The exchange ended when Cheney offered some crass advice. the nipple with a tiny barbell. When ASU’s
“F * k yourself,” said the man who is a heartbeat from the presidency. biggest donor saw it, he protested to the uni-
Newspapers everywhere faced an awkward decision: Should they versity president. The president, in response,
print Cheney’s obscenity? As it turned out, few did. The New York tried to intimidate the student paper — even
Times wrote that Cheney used “an obscene phrase to describe what threatening, through a subordinate, to cut off
he thought Mr. Leahy should do.” Two major funding and “kick the State Press off campus.”
news services, the Associated Press and Reuters, Was the cover image really that offensive?
wrote that Cheney told Leahy to “f--- off.” The “We felt it was artistic,” said Cameron Eick-
Christian Science Monitor said only that Cheney meyer, State Press editor in chief. “It wasn’t
“let rip a vulgar profanity.” lewd, in our opinion. And it was the best way
After the Post received a few dozen negative to describe the exact types of piercings students
e-mails and phone calls, the paper’s ombudsman, were doing.”
Michael Getler, defended using the word: “The The paper’s editorial board (a majority of them women)
paper doesn’t do it unless it’s exceptionally newsworthy and necessary had chosen the cover image after reviewing several photos
for readers to understand and make a judgment” on the story, he said. and discussing their potential impact. As it turned out, the
Interestingly, Getler objected to the way that quote was attributed: most negative response came from the administration, and
“F * k yourself,” said the man who is a heartbeat from the presidency. even that eventually subsided when cooler heads prevailed.
“They should have edited that out,” Getler said. “After all that long Though some students protested the photo, dozens more
discussion about whether to use the word, the article should’ve defended it and supported the paper’s right to print it.
been beyond reproach journalistically. That smart-alecky remark “The paper and the administration now have a better understand-
diminishes the paper and weakens the integrity of the piece.” ing of our roles,” Eickmeyer said afterward. “And students learned
* The Post printed the actual f-word; we deliberately obscured it for your protection. a valuable lesson about the impact of decisions newspapers make.”

STUDENT PRESS LAW: HOW MUCH CAN A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR CENSOR?

American newspapers are free from virtually withhold funding or make other similar
all forms of outside censorship. But student Questions about student press law? The best, attempts to censor or manipulate content.
publications aren’t so fortunate. Consider: most up-to-date source of online information is Public high schools — Two Supreme Court
� The president of Hampton University con- the Student Press Law Center at www.splc.org. decisions, Tinker and Hazelwood, helped estab-
fiscated 6,500 copies of the school paper after lish how much freedom students have and
the editor refused to print her letter praising or censor stories in advance of publication — how far school officials can go to control them
the student cafeteria on the front page. and it’s been a source of bitter confrontations. (see below). But there’s lots of gray area here,
� A Florida principal outlawed all copies of Not all campus newsrooms are protected from and a few states have enacted laws to protect
Wellington High School’s Wave when a col- administration censorship, courts have ruled. public-school journalists from censorship.
umnist debated the pros and cons of virginity. Student press law issues are too far-ranging Private colleges and high schools — “The First
� Administrators at Manatee Community to discuss in detail here; new court cases con- Amendment prohibits government officials
College shut down the student newspaper after stantly challenge students’ rights. Bottom line: from suppressing speech,” the Student Press
battling with its editors over access to budget Public colleges — Student editors are entitled Law Center observes, “but it does not prevent
information and conflicts over prior review. to control the content of campus publications. school censorship at private schools.” Thus, a
Prior review is the policy that allows (or School officials cannot fire editors or advisers, private school administrator can act like any
requires) advisers or administrators to approve discipline reporters, confiscate publications, other publisher in deciding what can be printed.

TWO KEY DECISIONS TINKER v. DES MOINES SCHOOL DISTRICT (1969) HAZELWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT v. KULHMEIER (1988)
AND THEIR IMPACT What happened: Several students (one named Mary Beth What happened: After a high school journalism class created
ON STUDENT PRESS Tinker) were suspended from high school for wearing armbands the final edition of its school paper, the principal censored two
Where are the limits on First to protest the Vietnam War. The students sued, arguing that stories — one on teen pregnancy, another on divorce — saying
Amendment freedoms for their freedom-of-speech rights were violated. The case ended they were unfair and inappropriate. The students sued, claiming
student newspapers? These up in the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of the students. their rights were violated. But the Supreme Court disagreed.
two landmark Supreme Court What it means: School administrators must respect students’ What it means: Censorship is allowed — especially if a story is
decisions help determine what rights. Teachers and students, the court said, do not “shed their “poorly written, inadequately researched, biased or prejudiced,
public-school publications constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at vulgar or profane,” and if the censorship has a “valid education-
can print without fear of the schoolhouse gate.” Free expression — in speech or print — al purpose.” BUT if a publication is an extracurricular “forum for
administration interference. must be allowed, provided it doesn’t disrupt school discipline public expression” where students have been given authority to
or invade the rights of others. edit content, it enjoys greater freedom than a classroom activity.
150 LAW AND ETHICS

The Seven Deadly Sins

Ethical pitfalls that can lead to trouble . . . . or termination.
In the Middle Ages, Christian theologians compiled a list of Seven
Deadly Sins, those vices most destructive to a monk’s spiritual
growth: pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony and lust.
There are worse sins, of course: rape, murder, incest.
But what makes the 7DS so universal is that, as one
theologian explained, “they are found on particu-
larly slippery moral slopes.” Though we all may
flirt with these sins to some degree, when we get
in too deep, the consequences start snowballing.
The same is true for journalism’s Seven Deadly
Sins, those vices most destructive to a reporter’s
career. Many journalists dabble in these sins now
and then — but if you indulge too much, your
integrity and your reputation will nosedive.
Some might argue that other journalistic sins are
just as bad: gullibility, for instance. Long-windedness.
Or brown-nosing politicians and celebrities.
They’re bad, it’s true. But these can be deadly:

DECEPTION CONFLICT BIAS

Lying or misrepresenting yourself OF INTEREST Slanting a story by manipulating facts
to obtain information Accepting gifts or favors from sources to sway readers’ opinions
Is it ethical for reporters to disguise their or promoting social and political causes Columnists can take sides. Cable-news
identities? Many editors say no — never. How much bribery does it take to corrupt pundits can take sides. But reporters should
“Credibility is our most important asset,” a typical reporter? Free meals? Movie tickets? never take sides. Reporters have a duty to tell
Henry McNulty once wrote in The Hartford Stock-market tips? How about a cozy job as the truth, the whole truth and nothing but
Courant, “and if we deceive people in order my “media adviser” after you help elect me? the truth. Deviate from that — by rigging the
to do our job, we’ve compromised that Gifts and graft can compromise your object- facts to advance an agenda — and you risk
credibility before a word is written.” ivity and ruin your news outlet’s reputation — losing the trust of both readers and editors.
Some editors do make rare exceptions. Rest- which is why editors often insist that reporters In the words of veteran journalist Michael
aurant reviewers, for instance, can pretend to avoid any favors, business dealings or politi- Gartner: “If you have an agenda, you should
be ordinary diners, and if you’re investigating cal activities that even appear to taint their not be in the newspaper business. . . . If you
a con artist or social injustice, it may be OK objectivity. TV newscaster Keith Olbermann want to change the world, become a teacher
for you to pose as an ordinary citizen. But the claims he doesn’t even vote: “I don’t believe or a politician or a sociologist or a mom.
rest of the time, you’ve got no license to lie. journalists covering politics should,” he says. Do not be a reporter.” x

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE EXAMPLE

� Chicago police reporter Harry Romanoff was � In 2005, columnist Armstrong Williams was � In 1998, two investigative reporters were fired
famous for his deceptions. When eight nurses scorned and shamed by media colleagues after by a Fox television station in Florida for refusing
were murdered in 1966, he tricked a policeman it was revealed that he accepted $240,000 from to distort facts in a news story. The reporters
into divulging information by claiming to be the the Bush administration to promote the “No Child discovered that Florida milk was tainted by the
county coroner, then scored an interview with Left Behind” education-reform law in columns secret use of a bovine growth hormone linked
the mother of murder suspect Richard Speck by and TV appearances. “I should be criticized,” to cancer. When Monsanto, the hormone maker,
pretending to be Speck’s attorney. For other Williams said. “I crossed some ethical lines.” threatened to sue, the station managers told
stories, Romanoff made phone calls where he (He did keep the $240,000, however.) the reporters they’d be fired unless they either
pretended to be a bishop, the chief of police, a � In a controversial 2004 decision, The New buried the story or edited it to satisfy Monsanto.
White House official, even the Illinois governor. York Times fired freelance writer Jay Blotcher � CBS News created a scandal during the 2004
� In the late 1800s, Nellie Bly pioneered the art because he’d been a “public spokesperson for presidential campaign when it used dubious
of undercover reporting by posing as a chorus an advocacy organization” (an anti-AIDS group). documents to dispute George W. Bush’s military
girl, working in a sweatshop, getting herself Though Blotcher hadn’t specifically written service record. Many accused CBS of “liberal bias,”
imprisoned and being committed to a mental about AIDS or gay issues, the Times said it acted alleging they had failed to verify the documents
institution. (For an excerpt, see page 206). to avoid any appearance of conflict of interest. because they were too eager to “get” Bush.

134 < MORE ON OPINION COLUMNS MORE FROM MICHAEL GARTNER > 296 MORE ON BIAS > 196, 289
 LAW AND ETHICS 151

FABRICATION THEFT BURNING A SOURCE

Manufacturing quotes or imaginary sources, Obtaining information unlawfully Deceiving or betraying the confidence of
or writing anything you know to be untrue or without a source’s permission those who provide information for a story
“There is one sacred rule of journalism,” As a journalist, you need to be sure about A source confides in you; you promise
reporter John Hersey once wrote. “The writer the accuracy and authenticity of every docu- confidentiality. But your story reveals her
must not invent. The legend on the license ment you use. You also need to be aware of identity. She’s fired. Or worse — arrested.
must read: None of this was made up.” the legal fallout that can result from printing That’s the most extreme example of burning
Ages ago, reporters were urged to fabricate material of unknown or unlawful origin. a source. But there are lesser levels of betrayal:
stories to sell more papers. In a famous 1835 Beware of stealing notes, hacking e-mails, misleading someone into helping you with
hoax, the New York Sun told of a fantastic snatching papers from a wastebasket. Theft is a story by distorting what you really plan to
new telescope that revealed winged creatures unethical. It’s illegal. However, if you legally write, for instance. Or collecting quotes just
on the moon “engaged in conversation.” obtain material without a source’s consent, to make someone sound stupid. Or seducing
Try that today — try fictionalizing anything and if there’s legitimate public interest in the people into saying things they’ll regret, letting
in a news story — and you’ll be vilified. Every material, and if it’s not available any other them repair the damage after the story runs.
quote, character and event in everything you way — then you can evaluate whether the Burn a source just once, and that person
ever write must be verifiably true. Period. benefits outweigh the potential harm. may never trust reporters again.

EXAMPLE EXAMPLE EXAMPLE

� In the most famous case of journalistic fraud, � In 1998, The Cincinnati Enquirer published an � In 1998, a Raleigh News & Observer reporter
Washington Post reporter Janet Cooke was 18-page report exposing corrupt business prac- spent six weeks researching a sensitive profile
forced to return her 1981 Pulitzer Prize for a story tices at Chiquita, the banana producer. Editors of Julio Granados — a typical young, hardwork-
profiling “Jimmy,” an 8-year-old heroin addict. then found that, in researching the story, reporter ing, homesick Mexican grocery worker. Upon
Cooke confessed that the boy was a fabrication, Michael Gallagher had stolen 2,000 voice-mail reading the front-page story, federal immigra-
a composite of several child addicts. messages from Chiquita. The paper paid Chiquita tion officials realized Granados had no U.S. work
� Stephen Glass, a reporter for The New $14 million and printed an apology; Gallagher permit. He was arrested and deported. The local
Republic, was fired in 1998 after an investigation was fired. (He later enraged fellow journalists Hispanic community felt betrayed and angry.
revealed that 27 of 41 stories he’d written for by revealing the name of his confidential source � During Minnesota’s 1982 gubernatorial race,
the magazine contained fabricated material. for those messages, who was then arrested.) a Republican consultant leaked damaging docu-
Many said Gallagher’s Chiquita story was solid, ments about the Democratic candidate to two
� In 1998, two award-winning Boston Globe and would have been just as solid without using daily papers. They promised anonymity but later
columnists — Patricia Smith and Mike Barnicle — those stolen tapes. But the debacle left readers decided his identity was newsworthy, so they
left the paper after it was discovered that each distrusting what he’d written — and later led to printed his name. He was fired, and later won
had invented quotes, characters and stories. even more firings, lawsuits and embarrassment. a breach-of-contract lawsuit against both papers.

PLAGIARISM
Passing off someone else’s words or ideas as your own JAYSON BLAIR: A “PROFOUND BETRAYAL OF TRUST”
He was a star reporter with a brilliant future at a prestigious newspaper.
Of all the seven sins, plagiarism is the most loathsome, most shameful,
Now he’s a lesson in lapsed ethics, his fall from grace a grim warning to
most fatal to your credibility. If you don’t understand plagiarism by now, journalists everywhere.
please put down this book and go do some research. In a nutshell: Jayson Blair was just 27 when he resigned in shame
The original. Take these words, spoken by President John F. Kennedy: from The New York Times in 2003.
“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” “I lied and I lied — and then I lied some more,” he
The plagiarism. We’ve changed a few words, but they’re still Kennedy’s ideas: later admitted. “I lied about where I had been, I lied
Ask what you can do for America. Don’t ask what America can do for you. about where I had found information. I lied about
how I wrote the story. And these were no everyday
The solution. Attribute the ideas to Kennedy using quotes or paraphrases: little white lies — they were complete fantasies,
Don’t ask what your country can do for you, Kennedy said; instead, “ask what you can embellished down to the tiniest made-up detail.”
do for your country.” Blair’s scoops on a variety of national stories at first
Thus, to avoid plagiarism, either rethink it, rework it or attribute it. impressed his colleagues, but later aroused their suspicions. After the San
Antonio Express-News caught him plagiarizing one of its feature profiles,
EXAMPLE Blair’s deceptions unraveled. An investigation by Times editors revealed
that Blair had committed journalistic fraud in dozens of stories.
In 2004, Seattle Times business columnist Stephen H. Dunphy resigned after editors
“The widespread fabrication and plagiarism represent a profound betrayal
found several examples of plagiarism in his work — in this travel story, for instance:
of trust and a low point in the 152-year history of the newspaper,” the Times
From the original story, by Robert Selwitz: From Dunphy’s plagiarized story: admitted in a detailed front-page analysis of the Blair scandal. “He fabricated
“Walk down St. Paul’s steps and “Upon leaving, walk down St. Paul’s comments. He concocted scenes. He lifted material from other newspapers
make a right turn onto the first busy steps and make a right turn onto the first and wire services. He selected details from photographs to create the
main road. Suddenly you’ll be im- main thoroughfare. Suddenly you’ll be impression he had been somewhere or seen someone, when he had not.”
mersed in a series of narrow streets immersed in a series of narrow streets Blair’s “tools of deceit,” the Times explained, were his cell phone, his
full of shops selling clothing, Chinese full of shops selling clothing, Chinese art laptop computer and his “round-the-clock access to databases of news
art and artifacts, herbal medicines, and artifacts, herbal medicines, jewelry, articles from which he stole.” Using those tools, any clever reporter could
jewelry, crafts and utensils.” crafts and household utensils.” create a brilliant story anywhere, anytime — just like Jayson Blair.

72 < MORE ON PLAGIARISM

152 LAW AND ETHICS

Journalistic ethics “A newspaper’s core business

Reporters and editors must maintain a high standard of professional behavior. is integrity. News is not a
product like a tire or a paper
At left, you see an actual photo towel. It is what we journal-
ists say it is. The reader has
of a reporter taken in 1898, to believe. A newspaper’s
when the news business had sunk to an ‘brand’ is trust — trust in
all-time low.* In that era of yellow journalism, its judgment, its indepen-
the press’s irresponsibility, sensationalism dence, its values. That’s what
remains constant. The
and warmongering dug a deep hole that news changes every day.”
reporters are still trying to crawl out of. Richard Cohen,
Nowadays, standards have risen. columnist

Journalists are better paid, better “We are never to publish

educated and painfully aware that anything, never to have
something written, for a
public opinion will turn against them hidden reason: to promote
— swiftly, cruelly, even gleefully — somebody or something,
anytime they’re caught committing to pander to somebody, to
a journalistic sin. build somebody up or tear
somebody down, to indulge
Which is why it’s essential to have a in personal friendship
code of ethics: standards and values that or animosity, or to
guide your professional conduct. Tough propagandize.”
William Shawn,
dilemmas await you on the road ahead. editor, The New Yorker
How will you decide what to do? “Every journalist is a kind
*That’s not actually true. We’re exaggerating for comic effect. Is that unethical? of confidence man, preying
on people’s vanity, ignorance
and loneliness, gaining their
trust and betraying them
DOING THE RIGHT THING: IT’S NOT ALWAYS AS EASY AS IT SEEMS without remorse.”
Suppose you learn that the mayor, a married 50-year- Reporters and editors often face tough choices like Janet Malcolm,
old, has a 19-year-old mistress. Does that deserve a story? these: deciding whether to print or withhold damaging The New Yorker
What if he’s wining and dining her with city funds? facts and quotes, weighing the public’s right to know
Suppose you find out the mayor was busted for selling against the harm individuals may suffer as a result. “If you fudge or lie on a
blog, you are biting the
pot when he was in college. Does that deserve a story? Answers don’t always come easily. But when facing
karmic weenie. The negative
What if he’s currently leading an anti-drug campaign? ethical dilemmas, it’s essential to ask the right questions.
reaction will be so great that,
Suppose the mayor tells a tasteless, racist joke at a What purpose does it serve if we print this? Who gains? whatever your intention was,
private banquet. Does that deserve a story? If you print Who loses? What’s in the best interest of our readers? it will be overwhelmed and
the joke, won’t it offend readers? If you don’t print it, Remember, doing what’s safe or legal or least likely to crushed like a bug.”
won’t it seem like you’re covering it up to protect him? cause us headaches isn’t the same as doing what’s right. Steve Hayden,
advertising executive
and blogging consultant
YOU MAKE THE CALL: THREE CASE STUDIES A famous major-league pitcher visits
“I consider my ethics to be
What would you do if faced with these situations? Like most ethical dilemmas, a journalism class as a favor to his
friend, the class’s instructor. While my journalistic underpants.
these scenarios provoke debate and discussion but offer no easy answers.
talking to the students, the pitcher says, I put them on every day and
A local grocer and his wife die when An anonymous tip alerts you that “I used steroids for years. Why? Well, I feel very uncomfortable
they’re trapped inside their health-food someone is mailing gunpowder in letters I needed the boost. Like all the times without them. They need to
store during a four-alarm fire. You’re to the president of a local Bible college, I’ve used cocaine and meth, too, in fit me well and move as I
writing a follow-up story on the couple threatening to “blow all you bastard actual games. Is that really so wrong?” do. If they are too tight they
(Eaton Wright and Liv Good). You want devil-worshippers straight to hell this Suddenly realizing what he’d just said, will bind and chafe. If they
to show how their family is coping with Halloween.” When you contact the he added, “I’m speaking hypothetically, are too loose they will droop
grief, how the neighbors are reacting president, he urges you not to print of course. I’ve always been clean.” down, either tripping me up
to the tragedy, how the store became anything about the threats for fear of Nobody asks a follow-up question.
or exposing my ass.”
popular — and you find, while doing causing panic on campus. Local law- After the pitcher leaves, the teacher tells
Bob Williams,
your research, that Wright once spent enforcement officials insist that publicity the class — some of whom write for the writer, The Center for Public Integrity
10 years in prison for child sexual abuse. would jeopardize their investigation. school paper — to disregard the drug
Do you include that fact in your story? Halloween is two days away. remarks “out of respect for my friend, “It’s OK to screw the
Is Wright’s criminal record relevant Do you have a duty to warn the com- who did us a favor by visiting us today.” elephants. Just don’t cover
here? How do you weigh the value of munity of potential harm? Should you Should the school paper run a story the circus.”
that information against the pain its respect the authorities’ wishes and hold that accurately quotes the pitcher, or A.M. Rosenthal,
New York Times editor,
publication may cause Wright’s family? the story? Or set your own deadline? pretend he never made those remarks?
on firing a political reporter who
had an affair with a politician
 LAW AND ETHICS 153

A CODE OF ETHICS:
ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR JOURNALISTS’ CONDUCT
Most respectable professions — doctors, “Let the facts and reasoning tell the story, rather
bankers, lawyers — set high standards for the than rhetorical flourish.”
behavior of their members. If they step out of “Take care to be right. It is bad to be late, but
line, they lose their credentials. worse to be wrong.”
Journalists, on the other hand, have always “Do not say you know when you have only
included rebels and renegades. Throughout heard.”
history, many unscrupulous reporters have Other newspapers and press organizations
worked for untrustworthy newspapers. soon followed suit. And today, nearly every
But in the late 1800s, journalists began to newsroom has formalized a system of ethical
grow a conscience. One of the first was William guidelines for its staffers to observe.
McKean, managing editor of the Philadelphia One of the best examples is the code of ethics
Public Ledger, who issued a set of ethical guide- reprinted below, which was created in 1996 by
lines for reporters to follow, with advice such as: the Society of Professional Journalists.

CODE OF ETHICS
The Society of Professional Journalists IF THE PRESS IS SO
SEEK TRUTH AND REPORT IT can be equally valid. � Balance a criminal suspect’s fair DARN WONDERFUL,
� Distinguish between advocacy trial rights with the public’s right to THEN WHY DOESN’T
Journalists should be honest, fair and and news reporting. Analysis and be informed. EVERYONE LOVE US?
courageous in gathering, reporting commentary should be labeled and
and interpreting information. not misrepresent fact or context. ACT INDEPENDENTLY Americans love to hate the media.
Journalists should: � Distinguish news from advertising
Everybody’s a critic — admit it, even
Journalists should be free of
� Test the accuracy of information and shun hybrids that blur the lines obligation to any interest other
you — when it comes to the way
from all sources and exercise care to between the two. than the public’s right to know. journalists do their jobs. Consider:
avoid inadvertent error. Deliberate � Recognize a special obligation � 62% of Americans say they don’t
Journalists should:
distortion is never permissible. to ensure that the public’s business trust the press.
� Avoid conflicts of interest, real
� Diligently seek out subjects of is conducted in the open and that � 59% think newspapers are more
or perceived.
news stories to let them respond to government records are open to concerned about making profits
allegations of wrongdoing. � Refuse gifts and special treatment,
inspection. than serving the public interest.
� Always question sources’ motives
and shun secondary employment,
� 58% don’t think journalists care
before promising anonymity. Clarify MINIMIZE HARM political involvement and activities
that may compromise integrity or about complaints of inaccuracies.
conditions attached to any promise Ethical journalists treat sources, damage credibility. � 21% rate the honesty and ethical
made in exchange for information. subjects and colleagues as human
Keep promises. � Disclose unavoidable conflicts. standards of newspaper reporters as
beings deserving of respect.
� Make certain that headlines, � Be vigilant about holding those “high” or “very high.” (That same
Journalists should: 2004 poll rated 21 professions by
photos, graphics and quotations do with power accountable.
� Show compassion for those who their “honesty and ethical standards.”
not misrepresent, oversimplify or � Deny favored treatment to
may be affected adversely by news Newspaper reporters ranked 16th,
highlight incidents out of context. advertisers and special interests and
coverage. Use special sensitivity
� Avoid undercover or other resist their pressure to influence behind car mechanics — but ahead
when dealing with children and
surreptitious methods of gathering inexperienced sources or subjects.
news coverage. of lawyers, at least.)
information except when traditional
� Be sensitive when seeking or
� Be wary of sources offering What’s driving this distrust? Is it
open methods will not yield infor- information for favors or money; a sense of betrayal brought on by a
using interviews or photographs of
mation vital to the public. Use of avoid bidding for news. steady stream of media scandals?
those affected by tragedy or grief.
such methods should be explained Is it a reaction to the inaccuracies
� Recognize that gathering and
as part of the story. BE ACCOUNTABLE
reporting information may cause that plague too many news stories?
� Never plagiarize.
harm or discomfort. Journalists are accountable to Is it a result of the endless assault
� Tell the story of the diversity and
� Recognize that private people their readers, listeners, viewers on the “mainstream media” from
magnitude of the human experience have a greater right to control infor- and each other.
boldly, even when it is unpopular
bloggers and partisan pundits?
mation about themselves than do Journalists should: Is it a “shoot-the-messenger”
to do so. public officials and others who seek
� Avoid imposing their own cultural � Clarify and explain news coverage response to the nonstop disaster and
power, influence or attention. Only
values on others. an overriding public need can justify
and invite dialogue with the public scandal-of-the-week melodramas
over journalistic conduct. some news outlets feed upon?
� Avoid stereotyping by race, gen- intrusion into anyone’s privacy.
der, age, religion, ethnicity, geog- � Show good taste. Avoid pandering
� Encourage the public to voice Or are Americans becoming
raphy, sexual orientation, disability, to lurid curiosity. grievances against the news media. unable to distinguish between
physical appearance or social status. � Be cautious about identifying � Admit mistakes and correct them serious, objective journalism and
� Support the open exchange of juvenile suspects or victims of sex promptly. the polarizing bombast of the loud-
views, even views they find repug- crimes. � Expose unethical practices of mouths on talk radio and cable TV?
nant. � Be judicious about naming crimi- journalists and the news media. Whatever the reason, journalists
� Give voice to the voiceless; official nal suspects before the formal filing � Abide by the same high standards are stuck with a negative image —
and unofficial sources of information of charges. to which they hold others. and raising our ethical standards
may be the best way to change that.

RESULTS FROM OUR OWN STUDENT ATTITUDE SURVEY > 300

154 LAW AND ETHICS

ETHICS SURVEY
We all have different standards of taste and ethical behavior. Want to see how your decision-making compares to
that of other reporters? We gave this questionnaire to our panel of 100 professional journalists. Their results have been summarized in
those brown boxes following each question, so you can compare your answers with theirs.
Keep in mind, 100 responses are not a statistically accurate reflection of all reporters’ views. But it’s enough to suggest trends —
and more importantly, to stimulate conversations with your colleagues or classmates about where you’d draw the line.
ADVICE ON REPORTING & WRITING
FROM VETERAN JOURNALISTS
1 You’re interviewing a public official in her 4 If it’s the ONLY way to get accurate 7 Do you approve of using anonymous sources:
office. She leaves the room for few minutes. Do information for an important story, would you: a) When it’s the only way to publish
you peek at the letters and notes on her desk? a) Claim to be someone else? important information in the public interest?
� Yes (if I can read them upside down) � Yes � No � Yes � No
� No
b) Avoid identifying yourself as a reporter? b) When someone wants to avoid personal
� Yes � No or professional embarrassment?
Results from our reporting panel survey: � Yes � No
77% of respondents said “yes.” As one c) Secretly record a conversation without
reporter said, “I refuse to feel guilty about informing the other person? c) When someone gives you a really good
this. The public has a right to know what � Yes � No quote, but you’re unable to verify that
public officials are doing.” Several reporters person’s identity?
said they’d walk around the desk, too, but � Yes � No
wouldn’t actually touch any of the papers. Results: 90% of our panelists said they
wouldn’t lie about their identity, but 48%
would avoid identifying themselves as Results: 93% of our panelists approve of
reporters if necessary. And only 37% said using anonymous sources in example “a.”
2 Some newspapers have a policy forbidding
they would secretly record a conversation — Said one reporter: “If you’re right and it’s a
reporters to participate in local political activity
if it was legal. (Several reporters admitted bombshell, somebody will back it up.” Said
— marching in abortion rallies, canvassing for
they weren’t sure whether surreptitious another: “Yes, but the information must be
candidates, even sporting bumper stickers.
recording independently verified.”
Do you agree with that policy? or not was illegal or not, since laws vary Only 34% approved of using anonymous
� Yes from state to state.)
sources to avoid embarrassment (“to
� No protect a child’s identity, for example,” one
� Only if it involves the reporter’s beat 5 Have you ever: reporter said). And just 22% answered yes
a) Fabricated a quote or a fact for a story? to “c.” “Depends on the context,” said one.
“If it’s a conference where someone in the
Results: 71%
Results: 71% of
of our
our panelists
panelists said
said they
they � Yes � No audience makes a statement and you can’t
agree
agree with
with the
the policy;
policy; 29%
29% agree
agree only
only ifif
itit involves b) Deliberately distorted a fact or quote? find that person later, fine.”
involves aa reporter’s
reporter’s beat.
beat. (Not
(Not aa single
single
respondent
respondent disagreed
disagreed withwith the
the policy.)
policy.) � Yes � No
“When
“When II took
took the
the job,
job, II accepted
accepted being
being 8 Do you approve of news organizations
objective c) Deliberately ignored facts that would
objective even in public,” said
even in public,” said one
one reporter.
reporter. have forced you to hold or rewrite a story? paying money for a crucial interview, if it’s the
Another
Another advised:
advised: “Join
“Join oror participate
participate in in NO
NO
groups � Yes � No only way to get someone to talk?
groups or or activities
activities that
that may
may taint
taint your
your
image
image to to the
the readers.
readers. And
And all
all reporters
reporters � Yes � No
should
should be be registered
registered non-affiliated
non-affiliated voters.”
voters.”
Results: 99% said they had never fabricated Results: 86% of our panelists said “no.”
any facts or quotes; 93% had never distorted
3 Is it OK to accept a gift or free meal from facts or quotes; and 94% had never ignored
someone you cover on your beat? important facts. 9 Do you think there is too much self-

� Yes � No censorship at your newspaper (i.e., editors

are too sensitive about offending readers or
6 Would you approve if your news organ-
advertisers)?
Results: Only 31% said this was OK. “I let a ization exposed corruption by publishing
documents obtained without authorization? � Yes � No
source buy a meal every so often, as long
as it’s understood that I buy next time,” � Yes � No
one reporter said. “Everyone’s got their Results: 65% think there’s too much self-
price; mine isn’t lunch.” censorship. “Absolutely,” said one reporter.
Another reporter admitted that “I will Results: 93% said yes. “It depends on “As I was told years ago, ‘They don’t have to
sometimes accept a gift of flowers or a the scale of the corruption and how the like us, they just have to read us.’ “This is a
meal from ‘civilians,’ people who don’t have documents were obtained,” said one huge problem!” said another. “We were not
regular contact with reporters who might reporter. “Yes,” said another, “as long as allowed to print civil suits of a major grocery
be offended if I rejected them.” we’re not talking theft or major deceit.” advertiser without warning him first!”
 LAW AND ETHICS 155

10 Thinking back over all the stories you’ve 14 A local coach just lost the big game. In a 17 A popular local rapper releases a song that
written, which of the following statements one-on-one postgame interview with you, he becomes a huge hit, but it contains lyrics that
apply? (You can agree with more than one utters a racial epithet about his quarterback — many women find degrading and offensive.
statement.) an amazingly juicy quote that will outrage the You’re writing about the controversy. You would:
� I have probably plagiarized material, community. He calls you in the newsroom an � Print the offensive lyrics (so readers
but if I did, it was inadvertent. hour later and says he was distraught about can decide for themselves)
� I have deliberately plagiarized some losing, and he begs you not to run the quote. � Avoid printing the lyrics (why give
material. What do you do? this guy more free publicity?)
� I have never consciously plagiarized any � Run it � Paraphrase them and send readers to
material. � Remove it a Web site that shows the actual lyrics
� Depends on whether he threatened me
or asked me politely
Results: 15% of our panelists said they Results: 31% would print the lyrics; 7%
might have inadvertently plagiarized; 85% would not; and 62% would paraphrase them
said they’d never plagiarized. Results: 61% said they’d run it; 17% said and send readers to a Web site for more.
None admitted deliberately plagiarizing. they’d remove it; and 22% said it depends.
Some sample comments: 18 You’re writing about the outbreak of a new
� “Run it, along with his comments from sexually transmitted disease in your city. Would
11 In a public meeting, the governor describes
the phone call.” your paper let you write a graphic description of
a proposed law as “a bunch of bullshit.” Your
� “Remove it, keep the quote and begin an the sexual activity that spreads the disease?
paper’s policy would be to:
investigation into the coach’s racism.” � Yes � No
� Print the exact phrase
� “Depends. I’m going to assume that I’ve
� Print the word “bull----”
been covering this team all season. Did the
� Paraphrase with a synonym like quote reflect ongoing and underlying racial Results: 52% said yes. “Most papers now
“crap” or “manure” will refer to oral and/or anal sex,” one
tensions that have been glimpsed through-
out the season? If so, print it. Was it truly reporter observed, “and I wouldn’t consider
an aberration, as the coach claims? Then the terms themselves graphic. But how
Results: 18% of our panelists said their much more would you really need to say?”
papers would print the exact phrase; give him the benefit of the doubt.”
“No — that would be hell no,” said
another 18% said they’d use a milder another.
synonym; 62% said they’d print “bull----.” And a final comment: “No,” one reporter
15 After painstaking research, you write a
Some sample comments from panelists: answered, “but I’d love to give it a shot!”
story implicating a local businessman in a sleazy
� “Exact phrase, if it’s the governor. For
someone not in the public eye, we prob- scandal. Your publisher spikes the story because
this man is a major advertiser. Would you leak 19 In 1977, a team of undercover reporters
ably would use the asterisks.”
the story to a friend of yours who works for a from the Chicago Sun-Times opened a bar called
� “The fact that he or she publicly used The Mirage. For four months, they documented
competing publication?
profanity is nearly as important as his or corrupt inspectors asking for bribes and kick-
her opinion on whatever the issue is.” � Yes � No
backs. The paper’s resulting 25-part series was
� “Even those synonyms would likely be powerful and popular. It nearly won a Pulitzer
considered too unseemly for my newspa- Results: 64% said they’d leak the story — Prize — but in a controversial decision, the
per. We’d be more likely to say something although several reporters said, “No, but I’d Pulizer board decided it would be wrong to
like: The governor strongly opposes the start looking for another job.” condone or reward dishonest, deceptive
proposed law.” journalism. Do you agree with that decision?
16 You’re writing a story about a local � Yes � No
12 A friend of yours is the lead singer of a quarterback who was voted the conference’s
local rock group. Your editor wants you to player of the year. You discover he’s been Results: 64% disagreed with the decision.
review the band. Would you agree to do it? arrested for drunken driving. You ask him “If they really opened and ran the bar, it’s
� Yes � No about this, and he angrily replies that it has not deceptive,” one remarked. Said anoth-
nothing to do with his football accomplishments. er: “Reporters are allowed to own bars, as
13 Your editor insists that you review your Do you include this information in your story? far as I know.”
friend’s band. At the show, the singer is stone � Yes � No
drunk. It’s obvious to everyone. It’s a terrible 20 You’re the features editor. For a food page
show. If you write an honest review, you could running the week before Easter, a reporter
Results: 78% said yes. Some comments:
ruin his reputation. He asks you to come back wants to print bunny-rabbit recipes. Some
the next night, when he promises to stay sober � “Yes, but not out of spite. You have to
staffers feel this a fun, irreverent idea. Others
and do a great show. Do you agree? get at what it’s meant to his career. How argue that it’s an exercise in bad taste that will
has he overcome it?” offend readers. Would you run the recipes?
� Yes � No
� “Yes, along with his angry comments.
� Yes � No
Then I would look more closely at his past
Results: 95% of our panelists said they’d and his record and talk to others who have
avoid reviewing their friend’s band. But if known him.” Results: 60% said no. “I’m all for being
forced to do it, only 31% said they’d agree edgy,” one reporter said, “but that is just
� “Yes, but only if they’re relevant (i.e., is
to return for a second night’s show. (“But asking for trouble. There are better battles
he looked to as a leader and exemplar?)”
I’d write about both shows,” one said.) to fight.”
156 LAW AND ETHICS

LIBEL, COPYRIGHT, PRIVACY: SOME HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS

Choose the right answer — f) You’re standing in the hallway, waiting to interview a professor
and explain your decision. from Iraq. As you lean against the door to his office, you hear him
making pro-terrorist, anti-American statements. You take careful
a) In a story about a traffic
notes. Later, you confront him with his remarks. He calls them
accident, you quote one of the
lies and says he’ll sue you if you print them. Could he win?
victims saying, “That driver’s
a lunatic. He’s a freakin’ � Yes � No
Answers to these exercises
are on page 317. menace.” That remark is: g) On his late-night NBC show, Conan O’Brien makes several
� libelous � not libelous lengthy jokes about your town and your school. You want to
reprint those jokes in your newspaper, but the editor says you
b) A shoplifter was arrested at the Family Video and Bookstore
can’t do it without getting approval from NBC. Those jokes are
after stealing two movies, “Sinful Flesh” and “Young Desires.” In
copyrighted, he says, and NBC could sue the paper if you reprint
a story about the crime, you say the movies are “soft-core porn,”
them verbatim without permission. Is your editor correct?
but those videos are actually religious-instruction films. Can the
store’s owner, a devout Baptist, win a libel suit against you? � He’s right. You need permission. � He’s wrong. You don’t.
� Yes � No h) In writing a story about an outspoken anti-abortion activist,
c) In writing a profile of acupuncturist Ophelia Paine, you quote you print that she was once arrested for trying to bomb an
a local brain surgeon who says, “Acupuncturists are all quacks. abortion clinic. But you’ve read the court records incorrectly:
They’ll kill you if you’re not careful.” Paine considers this remark she only testified at someone else’s trial. Your editor has run a
defamatory. “Your story will bankrupt me,” she says. Could she correction, but she’s still furious. Can she win a libel suit?
win a libel suit against your publication? � Yes � No
� Yes � No i) In that story about the pro-life activist, you reveal that she
d) You write a story describing how Al Bino confessed to police was once arrested for obtaining an illegal abortion herself, back
after attempting to murder his girlfriend. After the story runs, a in 1970 (before Roe v. Wade made abortions legal). She claims
police department spokesman calls you to say they mixed up the that you’ve violated her right to privacy by revealing confidential
names; Al Bino was merely a witness to the crime. Could information about her medical history. If she takes you to court,
Al Bino win a libel suit against you for the lie you printed? can she win her case?
� Yes � No � Yes � No
e) In a football-game story, you quote the losing coach, who says, j) A student posts gossip about your school’s cheerleaders on his
“That referee is blind. He cost us the game. He’s got no business Facebook page. You reprint it in your school newspaper column,
officiating in this league.” Videotapes, however, prove the referee identifying your source. A cheerleader reads your column, goes
made the right call. Could the referee win a libel suit against you? ballistic and decides to sue for libel. Who is most liable?
� Yes � No � You � That Facebook student � Both of you

LEGAL CONCEPTS e) Someone gives you secret information. i) The Privacy Protection Act prevents the
AND DEFINITIONS In return, you promise to conceal his police from confiscating any notes you’ve
identity. If you suddenly change your taken for a story.
a) “Libel” is generally defined as any
mind and publish his name, that’s called � True � False
published statement that damages
“burning a source.”
someone’s reputation. j) You can publish defamatory statements
� True � False � True � False about people, but as long as you don’t
f) Someone gives you secret information. identify them by name, they can’t
b) It’s illegal to take photographs of
In return, you promise to conceal his successfully sue you for libel.
victims at the scene of an accident if
identity. If you suddenly change your � True � False
they specifically forbid you to do so.
mind and publish his name, he could sue
� True � False you for violating a verbal contract. k) It’s permissible to reprint images you
find on a Web site as long as you clearly
c) As a result of numerous Supreme Court � True � False identify and credit your source.
decisions, libel laws are now consistent
g) If you cruelly and unfairly criticize a � True � False
from state to state.
public figure, that’s called “actual malice.”
� True � False l ) The “fair comment and criticism”
� True � False privilege gives you the right to say
d) When writing a news story, it’s
h) A “shield law” prevents a reporter from whatever you want when you write a
considered plagiarism to lift sentences
being sued for libel. review of a public performance.
verbatim from a news release.
� True � False � True � False � True � False
 157

CHAPTER

Online
reporting
New technology and news gathering techniques are transforming
21st-century journalism. Get ready for multimedia reporting.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
158 From print to the Web
How presenting news online differs from
printing traditional stories in a newspaper.
160 Updating stories online
A look at how USATODAY.com used a
series of revisions to cover Election Night 2008.
162 Blogging
Blogs have made it easy for reporters and citizen
journalists to post news dispatches immediately .
164 Writing for online media
How to adapt your newswriting style and collaborate
to produce more successful Web story packages.
166 Incorporating links
Smart journalists use links to organize story archives
and guide readers to related stories and source material.
168 Incorporating multimedia
Text, photos, audio, video, graphics, searchable databases — they’re online essentials.
170 Encouraging user participation
Journalism is no longer a monologue. It’s a conversation. So here’s how it should work.
172 Media convergence
A look at how new technology is affecting newsrooms, newsgathering and news content.
174 Planning online packages
Creating successful Web content is a compex process. To succeed, you must collaborate.
176 Test yourself: How wired are you?
158 ONLINE REPORTING

From print to the Web

Will digital media replace dead-tree newspapers (and books like this) someday?
Most likely, print journalism won’t go extinct. But it’ll become increasingly difficult to compete against the impact and
immediacy of digital media that combine text, photos, audio, video, animated graphics and user participation.
Online media offer readers more variety — and better yet, more control. Stories, images and digital extras can be linked
together in layers, with endless options just a click away. That’s why navigation is such a crucial factor on news Web sites.
Editors must design sites that are informative, inviting and intuitively logical, sites that let users roam at random, poking their
noses into any intriguing corner, following their curiosities to customize their news.

Instead of — online To fulfill the potential of new media —

arranging news sites link and satisfy the expectations of Web users —
stories side related topics reporters need to develop new storytelling
by side in layers that techniques. Why simply shovel long, texty
the way allow readers stories online when you can enhance them
traditional to leap from with multimedia? Online journalists are
newspapers story to story, learning to plan and produce their news
do, like this — like this — coverage in dramatically different ways.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRINT STORIES AND WEB STORIES?

One crucial difference between print and together by staffers using other media sources just text, photos and graphics. Online, though,
online stories is timeliness: Web stories can be or rewriting a beat reporter’s notes. you can add links to audio, video, other Web
posted seconds after they’re written and As New York Times political reporter Richard sites, archived stories, blogs, podcasts or
updated constantly as events unfold, just like Stevenson explained, “If I feel that I don’t have extra interactive elements. A news story, in
news on radio and TV. a story nailed down sufficiently, or that I don’t other words, may become part of a complex
Breaking news dispatches are usually filed by have time . . . or that taking the time would multimedia package. Though the options are
the reporter covering the story, though these prevent me from doing the reporting I need more diverse, the journalistic standards and
“continuous news versions” are often pieced to do, then I won’t agree to do a continuous reporting techniques remain the same.
news version.”
Other differences between
the two media are more visibly
Sports
PRINT THIS STORY E-MAIL THIS STORY

apparent. Take the Bugler girls’ volleyball team

newspaper story at left, wins state championship
for example. It uses a By LEX MINNIEAR

big photo to catch your Bugle-Beacon staff

8:30 p.m. — Nov. 20, 2009

eye. But on Web pages like the It took seven long years. But the Lincoln
High School Lady Bugler volleyball team cap-

one at right, images tured the state championship Friday night for
the first time since the 1994 season.

usually run smaller, The final win against Central High School
brought the team’s overall record to 22-6, a
since you can’t predict school record.
Megan Peter (left) and Jennifer Christy
block a shot by Central’s Amy Bethany

readers’ screen sizes The Buglers took the match against Central
in only two games with scores of 15-7
in Saturday night’s state championship
game. (Bugle-Beacon photo)
for each. Teammates Robin Fox, Holly
or connection speeds. (Click on Lukas, Krystyna Wolniakowski and Lorrie
Richardson landed 100 percent in serves
MORE ON THE MATCH

that photo, though, and it will 1

Megan Peter (left) and Jennifer Christy block a shot by Central’s Amy Bethany in Saturday night’s state championship game. to help clutch the victory. Patty Snow and
Claire Puchy combined for 11 kills while
� Tournament results:
How three other local
girls’ teams fared.
1

enlarge.) Kathy Hughes and Sue Payseno chipped in

State champs! Text is harder to read on a 2

with two hits.

Coach Georgia Eldridge was pleased with

their performance. “I love these girls,”
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
� The winning point
and other memorable
moments from the match.
2
The Bugler girls’ volleyball team defeats Central to capture title
By LEX MINNIEAR
computer screen, which is why
tain too high if we play as a team.”
she said. “There was never a point in this
tournament when I thought we wouldn’t go
� Fan reaction: Bugle
fans dance in the streets.
Bugle-Beacon staff INSIDE
� Tournament results: How
It took seven long years. But the Lady
Web pages use bigger type than
Freshman team star Lori Robinson pro-
claimed, “We showed them who’s boss out
there on the court! Now everyone knows
all the way.”

Eldridge credited the Elite Eight seniors, Kathryn Wigginton, Nancy Casey,
other local teams fared / Page 7
Bugler volleyball team of Lincoln High
School captured the state championship
� The MVP: Betty Coffman wins
newspapers do. Stories run in
we’re back, we’re bad — deal with it!”
The team showed a lot of character after
Holly Lukas, Krystyna Wolniakowski, Lorrie Richardson, Patty Snow, Claire
Puchy, and Kathy Hughes for keeping the team focused and under control.
Friday night for the first time since the
for her game-saving spike / Page 8 coming back to beat North Farmington
1994 season.
� Fan reaction: Bugle supporters
The final win against Central High
celebrate in the streets / Page 9
just one column, too — which
earlier in the district race. After being
defeated by the Lady Eagles previously in “They’ve each done a good job playing important roles for us and I am very
School brought the team’s overall record
to 22-6, setting a school record.
The Buglers took the match against
forces readers to scroll down-
the season, they knew the Central matchup
would be crucial.
The Central coach was philosophical.
proud of everything these kids have accomplished in the last two seasons,”
said Coach Eldridge.
Central in only two games with scores of
15-7 for each. Teammates Robin Fox, Holly
Lukas, Krystyna Wolniakowski and Lorrie
ward as they read. The story
Richardson, Patty Snow, Claire Puchy,
and Kathy Hughes for keeping the team
focused and under control.
“We gave it our best,” said Marion
Frederick. “But tonight, the best team won.
I’ve got to hand it to the Buglers. They
The Lady Buglers were the runners-up in the state finals last year behind
Northville. Nine of the returning players were on the team that advanced to
Richardson landed 100 percent in serves
to help clutch the victory. Patty Snow and at right would fill two screens;
“They’ve each done a good job play-
ing important roles for us and I am very
played a heckuva match out there.”
The Buglers took the match against
the regional quarterfinals but were defeated by North Farmington.
Claire Puchy combined for 11 kills while proud of everything these kids have Central in only two games with scores of
Kathy Hughes and Sue Payseno chipped
in with two hits. Coach Eldridge.
longer stories can fill dozens.
accomplished in the last two seasons,” said 15-7 for each. Teammates Robin Fox, Holly
Lukas, Krystyna Wolniakowski and Lorrie
Returning senior Holly Lukas said, “We determine our destiny. There is no
mountain too high if we play as a team.”
Coach Georgia Eldridge was pleased with The Lady Buglers were the runners-up in Richardson landed 100 percent in serves
their performance. “I love these girls,” she
said. “There was never a point in this
That’s one reason long stories
the state finals last year behind Northville.
Nine of the returning players were on
to help clutch the victory. Patty Snow and
Claire Puchy combined for 11 kills while
The Central coach was philosophical. “We gave it our best,” said Marion
Frederick. “But tonight, the best team won. I’ve got to hand it to the
tournament when I thought we wouldn’t
go all the way.”
Eldridge credited the Elite Eight seniors, Farmington.
seem longer (and less reader-
the team that advanced to the regional
quarterfinals but were defeated by North
Kathy Hughes and Sue Payseno chipped
in with two hits.
Coach Georgia Eldridge was pleased
Buglers. They played a heckuva match out there.”
The Bugle-Beacon’s Lex Minniear can be reached at (394)555-8776 or [email protected]
Kathryn Wigginton, Nancy Casey, Holly
Lukas, Krystyna Wolniakowski, Lorrie friendly) on the Web.
Returning senior Holly Lukas said, “We
determine our destiny. There is no moun-
with their performance. “I love these
girls,” she said. BACK TO TOP

In print, a “story” consists of

 ONLINE REPORTING 159

FROM HOME PAGE TO STORY:

NAVIGATING ONLINE NEWS SITES
There’s something inefficient — messy, even — about the
way newspapers are put together. For example:
� Unrelated stories and photos are sandwiched together on
the page, often colliding in awkward, distracting ways.
� Pages are hard to navigate; stories are hard to find. If This front page uses
you’re passionate about a particular topic — hockey, for the same stories as the
instance, or the environment — there’s no easy way to search Web version below.
the paper and discover what subjects have been covered. How is it different?
� Stories are often forced to jump from one page to another. The printed page is
Readers hate when that happens. bigger, obviously. And
� Readers are subject to the editor’s news judgment. The
not nearly as busy,
stories you’re most interested in often don’t make the cut. because it offers fewer
options to readers.
� Space is limited. And as newsroom budgets tighten, the
By comparison, the
available space — the “news hole”— shrinks.
Web site’s home page
Online news sites, however, avoid many of these problems.
uses little narrative
Pages like the one at right don’t exist on the Web, so many text; to read a story,
of the problems that affect them — like squeezing unrelated you must follow the
stories into a limited space until everything fits perfectly — link to a separate page.
don’t exist, either.
Except on the home page.
Just as the front page is a doorway to the printed newspaper,
the home page is a gateway to the online news. And because
the home page links users to every related page, it must be
comprehensive, yet easy to navigate: busy, yet clean. Story links
require compelling headlines and concise, engaging summaries.
Below, you’ll see an example of a typical Web home page,
as we transform the newspaper at right into an online edition:

The flag: For their Navigation buttons:

online editions, news These quickly link users
organizations often to the site’s most
devise a new name and popular sections;
spiffed-up logo, while the index down the left
maintaining some side is more complete.
connection to their
other, traditional-media Search engine:
identity. This helps users hunt
for specific topics,
Date: Users want to dates, names, etc.
know how current this
news is. Sites updated Lead story: This is
throughout the day just a summary, but
often include the time you can click the head-
of the update, as well. line to link to the full
story, or click the icons
below to see graphics,
Index (or navigation bar): photos and a video
It’s easy to get lost in clip. (That photo is
cyberspace. That’s why small for a reason: Big
a complete, clickable images force pages to
index is vital on the home load more slowly.)
page — and on every other
page in the site, as well. Ads/promotions:
The more ambitious the These usually run
site, the more complex either horizontally or
its organization and grouped together in
navigation are. this right-hand rail.

Page depth: Some pages are designed to fit on one screen Links: Click on these headlines to visit Interactive extras: Online news sites provide
so readers won’t have to scroll. It’s best to avoid never-ending the site’s other top stories. Many sites add features that traditional media can’t: webcams,
vertically-scrolling home pages (readers don’t like to scroll summaries, photos and videos to these slideshows, blogs, animated graphics, audio files,
unless there’s a good reason), but that’s not always easy. headline collections, too — or sort the news by interactive quizzes and surveys like this one.
Usually, the more complex the site, the deeper the home page. topic (sports, entertainment, business, etc.). They’re rarely statistically accurate, but they’re fun..
160 ONLINE REPORTING

Updating stories online

It’s essential to revise breaking news reports quickly — and often.
With print publications, you write a story, meet the deadline and you’re done.
But on the Web, you can file stories whenever news happens, just as TV and radio
reporters have done for years. You can post anything, anytime, from anywhere.
You’re freed from the pressure of printing-press deadlines, although the relentless
demands of a 24/7 news cycle create a new sense of urgency and competition.
On Election Night 2008, every major online news site monitored Barack Obama’s
march toward victory. Below, we’ve reprinted the lead story from usatoday.com.
Notice how the story evolved, hour by hour, as these opening paragraphs were
repeatedly updated by Randy Lilleston, editor of the rewrite/continuous news desk.

9 p.m. (EST) — As polls close in the 10:20 p.m. — Obama is closing in on 11:05 p.m. — It’s official: Obama has
East, states begin releasing their results. victory. It’s still too early to officially call won the election. The TV networks make
“In the end, a presidential election is him the winner, but if you read that third the call promptly at 11 p.m., but Lilleston
a math game,” Lilleston says, and that paragraph closely, Lilleston implies that waits for the Associated Press to reach
shows in this early version of the story. Notice the the race is virtually over. Notice how the wording and that verdict before posting this update. Now that we
emphasis on numbers: popular votes and electoral positioning of some paragraphs change with each new have a victor, the coverage can shift from the election
votes. At this hour, the focus is on the process, not update of the story. (By the end of the night, Lilleston math to the candidates themselves — especially when
people — but that will change as the story evolves. will have filed about 30 versions of this story.) McCain delivers his concession speech.
 ONLINE REPORTING 161

YOU CAN KEEP REWRITING ONE STORY —

OR YOU CAN FILE A SERIES OF DISPATCHES
That Obama election piece (below) is These dispatches provided a steady stream
called a write-through: a story that evolves of news bulletins, interviews, injury reports
as new revisions are written through it. and public-service announcements.
Some breaking stories, however, are The advantages of this format:
too complex and fast-moving for that � It allows readers to monitor fresh
During the Virginia traditional newswriting process. It may updates at a glance, without forcing them
Tech shootings, be more effective to post a series of short, to dig through a long story.
Roanoke.com posted time-stamped online dispatches — often � Dispatches can be posted instantly
new dispatches atop called a breaking news blog. from multiple sources: reporters, editors,
older ones. At left is an example of the minute-to- photographers, even readers. Updates can
minute updates posted on the Web site of be phoned in from anywhere in the field,
The Roanoke Times during the shootings then typed — with minimal editing — in
on the campus of Virginia Tech in 2007. the newsroom.

11:40 p.m. — Now that McCain has Midnight — Obama gives his victory 1 a.m. — Finally, the major election-
given his concession speech, Lilleston speech as his supporters celebrate. night events have come to a close.
finally has ACTUAL QUOTES to use near Notice how half of this story now consists The story is finished. Though ballots are
the top of the story, which help supply of quotes from the candidates — which still being counted, we have a definite
personality and drama. (Previous versions had run is why it conveys more emotion than the earlier, winner and loser, with plenty of quotes from each. This
bland quotes like this one, from Obama, near the mathematical versions. (As Lilleston posts this update, version of the story will remain as the lead item on
bottom of the story: “I feel great, and it was fun. Obama is still delivering his speech. One paragraph is USATODAY.com’s home page until morning, when it’s
I had a chance to vote with my daughters.”) quoted here; it turns out to be the speech’s highlight.) replaced by a different angle from a different reporter.
162 ONLINE REPORTING

Blogging
Posting news online is a complicated process — but blogging makes it easy.
In 1994, the first online journals (or Web logs) (or blogs ) were launched. By 2008, an estimated
184 million bloggers were blogging around the globe, with new blogs born every minute. Are
they all worth reading? Of course not. Do most blogs just make noise and feed egos? Absolutely.
But with enough skill and diligence, blogging — especially journalistic blogging — can play a
major role in news delivery. In fact, blogs are reshaping journalism in several key ways:
� Increasing immediacy: Blogs
let reporters dispense information THE LANGUAGE
easily, instantly and often. This, in OF BLOGGAGE
turn, feeds the appetites of loyal Blog: A Web journal or log that’s
readers hungry for the latest news. frequently updated with entries
appearing in reverse chronological
� Simplifying storytelling: They’re order (i.e., newest first). A blogger
often just a series of dispatches, is someone who writes a blog — in
but blogs convey huge amounts of other words, someone who blogs.
data without requiring you to write Blogosphere: The collective
online community of bloggers.
long, traditional news “stories.”
Post: A blog entry
� Empowering citizen journalists:
Host: The company that provides
From big global disasters to small the Web address, template and
local events, blogs provide forums tools for your blog.
where ordinary citizens can share Comments: Remarks that users
their insights, their expertise, their add to a blog post. Some say that
without user comments, a blog
passions and concerns. � just isn’t a real blog.
Thread: A series of related
comments.
AT A GLANCE: THE JOURNALIST’S GUIDE TO BLOGGING Troll: A disruptive commenter
What are blogs? specific topic: say, sports reporters the night — bloggers usually post who tries to stir up trouble.
If you think of most Web sites as blogging about the Yankees. Or a their entries unedited. And that can Spam: Unwanted comments or
fancy restaurants with big menus, City Hall blog by a team of police, create copy-editing problems. advertisements sent to your blog.
blogs are fast food. They’re where court and government reporters. Blogs raise ethical questions, too. Permalink: A link to a permanent
bloggers post brief blurbs, blow Or, as we saw on the previous page, For instance, how much opinion Web page where a particular post
off steam or provide links to some postings by an entire newspaper can a reporter express on a blog is archived after new updates have
really cool stuff on other sites. staff as a school shooting unfolds. before she compromises her jour- bumped it out of view.
Who creates blogs? Blogs also help journalists establish nalistic objectivity? To protect a Beat blog: A blog written by a
Anybody and everybody. Blogs a dialogue with readers, don’t they? publication’s reputation, can bosses reporter (or team of reporters)
provide a fast, easy way for you to Sure. Blogs let reporters discuss prohibit reporters from writing that focuses on a specialized topic,
post material online without any their stories, respond to rumors their own personal blogs at home? like local crime, sports or politics.
technical training or fancy coding. and solicit ideas from readers. Most journalists seem to distrust RSS: Short for “Really Simple
But for now, let’s ignore the Editors can explain the decision- ordinary bloggers. Why is that? Syndication,” a format
billions of bloggers babbling about making behind controversial Many journalists are bloggers, but that lets Web users
their proms and pet poodles and stories, columns and editorials. very few bloggers are journalists. subscribe to “feeds”
In each case, users are invited to from blogs or Web
focus on blogs with real journalistic Few bloggers do actual reporting; RSS logo
sites. Every time you
value, which usually fall into two debate, correct facts, even provide many confuse facts with opinions, add a new post to your blog, RSS
general categories: content for future publication. posting unedited screeds that are delivers it automatically to your
� Blogs by individual journalists, How is blog-writing different untrustworthy, even libelous. subscribers.
where a writer or editor expands from traditional newswriting? As Rebecca Blood, author of Microblogging: A form of
his or her news coverage — and Blog entries are shorter, faster reads. “The Weblog Handbook,” said blogging where bloggers post
name recognition — by posting The writing style is usually more of bloggers: “Their commentary, extremely brief updates, up to 140
material beyond what’s in ordinary conversational, more informal. done with integrity, can be a great characters long. Twitter is a popu-
news stories: updates, analysis, There’s slang (and on occasion, source of accurate information and lar microblogging tool that deliv-
rumors and offbeat tidbits. yes, even obscenity) that’s seldom nuanced, informed analysis, but it ers short posts, or tweets, over the
� Beat blogs, where a team of allowed in traditional media. will never replace the journalist’s Web or via cell phone.
reporters working the same beat In order to post quickly — from mandate to assemble a fair, accu- Vlog: A video blog consisting
pool their posts to provide a steady the stands of a football game or rate and complete story that can be mostly of short interviews and
stream of news and notes on one from an airport in the middle of understood by a general audience.” other video clips.

MORE ON CITIZEN JOURNALISTS > 170

 ONLINE REPORTING 163

BLOG BITS: THE KEY COMPONENTS OF A TYPICAL BLOG “Blogs are a wonderful way to
Every beat-related blog uses a slightly different format, but some basic elements are now becoming standard. engage with the readers who
Here’s a look at a fictitious-yet-typical blog that a local education reporter might produce: are the most passionate about
your subject matter. I’ve
Branding: Smart Post: Here’s a covered Oregon’s legislature
bloggers combine a typical blog entry off and on for 25 years now,
distinctive name with a for a reporter on and I feel like more of a
stylish logo to create the education beat: celebrity than ever inside the
a memorable brand a bold headline Capitol because so many
users will remember. SUBSCRIBE Sept. 20, 2009 2:35 p.m. followed by a couple people read my blog.”
TO RSS
Principal Skinner interviews brief paragraphs Jeff Mapes,
RSS feed: Click here football coaching candidate of text. This is the blogger/reporter who writes the
and you’ll receive blog blog’s latest entry, “Mapes on Politics” blog for
Principal Seymour Skinner spent about two hours this The Oregonian (oregonlive.com)
updates automatically. morning talking and touring with Jim Soxx from Lincoln so it landed on top
High School in Chesterton, a biology teacher who’s a when the writer filed
finalist for the Springfield High football coaching it a few minutes ago, “By being a blog author and
Blogger bio: Who’s a blog reader, I’m able to
ABOUT position vacated by Linus Crimmage. pushing older entries
writing this blog? THE AUTHOR
Aretha Holly was a down the page. find individuals to help with
Here’s a quick profile, biology teacher for At Tuesday’s school board meeting, Skinner said he was
with a link for sending 12 years at Lincoln interviewing all three job finalists this week and expects my stories more quickly than
High School. For the
her email messages. last 10 years, she’s to reach a decision by mid-October. ever. Even for journalists who
been education
reporter for The
Time and date: don’t blog, staying on top of
Post a comment View comments (3) Permalink
Bugle Beacon in Every post needs to
Bozoville. (Contact) some key blogs that fit into
Archives: If you want contain the date and
time. In some cases,
your beat, or even just know-
to read older posts, ARCHIVES Sept. 20, 2009 11:04 a.m. ing your way around the
these links will take this shows when a
September 2009
August 2009
Third-grade class publishes post was updated. blogosphere, is as vital a skill
you to blog entries a book of their own poetry
July 2009
nowadays as knowing how
organized by month. June 2009

(Prolific bloggers often

May 2009
April 2009
After three long months the World Wide Web works.”
March 2009 of work, it’s finally here: Photo (or video): David Akin,
organize their archives February 2009 “Rhyme Time With Mrs. Blog entries benefit Canadian political reporter and
January 2009
by the week.) December 2008 Grimes,” a book of illus- from added images, blogger for “David Akin’s On the Hill”
November 2008 trated poems produced
October 2008 video or audio — and
by Violet Grimes’ third-
grade students at Eagle posting them is easy. “I think of us as journalists;
Categories: Here’s CATEGORIES
Elementary School. The the medium we work in is
Administration
another helpful way Awards & honors 48-page paperback book blogging. We have kind of
to organize old blog Campaigns
Communities
will be available from the Eagle Elementary School PTA Links: Embedded broken free of the model of
entries: by topic. Events & deadlines and from families of the students. Proceeds from book links in the text let
Jobs
sales will help purchase sex-education filmstrips for discrete articles that have a
Media watch users connect beginning and end. Instead,
Parents/parenting viewing at the Eagle faculty kegger next month.
School life directly to relevant
Teachers & teaching Post a comment View comments (3) Permalink there are an ongoing series
Web sites.
Blog roll: It’s helpful of dispatches.”
(and courteous) to link BLOG ROLL
Joshua Micah Marshall,
Bozoville Bugle Sept. 19, 2009 4:55 p.m.
to your favorite Web Bozoville School Comments: founder of Talking Points Memo,
sites, those you often Board Novi cheerleading captain falls Smart bloggers the first Web-only news outlet
use as sources, and
Chalk Talk
and breaks ankle during practice to win the George Polk Award
Parents United for encourage users for investigative journalism
Public Education
any other useful sites PrincipalSkinner. Robin Fox, cheerleading captain at Novi High School, to post comments,
relevant to your topic. com broke her ankle during a practice yesterday and will miss and they respond to “I am astounded daily by
TeacherSPACE
Besides, if you send the rest of the football season. those comments as
This Year at
Bozoville what I learn in the blogging
visitors to them, they The accident occurred during a toe-touch basket toss often as necessary.
Young Bozovillers community. As a journalist,
may link more visitors when Fox’s partner, Lorrie Diebert, stumbled and To avoid disrupting
back to you. dropped her stunt strap. “I feel just awful about it,”
I have always suspected that
LATEST TWEETS the layout, com-
FROM @skool2 Diebert said. “My uniform got all dirty.” many of my readers know
Just finished lunch ments usually move
at Melman Middle
Post a comment View comments (3) Permalink to a separate page. more than I do. . . . Hardly
School. Great chili
Latest tweets: As a dogs today! And a day goes by when readers
Miss Thomson’s
supplement to their math students are
brilliant!
don’t tell me something I
blog posts, some Sept. 19, 2009 1:32 p.m. Corrections: If you
2:04 AM Sept. 20
from web
don’t know or I don’t find
bloggers post short, Attention, all 10th-graders! publish something a new angle to a story.”
Announcement
beat-related Twitter on Melman P.A. Scholarship deadline approaching inaccurate, you not Mike Wendland,
system: “Don’t
tweets throughout miss the special Tuesday is the last chance for students entering their only need to fix it — technology reporter, who
40th-birthday cake
the day — anecdotes for Mr. Gibbs today sophomore year of high school to apply for the Promise you also need to note produces a blog called “PC Mike”
in the lunchroom
or observations that at noon.” Scholarship program, which pays for five years of tuition that the information
aren’t worth a full blog
11:07 AM Sept. 20
from web four years of both tuition and housing after students was corrected. That’s “For bloggers, it’s all about
graduate from high school. trust: Blog responsibly, and
post. We’ll see if this USA Today unveils why bloggers strike
trend catches on its high-school
All-American soccer To qualify for the program, students must enroll during through their errors you’ll build a reputation for
(or if it creates a team Friday. Will
Erika Lake make
their eighth-, ninth- or 10th-grade year. The scholarship instead of deleting being a trusted news source.
trivia overload). the list?
9:07 AM Sept. 20
program won’t accept applications for the 2011-2012 them entirely. Don’t, and you won’t have a
school year until after June 30, so student who plan to
reputation to worry about.”
John Hiler,
editor of Microcontent News
164 ONLINE REPORTING

Until recently, print reporters wrote stories only for the newspaper; deadlines
were dictated by printing-press schedules. TV and radio reporters produced WHAT'S THE EASIEST WAY TO POST BREAKING NEWS?
stories only for broadcast during regular newscasts. The Web was just an after- Follow a foolproof template, advises media consultant
thought, something you worried about after you finished your REAL work. Paul Conley. “Smart editors should create a story structure
But that’s changed. As media columnist Chris O’Brien observed: “While print that will allow reporters to churn out copy at wire-service
will have a long future, it needs to be one of many platforms, rather than the speed,” Conley says.
primary one. Digital is the future, To minimize deadline stress and delay, Conley suggests
THE NEW MOTTO IN and it’s well past time for news- that online reporters adapt the format pioneered and
perfected by Bloomberg, the financial news service:
MODERN NEWSROOMS: rooms to be thinking online first.” First, post a headline the instant news breaks. Add a
THINK ONLINE FIRST An online first news philosophy
sentence or two of detail if you can.
takes shape in two key ways: Minutes later, post a two-paragraph brief that quickly
� Story planning: While gathering the news, reporters and editors need to decide summarizes key facts.
when and where each story should run — and just as importantly, how it should Then write a four-paragraph story using this structure:
be packaged. Adding multimedia and interactivity takes time and teamwork. GRAF 1 : What happened and why.
The most effective online stories are tailored to the Web right from the start. GRAF 2: A statement or quote from an authority.
� Story posting: In the competitive world of 24/7 journalism, you want to be GRAF 3: What’s at stake / why readers should care.
first online with news, whether it’s a bulletin, a brief, a blog post or a Twitter GRAF 4: Additional details.
feed. Web users demand news now, and if you don’t scramble to feed their need, Revise and update this four-paragraph brief as new
someone else will. So file early and often. Online reporting = constant posting. information comes in. Then post a longer, more polished
(Not all stories are equally time-sensitive, though. Features, profiles, columns, story once you gather enough material.
reviews — it’s best to wait until they’re polished and finished, then post them.)
 ONLINE REPORTING 165

“CHUNK” YOUR RETHINK WHAT

INFORMATION A “STORY” IS
“We can’t stress this enough: For most print reporters,
Long, rambling text frustrates Research repeatedly shows
that Web users are far more a “story” means one long,
audiences. The word count
likely to scan stories than linear block of text. But since
for Web content should be
read them line by line. In that’s not what Web users
about half of that used in
a recent Eyetrack study, seem to want, you’ll need to
conventional writing.”
Jakob Nielsen, stories with short paragraphs approach Web reporting
Web readability expert received twice as much differently.
attention as those with Your goal should be to
“It used to be that we all longer paragraphs. produce not just a story,
thought of the Web as a In short: Long paragraphs but an online package —
place where we could write discourage extended viewing. a combination of Web pages
longer. Now, after revealing As Crawford Kilian said in and new-media options
reader habits through linked together.
“Writing for the Web”:
research, we know we have It’s vital to understand that
to write shorter — either Good writing is good
writing, whatever the medium. effective online journalism
that or we have brilliant transcends text. Yes, text is a
users who can finish a The difference in Web writing
is that good writing is also valuable tool — it still does
15-inch story in 17 seconds. most of the heavy lifting — but
As a result, the majority of usually very brief writing. It’s clear, ADD SUBHEADS,
concrete, easy to understand without BULLETS AND LISTS Web reporters have other power-
our stories written for online ful tools they can add, too.
are 5 to 8 inches.” being dumbed down. . . . Big blocks of gray text make
When the unit of discourse is the Different topics will require
Tracy Collins, online stories look boring, even different storytelling techniques.
senior director of operations, chunk — the 100 words that fill up a if they’re not. That’s why it helps
The Arizona Republic computer screen — every paragraph As digital news pioneer Jonathan
to think like a typographer. Dube recommends:
“I remember working with
has to stand on its own without For instance, notice how we
leaning on what the reader may Use print to explain.
Carl Bernstein on Watergate, used three big, bold subheads to Use multimedia to show.
and we’d do a draft of have seen in some other chunk. divide this story into chunks. See Use interactives to
the story on six-ply paper So how does this apply to news how they organize the material demonstrate and engage.
through a typewriter, and reporting? As you write, try to limit and make it easier to scan? Smart online journalists find
the copies would go to the yourself to shorter paragraphs. Next, we’ve added three bullet
editors. They would look at
ways to enhance their stories with
Shorter sentences. items below. Notice how: Web extras every chance they get.
it; they would call us, and Chunks. � Short lists like this one show You’re limited only by time and
they would ask questions. But effective Web writing isn’t just
We could work two to three
readers at a glance the main creativity — and by your staff’s
a matter of sentence length. It’s how points you’re trying to make. ability to produce.
weeks on a story before it you organize your material — how
would be published. � Boldface type grabs your eye. The more complex the topic,
you coax and steer readers through the more you need to include:
“Now, if it looks like Using a bolder, thicker font helps
your content.
you have the inkling of an emphasize key words.
Since long stories discourage
advance on a story, they say, � Bullets (or dingbats) are really THE THREE ESSENTIAL
Web users, you’ll need to rethink
‘Can we get it on the Web just a typographic gimmick that
at 10 a.m.?’ how you present complex material. WEB EXTRAS
Just as we’ve broken this story into makes lists easier to track. � Links
“The consequence of this
can be fatal. Good reporting smaller chunks, divide that long As you plan and write every � Multimedia
requires weeks, months, some- school budget story into shorter, story, look for ways to highlight � User participation
times years to get to the separate sections. An index of head- your main points, to organize
bottom of something. If it can lines can link users to each section: your content in a visual way.
be shortcut every moment we � Where the money comes from Don’t expect an editor to do this Over the next six pages, we’ll
say, ‘Oh, let’s put this on the � How it affects class schedules after you’ve finished writing; take examine these three essential Web
Web’ — you can’t have even � Budget winners and losers charge on your own. extras in greater detail.
a day, let alone a week or
month to work on it — our
product is going to be a series
of incremental snapshots THE WEB IS SMART. SHOVELING STORIES ONLINE IS DUMB.
of what we think might be Web developers use a sarcastic term, shovelware, to describe text that’s lifted from a
going on according to printed publication, then dumped onto a Web site without adapting or enhancing it.
conventional wisdom. It’s easy to shovel (or just shove) stories online. But it’s lazy. It’s a clear indication
There won’t be confidential that you’re behind the tech curve, that you’re not thinking online first. And if you keep
sources; there won’t be shoveling text-heavy, old-school, dead-tree material onto the Web, users will decide
documentation; there won’t that either you don’t care — or you just don’t get it.
be the kind of digging that The Web has extraordinary storytelling potential, but you’ll never tap it if you limit
a good story requires.” yourself to old print-journalism models. So put down that shovel. In the pages ahead,
Bob Woodward,
legendary investigative reporter we’ll explore the three essential online extras every smart news site should incorporate:
at The Washington Post links, multimedia and user participation.
166 ONLINE REPORTING

Incorporating links
Linking provides extra layers of information to online stories
Hyperlink is a computing
1 In printed text, we use tiny
term, coined in 1965, that For centuries now, writers and scholars have used footnotes and annotations 1
refers to a navigation offset numbers to identify
to add extra levels of meaning to essays and articles. Parked beside or below the footnotes and annotations.
element that links one
document to another. main text, they define unfamiliar terms. Cite original sources. Furnish additional But for online links, we use
The use of hypertext words that are color-coded
(meaning “more than just
facts. Offer illuminating asides. so they’re easy to spot.
text”) is what gives the Today’s online writers have an even more powerful tool for annotating text: It’s standard for links to
Web its rich functionality. be blue until they’ve been
hyperlinks. By clicking links, Web users navigate from story to story. And within clicked. Then they turn red.
Another option: Link to a stories, clickable words and phrases can provide valuable cross-references.
video clip on YouTube, or
to downloadable songs on EXAMPLE 1 : Suppose you’re writing a profile of Stuck Zipper, a hot new band.
the band’s Facebook page. As you introduce readers to the group’s members, you link to a photo slide show.
This link could connect
Better yet, how about linking to an audio file of “Swollen,” the band’s new single?
to news stories, political And if you’re timing your story to advance the group’s upcoming concert, you
blogs, stories from other
publications, video
could help fans buy tickets by connecting them to Ticketmonster.
interviews — even
editorials and columns.
EXAMPLE 2: You’re writing a story about a vicious Senate election campaign.
When you first mention Sen. Paul C. Wonk, a link should send readers to previous
stories and photos in your publication’s archives. If you’re analyzing the campaign
What if your publication
strategy of his challenger, Kent B. Goode, a link should connect readers to Goode’s sold this link as advertising
Web site. When the candidates debate key issues, you could link to charts that and got paid every time a
user clicked it?
summarize their stands on, say, gay marriage. Better yet, you could correct the
candidates whenever they distort the facts about global warming. If a candidate makes a
claim that contradicts
Some news sites offer EXAMPLE 3: A severe snowstorm sweeps down from the Arctic and buries the facts, you can link
side-by-side comparisons
your town. For complete online coverage, you’ll need to assemble as much useful to source material that
of the candidates’
sets the record straight.
positions. Others produce information online as you can — weather updates, school closings, driving tips, If he suddenly reverses
in-depth guides to
safety warnings — along with reader-submitted photos and videos. Ordinarily, his previous position, you
major campaign issues.
could link to an earlier
your Web site might round up these links in a separate box running above or quote (or a video clip).
This could link to a
weather service, an
beside the main story. But some readers might also find it convenient to click a
animated radar map, weather forecast link embedded in the text.
even a video forecast from RELATED STORIES
your staff meterologist. As you can see, links provide enormous benefits for both writers — who can More snow is on the way
supplement their stories with useful extras — and for readers, who get to decide Tuesday’s school closings

which of those extras to pursue and peruse. But there’s a downside, too. As Our top winter driving tips
Keep your pets safe & warm
the reading process becomes less passive and linear, it becomes more
fragmented. Notice how your own eyeballs danced around this INTERACTIVE
Got a snow story to share?
page as you followed the links above. Linking is interactive, but
A gallery of reader-submitted
it’s interruptive. And every time you interrupt the flow of your photos & videos
story to dangle a fresh new option in front of your readers,
there’s a risk they’ll leave — and never come back.
Perhaps the most intense
If you want your online writing to reach its full potential, use of embedded text links
you’ve got to think about links. So be diligent. Don’t just can be seen in the entries
at Wikipedia:
expect editors to embed links in your finished stories; instead, www.wikipedia.org
identify those linkworthy sources and sites as you write. But many major news
outlets sprinkle links
Design note: Study other Web sites, too, to determine what works throughout their news
This page has stories and columns.
been overloaded
— and what doesn’t. Remember, all this linking is a See how this is done at:
with links to illustrate a relatively recent innovation. The rules are still being www.nytimes.com
number of points. Your stories www.washingtonpost.com
probably won’t look as noisy and written; reporters like you will help write them.
cluttered as this page does.
 ONLINE REPORTING 167

USING LINKS TO ORGANIZE

COVERAGE — AND TO GUIDE
USERS TO YOUR ARCHIVES
Links embedded in the text are effective, but
it’s often more efficient (and less distracting) to
organize related links into a list or index.
2 Many news sites use a variety of link styles,
though far too many fail to use any. Reporters
often post a story on, say, a new shopping mall
that was finally approved despite bitter protests —
and that’s all the reader gets. One story. No context.
No background. No map. And nowhere to go for
more information.
By contrast, examine the Iraq war story from
usatoday.com at left. A long, controversial war is
a complex topic involving foreign policy, troop
levels, Congressional politics and more. To help
users conduct their own research, story links have
1 been organized in three different ways:
1 TTo help users research various aspects of this topic,
this sidebar
sid combines keywords, icons and links — a mix of
current and older, archived material.
2 If you like the work of a particular reporter — or if you
want tot read other stories she previously filed on her beat —
this link connects you to an index of her stories. (Other
3 news sites will link the reporter’s byline to an e-mail form
so readers can provide feedback to stories.)
3 A Another linking device: a list of keywords found in
the text.
tex Instead of highlighting each individual word as
it appears in the story, they’re grouped together here.

GUIDELINES FOR ADDING LINKS TO YOUR ONLINE STORIES

� Keep link wording short. Be concise. For one reason, � Let links substitute for lengthy background details.
phrases with more than a half-dozen words look funny. If you’re reviewing a rock concert where the guitarist If you’ve done your job and
But more importantly, coding gets clumsy when a link stole some licks from Jimi Hendrix, a link to YouTube presented information well,
starts at the end of one line and wraps to the next, like helps you show instead of tell, which might eliminate a your readers will want more.
this. Avoid splitting links if you can. full paragraph of explanation. But remember: Options for links include:
And don’t just say More or Click here. By now, we � Links must be voluntary — not mandatory. Make � Related material that’s
all understand that you click here to get more. Instead: sure readers can decipher the points you’re making posted elsewhere on your site.
This includes stories, photos,
� Use words or phrases that clearly indicate where without needing to click every link. To ensure that videos, graphics, reader
they’re going. Be precise. If you link to a candidate’s your reporting stands on its own, it’s wise to assume comments and polls.
voting history or her latest campaign ad, users know that readers aren’t chasing every link.
� Previously run material
with certainty what their destination will be. But vague � Use links as attribution. Whenever you rely heavily on this person or topic posted
wording makes it hard for users to guess where links on a Web site for information, link readers there, too. in your online archives.
lead. (If you say that “Iona Frisbee is hell-bent on It shares the credit and enhances your own credibility. � Editorials or columns that
becoming mayor,” where exactly are you sending us?) offer analysis or opinion on
That’s why cryptic links are sometimes known as � Familiarize yourself with your newsroom’s linking
topics discussed in the story.
mystery meat navigation. guidelines, and if you don’t have any, establish some.
Suppose there’s a fire at a nearby warehouse, and one � Additional material that
Remember, too, that making different words “hot” was left out of the story:
or active can produce entirely different results: of your competitors — a local TV station — shoots
statistics, documents, quotes,
dramatic video. Is it acceptable to link from your story even full-length transcripts or
The emperor issued a decree on gladiators. to the video on their Web site? audio of interviews.
Or suppose you’ve profiled a tattoo artist. You want � Organizations, agencies
This links you to a biography of the emperor. to link to his Web site, but some of the artwork he’s or individuals that readers
posted there is pretty vulgar, possibly offensive to may want to contact.
The emperor issued a decree on gladiators. youngsters. To link or not to link — that’s the issue. � Web sites that provide
This links you to a transcript of the decree. Set standards now to avoid arguments later. additional documents or
� Double-check every link before posting. Make sure multimedia files that users
The emperor issued a decree on gladiators. you’ve copied each URL accurately and that it still links can view or download.
This links you to information on gladiators. to the same material you saw when you visited the site.
168 ONLINE REPORTING

Above: After each

New York Giants
football game, the
Asbury Park Press
posts a gallery of
Incorporating multimedia
game photos on its
Text + photos + audio + video + graphics = multimedia.
Web site, app.com. Suppose you’re producing a profile of Ludwig van Gogh, the brilliant painter/composer.
There’s only room to Which medium, or media, would best tell the story? To show his paintings, you’d use photos.
print a few images
in a newspaper, but
To play his music, you’d provide audio recordings. To show him at work — painting or
online galleries offer playing piano — you’d use video. And to explain the impact of his artistry, you’d use text.
limitless space for To create a multi-dimensional profile, then, you’d need multimedia. And though the term
photographers to sounds intimidating, it simply means combining the tools you’re already familiar with — text,
post numerous
photos, audio, video and graphics — to communicate information as effectively as possible.
images from every
event they cover.

Photographs add action, emotion and authenticity As any iTunes customer knows, downloading
to stories in ways that text can’t. And nowadays audio is extremely easy to do. Which is why online
almost anyone can be a photojournalist, whether you’re a staffer with a digital news sites should enhance their coverage with audio as often as possible.
camera or an ordinary citizen with a cell phone. GOOD: Provide a simple audio clip anytime sound plays an integral part in
GOOD: Just a single photo can add information and a story — a dramatic or controversial excerpt from a speech or interview,
visual appeal to any story, even if it’s just a thumbnail for instance. And whenever you cover musicians or comedians, include a
that enlarges when clicked. You can also turn a photo sample of what they do.
into an interactive graphic with clickable “hot spots” (If uploading audio is too
that produce pop-up factoids. And how about stitching difficult, you can always
together a 360-degree panorama of a special event? link to an external site
BETTER: A gallery is an assortment of photos organized that’s posted the audio.)
by topic — usually thumbnails, arranged in rows, that BETTER: Learn to produce your own audio so you can add narration, music
users can browse, select and view in any order. and natural sound to slideshows and videos. �
Click to enlarge
BEST: A slide show is an organized sequence of images, BEST: Create a podcast, which is really just a radio version of a story —
often with audio narration, music or natural sound. Slide shows require more
� downloadable anytime, for users who’d rather listen than read. Basic podcasts
time and skill to produce than galleries and usually tell stories in a linear way. provide just narration from a reporter or the dialogue of an interview; more
Users simply hit Play and watch the show as images advance automatically. elaborate productions feature music, sound effects and larger casts.

It’s nearly as easy to produce Web-quality video Informational graphics

as it is to shoot still photographs. In fact, on many (or infographics) use
assignments, photojournalists routinely shoot both video and photos. Like illustrations — maps, charts, diagrams, timelines –
photos, videos can supplement text or run independently — often in galleries. to present data in a visual, accessible way.
GOOD: If shooting your own video is problematic, GOOD: Just a single chart or graph can add
you can link to video on other Web sites: YouTube, information and visual appeal to a story, even if
Facebook, TV network news sites, etc. But if you it’s just a thumbnail that enlarges when clicked.
must, posting your own raw, unedited video is OK, BETTER: Google mash-up maps are an effective,
especially for breaking news or live webcasts. interactive and relatively easy way to add layers
BETTER: As your skill improves, you’ll want to of useful local information to stories .
routinely provide video for news events (speeches, BEST: Use Flash software to produce animated
sports, protests, parades); performances (concerts, slideshows like the example at right, part of an
plays, celebrations); and interviews. interactive tutorial on eye surgery. Flash cartoons
BEST: Print reporters often regard video as just a are really just a series of frames that create the
supplement to their text-based stories, but why illusion of motion; by adding captions or narra-
not produce video documentaries instead? Combining audio narrative with
� tion, you can create multimedia packages that
strong images can make video packages more powerful than written text. supplement text — or function independently.

MORE ON VIDEO PRODUCTION > 184 MORE ON AUDIO PRODUCTION > 182
 ONLINE REPORTING 169

ANATOMY OF A MULTIMEDIA PACKAGE: “GOING DOWN THE CROOKED ROAD”

In 2005, The Roanoke “Going Down the Crooked Road”
Times produced can be viewed at:
“Going Down the www.roanoke.com /multimedia /crooked
Crooked Road,” which
ran as a six-part series To visit each page from this six-part series,
in the newspaper and just click the town’s name on the map at left —
as a multimedia pack- or click the name of the town in the row below.
age on roanoke.com.
Music writer Ralph
Berrier Jr., photogra-
THIS LINK takes you to the site’s multimedia
pher Kyle Green and menu, which includes options such as these:
multimedia editor
Seth Gitner traveled
Virginia’s Heritage
Music Trail for months
researching and record-
ing this celebration of
mountain music.
The design of these
pages is simple and
effective. For each town
in the series, the story Videos capture the sights and sounds as you
runs in one wide leg drive from town to town, including music from
against a tan screen. this concert by bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley.
In this dark brown rail
you’ll find links:

Profiles combine photos

and bio boxes to introduce
you to local musicians in
each of the six regions.

Slide shows provide

photos and captions that
document the musicians,
musical instruments and Photo slide shows focus on the land, the life,
colorful characters in the musicians and ordinary folks along the way.
each town along the trail.

Road maps offer

directions for driving to
each town on the trail and
pinpoint selected highlights.
(These maps are printer-
friendly, too.)

Recipes capture the

local flavor of each region.
Dishes include cornbread
Instrument guides discuss and demonstrate
salad, squash casserole
dobros, banjos, mandolins, guitars, fiddles, etc.
and white grape juice cake.

Podcasts provide
additional audio
commentary by Berrier,
who wrote the series.

Side trips guide you to

festivals, museums and
offbeat highlights along
the Heritage Music Trail. Music mixer plays a song, then lets you raise
(They tell you which radio and lower the volume of each instrument.
stations play the best
bluegrass music, too.).

MORE ON PLANNING ONLINE PACKAGES LIKE THIS ONE > 174

170 ONLINE REPORTING

Encouraging
user participation
Online audiences want to interact with their news.
Some of us like to sit back and absorb media like a sponge. Others —
an ever-increasing number of us — prefer to get involved, to make
our voices heard. To interact. To participate.
Thus, today’s media producers need to provide options that allow
their audiences to participate in every news story and every TV show,
whether it’s a gun-control debate or an episode of “American Idol.”
In early 2009, a jetliner made an emergency landing in
User participation. It’s one reason why the Web became so popular New York’s Hudson River. Before the news media even
so fast. The old, traditional media — newspapers, TV and radio — knew the plane was down, Twitter user Janis Krums had
were one-way information delivery systems. They spoke; we listened. snapped this photo of the plane with his cell phone and
Consumers had no control, no choice but to swallow what they fed uploaded the picture to TwitPic, along with this message:
“There’s a plane in the Hudson. I’m on a ferry going to
us. And we were rarely allowed to comment or contribute. pick up the people. Crazy.” Digital technology now allows
But the Web changed all that, reversing centuries of journalistic non-journalists to transmit eyewitness reports, photos and
tradition. Online users now expect — demand — to contribute and videos from news scenes before journalists even arrive.
comment. And smart journalists provide ways for them to do it.

THE PROS AND CONS

OF USER PARTICIPATION An excerpt from “Death By Moron” At many news sites, the most popular
by SF Gate columnist Mark Morford: form of reader participation — often, the
ADVANTAGES
I was, for years, an enthusiastic only form of reader participation — is the
� Web users are everywhere YOU’RE not. They’re on the
advocate of the egalitarian, free- comments section that accompanies blogs
scene at disasters, accidents and riots. They can provide eye-
for-all, let’s-level-the-playing field and news stories.
witness accounts, photos, videos, opinions and options for
aspect of the Web. More voices! It’s usually the most problematic, too.
additional coverage you might never find otherwise.
More feedback! More participation! As a reporter, you want your stories to
� Web users have untapped expertise. Almost everyone’s Bring it on! stimulate discussion, generate feedback
an expert at something, which means your Web users (who Not anymore. I now tend to agree and trigger ideas for follow-up stories.
might visit your site from anywhere in the world) can add with “West Wing” creator Aaron But too often, comments are hijacked by
content and credibility that journalists simply can’t. That Sorkin, who said, “Nothing has done spammers (who bombard sites with ads
makes your stories richer, more diverse, more authoritative. more to make us dumber or meaner and misleading links) and trolls (who post
� Web users want a communal experience. They want than the anonymity of the Internet.” insults, obscenities and threats).
to know what other people are thinking and saying, how Anonymity tends to bring out As author Benjamin Dolnick put it: “If
they’re coping with day-to-day concerns. They want the the absolute worst in people, the you ever want to lose faith in humanity,
Web to be an information democracy, unfiltered and free, meanest and nastiest and least read any comments section on the Internet.”
where their voices are heard and their interests are reflected considerate. Something about not
For years, news sites allowed anonymous,
— and they’re loyal to news outlets who respect that. having to reveal who you really are
free-wheeling, unedited discourse. But a
caters to the basest, most unkind
DISADVANTAGES instincts of the human animal.
growing number of online editors now filter
Do not misunderstand: It is far reader comments by requiring registration
� Readers are unprofessional. They mistake opinions for (often with names, phone numbers and
facts. They whine. They lie. They spoof. Their grammar and from all bad, and many intelligent,
eloquent, hilarious people still add e-mail addresses), rejecting all objectionable
spelling are terrible. They’re often 13-year-old pottymouths remarks, and allowing users themselves to
masquerading as informed adults. They don’t respect copy- their voices to comment boards
across the Interwebs. But the bury or promote others’ comments.
right, which means that photo they “took” on their vacation But wait — there’s more. “Surely we
coherent voices are, by and large,
was actually lifted from a travel magazine. can do better in the reader-engagement
increasingly drowned out by the
� Readers are unreliable. It’s hard enough getting trained nasty, the puerile, the inane, to department than many newspaper sites
staffers to produce stories and photos when they’re needed; the point where, unless you’re in that offer only user comments as an
readers are even less dependable. They contribute when the mood to have your positive interactive element,” says online expert
they’re motivated, not because they’re obligated. So it’s risky mood ruined and your belief in the Steve Outing. “It’s time (past it, actually)
to expect they’ll automatically generate usable material. inherent goodness of humanity to integrate staff content and information
� It takes time and energy to set up and maintain user- stomped, there’s almost no point from your community.”
friendly Web elements. Monitoring and editing this extra in trying to sift through it anymore. How? On the next page, we’ll examine
material can be a headache for understaffed newsrooms. other, better ways to get readers involved.

READ MORE BY MARK MORFORD > 282

 ONLINE REPORTING 171

THE FOUR
MAIN WAYS
YOU CAN LET
WEB USERS
PARTICIPATE
IN THE
STORIES
YOU WRITE

COMMENTS AND DISCUSSION SURVEYS, POLLS & QUIZZES INTERACTIVE MEDIA USER-GENERATED CONTENT
With a simple CONTACT US link, users Never forget: online polls are not The Web is all about links — Smart, forward-thinking journalists
can respond to any story by sending scientific. But though they may be clicking links. And the more clickable know that news delivery isn’t just a
an e-mail message to the reporter statistically flaky, they still engage choices you provide, the more users one-way monologue — it’s a two-
or editor. But is that enough? E-mail readers. Increase page views. Provide can customize their own newsscape. way conversation, an information
messages are private monologues; graphic interest. And they can steer This is especially true with online exchange. By tapping into the
it’s much more empowering — and news coverage by taking the commu- graphics. Charts, graphs and maps resources of your readers, your
productive — to let users engage nity’s pulse on a variety of topics. are flat and static in traditional media, stories become stronger. Your
in public dialogues. Most polls ask simple yes /no or but online they can be richly layered, audience becomes more engaged.
That’s why most news sites multiple-choice questions, which responsive to your touch — and, with Many online newsrooms ask users
encourage feedback, discussions and make it easy to tabulate results. Flash animation, gorgeously fluid. to submit their photos and videos,
suggestions through: Imagine, for instance, an Oscar ballot You can make a volcano erupt. Stroll their anecdotes and opinions, their
� Comment sections following that lets users predict the winners in through the wing of a new museum. suggestions for stories. That’s a good
news stories, blogs, columns and a dozen major categories, then tabu- Click on different parts of a painting start. But news sites often shove that
reviews, where users address both lates the overall voting percentages. to learn what the artist was thinking. “amateur” content off to the side.
the writer and each other (and the Even better, asking an essay ques- Searchable online databases let What’s needed, instead, is more
writer can weigh in, too). Comments tion can provide quotes and sources users zero in on the facts they need. consistent integration of “pro-am”
are a terrific way to gauge the impact you can use in a follow-up story. How do test scores at your local high content: enlisting user contributions
and accuracy of what you’ve written Unlike polls, tests and quizzes school compare to others? How did for more stories more often. When a
and generate ideas for new stories. often have correct answers — asking your county vote in the last presiden- fire ravages a college dorm, why not
� Moderated forums where users users to rate their knowledge of tial election? Transforming data into run a sidebar inside the main story
discuss news topics — the economy, political history, sports trivia or a Google mashup map is an easy way soliciting eyewitness accounts or
yesterday’s earthquake or, most health risks, for example. If they’re
� to let readers explore where local photos? For a story on bike theft, why
popular of all, sports — or debate visual and interactive enough, quizzes crimes have occurred — or where gas not ask victims (or thieves) to share
music, movies, restaurants, cars, etc. become more than just sidebars — prices are cheapest. their experiences?
� Live chat where users can ask they can function as the central The Web amasses mind-boggling It’s called crowdsourcing: using the
questions and react to the responses element of your story. heaps of data. But it’s the journalist’s collective wisdom of a large group to
of visiting newsmakers, politicians, And as we’ll explain next, the more job to organize and display that data achieve what individuals can’t. For
experts and celebrities. interactive, the better. in an accessible, customizable way. solid online journalism, it’s essential.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM: MEDIA POWER TO THE PEOPLE

When a tsunami devastates Asia or protests erupt news people need: news about community events,
in Iran, ordinary citizens often become instant Little League games and neighborhood burglaries. But
journalists. They blog firsthand reports, post fuzzy using teams of amateur reporters, online newsletters
cell-phone photos and tell stories that the mainstream try to deliver material that Big Media usually overlooks.
media can’t. Unexpectedly. Accidentally. � The sense of empowerment that new media offers.
But other ordinary citizens commit their acts of In the past, you needed a printing press and a fleet of
journalism deliberately. All over the world, untrained, trucks to deliver newspapers to the masses, but today’s
unprofessional citizen journalists are writing blogs and technology gives everyone a potentially powerful voice
creating news sites so their voices can be heard. What’s — especially minorities and young people who’ve been
driving this growing trend? excluded or marginalized by traditional media.
� A distrust of mainstream media. Not surprisingly, Unfortunately, citizen journalism can result in dull,
many people feel the traditional media are biased, distorted and unreliable content. It will never displace
profit-hungry elitists. Citizen journalists believe they the mainstream media, but it can help encourage
can provide more accurate, unfiltered news coverage. journalism professionals to incorporate more voices,
� A need for more localized news. Big media simply more viewpoints and more user-generated content in
cannot provide the extremely local — hyperlocal — their online news presentations.

133 < MORE ON QUIZZES

172 ONLINE REPORTING

Media convergence
Consumer electronic devices keep merging. So do newsrooms.
Until recently, the traditional news media were distinctly separate and different.
Radio specialized in audio. TV added video. Newspapers offered text and photos.
But the advent of the Web made it possible to listen to audio, watch video and
read the entire text of a newspaper on a single platform: your computer (or even
your cell phone). Technology has converged. So newsgathering is converging, too.
Yes, radio, TV and print journalists still report the news in traditional ways on
their traditional platforms. But online, the rules change. To compete on the Web,
every news outlet needs to incorporate both text and multimedia — to adapt their
storytelling techniques to fit this new, converged technology. Cross-platform journalism.
Media convergence. Whatever you call it, it’s a trend that will inevitably transform your
job, your newsroom, even the stories you write. So get ready. Big changes are coming.

THE CONVERGED
CONVERGENCE: REPORTER: MYTH
COMING SOON OR INEVITABILITY?
TO A NEWSROOM At the News Center in Tampa, Victoria
Lim is the consumer reporter for WFLA-TV.
NEAR YOU But she also expands her TV reports into
Different journalists mean stories for the Tampa Tribune, where she
different things when they talk writes a weekly column. And she wins
about convergence. (Some even awards for the multimedia projects she
avoid the word, preferring to use posts on the TBO.com Web site.
Lim is known as a “converged reporter.”
the term fusion.) But generally,
In the future, will all journalists need to
convergence takes three forms: exhibit that much versatility?
NEWSROOM CONVERGENCE Some say yes. They point to Preston
Mendenhall, MSNBC’s international editor,
In a converged newsroom, who traveled to Afghanistan in 2001
journalists from different media lugging a backpack that contained a
(TV, radio, newspaper, online) laptop, a satellite phone, digital cameras
all share the same work space and microphones. Transmitting reports
instead of occupying separate from the field, he single-handedly acted
offices in separate buildings. From a small studio in the business department of the Orlando Sentinel as reporter, producer, editor and engineer.
One of the most notable newsroom, Wilma Colon delivers a daily news-headline Webcast that Others are less enthusiastic about
examples is the News Center in appears on the Sentinel’s home page. Colon is a “converged reporter” “backpack journalism.” Some, like online
Tampa, Fla. In 2000, the staffs of who also writes for the Web, reports for El Sentinel (a Spanish-language journalist Martha Stone, worry about the
the Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV weekly) and produces segments for the local Telemundo telecast. “mush of mediocrity” that results when
you overtax busy journalists.
and TBO.com — all owned by
“While some multimedia journalists can
Media General Inc. — moved into one of the newspaper’s graphics. combining text, photos, audio, handle a variety of tasks efficiently and
a huge $40-million facility with A TV reporter might cover an video, blogs, slide shows — the professionally,” Stone says, “most will only
a TV studio on the first floor event for broadcast, then write a options are continually expand- deliver mediocre journalism. While some
and a joint newsroom above it. longer story for the Web site. ing. At present, relatively few may excel at writing the story for print or
Sharing a newsroom encour- With training, print reporters news outlets have the expertise broadcast, they may produce poor-quality
ages cross-platform cooperation. learn to deliver TV news reports; to consistently converge their video or still pictures. . . . Quality comes
When editors from different photojournalists shoot photos, content this way. from those journalists who practice a
media attend the same meetings video and conduct interviews. But it’s not hard to imagine, defined job, be it writer, videographer,
and plan coverage together, In other words, journalists years from now, that the Web photographer or editor.”
they can steer each story to the multitask in multimedia, whether will become a hybrid medium Turning reporters into do-it-all super-
combining the immediacy and journalists may be unrealistic, it’s true.
format that tells it best. it’s one story produced by a
impact of TV with the depth Still, as newsrooms evolve, reporters should
team of TV, print and online be prepared to expand their skills, whether
NEWSGATHERING CONVERGENCE staffers — or one reporter and portability of newspapers.
that means learning how to post audio
Here, reporters, editors and preparing variations of one story Editors and reporters will interviews, write blogs or record podcasts.
photographers collaborate on for several different media. become “content producers” “If I were still reporting,” says new-media
story production. In its simplest trained to choose the most guru Rob Curley, “I’d be doing everything I
form, news crews might share a CONTENT CONVERGENCE effective, entertaining storytelling could to show just how invaluable I was to
helicopter to report on a flood. This is where the final story is techniques from a vast menu of a news organization’s ability to survive all
A TV newscast might borrow presented in multimedia form, multimedia options. the changes we’re going through.”
 ONLINE REPORTING 173

MULTIPLATFORM REPORTING:
CONVERGENCE AT THE JOURNAL-WORLD
Since the emergence of convergence in the 1990s, most of the pioneering
newsrooms have been in Florida: Tampa. Sarasota. Orlando. Naples.
And then there’s Lawrence, Kansas.
In downtown Lawrence, a renovated post office has been rechristened the
News Center. That’s where print, broadcast and online journalists work side
by side to produce a daily newspaper, a Web site and TV newscasts for the
family-owned World Company.
“The seating areas are not broken down by medium, they’re broken down
by beat,” explained media director Rob Curley, who has since relocated to
the Las Vegas Sun. “So all the political reporters sit together. All the courts
and cops reporters — print, television and online — sit together.”
The result? The Lawrence Journal-World, a 21,000-circulation daily,
prints a story about a basketball victory at the University of Kansas — while
LJWorld.com, a partner Web site, offers Jayhawk fans the added value of
animated graphics and slideshows, along with audio and video from the
local cable channel, 6News Lawrence.
The results are impressive. And popular, too: Those Web pages register
up to 13 million views a month.
“We believe it is important to look upon our business as an ‘information
business,’ not merely a newspaper or a cable television operation,” publisher
Dolph Simons Jr. noted at the paper’s 100th anniversary in 1991.
“We want to stay abreast of new developments and be able to deliver
news and advertising, as well as other information, however a reader or
advertiser might desire.” x

ONLINE EXTRAS FOR

A TYPICAL SPORTS STORY:

AUDIO CLIPS: A sound file plays post-

game comments by the team’s coach.

PHOTO
GALLERY: The newspaper
ran only a few of the game photos shot by
staff photographers. But online, fans can view,
download or purchase dozens of images of
ANIMATED PLAYBOOK: Click the players, coaches and fans.
“PLAY” button and this graphic shows
you how one of the big plays unfolds.

MORE STORIES: Related or expanded

stories — which may or may not have
run in the printed newspaper — offer
additional angles on the game.

CELL PHONE UPDATES: If you’re a

fan but can’t watch the games, this
service sends scores and stats as text
messages to your cell phone.
SPORTS VIDEO: This is the basketball coverage
PRE-GAME CHAT: Sports reporters from from the Channel 6 newscast, featuring video
the Journal-World and the opposing highlights from the game. For some stories,
team’s paper (The Birmingham News) reporters might tape special webcasts that
went online to answer questions from include additional game footage or interviews
fans a few hours before the game. with coaches, players and fans.

107 < AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE JOURNAL-WORLD PRESENTED A MULTIMEDIA SPEECH STORY
174 ONLINE REPORTING

Planning online packages ONLINE

PACKAGE
PLANNING
Creating Web content is a complex process. To succeed, you must collaborate. GUIDE
Back on page 169, we introduced you to “Goin’ Down the Crooked Road,” a masterful multimedia
report produced by The Roanoke Times. That series took four months to produce by a team In Chapter 6, we
provided a form to help
consisting of two series editors, one reporter, one multimedia editor, one photojournalist, one photo you plan special feature-
editor, two print designers, two online producers, one podcast producer and an art director. story packages. x
This form works the same
Yes, creating richly layered multimedia packages is a complex process. But producing even simple way, providing a guide for
online stories is a team effort, too, requiring skilled staffers to pool their specialized talents. reporters and editors plan-
ning stories for the Web.
Here’s how it works:

compete with those who do. These But collaboration is hard. The STEP 1:
are the new tools of our trade. key is to build a team mentality Photocopy the next page.
Clay Frost, early in the process, and to give all STEP 2:
Art director, msnbc.com the players input and ownership of Schedule a meeting
the concept. with the writer, editor,
We shouldn’t confuse reporting Don Wittekind,
photographer and any
with editing and production. Just CEO of Swarm Interactive and assistant
other online staffers who’ll
like in today’s newsroom, it isn’t professor at University of North Carolina
help produce this story.
efficient when a reporter shoots a Do this before the story
What does is take to produce strong
photograph or designs a news page. How much time is spent planning gets written.
online content? Here are responses
So why should reporters now need and producing a typical multimedia STEP 3:
to questions we asked veteran Web
to shoot video or produce graphics? project? Begin by asking: What’s
editors all across the country.
With that said, collaboration is key. An elaborate multimedia project can this story really about?
If the reporter is the only one in the take a few weeks or even months to Boil the idea down to 25
Some experts predict that, in the field to convey the story, they are words or less.
create. Why? It involves numerous
future, reporters will be required critical in narrating the slide show, STEP 4:
people using varied technologies
to write stories, shoot video, voicing the podcast or working with Now think like a reader.
across several platforms, all greatly
narrate slide shows and create Flash a Flash journalist on the graphic. What are the most urgent,
increasing the probability that
graphics. But how realistic is that? Andrew DeVigal, interesting questions this
things will go wrong. Not to men-
multimedia editor, The New York Times story provokes? And where
It’s more realistic every day. Many tion the fact that we’re all learning
of our reporters are involved with will you answer them?
how to use these technologies and In the text? In a sidebar?
most or all of those media in one When it comes to producing good work with these media on the fly. With a photo? Better yet,
form or another, if only through online content, how important is Michael Dupras is there an interactive,
collaboration, and some actually collaboration? multimedia extra that best
do many of them. Creating Flash My rule of thumb is that I expect to delivers the information?
An individual can do really good need at least 8 hours of production
graphics is a specialized skill. But work on smaller stories, but big, STEP 5:
writing and shooting video and time (or one full day of work for
high-impact projects require one person) for each element of a Remember, Web users read
narrating slide shows? Standard collaboration and lots of planning in chunks. So if the story
operating procedure. project, and most of our projects is complex, should it be
with all the right people in the have three to four multimedia ele-
Michael Dupras, divided into sections? If it’s
Web development editor, room from the start. It doesn’t do ments. Investing more time on the long, should it run on sepa-
The Post-Standard (Syracuse, N.Y.) any good to try to pull a bunch of planning end can decrease the time rate pages? Now’s the time
elements together after the content needed for production. Gary Kiefer, to carve up the content,
It’s not very realistic. I think has been collected. Paige West, before production begins.
students should have the ability to managing editor/new media,
director, msnbc.com interactive studio The Columbus Dispatch
do them all, but they should not be STEP 6:
asked to do them all at once. What Unless you totally rock at every- Hours to days. And I’m not always Walk through those lists
of options for sidebars,
is possible, though, is to have an thing, you must collaborate. convinced that it’s worth the work.
Clay Frost multimedia, links and user
idea of what quality multimedia We can get a month’s worth of traf- participation. Discuss and
storytelling is. If more word report- fic in a few hours when the Drudge finalize any online extras
ers were taught visual storytelling Collaboration is key to any story Report picks up an oddball brief that will enhance the story.
skills, I think we’d have better in any medium, and it is especially about a woman being hit in the
important online because there are STEP 7:
online journalism. Seth Gitner, head with a bowling ball. Converse-
so many more storytelling options Decide what your deadlines
multimedia editor, ly, we can spend two weeks on a will be. When everyone’s in
The Roanoke Times and roanoke.com available. It is only when you pull great multimedia package about agreement, make copies of
all of your experts together so they soldiers returning home, and it’ll this completed form for all
Rare is the person who is expert in can actually talk that you can break draw 5 percent of that traffic. involved staffers (or, if you
all of this, but if you don’t know at out and explore innovative treat- Josh Awtry, assistant managing editor/ prefer, create and update
least a little bit about each of these ments. Great multimedia storytell- niche publications, online & presentation, a computerized version of
disciplines, you won’t be able to ing is always a team effort. The Salt Lake Tribune this form).

130 < MORE ON PLANNING STORY PACKAGES

 ONLINE REPORTING 175

ONLINE PACKAGE PLANNING GUIDE

WHAT’S THE STORY ? STAFF

STORY IDEA (in 25 words or less)

WRITER

EDITOR/PRODUCER
WHAT QUESTIONS WILL READERS ASK?

Why should I care? VISUALS/MEDIA

HOW WE’LL ANSWER: � MAIN TEXT � SEPARATE PAGE � SIDEBAR/GRAPHIC � MULTIMEDIA � LINK
DEADLINES

HOW WE’LL ANSWER: � MAIN TEXT � SEPARATE PAGE � SIDEBAR/GRAPHIC � MULTIMEDIA � LINK
TEXT/ SIDEBAR(S)

HOW WE’LL ANSWER: � MAIN TEXT � SEPARATE PAGE � SIDEBAR/GRAPHIC � MULTIMEDIA � LINK
VISUALS/MEDIA

HOW WE’LL ANSWER: � MAIN TEXT � SEPARATE PAGE � SIDEBAR/GRAPHIC � MULTIMEDIA � LINK RUN DATE

NOTES:
SHOULD WE DIVIDE THIS STORY INTO SEPARATE PAGES OR SMALLER SECTIONS?

MAIN PAGE / LEAD STORY

ADDITIONAL STORIES /PAGES / SECTIONS

SIDEBAR & GRAPHIC OPTIONS MULTIMEDIA OPTIONS

� FAST-FACTS BOX � DIAGRAM � BIO BOX � PHOTO/MUG SHOT � VIDEO CLIP � WEBCAM
� LIFTOUT QUOTE � Q and A � TABLE � PHOTO GALLERY � AUDIO EXCERPT � LIVE WEBCAST
� QUOTE COLLECTION � MAP � QUIZ � NARRATED SLIDE SHOW � PODCAST � ANIMATED GRAPHIC
� STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE � CHART � TIMELINE
� CHECKLIST � TOP 10 LIST � GLOSSARY
DETAILS

DETAILS

LINK OPTIONS USER-PARTICIPATION OPTIONS

� PREVIOUS STORIES � COLUMNS/EDITORIALS � BLOGS � COMMENTS � LIVE CHAT REQUEST FOR:

� OTHER ONLINE STORIES � ORGANIZATIONS � SOURCES CITED � ONLINE POLL � CONTEST � INFORMATION
� INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS � ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS IN THE TEXT � DISCUSSION GROUP � INTERACTIVE QUIZ � PHOTOS/VIDEOS

DETAILS DETAILS
176 ONLINE REPORTING

Are you an Is the Web now your

avid consumer primary news source?
of digital content? Are you a loyal reader of news sites
and blogs? (“Loyal” means you visit
Do you watch YouTube videos?
these sites at least twice a day or
Download podcasts? Shop online?
get updates via RSS feeds.)
Stream TV shows and movies?
Is your music library digitized?
In other words, is your daily life YES SORT OF/ NO
plugged into cyberspace? MAYBE

Sure, you can surf the Web,

YES SORT OF/ NO Can you shoot a video,
send e-mails and shoot
snapshots with your cell
MAYBE edit it and post it online?
Online editors expect all their
phone — but really, how
staffers to provide visuals as well as
technically savvy are you? words. Can you be trusted to shoot, Could you cover an
Can you create useful and edit and upload video that meets event at 9 a.m. where
effective online content? basic journalistic standards? you shoot photos and
To survive in the digital age, Do you comment, video for your narrated
journalists will need chat and tweet? YES SORT OF/ NO slide show, then post
MAYBE
new vocabularies. Are you active in online social a 6-inch story (complete
New tools. New skills. networks like Facebook, MySpace
or Twitter? Do you participate in with links and images)
So let’s test whether you’re by noon?
discussion groups, post comments
plugged in and ready to and even get into arguments That might sound unrealistic —
publish (or still stuck in the in response to online stories, OK, crazy — but it’s exactly what
Stone Age) by answering blogs, wikis, etc.? Can you record audio, some online editors will expect.
these 10 questions. edit it and post it online? Not every day. But often enough.
YES SORT OF/ NO Could you interview someone,
MAYBE
then turn the highlights of your YES SORT OF/ NO
conversation into a podcast? MAYBE

Could you create

a Web page?
YES SORT OF/
MAYBE
NO
SCORING
Are you familiar
Are you able to use � For each YES answer,
Web-authoring software like
with different give yourself 2 points.
Dreamweaver — or better yet, online platforms? � For each SORT OF/MAYBE,
write your own HTML code — Are you comfortable using a wire- give yourself 1 point.
to produce a Web page that less laptop to send and receive text
includes text, headlines, and images? Using a cellular phone YOUR TOTAL:
images and links? to send long text messages and
photos? Surfing the Web
with a smartphone?
YES SORT OF/
MAYBE
NO HOW YOU RATE
YES SORT OF/ NO
16-20 pts.
MAYBE Congratulations! You’ve
got the new-media skills
editors are looking for.

Have you Could you create an 11-15 pts.

interactive graphic? You’re plenty plugged in,
written a blog? but keep upgrading.
Many of us create a blog, post Have you tried turning a database
an entry or two, then abandon the into a Google map mashup (like this 6-10 pts.
whole thing. But have you blogged one, pinpointing local gang-related Time to reboot and install
more consistently than that? Have crimes)? Or could you produce a lots of new brainware.
you tried building a loyal following clickable chart or diagram using
by posting several times a day? software like Flash? 0-5 pts.
Ever feel like the world
is passing you by?
YES SORT OF/ NO YES SORT OF/ NO
MAYBE MAYBE
 177

CHAPTER

Broadcast
journalism
An introduction to the craft of combining sights and sounds
into compelling stories — a business where every second counts.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
178 Broadcast news
How news stories come together, and what a typical news script might look like.
180 Writing for broadcast
Style, syntax, tone, technique: 10 ways broadcast newswriting differs from print journalism.
182 Radio news reporting
Tips for writing radio news reports, and a comparison showing how different reporters
covered the same story.
184 Television news reporting
An introduction to the terms and formats commonly used at TV stations, with advice on
writing to video.

PLUS: 186 The Press Room 188 Test yourself

178 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Broadcast news
TV and radio journalism is neither better nor worse than print journalism.
It’s just different — though critics, pundits and journalists themselves may passionately disagree.
Each form of media has strengths and weaknesses. And while obvious, they’re worth repeating:
� Print journalism provides a level of depth, context and sheer information that television
and radio newscasts can’t supply.
� Broadcast journalism, through the power of dramatic video and engaging audio,
offers emotional appeal, realism and immediacy that printed stories can’t match.
� Watching or listening to a news broadcast generally requires less intellectual
effort than reading a complex news story in print or online.
� Broadcast journalism, critics say, treats news as entertainment, evading
complex issues while sensationalizing conflicts, crimes, car chases, etc.
Critics of print journalism say newspapers aren’t entertaining enough —
they’re full of dull-but-important government stories and serious-but-
boring social issues that seldom connect with ordinary Americans.
Yes, differences exist. But whether you’re a print journalist or
a broadcast reporter, your goal remains the same: Gather all the
information you can, then tell your story in a clear, compelling way.

HOW A TYPICAL BROADCAST NEWS STORY COMES TOGETHER

At most radio stations, especially small ones, the news director serves
ON RADIO as a one-person newsroom, writing local stories, reworking wire copy
and serving as the anchor who reads news on the air. At larger stations, news directors
supervise a small team of reporters who cover the area’s most newsworthy stories.
In a typical day, a reporter might cover from one to five different stories — some by
phone, others in the field. Formal beats aren’t practical (there’s too much news and not
enough reporters), so assignments often vary unpredictably, from meetings to murders.
After gathering information, reporters occasionally transmit a live report from the
field, especially for big breaking stories. Usually, though, they’ll return to the newsroom
to review the audio they’ve recorded, select sound bites, write the script and assemble
the finished story. It’s common for reporters to create several different versions of each
story. Some become short, text-only readers for anchors to deliver, while others become
KXL anchor Sharon Mitchell reads a radio newscast in longer packages (wraps) that incorporate sound bites and the reporter’s own narrative.
the station’s Portland studio, where all news production Thus, in an average day, a reporter might file a dozen different stories — although a
is computerized — including the script she’s reading. typical story may combine just 20 seconds of narration and 10 seconds of sound bites.x

TV reporters (and many radio reporters, too) start their days

ON TELEVISION with a news meeting. That’s where the news director and the
producers (who supervise the newscast material) discuss and select the day’s top stories.
The assignment desk then monitors who covers what out in the field.
Like radio reporters, TV reporters can seldom predict where they’ll be from day to
day. They might cover a cat show one hour, a high-speed chase the next. At a big
station, a reporter might focus on one or two stories daily; at smaller stations, reporters
might cover half a dozen. There’s often little time to do research or study a story’s
background, which means reporters must be fast learners.
Unlike radio or print reporters, TV journalists work side by side with photographers,
since video is essential for most stories. And stories come together in a variety of ways.
Interviews and stand-ups are often done live — as often as possible, at many stations.
Some stories are taped and transmitted to the newsroom from the scene; for others,
reporters return to the station, review the video, write a script and assemble a package
for a later newcast. Producing a typical 90-second story can take hours (during which
This is what KGW anchor Tracy Barry sees when she news crews are often interrupted to go chase yet another breaking news story).
delivers the news. The script scrolls in front of the camera Producers and anchors, meanwhile, do their own writing and editing, too, carefully
lens; below it, a digital clock tracks the newscast’s time. trimming and timing stories so they’ll fit, to the precise second, in the final newscast.x

FOR A GLOSSARY OF RADIO TERMS > 182 FOR A GLOSSARY OF TELEVISION TERMS > 184
 BROADCAST JOURNALISM 179

ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS

(AND THAT’S REALLY NOT MUCH) WHAT’S IN A HALF-HOUR NEWSCAST?
According to results from two major surveys of local television news:
Yes, broadcast journalists produce brilliant in-depth reports, from social analysis
on NPR to hard-hitting exposés on “60 Minutes.” But those are the exceptions. � Roughly 70 percent NEWS, 14 minutes
As a rule, most broadcast news stories are brief. Extremely brief. of all stories were under Crime, fire, accidents
How brief? Instead of measuring stories in words and inches, broadcast one minute long. and disasters made
journalists measure them in minutes and seconds. A four-minute radio newscast � Three-quarters of up more than
may contain a dozen stories, but many will be just a few seconds long. A typical all stories were local. a third of all
TV news story may consist of four or five sentences lasting 40 seconds. � The most common news stories
Broadcast journalists generally read 150-180 words per minute. At that rate, topic, by a 2-to-1
it would take 28 hours to read a typical edition of The Washington Post. Most margin, was crime. SPORTS and
half-hour newscasts contain fewer words than one typical newspaper page. � The newscast’s lead WEATHER
story involved crime 6.4 minutes
As a result, broadcast news is concise, but shallow — fast-paced, but superficial.
39 percent of the time.
As newscaster David Keith Cohler admitted in his broadcasting textbook: TEASERS/CHAT
� Most stories that
“Let’s not kid ourselves: Any radio or TV newscast that promises to deliver 1.6 minutes
involved controversies
all the news is grossly misrepresenting itself. . . . Assume that people interested gave only or mostly
in a story’s wealth of details will read newspapers, because they know radio and ADVERTISING
one point of view. 8 minutes
TV will usually not take the time to include them.”
Want to write TV and radio news? Start the clock. You’ll need to think fast, Sources: The Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Lear Center Local News Archive
boil issues down to their basics — and write as tightly as you can.

WHAT A TYPICAL BROADCAST NEWS SCRIPT LOOKS LIKE

If you’re reporting live from a news scene or recording your own narration, you can scribble notes any way you like. But if you’re writing a story for
someone else to read (say, a newscast anchor), your script must be formatted — and formats vary from station to station. Two typical examples:

A RADIO NEWS STORY A TELEVISION NEWS STORY

At some stations, reporters make each line of a news script 70 characters wide, Television scripts use what’s called a split page. The right half mimics what anchors
which equals about 10 words. At a normal rate of speaking, each line would take see on their prompters. It tells them what to say, when to say it and what’s being
four seconds to read — making it easy to estimate the story’s total running time. shown on-camera from moment to moment. The left half displays technical details
And scriptwriting software helps calculate the timing of each story as you type it. — for audio, video and graphics — used by the director and production crew.

This is the slug This indicates

(or name) of the BOTTLE BILL (ANCHOR ON CAM) (JOE) who’s speaking,
story, along with TALENT: TJH L ANDLORDS MAY GET which is especially
the writer’s initials A LITTLE HELP FROM important for
9-20-06
and date. THE STATE IF THEIR newscasts with
Students from Eastern State University PROPERTY IS DAMAGED two anchors.
Notice how the BY METH MAKERS.
dumped more than 13-thousand cans
numbers in this A NEW BILL In scripts, words
and bottles on the Capitol lawn today.
story are written INTRODUCED BY STATE that are tricky
The cans represent each student SENATOR TED CEARNY
the way they’re to pronounce
currently attending E-S-U. Event (CAR-nee) WOULD GIVE
pronounced. Even are spelled out
organizer Sara May says the group is LANDLORDS UP TO phonetically.
the acronym “ESU”
is hyphenated to supporting legislation that would give 5-THOUSAND DOLLARS Notice, too, how
keep the anchor 10-cents back for every container you FROM THE STATE’S dollar amounts
from pronouncing recycle. CRIME VICTIMS are spelled out.
it “Ee-soo.” COMPENSATION FUND.
[Cart No.: BOTTLEBILL1.wav The anchor has
TAKE SOT FULL (SOT)
This indicates a Time: 13s stopped talking,
TRT: :09 ”A lot of innocent
prerecorded Out-cue: “...save the planet.” and viewers are
OUTQ:...NEED property owners
quote — called a now watching the
OUR HELP.” face financial ruin
cut or actuality — The group collected 25-hundred trying to clean up senator’s sound
CG \\ TED CEARNY
that ends with the bottles and cans while at the Capitol... the mess from these bite (or SOT, for
\\ STATE SENATOR
phrase “save the and gave donors a DIME for each of meth labs, and they “sound on tape”).
planet.” In the past, those containers. need our help.” This bite lasts nine
cuts were recorded seconds, as indi-
on tape cartridges. cated by the TRT
The term cart still (“total running
survives, even Some radio stations Broadcast scripts avoid This tech talk basically Some radio and TV stations time”) to its left.
though most cuts capitalize words that hyphenating words. says the sound bite ends use ALL CAPS all the time. This transcript, by
nowadays are need extra emphasis. Writers try to make the with the words “need our Some use CAPS for narration, the way, is used
digital files stored Others underline. It’s story as easy as possible to help”— and a computer- lower case for sound bites. to generate the
in the computer common, too, for ellipses read aloud — even if you’ve generated name line CAPS are easier to read from closed-captioning
system. to indicate pauses. never seen it before. appears on-screen. prompters several yards away. for this newscast.
180 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Writing for broadcast

In different media , stories require different styles.
Speaking aloud is not the same as reading silently. That’s why
writing for broadcast is not the same as writing for print.
To understand this, just listen — really listen — the next
time you hear radio reporters or watch TV anchors.
The differences in style and syntax are subtle, yet
substantial. There’s another key difference, too:
A story with compelling audio or video is
considered more newsworthy than one
without it — no matter how
well written that story is.

USE A FRIENDLIER, MORE DON’T CONSTRUCT STORIES IN

CONVERSATIONAL TONE THE INVERTED-PYRAMID FORM
When people hear a news announcer’s Inverted-pyramid news stories start strong
voice on the radio or watch a news anchor’s but finish weak, as facts gradually become
face on TV, they establish a connection that’s less crucial. But in broadcast newswriting,
familiar. Friendly. Almost intimate. every fact is crucial. Every second is precious.
That’s why broadcast newswriters are urged Every word counts.
to write the way they talk, using simple words Broadcast news stories need a beginning,
in a natural-sounding speaking style — “like middle and end; they need to hold listeners
you’re talking to your mother,” it’s often said. from the lead to the final sentence.
Unlike newspaper stories, which generally So give every story a solid ending,
adopt a proper, official-sounding demeanor, whether it’s a zinger (“It turns out Ralphie is
TV and radio newscasters establish a friendly a 400-pound gorilla”), a summary statement
we-you relationship with their audiences, (“But for now, both sides appear deadlocked”)
which makes it OK to say, “Here are the top or vital details (“The council will finally vote
stories we’re following tonight: Watch out for
construction delays if you’re driving near the
river tomorrow. . . .”
It’s possible to overdo it, of course. You’ll
ruin your credibility with slang, jargon and
10 WAYS
THAT
BROADCAST
on the plan at tomorrow’s meeting”).

USE THE PRESENT TENSE

AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE
sloppy speech, especially for serious news. NEWSWRITING Broadcast news needs to sound . . . new.
Fresh. Immediate. That’s why their stories
DIFFERS FROM use the present tense as often as possible.
KEEP IT SHORT. SIMPLE. TRADITIONAL Newspaper stories are traditionally written
EASY TO FOLLOW. NEWSWRITING in the past tense:
You’re writing for the ear, not the eye. Your A Lancaster man was hospitalized yesterday
listeners will have a hellish time decoding after he was attacked by a crazed chicken.
the tangled clauses in sentences like this: To avoid information overload, express But broadcast stories try to summarize
Warren Peace, a Bloomfied cab driver who claims one idea per sentence. Limit sentences to 20 what’s happening right now. They constantly
a passenger was drunk and insulted him last night, words or less. And notice how it’s OK to start recast leads to convey immediacy:
was arrested and charged with assaulting him. sentences with conjunctions, like we just did. A Lancaster man is recovering this morning
Contorted syntax that might work in print Or to use sentence fragments. Like this. after being attacked by a crazed chicken.
becomes indecipherable when read aloud Good broadcast newswriting uses simpler This doesn’t mean you should avoid using
over the air. So write in the active voice. words, too: admit, not acknowledge; charges, the past tense; it simply means you should
Keep your subjects and verbs close together. not allegations; end, not terminate. And so on. seek story angles that emphasize what’s new
And avoid the clutter of long clauses and Can you streamline your sentences without and what’s next rather than rehash news
parenthetical phrases. Simplify — like this: dumbing down your information? Can you that’s getting old. If a Supreme Court justice
Police are charging a Bloomfield cab driver with simplify your word choice without becoming resigned yesterday, today’s story becomes:
assaulting a passenger. The driver, Warren Peace, simple-minded? That’s the real challenge of The president is meeting with advisers this morning
claims the passenger was drunk and insulting. broadcast newswriting. to begin choosing a Supreme Court nominee . . .
 BROADCAST JOURNALISM 181

In broadcast news, events happen late last Then you’d begin this next sentence on a
night, a few hours ago, in a few moments. (It’s PAM ZEKMAN was new piece of paper. See? There’s less chance
OK to approximate.) Even looking toward a successful reporter at of stumbling or getting lost that way.
the future beats dwelling in the past: the Chicago Sun-Times To indicate short pauses, use commas; add
The city is bracing for another winter storm Friday before she became an them even more frequently than you would
like the one that gave us a foot of snow yesterday. investigative reporter in a print news story. (Remember, however,
for WBBM-TV in
that lots of commas may indicate that your
Chicago. Her reaction
CONTRACTIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE, to the transition from syntax is too tangled and clause-ridden.)
EVEN FOR HARD NEWS STORIES print to broadcasting: Longer pauses can add extra emphasis or
Serious newspaper stories are written in clarity to spoken news. Use dashes or ellipses
“I mourned the lack of space in to indicate those pauses:
a solemn tone that generally avoids using TV for all the wonderful facts I piled
contractions: The mayor announced that he Quarterback Biff Wellington says he’ll be
into my newspaper stories. What I ready to play . . . and win . . . Friday night.
will not seek re-election.
But because broadcast newswriting is
didn’t realize was how powerful my To ensure that important words get the
more conversational, contractions are OK: stories would become when I got rid proper emphasis, underline them, as we
The mayor says he won’t seek re-election. of a lot of the stuff I thought was so did in these last two sentences — though at
Some contractions, however, are awkward precious. some stations, you might use ALL CAPS.
to pronounce: there’re, that’ll, it’d, that’d. “Writing for TV forces me to get
Beware, too, of contractions that sound like to the point sooner and to make that AVOID ABBREVIATIONS
plurals. To say the jury’s reached a decision point more clearly than I did when AND SYMBOLS
might sound like there’s more than one jury; I was writing for newspapers. TV You should spell out nearly all words in
it’s more accurate to say the jury has reached taught me to appreciate the power broadcast news stories. Why? Well, if you see
a decision. Using contraction-free phrasing ST. in an unfamiliar story, will it mean Saint
of pictures, and to work with pho-
often conveys greater clarity and authority. or Street? Does DR. mean Drive or Doctor?
tographers in a collaborative way.” Is REP. a Representative or a Republican?
ATTRIBUTIONS AND QUOTES States, months, days, titles — to avoid any
REQUIRE DIFFERENT TREATMENT confusion, it’s best to write them out in full.
ADD PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION One exception: well-known acronyms like
In print journalism, you’re trained to place WHEREVER NECESSARY F-B-I, C-B-S or Y-M-C-A. (Notice how we
attributions after you relay information: added hyphens to show that each letter is
Tongue-twisting words and foreign names
Jones confessed to murdering his wife, police pronounced individually. When acronyms
can easily trip up an anchor — which is why
said. He could face the death penalty if convicted.
broadcast news writers often avoid naming are pronounced like words — NATO or
But in broadcast stories, that dangling names if they’re not essential to the story. NASA — hyphens aren’t used.)
phrase, police said, might sound ambiguous. If it’s sufficient to simply say the president of Generally, avoid using symbols — $, %, @,
Read it aloud. Did police say Jones confessed, Iran, you’ll avoid the perils of pronouncing & — but use words instead: dollar, percent,
or that he could face the death penalty? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. at, and. When in doubt, spell it out. If a
To avoid confusion and make it immedi- But when complex names are necessary, student has a 3.9 GPA, write that she has a
ately clear where information comes from, be sure to add phonetic pronunciations — grade-point average of three-point-nine.
you should generally attribute the source first: often called pronouncers — each time the
Police say Jones confessed to murdering his wife. word is used, whether it’s Joseph Pulitzer NUMBERS: ROUND THEM OFF
This becomes even more necessary when (PULL-it-zehr), Senator Daniel Inouye AND SPELL THEM OUT
sources convey opinions. In printed stories, (ee-NO-way) or Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Americans suffer from math anxiety.
this quote is easy to understand because we (mah-MOOD ah-mah-dih-nee-ZHAD). Your audience has a difficult time hearing
can see the quotation marks: Some stations run the pronunciations and comprehending complex numbers.
“I am not a crook,” President Nixon said. following the regular spelling, while others Read this sentence aloud: The thieves stole
But if a newscaster begins a sentence by run it in place of the original word — $397,728. Notice how the numbers start to
saying “I am not a crook,” listeners might whichever way the news readers prefer. jumble when you just hear them. That’s why
get confused. For a sudden moment, they’ll most broadcast stories would say The thieves
wonder, “Why is this newscaster denying USE PUNCTUATION TO HELP — stole nearly 400-thousand dollars. Too much
that she’s a crook?” NOT HINDER — THE DELIVERY precision causes confusion. If precise num-
Because it’s hard for audiences to “hear” If you were to read this column of text dur- bers aren’t essential, round them off with
quotation marks, it’s generally preferable ing a newscast, you might find the use of hy- phrases such as nearly, more than, about, etc.
to paraphrase than to use direct quotes phens at the right edge of each line a bit dis- And to make numbers easier to read,
(President Nixon said that he was not a crook). tracting. That’s why you should avoid hyph- write them this way:
If you must quote someone, try this: enation when preparing text for broadcast. 0: Write as zero.
Nixon said — quote — “I am not a crook.” In the same way, you should avoid jumping 1-9: Spell them out as words. (In most
Or: sentences from one page to another. That’s newsrooms, spell out eleven, too, since 11
As Nixon put it: “I am not a crook.” not a problem if you read from a computer could be mistaken for two L’s.)
Of course, your best option is to provide screen or teleprompter. But suppose this leg 10-999: Use numerals.
actual sound bites so audiences can hear of type was a news story printout. Instead of Above 999: Use a combination of words
quotes for themselves. When those bites jumping way up to the next column in mid- and numerals. Instead of 20,130,000, write
aren’t available, TV newscasts often display sentence, it’s safer to end the sentence here, 20-million, 130-thousand. (Or better yet,
the printed quotes as on-screen graphics. then add a word like more. (MORE) round off and say more than 20-million.)
182 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Radio news reporting SOME COMMON

RADIO NEWS
TERMS & JARGON
Radio journalism may be the most challenging form of news reporting. Anchor: The person
You can’t rely on graphics and images as TV hosting a newscast.
Actuality (also called a
reporters do. You can’t write long, descriptive cut, sound bite or bite):
sentences and stories as print reporters do. The recorded voice of
“When people are listening to your story someone in the news,
or sound from a news
on the radio, they’re doing it while they event. Actualities include
dodge traffic, talk on their cell phone and do statements from public
their makeup,” says Chris Filippi, a reporter officials, interviews with
eyewitnesses, comments
at KIRO radio in Seattle. “Your writing needs from experts — even the
to be as direct and attention-grabbing as shouts of an angry mob.
possible. Word economy is key.” Natural sound (or
The best radio reporting is punchy, yet ambient sound): Sounds
recorded to capture the
eloquent. Conversational, yet concise. Friendly, flavor of a news scene —
yet authoritative. And while in-depth report- birds singing, crowds
ing still thrives on campus radio and NPR — cheering, planes landing.
and whenever big local news events break — Script: The written version
MELANIE MESAROS, news reporter, KXL radio in Portland, Ore.: of a radio news story.
most stories at most stations require you to “One of the things we try to do as journalists is take people places they
Voicer: A news story by
boil everything down to its 30-second essence. wouldn’t normally get to experience. In this case, I’m behind the scenes
a reporter that doesn’t
The hours are long, the pay is low, the stress at the county ‘drunk tank,’ where they were preparing to handle a rush
use actualities. When it’s
of Fat Tuesday revelers. I asked the manager about the process of being
is relentless. Still, radio remains an exciting, delivered by an anchor
brought in but also tried to have some fun. He ended up giving me a
reading a script, it’s called
dramatic, rewarding way to tell stories. colorful sound bite on how everyone seems to be related to the mayor.”
a reader.
Lead-in: Words that
introduce some element
TIPS FOR CREATING RADIO NEWS STORIES in the story — identifying
IT TAKES PRACTICE the source in a cut, for
� Write to your bites. Good radio producer at WCBS radio in New York TO SOUND LIKE A PRO instance.
news stories combine your narration City. “If you can do that, any story Want to develop a smooth, natural- Live: Not prerecorded;
with other people’s sound bites — and will be interesting. For example, bud- sounding radio delivery? usually refers to stories
the more colorful and emotional the get stories are boring. Sixteen trillion � Record yourself. To hear yourself filed from a news scene.
cuts, the more impact your story will dollars mean nothing to the average as others hear you, you don’t need Wrap: A story that begins
have. So how does the process work? Joe, but if you tell them it will mean expensive gear (although the better and ends with a reporter’s
First, gather audio. Lots of audio. an increase in their monthly taxes by the microphone, the truer your voice voice “wrapped” around
A 10-minute interview may yield just 100 dollars, they will listen.” will sound). Record yourself reading one or more actualities or
one 10-second cut — but that may be � Read your stories aloud. Don’t trust text; as you play it back, really listen cuts. (TV reporters call this
all you need. anything you’ve written until you’ve to the way you speak. Then try to: a package.)
Next, select your best bites. How � Adjust your delivery. Try raising
heard it spoken. Listen for wordiness, Intro (or anchor intro):
many? That depends. For breaking and lowering the pitch of your voice,
clumsy clauses — anything that might adjusting your volume, speeding up, The lead to a reporter’s
news, one colorful quote from a news- confuse listeners, trip up your tongue slowing down. When does your voice wrap, read by an anchor.
maker, eyewitness or official may be or bog down your momentum. sound most pleasing? If you hate the In-cue: The first words of
enough. For controversial topics, you � Record natural sound, too. Some sound of your own voice (and who a cut or wrap.
should provide bites from all sides. reporters turn on their recorders once doesn’t?) ask friends for feedback. Out-cue (OQ): The final
Edit them judiciously: use 5- to 10- they enter that victorious locker room � Remember, the most common words of a cut or wrap.
second cuts for short stories, and cuts or that boisterous school playground problems that afflict broadcast
journalism students can be avoided: Tag (or sign-off, sig-out,
up to 30 seconds for long stories. to capture background sound they’ll lockout, standard outcue):
Now write a strong lead. Your job — Speaking too quickly or slowly;
integrate into their stories. — Emphasizing the wrong words; The closing line where
is to grab listeners while supplying the � Paint word pictures. Write with reporters say their names
— Limiting your vocal range;
basic facts; as needed, transition into color. Drama. Flair. Don’t just state dry and station call letters
— Stumbling over words.
recorded quotes to bolster those facts facts; help your listeners visualize your � Study the pros. Analyze and
(“Ella Funt, Newsradio
with opinions and firsthand details. imitate the diction, inflection and 920”).
stories. Listen as Edward R. Murrow
� Make every word count. Your story pacing of broadcasters you admire. Talent: Reporters,
describes a Berlin bombing raid:
may consist of just five or six sentences, � Practice. It takes years to develop anchors, disc jockeys —
“The clouds were gone. . . . The small
so edit yourself ruthlessly. Prune to the incendiaries were going down like a fistful a professional-sounding singing or those paid to appear on
bone. Kill every inessential syllable. speaking voice. So keep practicing the air (as opposed to
of white rice thrown on a piece of black
� Focus on people. “Find the one until you gain confidence and create engineers or office staff).
velvet. . . . The cookies, the four-thousand-
element in a story that connects with pound high explosives, were bursting a delivery style that’s uniquely yours. Tease: A brief headline or
people,” advises Martin Untrojb, a below like great sunflowers gone mad.” promo for a coming story.

MORE ADVICE FROM RADIO REPORTERS > 186

 BROADCAST JOURNALISM 183

A FIRE AT THE YACHT CLUB: Radio news reporters need to collect facts quickly to file live reports. On Jan. 25, 2006,
a fire broke out at a yacht club in Portland, Ore. Three reporters from competing radio
COVERING BREAKING NEWS stations scrambled to the scene. Here are the wraps they filed during the 8, 9 and 10 a.m.
ON THE RADIO AND IN PRINT newscasts, along with the full story that ran in the local newspaper the next day.

8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m.

The story as heard on KXL The story as heard on KEX The story as heard on
(750 AM in Portland): (1190 AM in Portland): KPAM (860 AM in Portland):

Anchor: YOU CAN STILL SEE IT -- CREWS BATTLING Anchor: THREE BOATHOUSES ARE A PILE OF SMOKING Anchor: FIREFIGHTERS CALL IT “OVERHAULING” --
A BIG HOUSEBOAT FIRE ON HAYDEN ISLAND. KXL’S RUBBLE AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER YACHT CLUB IN PUTTING OUT THE LAST EMBERS, CLEANING UP AFTER
CHARLIE MAXTON IS LIVE AT THE SCENE AND JOINS US NORTH PORTLAND AFTER A FIRE THIS MORNING. A BIG FIRE. THAT’S GOING TO BE GOING ON ALL DAY
NOW WITH THE LATEST. 1190 KEX’S MICHAEL DESMOND HAS THE LATEST. AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER YACHT CLUB NEAR JANTZEN
HE’S LIVE ON TOMAHAWK ISLAND. BEACH. KPAM’S TIM HOHL WAS THERE ALL MORNING
Maxton: THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT NO ONE HAS
Desmond: FIREFIGHTERS GOT THE CALL ABOUT 6:37 THIS AND JOINS US LIVE.
BEEN HURT HERE, REBECCA, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF
WORRIED BOAT-OWNERS LOOKING ON, WATCHING MORNING. THREE OF THE BOATHOUSES WERE DESTROYED.
IT’S LIKELY BOATS WERE INSIDE THEM AND ALSO HEAVILY Hohl: THAT FIRE BROKE OUT JUST BEFORE 6:30 THIS
THIS BIG FIRE AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER YACHT CLUB,
DAMAGED. PORTLAND FIRE LIEUTENANT ALLEN OSWALT MORNING, MARK. A ROW OF FANCY BOATHOUSES
AT THE EAST END OF HAYDEN ISLAND.
SAYS AT LEAST ONE OF THEM IS IN DANGER OF SINKING. AND EVEN FANCIER BOATS . . . . FLAMES SHOOTING
THERE ARE AT LEAST TWO BOATHOUSES ON FIRE, 50 FEET INTO THE AIR BEFORE TWO FIREBOATS AND
AND FIREFIGHTERS ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT FROM Oswalt: “Because, of course, you got this boat hull FIREFIGHTERS WHO HAD TO DRAG HAND LINES DOWN
SPREADING TO OTHER BOATHOUSES AROUND THEM. down there that’s burning, and we’re putting water UNDER THE DOCKS GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.
INSIDE THOSE BOATHOUSES ARE SOME EXPENSIVE in it. Eventually, if we put enough water in it, it’s
gonna sink. But, uh, they switched over to foam.” Oswalt: “Investigators, you’ve seen ’em here, there’s
YACHTS. THE OWNERS CAN ONLY STAND HERE AND
three or four of ’em here, they’re doing the interviews.
WATCH THEM BURN. THEY’RE NOT LETTING ANYONE Desmond: ALLAN ELI OF VANCOUVER HAS HIS BOAT That’s pretty much what’s gonna determine the cause
GET DOWN THERE TO THEIR BOATS. ONE ROW AWAY FROM WHERE THE FIRE STARTED. HIS of the fire: the history on each boat, maintenance that
REACTION WHEN HE HEARD ABOUT IT? was done recently . . . stuff like that.”
SMOKE IS STILL POURING OUT FROM THE FIRE. THERE’S
A BIG CLOUD DRIFTING OFF TO THE WEST OVER I-5. Eli: “Well, you don’t wanna record that, do ya? It Hohl: THREE BOATS WERE DESTROYED, INCLUDING A
FIREFIGHTERS HAVE KIND OF AN ACCESS PROBLEM was just kinda, ‘Aw, crap,’ you know. You can’t help BRAND-NEW 56-FOOT YACHT LIKELY WORTH MORE THAN A
WITH THIS FIRE -- THE DOCK IS ONLY ABOUT SIX FEET but feel sorry for your fellow club members.” MILLION DOLLARS. FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO SAVE ONE
WIDE. THAT MAKES IT KIND OF HARD TO GET THEIR YACHT BY CUTTING IT LOOSE WITH A LEATHERMAN TOOL.
EQUIPMENT IN THERE TO FIGHT THIS. Desmond: NO ONE WAS HURT. THE FIRE WENT TO
TWO ALARMS, INVOLVING AT LEAST 70 FIREFIGHTERS. LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM, TIM HOHL, 860 KPAM.
REPORTING LIVE IN NORTH PORTLAND, CHARLIE LIVE AT THE COLUMBIA RIVER YACHT CLUB --
MAXTON, NEWSRADIO 750 KXL. MICHEAL DESMOND, 1190 KEX.
NOTICE HOW:
� Hohl has returned from the fire to the newsroom.
NOTICE HOW: NOTICE HOW: � His story offers details lacking in the others: the
� This story is a voicer — a report with no sound � Desmond recorded interviews at the scene, edited 50-foot flames, a 56-foot yacht worth a million dollars.
bites. The reporter has just arrived on the scene and them into short cuts, then tailored his script to them. � Hohl’s second sentence is awkward — a good
hasn’t been able to record any interviews yet. � Those two sound bites provide the variety and example of why you should keep sentences simple
� Not only are there no interviews, but there are perspective reporters strive for. In this case, we have and position subjects and verbs close together.
no names, either. Like most news stories that break one official (Oswalt is the fire department spokes- � Hohl doesn’t identify the source of his sound bite.
suddenly, reporters scramble to report the what, man) and one eyewitness. That’s a solid combination. Radio reporters sometimes do that to speed up stories;
when and where (“Minutes ago, a plane crashed � The second bite shows how inarticulate bystanders they assume the sound bite makes sense on its own.
into the World Trade Center”). The who usually takes can be. You could argue about whether the word “What gets said in the sound bite is more important
a little longer. And discovering why this fire started “crap” is appropriate for broadcast, but on deadline, than who says it,” Hohl explains. “The sound still tells
could take days. you often take what you can get. the story, even though the person’s not identified.”

The story as printed the next day in The Oregonian: spread to the two boathouses a few feet away on both sides, Oswalt said.
A two-alarm fire early Wednesday morning along the Columbia River’s The flames made the metal sheeting on the yacht garages buckle, then
Northeast Portland shore destroyed three boathouses and the pricey “melt right off like plastic,” he said.
yachts they contained, officials said. Firefighters mostly extinguished the fire by 7:54 a.m. The three yachts
Three yachts ranging from 48 to 63 feet long sank hours later, sending and the boathouses charred by the fire sank about 11:30 a.m. Combined,
cleanup crews scurrying to prevent the escape of they were worth about $2.5 million, said Chris Mongrain, the Columbia
hundreds of gallons of diesel fuel, said Lt. Allen River Yacht Club’s rear commodore.
Oswalt, a Portland Fire Bureau spokesman. The fire spared four other yachts threatened by flames, Mongrain said.
Damage was expected to be minimal, and cranes are scheduled to lift the Firefighters cut the mooring lines on another yacht worth $4 million, push-
sunken yachts today, officials said. ing it out to a rescue boat that towed it to safety, Oswalt said. The yacht
Several Vancouver residents spotted flames at the east end of Hayden club is home to 186 vessels.
Island about 6:30 a.m. Firefighters arriving at the Columbia River Yacht “It could’ve been a lot worse,” Mongrain said.
Club a few minutes later saw thick plumes of black smoke billowing from Rescue crews threw three booms into the river to contain the spread of
boathouses. Without enough hoses, they called for a second set of crews 12 diesel fuel from the sunken yachts, officials said.
minutes later. Nina DeConcini, a spokeswoman for the Oregon Department of Environ-
By the time firefighters could begin dousing one of the boathouses, the fire mental Quality, said she did not think the fuel caused significant damage.

100 < MORE ON COVERING FIRES

184 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Television news reporting SOME COMMON

TELEVISION NEWS
TERMS & JARGON
It’s not simply radio with pictures. TV journalism requires a unique approach. Television reporters use
many of the same terms
A successful television reporter needs to move radio reporters do (see
swiftly from story to story, becoming an instant page 182). In addition:
expert who can condense a jumble of facts into 60 Audio: Sound heard on TV.
seconds of journalistic clarity. Video: Images seen on TV.
Sound bite: A recorded
But that’s not all. TV reporting differs from all comment from a news
other news media in two distinctive ways: source, usually audio AND
� You talk into a camera. Live. Without notes. Sure, video.
Track: The audio recording
anchors read from a script as they deliver news from of a reporter narrating a
the studio — but the trend in local TV news is for story.
reporters to do live stand-ups from news scenes as B-roll (or cover): Video
images shot at a news
often as possible. That requires grace under pres- scene that are later used
sure, a rock-solid memory and fluid improvisational to illustrate (or cover) a
skills. Think it’s easy being pounded by a hurricane sound bite or reporter’s
track that was recorded
as you describe the city’s evacuation plan? separately.
� You depend on video. Words are crucial, but imag- Stand-up: A shot of a
es rule. TV viewers want to view TV. They want color, action, drama — not CNN’s Anderson reporter at a news scene
Cooper interviews talking into the camera; if
talking heads reciting lifeless facts. As veteran newsman Garth Kant warns in it’s live (not prerecorded),
Jeff Corwin in the
“How to Write Television News”: “Talking head bad. Video good. Memorize that.” jungles of Brazil it’s called a live shot.
TV news isn’t just a newspaper with bonus video. It requires an entirely for a segment of Package: A story that’s
prepared by a reporter,
different mind-set, from news judgment to storytelling techniques. “Planet in Peril.” usually taped, featuring
the reporter’s track, one
or more sound bites and
often a stand-up.
SOME ADVICE FOR BEGINNING TELEVISION NEWS REPORTERS Anchor intro (or lead-in):
� Collaborate. Print and radio parade’s clowns are actually convicts The lead, read by an
anchor, that introduces a
reporters go solo to news events, VIDEO INTERVIEWING TIPS on leave from Jackson State Prison.”)
reporter’s package.
but TV news relies on teamwork � Find a location free of disturbing back- � Engage viewers’ emotions. Take
Bridge: A stand-up that
between you and your photographer. ground noise and distracting visuals. a wildfire, for example. “Don’t moves the story from one
So start thinking visually. Share � Get to the point. Savvy TV reporters sense just tell them how many homes angle to another.
ideas for story angles and camera the sound bites they’re looking for, and they burned; let them hear the crackle of Toss: What’s said as one
angles. Remember, the stronger zip through interviews quickly — collecting flames,” says Cara Liu, a reporter anchor or reporter hands
your visuals, the better play your pearls, not mining for ore. Steer subjects to for KPHO in Phoenix. “Show them off to another.
story will get. Learn to respect and where the shortest, sweetest sound bites are. the melted windows to illustrate On cam (or o/c):
� Maintain eye contact. It’ll divert your
collaborate with images. how hot the fire burned. Don’t On-camera; the image
subject’s gaze away from the camera gear. that’s being telecast.
� Write to the video. Lead with just tell them how many people
Ask interviewees to look at you, not the lens.
your strongest shot (the car chase, had to be evacuated; let them hear VO, voice-over: When
� Rephrase and re-ask questions if you
the burning house, the coach’s from a family scrambling to gather the anchor speaks over
think that will help interviewees give you video, or when a reporter
tantrum). Grab viewers’ attention shorter, smarter answers. their loved ones and most precious narrates over video cover.
with an arresting image, then � Watch for good sound bites. Jot down belongings. Television can capture
SOT, sound-on-tape:
structure your story from there — phrases in your notebook that’ll help you emotion like no other medium.” A recorded sound bite
like you’re storyboarding a movie locate the most airworthy bites later on. � Look professional. That usually (usually audio AND video)
or sequencing frames in a comic � Avoid “stepping on” sound bites with means a jacket and tie for men, a played during a story.
strip. Weave your narration around questions or reactions (like “uh-huh”) as dress or suit for women. Wear solid Rundown: The order in
the images, adding the details and subjects talk. Keep quiet. Nod your head.
colors; avoid stripes. If bright lights which stories will appear
� Remember to shoot cutaways — video
transitions that keep things moving. make your skin shine, add makeup. during a newscast.
that shows you listening attentively to your
� Don’t overload with facts. Keep in And don’t forget your hairspray! Prompter: A device that
subject — at the end of your interview.
mind that viewers must process the (One anchor suggested we devote projects a news script in
images and narration simultaneously. an entire chapter to “Hair.”) front of the camera lens
for an anchor to read.
Too much detail will overtax their concentration. Think that’s vanity? Look: If you’ve got bad hair, an (TelePrompTer is a well-
You don’t need to explain what’s obvious in the video. ugly tie or a huge pimple on your nose, viewers will latch known brand name.)
(“As you can see, dozens of clowns are walking alongside onto it and become distracted. You could be announcing Talking head: A person
those parade floats.”) Instead, provide narration that a cure for cancer, but viewers will say, “Hey — check out the being interviewed; a dull
enhances the images — or use video to enhance your zit on his nose.” That’s why you should try to eliminate any sound bite of someone
narration. Tell us facts the images can’t provide. (“Those distracting flaws. Aim for flawlessness . . . not glamour. x just talking.

MORE ADVICE FROM TELEVISION REPORTERS > 186

 BROADCAST JOURNALISM 185

COMMON FORMS It’s the newscast producer’s job to decide how much air time each story deserves — and what format
it should use. For short, simple stories, an anchor simply reads the script. For longer, more complex
FOR TELEVISION topics, a reporter works with a producer, editor and photographer to produce a package. Below are
NEWS STORIES four of the most common story formats, as demonstrated in stories broadcast on KGW in Portland,

READER PACKAGE
This is the most basic type of story: the anchor simply reads the news script A package is a complete story by a reporter, usually combining sound bites,
while looking at the camera. Often, an over-the-shoulder graphic (OTS) voice-overs and stand-ups. Here’s a package with an anchor lead-in:
identifies the topic with an image or caption, as this example shows:
(ANCHOR ON CAM)
(ANCHOR ON CAM) THE COST OF GRAFFITI IN BEAVERTON MIGHT SOON GO
VIOLENCE IN IRAQ OVERNIGHT KILLED FOUR U-S TO PROPERTY OWNERS AND BUSINESSES. THE CITY IS
MARINES. THE MILITARY REPORTS THAT A ROADSIDE CONSIDERING A FINE FOR THOSE WHO LET THE VANDALISM
BOMB IN THE ANBAR PROVINCE WEST OF BAGHDAD LINGER TOO LONG. NEWSCHANNEL 8’S RANDY NEVES IS
EXPLODED, KILLING THREE MARINES . . . AND A HERE WITH REACTION TO THAT PROPOSAL.
FOURTH DIED AFTER AN EXPLOSION SUNDAY.
(NEVES, LIVE IN STUDIO)
WELL, TRACY, THE REACTION IS MIXED. GRAFFITI CRIMES
VOICE-OVER (VO) ARE EXPLODING IN BEAVERTON RIGHT NOW. POLICE SAY
This format begins with the anchor or reporter on-camera. As she continues THE LONGER A TAG IS LEFT ON A WALL, THE GREATER THE
to read, her voice overlays videos that illustrate the topic. This is often called RISK OF GANG VIOLENCE. SOME BUSINESSES ARE FUMING
video “cover.” (If this were an actual newscast script, the left side of the page OVER THE IDEA.
would contain details on the type and timing of the video clips.) (NEVES/VO)
MIKE CLAYBOE HAS COVERED UP DOZENS OF GRAFFITI TAGS
(ANCHOR ON CAM)
AT HIS BEAVERTON GAS STATION. THE CULPRITS NEVER CEASE.
A SEARCH TODAY FOR TWO MISSING FISHERMEN IN
(CLAYBOE)
TILLAMOOK BAY HAS BEEN SUSPENDED, AND NOW
“They’re a bigtime problem. They’re a menace. And they
THE COAST GUARD WILL LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION
need to be dealt with.”
TO DISCOVER WHY THAT CRABBING BOAT SANK.
(NEVES/VO)
(ANCHOR/VO) POLICE HAVE DOCUMENTED NUMEROUS RECENT
PIECES OF THE BROKEN VESSEL WASHED UP ON THE GRAFFITI INCIDENTS. THEY SHOW AN ESCALATION OF
BEACH YESTERDAY. THE BODY OF ONE FISHERMAN RIVAL GANGS ANTAGONIZING EACH OTHER OVER
HAS BEEN RECOVERED. TURF ISSUES.
TODAY, SEARCHERS ON 18 BOATS COMBED THE
POLICE INVESTIGATED 80 CASES OF GRAFFITI CRIME IN 2004.
COASTLINE FOR THE MISSING MEN AND FOUND
THAT NUMBER JUMPED TO 230 CASES IN 2005. THAT’S A 188
NOTHING.
PERCENT INCREASE. PROMPT REMOVAL OF THE GRAFFITI IS
THE TILLAMOOK SHERIFF SAYS HE DOUBTS THE KEY, THEY SAY.
SEARCH WILL RESUME TOMORROW.
MAYOR ROB DRAKE IS PUSHING FOR A NEW ORDINANCE
REQUIRING PROPERTY OWNERS TO CLEAN UP GRAFFITI
WITHIN SEVEN DAYS -- OR FACE A 250-DOLLAR FINE.
VOICE-OVER TO SOUND ON TAPE (VO/SOT) (DRAKE)
This format segues from a VO into a sound bite — usually a brief, edited “It was time to ramp it up and deal with it. The 250 is
comment from a newsmaker. (At some stations, this format is called VO/B, reasonable. It’s enough to get people’s attention.”
for “voice-over w/ bite.”) The VO script should segue smoothly into the bite.
(NEVES/VO)
(ANCHOR ON CAM)
CLAYBOE SAYS THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO CURB CRIME
A PORTLAND WOMAN IS DEAD, HER HUSBAND IN
THAN PUNISHING ITS VICTIMS.
SERIOUS CONDITION TONIGHT AFTER A WRONG-WAY
DRIVER SLAMMED INTO THEIR MINIVAN. (CLAYBOE)
“That is silly. This is a public safety issue. We already pay
(ANCHOR/VO) for public safety. To have somebody charge you 250 bucks
THIS IS THE AFTERMATH OF THAT CRASH ON I-205 just because somebody stole your car? Give me a break.”
THIS MORNING. IT SHUT DOWN THE SOUTHBOUND
(NEVES/VO)
LANES FOR SEVERAL HOURS. POLICE SAY 31-YEAR-OLD
MAYOR DRAKE SAYS THE CITY WILL HELP BUSINESSES WITH
VLADIMIR SHINTAR IS THE WRONG-WAY DRIVER.
THE CLEANUP PROCESS. BUT WITHOUT A NEW, STRICT POLICY,
POLICE FOUND BEER BOTTLES INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
HE SAYS THE TAGGING EXPLOSION MAY NEVER CEASE.
HIS CAR.
(DOLBEY) (NEVES, LIVE IN STUDIO)
“A lot of leads are still being followed here. THE NEW RULE WILL APPLY TO ALL PROPERTY OWNERS,
Warrants are being written for blood draws. INCLUDING HOMEOWNERS. MAYOR DRAKE SAYS THEY’LL
Investigators are saying that alcohol appears to HAVE 30 DAYS AFTER THE ORDINANCE PASSES BEFORE THE
be a factor in the collision.” GRAFFITI RULES ARE ENFORCED.
186 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

Find your own voice and write for it. When it comes to getting that first job,
I always used to recommend interns don’t be afraid to go to a place like
read Hunter S. Thompson’s “Fear and Billings, Montana. I had to go to Eureka,
Loathing on the Campaign Trail.” California. It was terrible, but I was only
Inevitably, someone would ask if reading there a year. A lot of people have the
it would make them better writers. “No,” looks and talent to do the job, but far
I’d tell ’em. “But it will show you that it fewer have the drive to go to some
is possible to write in an unconventional terrible little town. It sometimes comes
style more suited to you than to follow down to how badly you want it.
ADVICE ON REPORTING AND WRITING any textbook example. And THAT may Troy Hayden, anchor, Fox 10 News, Phoenix
FROM BROADCAST JOURNALISTS help make you a better writer.”
No one will ever write like Hunter,
For this edition of the Press Room, and maybe that’s a good thing. But any Love what you do. You
we interviewed dozens of radio and TV broadcast journalist worthy of the name may be forced to move
professionals across the country. Here’s will develop a written style and written
a selected sampling of their responses. far away, work holidays,
voice that’s more like them and less like
long hours, and make
the AP Stylebook.
Bill Clark, consumer reporter
very little money at first.
(aka “The Consumer Champ”), KMGH-TV, Denver But if you still love it . . .
WHAT ADVICE WOULD it is the best job in
YOU GIVE SOMEONE the world.
JUST STARTING OUT IN Practice and practice and practice some
BROADCAST NEWS? more, to get comfortable in front of the Kim Fettig, investigative reporter/
camera. The one thing that negatively anchor, CBS 46, Atlanta
Have very thick skin. You will send out sticks out more than anything is a young
a lot of tapes. You need to learn to take person looking stiff and uncomfortable.
rejection in stride. Even if you have to practice with a home Concentrate on learning to write, and
Melissa Cabral, anchor, KHSL/KNVN-TV, video camera, just sit in front and tell a read out loud constantly. Also, gather
Chico-Redding, Calif. story. Don’t read. This is not comfort- a set of facts and practice ad-libbing.
able. Tell a story about a news event or Every broadcaster needs to ad-lib at
Ask yourself: How bad do you really sports event. Tell the story like you’re some point, and it has become nearly
want it? Does getting to work at 3 a.m. telling it to a group of friends or fam- a lost art. Learn to think on your feet.
sound worthwhile? Working X-mas, ily members. Use hand gestures. Laugh Steve McIntosh, news director,
KNSS radio, Wichita, Kan.
Thanksgiving, etc.? Are you willing to when it’s appropriate. Smile.
move out of state for $14,000 a year, The world is full of young news
readers who look like they’re trying to You have to love telling stories. If you
before taxes? If not, try something else.
be as serious as possible. You must have don’t, then you won’t be willing to make
Tyler Lopez, reporter, KMGH-TV, Denver
personality and life. You must give the the sacrifices necessary to achieve any
viewer a reason to watch you, or they measure of success.
Wear comfortable shoes, never pass up Bob Kealing, reporter, WESH-TV, Orlando, and
will not. national hurricane correspondent for NBC
a chance to go to the bathroom and Lionel Bienvenu, sports director
always carry extra food. You never know and main sports anchor, KMGH-TV, Denver
when the big story is going to break and Learn the basics and don’t get in a
you’re going to be stuck covering it Don’t get into radio news. It’s notorious- hurry. The smaller markets may not be
all day long. ly poor-paying (even in union shops). as glamorous or pay as well, but that’s
Chris Filippi, reporter, KIRO radio, Seattle
I know I sound cynical, but I’ve been where you’ll learn the tools of the trade.
in the biz for a long, long time. She’s a A lot of people don’t realize just how
harsh mistress who takes everything you important working in radio can be.
Look at everything and everyone as
have to give and affords you very little I can tell just by listening who’s worked
a possible story or source for a story.
in return. You can have fun doing it . . . in radio and who’s just done television.
Never stop reporting. Whether you’re
just don’t plan on making a living at it. The people who’ve spent two or three
at the supermarket, in your car or at a
years in radio write tighter, tell a better
bar, the guy sitting next to you may be a Craig Butterworth, anchor/reporter in Virginia
story, know more about delivery and
lead or a feature, but you’ll never know
how to use their voice. Work on your
unless you look, talk and listen.
Focus on the writing. Writing is college radio station, but also work at a
Morgan Loew, investigative reporter,
KPHO-TV, Phoenix everything. Good writing will hold commercial station with a good reputa-
together a story with bad video. But tion, even if it’s part-time. Volunteer
good video will never hold together a if you have to. Once you know how to
Be strong, because if you think it’s tough story with bad writing. handle live radio, television’s a lot easier.
now . . . just wait. Stefanie A. Cruz, anchor/reporter, Jim Craig, news anchor/reporter,
Stephanie Abrams, reporter, CBS 3, Philadelphia KMAX-TV, Sacramento, Calif. WRVA radio, Richmond, Va.
 BROADCAST JOURNALISM 187

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST Long and crazy hours. Be prepared to standard 8-hour day. Sometimes you’re
MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE miss every birthday, holiday and family working on more than one story at a
HAVE ABOUT BEING A gathering as you climb the ladder and time, juggling facts, phone calls, scripts
RADIO OR TV REPORTER? even after you’ve “made it.” and a deadline that never changes.
Many people are surprised to find out Terrell Forney, reporter, WPLG-TV, Miami
We’re all rich, have makeup artists and that the top spot in radio means you
just sit and read a prompter. have to get up at 3 a.m. or earlier. That we are liberal. It’s just that
Stefanie A. Cruz, anchor/reporter, Chris Sullivan, reporter, KIRO radio, Seattle television lends itself to emotion which
KMAX-TV, Sacramento, Calif. tends to appear more liberal. Most of
I don’t think they grasp how demanding us are just going after the bad guys, cel-
Everyone’s wealthy and we all get free it is. I mean mentally, emotionally and ebrating the good and telling the stories
clothing. physically. Maybe they could add to the of the day.
Tyler Lopez, reporter, KMGH-TV, Denver old saying, “The news never sleeps — Chris Burrous, weekend co-anchor for
and seldom do you.” “Good Day Sacramento” on KMAX-TV
There’s nothing glamorous about stand- Shawna Castellano, anchor/reporter,
ing in three feet of snow in the howling KLBJ radio, Austin, Tex. This business is far from glamorous.
wind in the dead of winter. Well, unless What’s glamorous about carrying a
you’re covering the Winter Olympics! Some people think all journalists do camera, lugging a 35-pound tripod and
Never mind, it is pretty glamorous — is interview people and show up in running in high heels in 100-degree
at least by my standards. Give me front of the camera . . . but the truth is, weather!?
hurricanes or give me death. crafting a great story usually requires Melissa Cabral, morning anchor, KHSL/KNVN-TV,
Russell Haythorn, reporter, KMGH-TV, Denver you to work much longer than the Chico-Redding, Calif.

HOW IS WRITING FOR When writing for radio, stories must Print journalism requires reporters to fit
BROADCAST DIFFERENT always be brief and generally will not every detail of what they see, hear and
FROM WRITING FOR be able to explain the full story but just learn into the sentences that fill just a
THE PRINT MEDIA? one part of it — hopefully, the most few paragraphs. If they fail, the reader
important part. Even Walter Cronkite won’t see or hear the whole story. With
In radio, we are writing for the ear. once commented on the difference broadcast writing, you have the luxury
Not the eye. That means we use short, between print and broadcast by saying of letting the pictures and sounds speak
declarative sentences, the active not he was always tempted to end “The CBS for themselves. Your challenge is to write
the passive voice, and we use sound as Evening News” with the words, “That’s copy that gives meaning to the sights
a metaphor. If we do our job well, the the way it is …. for more information, and sounds, without getting in their way.
listeners become engaged in the act of consult your local newspaper.” Morgan Loew, investigative reporter,
imagination. They become complicit Ken Herrera, host of Wisconsin’s Morning News, KPHO-TV, Phoenix
in the story. The engaged listener is like WTMJ radio, Milwaukee
the person in the front of a canoe; he or Broadcast writing is much tighter.
she will paddle while the reporter sits In television writing, think about what Write to video. Short, declarative
behind, steering. would get your attention about the story. sentences are best.
Jeffrey Dvorkin, ombudsman, That’s your lead. What’s more interest- Russell Haythorn, reporter, KMGH-TV, Denver
NPR, Washington, D.C.
ing: “Police are investigating a car crash
on Highway 99” or “A family mourns the The difference between writing in
I sometimes think that print journalists broadcast mode and print mode is
death of an 8-year-old boy killed in a car
write to impress while television journal- pretty much the difference between
crash this afternoon.” The lead should
ists write to be easily understood. Try night and day. Radio, and TV for that
capture your attention immediately.
reading a few sentences from The New matter, is what I call “short-attention-
Kelli Saam, anchor/reporter,
York Times aloud. How many times KHSL/KNVN-TV, Chico-Redding, Calif. span theater.” You have 30 seconds
did you have to come up for air? Short, to tell the story and sometimes that
direct simple sentences are best for TV. includes a sound bite. You have to be
Larry Mendte, anchor, CBS 3, Philadelphia In broadcast journalism, you have to concise and to the point.
write conversationally. Even at this level, Writing for broadcast also means
TV people are some of the worst spellers a lot of reporters tend to throw in the writing more conversationally. Print uses
on the face of the earth, myself included. big words instead of just talking how words like “Council eyes tax increase.”
Our sentences tend to be fragmented or you would to your mother or father Who talks like that? In broadcast we
run-ons. We write conversationally as on the phone. Not to say you have to say, “Your taxes could be going up.”
opposed to correctly, which means we’re dumb down the audience . . . but You’re always trying to relate it to
often grammatically incorrect. conversational speaking is key!! your audience.
Keli McAlister, reporter, Yvonne Nava, anchor/reporter, Jeff Stapleton, anchor,
Q13 Fox News, Seattle WPLG-TV, Miami WRVA radio, Richmond, Va.
188 BROADCAST JOURNALISM

WRITE THE LEADS FOR THESE WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS

TELEVISION NEWS STORIES BROADCAST NEWSWRITING?
a) You’re the anchor of the 11 o’clock There are at least two problems with the newswriting
news. Earlier this evening, there was style of each of these TV/radio news stories. Identify the
a deadly police shooting downtown. problems, then rewrite each example to fix it.
A man had a gun and wouldn’t put it a) “I’ve got a really painful cramp in my groin,” said
down, so the officer on the scene shot OSU halfback Bud Weiser, explaining why he will sit
Answers to these exercises and killed him. out tonight’s game.
are on page 318. This is the second time this has
b) The victims were taken to St. Vincent Hospital,
happened in the last two weeks.
where they are now recovering. The hospital lists
There’s a reporter standing by, live at the scene. What’s your lead-in to
them in critical condition.
the reporter’s stand-up?
c) The thieves stole $17,900,500, bank officials
b) Write a one-sentence lead that best boils down this story: reported.
Last night, following an argument, Rocky Beach, 28, attacked his wife,
Sandy, with a knife. After severely cutting both her arms, he then doused d) Library officials announced that patrons under
her with kerosene. As Rocky searched for a match, Sandy fled from the the age of 18 will no longer be permitted to check
couple’s home in suburban Smallville and was admitted at Providence out any of the library’s movie videotapes or DVDs.
Hospital. Police have issued a warrant for Rocky’s arrest. He drives a blue e) A 10-year-old skateboarder was struck and killed
2005 Toyota pickup truck. by a truck at 1120 Baker St. this morning. Police
haven’t yet identified the driver of the truck.
c) Here’s a summary of a dull academic news release. How would you
rework it into a catchier lead? f) The earthquake, which struck at 7:01 a.m., caused
Results of a yearlong study by the Cooper State University Food no reported damage, just rattling windows and
Sciences Laboratory were released Wednesday, March 31, indicating that setting off car alarms throughout the city.
increased consumption of beets can reduce foot odor by more than 50 g) President Barack Obama has announced a new
percent. plan to cut estate taxes by 9%.

TURN THIS NEWSPAPER STORY INTO A WHAT’S IT CALLED?

RADIO BRIEF AND A TELEVISION PACKAGE
a) In radio news, a recorded
Back on page 49, you’ll
sound bite is often called a _____ or ____________.
see a story (two stories,
In television news,
actually) about a campus
it’s often known as __________________________.
dog controversy.
Reread that story. Let’s b) Here’s a sound bite from former President Bush:
assume you originally wrote “Families is where our nation finds hope, where
it, so it won’t be plagiarism wings take dream.” If you’re playing that cut on
if you rework the material. the radio, you’ll know Bush finishes speaking
Assume, too, that you have after he says those last two words,
audio and video recordings take dream. Those words are called an ___________.
of all the interviews quoted c) A news report read by an anchor that uses no
in the story. sound bites or voice-overs,
a) Write a radio story. For the Bilford campus radio station, WUGH, just pure narration, is called a _________________.
prepare a 45-second version of this story. Include a cut or two — and in d) You’re assembling a radio story about some local
your script, indicate the complete wording and timing of any cuts you use. drag racers. You’ve recorded interviews with the
b) Write a television package. Rework that story for the Bilford campus racers, but you’ve also recorded lots of motor noise
TV station. You can recycle any material you used in your radio script. that you can play in the background while you talk
Assume, too, that in addition to those videotaped interviews, you’ve also about the sport. What do
shot plenty of video cover of dogs (like the one in the photo above) you call that recorded noise? __________________.
roaming and sniffing around the campus grounds. e) A TV anchor wraps up a story about a woman
Your producer wants a complete package, which should include an who owns 37 cats by saying, “Speaking of cats — it’s
anchor lead-in, SOTs, voice-overs and a stand-up. The whole package, raining cats and dogs out there!” Turning to face the
from start to finish, should last 90 seconds. weathercaster, she continues: “How long before the
Outline, step by step, how you’d organize this package. Write a split-page sun comes back out, Larry?”
script. On the left half, describe what viewers would see and how many That maneuver is called a _______________.
seconds each segment of the package would last. On the right half, indicate f) A short promo for an
who’s speaking and the precise words they’d say. upcoming news story is called a _______________.
 189

CHAPTER

Public
relations
How organizations deliver their messages to the media
while keeping their public image as positive as possible.

IN THIS CHAPTER:
190 What is public relations?
It’s not journalism. It’s not advertising.
A look at what PR is — and isn’t.
192 Planning a PR strategy
How to implement a successful plan and
choose the best medium for your message.
194 Writing news releases
They’re essential for PR communication.
Here’s advice on writing them right.
196 Balance, bias and
media manipulation
What role do ethics play in a world
where everyone tries to spin the truth?

PLUS: 198 The Press Room 200 Test yourself

190 PUBLIC RELATIONS

What is public relations?

Every organization has a story to tell — and it’s the job of PR professionals to tell it.
When businesses and
IDENTIFY YOUR GOAL CRAFT YOUR MESSAGE MONITOR YOUR RESULTS
organizations have news
to announce — an event Suppose you handle public relations for You write a news release explaining the The news media jump on the story.
to publicize, a product a major university. A physics professor significance of the professor’s research. Reporters line up for interviews. You
has discovered a new element that You send copies to journalists, scientists prepare additional news releases,
to launch, a new idea to can be used to produce cheap energy. and energy experts across the country. schedule speeches, even book the
introduce — they need How will you publicize his discovery? Then you schedule a news conference. professor on “60 Minutes.”
to get their message out.
They need to encourage
media coverage. They
need to project a positive
image. And to do all that,
they need what’s known
as public relations.
Here’s a simple example
to illustrate how the PR
process works:

WHAT Every organization, big support, and influencing opinion and behavior. It is the
or small, needs to distribute planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain
PUBLIC information: facts about good will and mutual understanding between a business
Edward L. Bernays RELATIONS upcoming events. Details and its public(s).
(1891-1995), generally considered
“the father of public relations”:
IS . . . about past accomplishments. So how does that translate into an actual job? If
Though many have offered Objectives. Opinions. Philosophies. Goals. you work in public relations for a large organization,
definitions for the term And all of that information ultimately shapes the your responsibilities might include:
“public relations,” myself public’s perception of that organization — in other � Writing news releases.
included, few can agree upon words, its image. � Organizing news conferences.
one to follow. Because the Information and image. Bottom line, those two � Coordinating crisis communications.
term has come to mean many things are what public relations is all about. � Crafting the organization’s public identity.
things to many people, any- Useful definitions of “public relations” are hard � Planning the launch of new products and services.
thing from corporate manage- to create (and often difficult to decipher — take, for � Producing newsletters and media for employees.
ment consulting to passing instance, the definition at left). But here’s one that � Sponsoring tours, exhibitions and special events.
around leaflets on the street
works, by PR consultant Renée A. Prejean-Motanky: � Attending conferences and delivering speeches.
corner has fallen under the
Public relations is the discipline which looks after � Acting as the organization’s spokesperson
public relations umbrella.
Since I am held responsible reputation, with the aim of earning understanding and (or training others to deal with the media).
for coining the term “public
relations,” I will tackle the
opportunity of giving you my . . . AND Students are often attracted to public news reporting: long hours, relentless pressure to
definition of it: relations — or avoid it — without really produce. You spend your days researching and writing,
A public relations counsel is
WHAT understanding what it actually is, planning and strategizing — not schmoozing. Sorry.
an applied social scientist who IT ISN’T falling victim to these common myths: � PR is sleazy. It’s all snake oil, subterfuge and spin —
advises a client on the social � PR is glamorous. Students sometimes fantasize at least, that’s what some cynics think. And to be fair,
attitudes and actions he or that PR is a world of celebrities, parties and paparazzi. the public is weary of cheap publicity stunts, hollow
she must take in order to They dream of careers in tourism (Caribbean cruises!) sound bites and gimmicky photo ops. They’re sick
appeal to the public on which and fashion (Supermodels!! In sexy swimsuits!!!). of doublespeak from politicians and slickly packaged
it is dependent. The prac-
Sadly, however, public relations is a business, not a hogwash from greedy corporations.
titioner ascertains, through
research, the adjustment or lifestyle. Most PR professionals work for government In reality, however, most PR is useful and welcome,
maladjustment of the client agencies, high-tech companies, financial corporations even vital to the community. The Red Cross tells you
with the public, then advises — even manufacturing firms. Think industrial solvent where to donate blood to earthquake victims. Local
what changes in attitude and is sexy? Prepare to be disappointed. police warn you about a ring of car thieves. The city
action are demanded to reach � PR is easy. When journalists quit the newsroom for zoo announces its gorilla had a baby. What’s so sleazy
the highest point of adjust- jobs in public relations, their colleagues will grumble, about that? If you think it’s “greedy” for a church
ment to meet social goals. “Aww, they sold out. Went for the easy money. Short group to send out a news release announcing their
days, long lunches.” In truth, PR is just as rigorous as Christmas clothing drive, then you’re the Scrooge.
 PUBLIC RELATIONS 191

HOW PUBLIC JOURNALISM PUBLIC RELATIONS

RELATIONS Journalists serve the general public. PR specialists serve organizations. Thus, “If the circus is coming to town
DIFFERS FROM Thus, they structure their news stories they structure their messages to be as and you paint a sign saying
JOURNALISM to be as fair and complete as possible. beneficial to their clients as possible. CIRCUS COMING SATURDAY,
If you major in public that’s advertising. If you put
relations, you’re usually Journalists avoid taking sides or PR practitioners promote their clients the sign on the back of an
required to take at least one advocating action; their job requires and advocate action; their job requires elephant and walk it into
reporting class. Why? independence and objectivity. loyalty and persuasion. town, that’s promotion. If
the elephant walks through
For one thing, gaining
the mayor’s flower bed, that’s
insight into how the news Journalists control all the information PR practitioners provide information
publicity. And if you get the
media operate — how they that goes into — and stays out of — to journalists but can’t control
mayor to laugh about it,
select, reject and report stories their stories. how those journalists use it.
that’s public relations.”
— will help you collaborate Quoted in Reader’s Digest
more effectively with editors Journalists depend heavily upon PR practitioners depend heavily upon
and reporters in any future PR practitioners for information, journalists for news coverage, “Public relations was once
encounters. but always remain wary of them. but always remain wary of them. defined as the ability to
But more importantly, provide the answers before
journalism teaches you how to Most journalists specialize in just PR specialists employ a wide range of the public knows enough to
write clean, crisp copy. That’s one form of media: writing stories media: newsletters, video news releases, ask the questions. Another PR
an essential skill for anyone in newspapers, for example. brochures, speeches, Web sites, etc. pundit once stated, ‘We don’t
practicing PR. The ability to persuade people. We simply
conduct extensive research, offer them reasons to persuade
Many journalists are individualists wary Many PR experts are team players who themselves.’ I define what I do
process complex information
of “selling out” to big corporations. They enjoy working in corporate environments as gift-wrapping. If you pack-
and communicate it clearly work in newsrooms where salaries are low where salaries are higher and the focus
is just as crucial in public age a bracelet in a Tiffany box,
and the focus is on journalistic autonomy. is on planning and profitability.
relations as it is in journalism. it will have a higher perceived
Beyond that, however, the value than if presented in a
two professions follow sepa- Ultimate goal: Ultimate goal: Kmart box. Same bracelet, dif-
rate but similar paths: informing the public. generating good will toward the client. ferent perception.”
Michael Levine,
Hollywood public-relations executive

“If I was down to my last

HOW PUBLIC dollar, I would spend it on PR.”
ADVERTISING PUBLIC RELATIONS
Bill Gates,
RELATIONS Advertising tries to seduce you with PR tries to motivate you with facts, Microsoft founder and bazillionnaire
DIFFERS FROM appealing images, catchy music, providing explanations and details
ADVERTISING clever phrases and vague concepts. that withstand scrutiny. “Public relations is hiring
someone who knows what he
To a casual observer, public is doing to convince the public
relations seems like just another Advertisers control their message: PR specialists provide information
how ads look, where they appear,
that you know what YOU are
way for businesses to boost to other media, who then control
what they say. how it’s used.
doing.”
sales — like advertising or Hyman Maxwell Berston
marketing, but with a more
prestigious-sounding name. Advertising can be flashy, fantastic PR is usually low-key and serious. “Public relations specialists
Many organizations blur and funny. Exaggeration (and distorting Exaggeration (and distorting the truth) make flower arrangements of
the boundaries, too, with ad the truth) is commonplace. is damaging, often deadly. the facts, placing them so the
and PR staffs sharing the same wilted, less attractive petals are
tools, techniques and job titles. hidden by the sturdy blooms.”
Advertising is expensive. It costs money PR is relatively cheap. Favorable news
Yes, advertising and PR both to run ads in newspapers and magazines, coverage can result from news releases, Alan Harrington,
promote an organization to the on TV and radio. speeches or low-cost publicity events.
in Forbes magazine
public. Both seek to improve its
success (i.e., its profitability). “One cannot choose whether
But while advertising focuses Advertising relies upon ads In PR, you write a news release only once. or not to have public relations.
and commercials that run You hold a news conference just once. One can only choose the degree
on sales, PR focuses on public
over and over and over and over. All your efforts are fresh, not recycled. to which those relations will be
perceptions and attitudes. Some
organizations never advertise, managed.”
yet every organization needs Advertising is usually seen and heard PR is usually aimed at specific targets: Paul Holmes,
by anybody and everybody. journalists, decision-makers. etc. PR writer/consultant
some kind of public relations.
“Advertising sells the
People try to avoid ads. People seek out interesting news stories “Some are born great, some
product,” says consultant
They tend to distrust or ignore (which often originate from PR). achieve greatness, and some
Fraser P. Seitel. “PR sells the what they see and hear They tend to trust what they see hire public relations officers.”
organization.” in advertisements. and hear in news reports. Daniel J. Boorstin,
Other differences: social historian
192 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Planning a public relations strategy

Without planning, you can’t develop a strategy;
without a strategy, you can’t achieve your goals.
Organizations come in all sizes — but big or small, they need
public relations for efficient communication both internally
(within the organization) and externally (with the public).
At smaller shops and offices, one person might manage
all the PR efforts, working alongside the business owner or
agency director. But larger organizations either hire an out-
side public relations firm or assemble their own PR staff.
The bigger the staff, the more specialized each person’s job
becomes. Some staffers might be assigned “beats” within the
organization, like reporters in a newsroom. At a computer
company, for instance, one staffer might specialize in media
relations for software products, while another focuses on
RACHEL MacKNIGHT, media relations coordinator, Oregon Health & Science University:
customer service; another might edit the company news- “We spend a lot of our time planning, sometimes in large groups and sometimes in
letter, while someone else coordinates outreach projects that small groups. My colleague Harry Lenhart and I frequently get together to coordinate
provide computers to disadvantaged students. and plan. We share the South Waterfront beat. The university has entered into a devel-
opment agreement with the city of Portland and some private entities to help redevelop
Still, every successful PR effort requires extensive research,
an underused area along the riverfront. The project is the source of many public relations
planning and teamwork among the organization’s leaders and opportunities and many challenges for a university more accustomed to educating
its PR staff. Here’s how the process works: health care providers and the latest advances in research than real estate development.”

FOUR STEPS TO CREATING Effective public relations is a systematic effort. Whether you’re a big organization or a solo
AND IMPLEMENTING A enterprise, you need to proceed in a methodical way. Ready to launch a PR campaign?
PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN Here’s a four-step approach to help you organize the process.
ANALYZE THE SITUATION PLAN THE STRATEGY IMPLEMENT THE PLAN EVALUATE THE RESULTS
First, you need to focus on the issue at Sometimes a big problem forces you This is where your abstract plan It’s essential to monitor your public-
hand. Is there a crisis to manage? (Did to answer some big questions: Who are becomes reality, taking the form of relations efforts to determine how your
one of your trucks spill toxic sludge on we? How do we position ourselves in this news releases, speeches, Web sites, plan is actually working. That’s why,
the freeway?) Or do you just want to community? What identity should we brochures, news conferences — the before launching any PR strategy, you
increase attendance? Attract voters? project? What’s our mission statement? options abound. But a skilled PR should establish exactly how you’ll
Generate interest in your new product? The bigger your problem or broader practitioner knows how best to match evaluate its results — whether by
Try forming a problem statement to your goal, the more essential it is to the message with the medium to yield analyzing sales figures, monitoring
clarify the issue. Something like: wrestle with those philosophical issues. the most productive results. attendance records, conducting surveys,
� We need to recruit 100 volunteers for But for smaller, short-term goals, you Smart public-relations campaigns tracking public feedback, etc.
our annual Beach Clean-up Day. Or: need to determine what your message may combine a variety of approaches. Remember, statistical data is always
� We need to increase our magazine’s is and how best to deliver it. Start with Why? It’s essential to select the most preferable to anecdotes, random
circulation by 10 percent next year. the big picture, then zoom in on specific effective format, design and writing observations or gut instincts. Everybody
To craft a useful problem statement, details by asking questions such as: style for each type of audience you’re has opinions, but you need objective
define the issue as clearly as you can. Who are we trying to reach? And trying to reach. A zoo Web site aimed answers to such questions as:
Try thinking like a journalist — who can best help us reach them? at kids, for example, should be radically � What succeeded? What failed?
Who is most affected or involved? What will our message be? What different from a fundraising letter � Did the plan adhere to its objectives?
What exactly is the problem? result are we after? What will it cost? aimed at wealthy donors. � Did the information reach its target
When and where does it matter most? When should we deliver our message? Every bit of PR material you generate audience? Was our message accepted?
Why are we concerned? Where should we target our efforts? needs to be clever. Creative. Coordinated Did our message stimulate action?
How does this affect our public? How do we distribute our message like clockwork. And consistent — in look, � Were the costs worth the benefits?
Extensive research is essential, so most effectively? And how do we feel, writing style, color and typography � Has the outcome been affected by
start gathering facts. Talk to organi- want the public to respond? — with all companion efforts. factors that our plan failed to address?
zation officials and staff members. Ideally, you and your colleagues will Most importantly, you’ve got to craft � Were there unintended, undesirable
Analyze trends. Conduct surveys. craft a detailed, step-by-step strategy your message to cut through the clutter. consequences that need to be
When you fully understand the issue, that attacks your problem from a variety The public (and your media contacts) mitigated?
you’re ready to ask: What are our goals? of angles using a mix of media. (See the are buried beneath an avalanche of junk Periodic reviews can help you make
What do we specifically hope to achieve? next page for a summary of options.) mail and spam. What will it take to get midcourse corrections while the plan is
Remember, the more clearly you state Once your client/employer endorses your message noticed? How will you still in progress. And once a campaign is
your goals now, the better you’ll be able your plan — and you finalize its budget develop news angles that generate the over, the lessons you’ve learned can be
to measure your success later on. — you can begin implementation. coverage you desire? reapplied to future projects.
 PUBLIC RELATIONS 193

MATCHING YOUR MESSAGE THE MEDIA KIT

TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE MEDIUM Media kits (or press kits) present a variety of promotional material designed
to make reporters say, “Hey, this could make a good story!” Whether on paper
Once you’ve planned your PR strategy, how do you spread your or online (and digital packages are becoming standard), media kits may
message? There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Some information is best include a news release, background info, a biography, photos,
delivered in a printed text format. For other material, photos and videos even stories reprinted from other news outlets.
may be most effective. And sometimes the human touch — face-to-face The goal? Make a wealth
meetings, interviews or speeches — will provide optimal results. of information look as
Here are the most common options PR professionals employ: accessible and appeal-
ing as possible.
THE NEWS RELEASE At right are pages
The news release (or press release) is the most useful tool in the PR toolbox. It’s the from a media kit sent to
simplest, most popular way for an organization to deliver its message to the media.x hundreds of newspapers
In fact, studies have shown that at least half of the content in most newspapers originates by a PR firm representing
from news releases. That’s an impressive amount — but keep in mind, those aren’t all Oreo cookies. A news
actual stories. News releases supply material for everything from business briefs to release announces that
police logs to calendar listings (club meetings, gallery exhibits, school concerts, etc.). “America’s Favorite Cookie”
Some news releases are reprinted verbatim; most aren’t. Instead, they provide the facts, will celebrate its 90th
ideas or angles for stories that reporters birthday with special
subsequently write. festivities at a New Jersey
There’s also the video news release shopping mall where the
(VNR): a short, broadcast-quality news original cookie factory once
package supplied to TV stations, stood . . .
ready to run. It’s an effective PR tool,
but some critics feel it’s “fake news”
that blurs the line between adver- . . . while this next page lists
tising and journalism — especially amazing facts intended to
when TV stations use VNRs with- appeal to feature writers.
out identifying them as such. For instance: If every Oreo
cookie ever made were
stacked on top of each
OTHER WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS other — more than 450
Newsletters are distributed to employees Byliners are stories ostensibly written by billion — the pile would
or members of special-interest groups. an organization official — the director or reach to the moon
Articles inform and entertain while CEO, for example — but in fact, they’re and back more
advancing the organization’s objectives. often ghost-written by PR staffers. And than six times.
Pamphlets, brochures and manuals op-ed pieces are opinionated byliners that
can convey facts about an organization’s run in newspapers on the page opposite This fact sheet
history, philosophy and facilities (for the paper’s editorials. The credibility of arranges key Oreo
external audiences) or provide details these articles is enhanced by the “expert” dates and statistics
about employee conduct, pension plans or byline. Unlike news stories, byliners let the into a timeline.
training programs (for internal distribution). authors (not reporters) control the material Another page
and carefully craft their viewpoints. announces a
Position papers or white papers explain
an organization’s stance on topical or Web sites allow PR practitioners to bypass promotional contest
controversial issues. These reports are the news media altogether and control all that asks consumers,
distributed to public officials, financial aspects of the message — while adding “What’s Your Favorite
analysts, special-interest groups and images and interactive extras. Many cor- Oreo Moment?” The
influential decision-makers, often to porate sites now upload all news releases, winners get a trip to the
correct false impressions created by position papers and promotional images cookie exhibit — and a
previous media coverage. onto a special PRESS section of their sites. year’s supply of Oreos.

OTHER INTERACTIVE OPTIONS Like many media kits, this

Speeches allow an organization’s represen- Special events can include a wide range of one contains images that
tatives to deliver key talking points directly publicity efforts: media days, fundraisers, editors are encouraged
to interested groups. A well-polished public photo opportunities, 10K races — even an to reprint, like this
statement — or a PowerPoint presentation outing at the zoo for disadvantaged kids. classic advertisement
with art and charts — can convey informa- from 1924.
tion more persuasively than written text. Exhibits educate and entertain while raising
Speeches personalize the organization, too, the organization’s profile, whether they’re
while encouraging discussion and debate. booths at a convention, displays at a fair or
signs on the company’s factory tour.
News conferences allow newsmakers and
designated spokespersons to speak directly Lobbying encompasses all attempts to
to the media — or directly to the public, influence legislation — by letters, phone
if TV news producers find the topic news- calls or personal visits. The process is often
worthy. PR professionals coordinate the abused, but for any organization dependent
proceedings, often coaching company on government funding or support, it’s
officials on what to say and how to say it. essential to keep legislators well-informed.

MORE ON WRITING NEWS RELEASES > 194

194 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Writing news releases WHY ISSUE A NEWS RELEASE?

Newswriting
They provide fornewsbroadcast
the ideas and information that become —
� To
� To
promote an upcoming event or appearance.
introduce new products, services, projects,
campaigns, facilities or fads.
— or at least, that’s how it’s supposed to work. You need to spread your message, � To convey information about a breaking news

and journalists need material for stories. event that involves your organization.
� To announce personnel matters: awards,
So why, then, do most news releases wind up in newsroom junk piles? promotions, hirings, retirements, etc.
They’re too dull. Too long-winded. Too useless, confusing or self-serving. � To publicize an anniversary, a milestone or a

To be effective, a news release needs two things: newsworthy information and record-setting performance.
� To present survey results or statistical data
clear presentation. If either is missing, it’s doomed to be junked. your organization has collected.
Yet even a brilliant news release can’t guarantee press coverage. That’s why smart � To alert citizens or consumers about health or

PR practitioners build personal relationships with reporters and editors, relation- safety issues.
� To update the community on worthwhile
ships based on trust and mutual cooperation. They learn who’s interested in what causes: blood drives, charity fundraisers, etc.
kinds of stories; they understand where and when those stories are likely to run.

WHAT A TYPICAL NEWS RELEASE LOOKS LIKE

Here’s a news release from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). family-oriented feature? Incorporate it into a broader story exploring the
Suppose you were a reporter and you received this. What would you do? latest trends in child-friendly health care? Or would you just toss it in the
Condense it into a news brief ? Post it as a calendar item? Turn it into a trash because you don’t think it’s newsworthy enough?

This release date is essential.

Some releases will be News and Information Contact information is essential,
“embargoed” for a later date; either at the top or the bottom
they’ll say FOR RELEASE of the release. Make sure the
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Tamara Hargens
MONDAY, JANUARY 30, alerting January 24, 2010 503-494-8653 phone is one that can be
the media to news that won’t Email Tamara Hargens answered whenever reporters
be made public for several days. Click Here to download high-res images... Index of current releases | News Release Archive | News & Pubs Home may need to call. Use a cell
phone number, if necessary.
Most news releases are now
Doernbecher To Receive First Specially Designed, Kid-Friendly Ambulance
sent out as e-mail messages, as
From Metro West Ambulance The headline and deck work
this one was. Smart e-mail soft-
together to summarize key
ware lets you add boldface and The first custom-designed pediatric ambulance in the region features bright colors and fun
caricatures to help Doernbecher’s frailest patients and their families feel more comfortable points in a compelling way.
italic type — even images. The
advantages of e-mail releases?
The Pediatric and Neonatal Doernbecher Transport
They’re immediate. They’re free. Team (PANDA) at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital This is a low-resolution photo,
And they let reporters cut and will receive the region’s first kid- and family-friendly
but a high-resolution image
paste names, facts and phone ambulance from its vendor, Metro West, at an open
house this Wednesday. is available for downloading.
numbers right into their stories.
Notice how much more
If this were a paper release The specially designed ambulance will be on dis-
appealing and effective this
for mailing or faxing, it would play in the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital parking
lot from 10 a.m. to noon. The public is invited and news release becomes with
look much the same. But for refreshments will be served. the addition of this image.
printed news releases:
This photo doesn’t need a
� Use 8 1/2 -by- 11 paper. When PANDA Transport manager, Maureen O’Hara, R.N., requested a new ambulance from
MetroWest because the current PANDA ambulance was showing signs of wear and tear, caption, but if it showed a
� Print on one side only. MetroWest representatives gave her team carte blanche to custom design a new ambulance
specific person or activity,
� Leave at least a one-inch that would be visually appealing to children. The ambulance vendor then contracted with
Braun Northwest, an emergency vehicles manufacturer, to create the new design, which fea- you’d need to provide names,
margin on the sides, top
tures smiling, colorful caricatures of children on the exterior and lively shades of red, dates, descriptions, etc.
and bottom. yellow and blue on the interior.
� Double-space.
“This one-of-a-kind ambulance is designed to be more inviting and less sterile to our pedi-
Quotes are often repaired,
atric patients and their families,” said O’Hara. “We are excited to be able to offer quality, spe- Most news releases mark the
cialized care in an environment that puts our acutely ill patients at ease.”
massaged or manufactured end of the text by typing ###
by the PR writer, then approved The PANDA team comprises specially trained nurses and respiratory therapists who stabilize or -- 0 --. If this were a two-
by the people who allegedly
and monitor young patients until they reach the hospital’s emergency department or intensive page release, you’d need to
care units. Each year the team transports several hundred acutely ill babies and children to
said them. Doernbecher Children’s Hospital from around the state; 775 children were transported in 2009. signal that the story continued,
so at the bottom of the first
The final paragraph of the
NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of the ambulance is available for downloading. page, you’d type this: (MORE).
Photos of the ambulance’s interior may be seen on the Braun Northwest Web site.
story usually provides basic In addition, you’d want to
boilerplate information about ### give every additional page
the organization or program. OHSU Home | About OHSU | Search | Site Map | Contact OHSU a number, along with a
Health Care Services | Research Programs | Academic & Students | Regional Outreach
short phrase or slug, to avoid
© 2005-2010, Oregon Health & Science University confusion if pages get shuffled.
 PUBLIC RELATIONS 195

GIVE YOUR RELEASE KEEP IT SHORT.

AN ENGAGING HEADLINE CRISP. TIGHT.
Remember, reporters and editors Reporters receive dozens — often
weed out junk mail by scanning hundreds — of news releases, e-mails
news releases before actually reading and phone calls each day. They’re
them. To keep your release out of racing the clock. So get to the point.
the trash, give it a punchy, active, Keep your wording concise. Keep
attention-grabbing headline. Instead sentences and paragraphs short.
of saying Adam Baum honored at The average news release is around
sports banquet, say Adam Baum 500 words. (E-mail releases should
wins $10,000 as Athlete of the Year. be shorter than that, in part because
Use bold type, 10 words or fewer. some e-mail programs automatically
You can add a deck below the head- cut off long messages.)
line, but keep it concise and enticing. Limit printed releases to one or two
And for e-mail releases, use short, pages. Go longer only for important
attention-getting subject lines, too. news that demands extensive details.
GIVE YOUR RELEASE
A COMPELLING LEAD DO’S AND DON’TS STRESS THE BENEFITS TO THE
WHEN DEALING READER (AND THE REPORTER)
What’s true for news stories is true for news releases, WITH THE MEDIA As they scan your release, reporters will be asking,
too: a strong lead is essential. This is where you pitch � DO customize your pitch “So what? Why should I care?” If you fail to supply a
your most newsworthy story angle and condense your for different media. Think of satisfactory answer, your release is doomed.
most significant facts. good visuals for television, The best releases are those that demand to be printed.
You’ve got to win over your readers here, in the first smart sound bites for radio,
They’re useful. Essential. Newsworthy.
two paragraphs, so don’t hold anything back. Don’t be compelling human-interest
angles for print publications. So think like a journalist, not like a businessman.
bland or passive; don’t save good information for later
� DON’T make demands or
If you’re describing a new program or product, don’t
in the story. Grab your readers’ attention immediately,
dictate how the story should just describe what it is or how it works; explain why it’s
before they hit DELETE.
play. Stay flexible; explore smarter, better, healthier, more fun, more useful, more
AVOID DISTORTION new angles. Be willing to valuable. Show how it will engage or help readers here
AND EXAGERRATION reshape your story, if needed, (in the local area) and now (in a timely way).
to satisfy journalists’ needs.
You may be tempted to overhype your product or � DO prepare yourself for PROOFREAD CAREFULLY.
service by using promotional puffery or ad lingo. Don’t interviews. Rehearse your key THEN DO IT AGAIN.
do it. Avoid words like famous, unique, cutting-edge, talking points in advance Journalists are professionals. They don’t respect
world-class, revolutionary. If your product is genuinely (statistics, anecdotes, quotable amateurish-looking copy riddled with misspellings and
“groundbreaking” or “first of its kind,” prove it with sound bites) so you’ll be ready typos. So check and double-check everything, especially
impressive statistics and unbiased quotes. for any sudden, on-the-record
names, phone numbers and Web links. Better yet, run
Remember, journalists are looking for stories, not conversations.
all your news releases by objective proofreaders who
ads. Their job is to protect readers from lies and scams. � DON’T go off the record
during an interview if you can are unfamiliar with the material. Ask them to check for
Don’t set off their b.s. detectors by boasting, bragging errors, but listen to their feedback, too, to make sure
or — worst of all — lying. Once you land in their avoid it; you may blab some-
thing you’ll regret. If you don’t they correctly “get” your message.
doghouse, you could be stuck there permanently.
want it quoted, don’t say it.
� DON’T keep score. “Strike
DELIVER YOUR RELEASE
AVOID JARGON AND AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME
the word favor from your
TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY media relations vocabulary,” Timing is tricky. Send out a release too soon and
Your goal is to communicate instantly to the widest says PR whiz Richard Laermer. reporters will ignore it. Send it too late and they won’t
possible audience, so avoid specialized jargon, buzz “Just because you gave a have time to verify information or answer questions.
words or acronyms that ordinary folks (or irritable reporter a story once, and he Lead times can vary from several hours (for breaking
journalists) won’t understand. If they can’t understand covered it once, doesn’t mean news announcements) to several weeks (for newspaper
it, they won’t read it — or reprint it. he owes you.”
calendar listings). Since all news outlets operate on
� DON’T bribe reporters.
different schedules, study their deadlines closely. As a
USE PROPER They’ll get fired if they accept
cash, and even small thank-
rule, the bigger the event, the more advance notice you
NEWSWRITING STYLE should provide.
you gifts can create ethical
Think of each news release as a blueprint from which backlash. Send appreciative
reporters will build the actual story. Ideally, a reporter cards or e-mails instead.
DELIVER YOUR RELEASE
should be able to write a complete news story using � DON’T be cagey or evasive.
TO THE RIGHT PERSON
only the information your news release provides. Give straight answers and Match your release to the appropriate beat. If you
That means each release should contain all the five honest facts, even if they’re send a story to the business reporter, stress the busi-
W’s, along with useful quotes, facts and statistics. It not always beneficial to you. ness angle; for a feature editor, stress the lifestyle angle.
should be organized in an inverted pyramid, with the Saying “no comment” raises Monitor each news outlet to find out who’s who, what
most important facts first. It should use active sentence red flags that can kill a story. topics they cover, what types of stories they do. Compile
structures and proper newspaper style. It should avoid � And never, ever lie. a list of reliable media contacts. Get to know local
first-person pronouns (I, we, my, our, etc.) reporters and their needs, so you can help each other.
196 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Balance, bias and

media manipulation
There are two sides to every story. . . or are there? And who decides?
Journalists may claim to be fair and balanced — they may boast of writing purely
unbiased stories — but while objectivity is a noble goal, it’s difficult to attain.
Every source has an agenda. Every newsmaker has a stake in the story’s outcome.
Every press release tries to convince reporters that these are the facts you need,
whether they promote a free AIDS clinic or announce plans for a new Walmart.
If that sounds cynical, try working in a newsroom for a week and watch the
endless parade of puffery, partisanship and self-promotion. You’ll quickly realize
that news releases, press kits and speeches may inspire news stories, but they
always require rethinking. Reworking. Fact-checking. Adding opposing viewpoints.
We’re not implying that all PR is sinister, or that every press release is a scheme
to manipulate the media. We just want you to remember: Everybody spins.

ONE PRESS RELEASE, Brandon Mayfield, an Oregon lawyer, was jailed by the FBI in 2004 after agents linked his finger-
prints to terrorist bombings in Spain. But the FBI had the wrong man. After his release, Mayfield
ONE NEWS STORY: claimed the FBI violated his civil rights, targeting and framing him because he’s a Muslim.
TWO ATTEMPTS TO The Justice Department investigated the case. On Jan. 6, 2006, they issued their report. At left is
DEFINE THE MESSAGE the FBI’s news release responding to the report; at right, the front-page story from The Oregonian.x
THE FBI NEWS RELEASE THE NEWSPAPER STORY
Here’s a textbook example of Some news outlets
“positive spin.” Notice how We appreciate the work of the Office of the FBI fingerprint analysts violated basic rules drew even harsher
all this upbeat phrasing Inspector General (OIG) in providing additional of their science to wrongly link Brandon conclusions than this.
makes the OIG report seem insights and perspective into how the FBI can Mayfield to the 2004 bombings in Madrid, Spain, CNN, The Associated
favorable to the FBI — as if strengthen the process of fingerprint identifica- and insisted they were correct even after learn- Press and The New York
it’s just a friendly list of tion. Of particular importance, the OIG report ing the evidence pointed to another man, a Times all stated in their
helpful suggestions. The confirmed there was no misconduct by the FBI or Justice Department report said Friday. leads that the FBI had
news release fails to mention misuse of the USA Patriot Act. We are confident The department’s internal investigator, done “sloppy work.”
what the report actually said: that the OIG’s findings and recommendations, Inspector General Glenn Fine, also said that
“We concluded that the combined with corrective measures already while the FBI did not investigate Mayfield just Compare the details in
examiners committed implemented, will significantly enhance our abil- because he is an adherent to Islam, his religious these two paragraphs
errors in the examination ity to perform our duties to the public. . . . beliefs and activities made authorities less with the highlighted
procedure, and that the The OIG report recommends several ways in inclined to re-examine the fingerprint. claim near the bottom
misidentification could have which the FBI’s methodology can be enhanced The report said one of the fingerprint exam- of the FBI’s press
been prevented.” to minimize the risk of recurrence of the mis- iners “candidly admitted that if the person iden- release at left.
take. Several of these recommendations were tified had been someone without these charac-
Mayfield was detained for made previously and independently by the inter- teristics, like the ‘Maytag Repairman,’ the labo- Here, the story cites
two weeks because of errors national expert panel. Following that review, ratory might have revisited the identification that FBI news release,
in the FBI fingerprint lab. The we implemented a series of procedural reforms with more skepticism and caught the error.” . . . the agency’s official
report probed, in extremely designed to prevent future errors. . . . In a statement Friday, the FBI pointed out response to the report.
technical detail, how those The OIG report also includes other important that after the Mayfield case, the bureau invited
errors occurred and how to findings about the FBI’s initiation of and conduct an independent board of experts to propose We’ve had to severely
avoid them in the future. during this investigation. First, the OIG report changes in how the FBI examines fingerprints, shorten this newspaper
concludes that there was no evidence of misuse which the FBI has undertaken. story, which originally
More positive spin: The FBI of the Patriot Act. The report finds, “contrary to In addition, the inspector general’s report ran about 40 column
didn’t abuse the Patriot Act, public speculation,” the FBI did not use certain “found no evidence of misconduct on the part of inches, or 1,600 words.
the report concluded, but provisions of the Patriot Act and that the Act any FBI employees involved in this investiga- The story included
used it only to “share” did not affect the scope of the FBI’s use of FISA tion,” the statement said. . . . details from the report,
useful information. surveillance or searches. Instead, the OIG report After the inspector general released the background on the case
found that the effect of the Patriot Act on this report Friday, two members of Congress and comments on the
Some nuanced evasion: investigation was to enable the FBI to share issued a letter calling for the House Judiciary findings — including a
The report clearly stated lawful information with other members of the Committee to hold hearings on the findings. quote from Mayfield’s
that, while Mayfield’s Muslim law enforcement and intelligence communities. “The report raises real and serious questions attorney, who claimed
religion may not have Second, the OIG report concluded that religion regarding racial and ethnic profiling by the FBI the FBI “misled a judge”
been a factor when the FBI played no improper role in the identification or as well as their competence, veracity and use of to arrest his client.
first arrested him, it may investigation of Mr. Mayfield. Third, the report Patriot Act powers,” said the letter signed by At the end of the story,
indeed have slowed his found no evidence of misconduct on the part of Democratic Reps. John Conyers of Michigan the final word goes to
eventual exoneration. any FBI employees involved in this investigation. and Robert Scott of Virginia. these Democratic critics.
Is that liberal bias?

READ THE INSPECTOR GENERAL’S REPORT ONLINE > www.usdoj.gov/oig/reports/FBI/index.htm

 PUBLIC RELATIONS 197

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE Politicians, PR pros and corporate

spokespersons are often forced to
OF SPIN, DISTORTION announce bad news. Explain blun- “PR means telling the
AND DOUBLESPEAK ders. Defend unpopular programs. truth and working
They know they shouldn’t lie. Lies, if exposed, produce negative backlash. ethically — even when
So instead, they spin. all the media want is
What’s the difference? “When somebody says something of a serious nature headlines and all the
that is flat-out untrue and intended to deceive or hurt another person — or public wants is scapegoats.
keep the public in the dark about an issue of vital importance — that’s a lie,” Public relations fails when
there is no integrity.”
explains Bill Press, former co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire.”
Viv Segal,
“When somebody twists, bends, toys, exaggerates or plays with the truth in marketing expert
order to make it sound better or give oneself a tactical advantage, that’s spin.” Robert Gibbs relentlessly spins his
But spinning is just the beginning. Here’s a roundup of other dubious press conference responses in his role “It is impossible in this
tricks and tactics both journalists and PR professionals should be wary of: as press secretary for Barack Obama. day and age for anybody
to speak his mind plainly
SPINNING THE NEWS: COMMON TERMS AND TECHNIQUES and not be ripped to
shreds by some PR
Doublespeak: Any language deliberately Cherry-picking: This is the technique of Bridging basically means ignoring the machine on the other
crafted to disguise, distort or evade the truth. selecting only those facts that support your question the reporter asked, and answering side.”
Ted Koppel,
Some doublespeak is just gobbledygook — argument while ignoring the majority that the question you wanted to be asked. veteran TV journalist
a jumble of buzzwords and bureaucratese. don’t. It’s often done with statistics; you
Listen to former Federal Reserve Chairman
The nondenial denial: When someone “ ‘Bias’ is what somebody
argue that 42 percent of Americans support
accuses you of wrongdoing, you say, “I’m has when you disagree
Alan Greenspan: “It is a tricky problem the president’s policy when polls also show not going to dignify that with a response.” with his or her opinion.”
to find the particular calibration in timing that 80 percent want him impeached. Thus, instead of answering the charges (and
that would be appropriate to stem the A related tactic is quote mining, where Hedley Donovan,
risking lying), you criticize the criticism,
acceleration in risk premiums created by you dig up statements your opponent has editor, Life magazine
falling incomes without prematurely abort- calling it “absurd” or “unprofessional.”
made that, unfairly taken out of context, Similarly, the nonapology apology (“I’m
ing the decline in the inflation-generated “Political language is
distort and discredit his position. sorry if you were offended by my remarks”)
risk premiums.” designed to make lies
Some doublespeak uses cagey syntax to Glittering generalities: Instead of allows you, in the words of humorist Bruce sound truthful, and
dance around the truth. When caught in a detailing a specific course of action, you use McCall, “to get what you want by seeming murder respectable, and
lie and asked, “Is that correct?”, President vague, emotionally appealing abstractions. to express regret while actually accepting to give an appearance of
Clinton famously responded with classic As Sen. John Kerry sermonized: “I believe no blame.” solidity to pure wind.”
doublespeak: “It depends on what the in an America that’s strong at home and Astroturfing: An astroturfing campaign George Orwell,
meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” respected in the world. I believe we can have tries to sway public opinion on an issue by journalist and novelist
Doublespeak uses prestigious-sounding a strong economy focused on good-paying creating the illusion of widespread grass-
words to bestow status — calling a garbage jobs, a health care plan that reduces costs, roots support (phony grass = astroturf. “Information that needs
collector a “sanitation engineer,” for an energy plan that frees us from Mideast Get it?). By planting letters to the editor, to be known will be
instance. Critics accused President George oil, and I believe we can lead a strong mili- blog posts, even online reviews, a team of known, on a need-to-
W. Bush of Orwellian doublespeak when he tary and strong alliances that keep America astroturfers try to pass themselves off as know basis, and if it’s
unveiled his “Healthy Forests Initiative” (it safe and secure.” Note his repeated use of mass numbers of “ordinary” citizens. need-to-know, the people
promoted logging, they claimed) and his the word “strong.” But what does it mean? who need to know will
“Clear Skies” plan (which actually weakened Managing the news: Planting questions know it.”
air-pollution safeguards, opponents said). Bridging: This is one of the basic skills that at press conferences, “dumping” damaging Ari Fleischer,
Then there are euphemisms: inoffensive PR coaches teach corporate executives facing news on Friday afternoons (after people turn former press secretary for
hostile press interviews: Instead of directly President George W. Bush
terms substituted for harsher, more off their brains for the weekend), bribing
disturbing words. In war, genocide becomes answering an uncomfortable question, you columnists to support certain policies, leaking
ethnic cleansing; civilian casualties become transition (or bridge) into a more favorable information (favorable and/or fabricated), “A good spinner is like a
collateral damage. In business, layoffs topic. Media trainers suggest such “bridge” threatening editors or sources — these are good lawyer. You highlight
become downsizing, rightsizing, headcount phrases as “Let me put that in perspective” some of the unethical tactics that help to the facts that help your
adjustments or reductions in force. or “What’s important to remember is . . . .” manipulate media coverage in your favor. client’s case and downplay
the ones that don’t.”
George Stephanopoulos,
TV pundit and former adviser
What would you do if a company asked you to ETHICS IN The PRSA, for instance, urges its members to: to President Clinton
promote a product that was unsafe or had been THE PRACTICE � Be honest and accurate in all communications.
produced using child labor overseas? How far would OF PUBLIC � Act promptly to correct erroneous communi- “It’s like being on a debate
you twist the truth in a press release defending a cations for which the practitioner is responsible. team. You don’t argue
corrupt client? Is it ethical to shower senators with
RELATIONS � Avoid deceptive practices. for the other side. There’s
gifts and cash so they’ll pass legislation that helps your cause? PR professionals understand that organizations maintain the an inherent aspect of spin
PR professionals often confront these issues. And after years public’s respect only when they behave ethically. Lies, spin and that’s just human nature.
of scandals and ethical lapses, the PR industry now realizes that, distortions may temporarily deflect a crisis, but they ultimately
You try to strengthen and
ironically, it has a public-image problem of its own. In a 2005 cause worse damage once the truth becomes known.
clarify your point of view.
poll by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), 85 percent “Public relations professionals are often the conscience of a
of Americans agreed with this statement: “People who work company,” says media relations consultant Steven R. Van Hook. If you choose not to adver-
in the PR industry sometimes take advantage of the media to “It’s not always a popular spot to be in, but it is our duty. It’s tise your vulnerabilities,
present misleading information that is favorable to their clients.” what we’re paid to do. And, as we sometimes confess to one is that a cover-up?”
That’s why PR firms and associations often adopt codes of ethics. another, it’s what we largely love most about our job.” C.J. Cregg,
fictional press secretary on
the NBC drama “The West Wing”
198 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Get some sales experience! The Credibility is the most important quality
principles of public relations are also one can possess in the public relations
the principles of salesmanship. Learning field. Without credibility, why should
the fundamentals of customer character- anyone listen to what we have to say,
istics, buying motives, product perfor- let alone believe it or act upon it?
mance, sales aids, overcoming customer Maintaining one’s credibility means
objections and closing the sale are all constantly being open, honest and
essential to public relations. accessible.
Patti D. Hill, president and founder of Lt. Randy Force, public information officer,
ADVICE ON PUBLIC RELATIONS Blabbermouthpr.com, Austin, Texas Maryvale Precinct, Phoenix Police Department
FROM VETERAN PRACTITIONERS
Spend time in a newsroom. Doesn’t
For this PR edition of the Press Room, matter what kind — TV, print or radio. Study the art of writing
we interviewed dozens of public relations Don’t try to pitch someone in a news- — and I don’t mean
professionals across the country. Here’s room if you don’t know what their life
a selected sampling of their responses. “creative” writing. Study
is like. the art of writing simple,
Tracy Kurschner, director,
Weber Shandwick, Minneapolis concise sentences that
communicate clearly.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD Understand what public relations is Make sure the words are
YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE and what it is not. It’s not just event
spelled correctly. This
JUST STARTING OUT planning, it’s not just publicity and it’s
seemingly simple act
IN PUBLIC RELATIONS? certainly not hype. Public relations is a
relationship-building function. It has a will propel you above
Get some experience in media relations. critically important social role to play, most of your peers.
It’s an absolute must. If your client is the so learn all you can about people. Great communication
media, you need to know how reporters Yes, writing is important. Writing and makes things happen. It
think, what makes a good story, how to editing are the fundamental skills for
pitch so you see what’s in it for them sells product. It changes
this field but they will only take you so
and not you. far — into the role of the communica- minds. It motivates
Julie Hansen, public relations director, tion technician. If you have ambitions as people to action.
Mall of America, Bloomington, Minn. a public relations manager, then you’ll Tim McIntyre, vice president,
need to understand social psychology, communications, Domino’s Pizza Inc.
Learn to write and write well. The organizational communication,
fundamental skill for success in public sociology, business management and
relations is the skill of writing. Writing economics as well. Read the paper — your local daily news-
is a long-term art. The more you read, Dr. Larissa A. Grunig,
paper, and a national paper like the Wall
the better you write. The more you professor emerita, University of Maryland
Street Journal, New York Times or even
write, the better you write. And practice USA Today. Better yet: read all of them.
makes perfect. Be a journalist first. It gives you instant
Reading the nationals helps you identify
Gerard Corbett, vice president of the branding credibility with a reporter. My fast-
and corporate communications group
trends and potential for stories in your
est wins happened when I could tell a
of Hitachi America Ltd. market — positioning your clients as
reporter about my background, assuring
sources — that reporters often don’t
him/her that I knew a story from fluff,
Don’t take no for an answer. Turn “no” have time to read.
that I wouldn’t waste their time pitching
around and you’ve got “on.” Sara Fleury, president,
something that didn’t have news value. BJ Communications, Phoenix
Miriam Silverberg, publicist/owner Vicki Carlew, VP of Marketing
of Miriam Silverberg Associates for the Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, Mo.
Shut up. Shut up and listen instead of
Throughout your entire career, always Stay calm, no matter what happens. talking. Yes, you rarely will find a savvy
have at least one mentor. And try to It’s your job to stay calm in the eye of and wise person from whom you can
choose people who are tops in their the storm, especially if your client or learn the secrets of the universe.
field. This will shorten your learning your colleagues panic over potential bad But you still can learn a lot even from
curve, you’ll learn from the very best news or a big setback in a project. Your the idiots. What are they idiotic about?
people in the PR field, and you will job is to make everybody stop, sort out What form does their idiocy take?
become far more successful than if you the implications and look at options for Are there common forms of idiocy?
were left to learn on your own. dealing constructively and quickly with How can you work best with idiots?
Become a sponge and never, ever stop the problem. I like to ask, “What’s the How can you help them do their best
learning. headline going to be?” work? What patterns of idiocy do you
Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, Nancy Conner, director of publications and media now recognize in yourself?
Port Washington, Wis. relations, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities David Oboyski, CEO, The Utopia Group
 PUBLIC RELATIONS 199

WHAT’S THE BIGGEST The biggest misconception is perhaps We are all glorified car salesmen. I have
MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE about the nature of the business. It’s a no problem with car salesmen, but I
HAVE ABOUT PR? two-way street. It’s not just pushy mean the stereotypical ones who are
publicists vying to persuade a reporter depicted as sleazy, greasy, and who will
That it is spin and lies. I think they to run a story on their clients or air their sell you a lemon for way too much.
forget about all the PR done for non- clients’ side of that story. Nor is it over- We’re just trying to get our clients
profits, education, advocacy, hunger, worked reporters looking for a press recognition for the great and unique
AIDS, breast cancer — all of that is PR. release they can insert into unused space things they’re doing.
Linda Aldoory, editor,
Journal of Public Relations Research
on their page. Reporters value their PR Aileen Burdock, account associate, Elizabeth
contacts (almost) as much as the PR Christian & Associates, Austin, Texas

� That you can precisely tell the media

folks value their media contacts.
PR serves a purpose. No, strike that. People make the mistake of viewing
what to print and when to print it. public relations professionals as “fluff”
Coverage has to be earned. It cannot be Well-executed PR serves a purpose:
It helps journalists do their job. or unnecessary. When a true public/
ordered. media relations crisis hits, an organiza-
Andy Garlikov, president,
� That you can make bad “things”
Proadvance, Los Angeles tion quickly realizes the value of having
go away. Bad deeds and bad products the ability to manage a message and
can’t be covered up; they have to be utilize strong media relationships.
addressed and addressed straight on — That our relationship with journalists
Liz McClung, communications director,
quickly, honestly, accurately. is always antagonistic. Professional jour- Department of Corrections, St. Paul, Minn.
� That liking and manipulating people nalists and public relations practitioners
makes you a good PR person. Public should understand and respect the The biggest misperception about the
relations is a mixture of solid journalism, different roles the two functions play PR business is that it is fun and that it is
management philosophy, psychology in society. They can work together only about people.
and sociology. productively to help report meaningful Gerard Corbett, vice president of the branding
Andy Marken, president, and accurate stories. and corporate communications group
Marken Communications, Santa Clara, Calif. Dr. Linda Hon, professor, University of Florida of Hitachi America Ltd.

EVER WISH YOU’D GONE provide facts. I consider what I do — No, because PR includes reporting skills.
INTO (OR STAYED IN) which is helping journalists — to be Every day in this job, I use the skills I
JOURNALISM? a form of journalism. The best part: I learned as a reporter and columnist:
know my “beat” better than anyone else. information-gathering, editing and
When I first moved into public relations Tim McIntyre, vice president, communications, writing.
and marketing, I felt very uncomfortable Domino’s Pizza Inc. Pete Schulberg, public information officer,
with the completely new way of think- Portland Parks & Recreation
ing that was required. I now know that No, no, no. Not enough money, not
was the correct career move. PR and enough innovation. Lots of lockstep
I left journalism after a 10-year stint
marketing allow me to solve problems professionally, ideologically and
and I haven’t regretted it for a moment.
through creative thinking and strate- practically. Too much navel-gazing
It’s not a life that is kind to raising a
gic action plans. The field has a much and sanctimony, not enough reflection,
family; no one ever works 9 to 5 in
longer-range view than journalism, and analysis and improvement. Way too
television, there’s no such thing as a
I’ve found it to be more intellectually much herd-like behavior. I’d go crazy.
lunch break, and “holiday” — isn’t that
stimulating and exciting. I like what I do. I take integrity seri-
a song?
I do miss covering fires, however . . . . ously. So I can look myself in the mirror
As a reporter, I got to see thousands
Steve Buchholz, director of marketing, every day. And I get to do more good as
of things up close and take part in
Western Dakota Technical Institute a PR person than I can as a journalist,
incredible events that most people will
despite conventional wisdom.
never experience in a lifetime, and for
David Oboyski, CEO, The Utopia Group
The way I “do” public relations, I that I am grateful. But in PR, you don’t
haven’t actually left journalism. My edu- just get a front seat to the action, you
cation is in journalism, not PR. In fact, Absolutely not. First, because I’m
get to go deep inside.
I’ve never taken a formal PR course. incredibly gullible, so I was a lousy
It’s very rewarding to counsel clients
I communicate with journalists openly journalist. And while I miss the fun,
in the midst of a crisis on what course
and clearly. When they put forth a ques- sophomoric atmosphere, journalism
of action to take with the media. And
tion based on a faulty premise, I say so. looks to me less and less distinguishable
as a recovering journalist, my insider’s
I respect deadlines. I don’t pitch fluff. I from business or PR these days. God
insight into the inner workings of a
recognize that not everything my com- bless the ones who stay and try to be
newsroom adds some real value to
pany does is “newsworthy” — no matter solid journalists. I suspect they fight a
what I have to say.
how exciting it might be to us internally. daily battle.
Vicki Carlew, VP of Marketing Liz Miklya, senior media relations consultant,
I tell stories. I offer perspectives. I for the Cerner Corporation, Kansas City, Mo. Weber Shandwick
200 PUBLIC RELATIONS

Answers
to these GENERATE A NEWS RELEASE
exercises
can be You’re the public relations coordinator at the Midland Zoo. You just learned
found on that a polar bear was found dead this morning at the zoo. You talk to the zoo-
page 319. keeper, the veterinarian and the zoo director. Below are your notes. Write a
news release (with a headline) that puts the zoo in the best possible light.
Notes from your conversation with named Kenya died. Her neck broke when
zookeeper Sara N. Getty: her horns got caught in her stall.
� Homer was 16 years old — the oldest
bear at the zoo. She found him floating Notes from your conversation from zoo
in the pool of the polar bear exhibit at director Chris P. Bacon:
7 a.m., an hour after his feeding. � Today’s incident will be investigated to
� The other two polar bears, a 9-year-old determine the exact cause of death.
male named Yukon and a 10-year-old � Quote: “We will do everything in our
female named McKenzie, were removed power to determine how this bear died.
from the exhibit and are now being Animal welfare and the preservation of
monitored by veterinary staff. species are our primary goals here at
� Quote: “Homer was a very curious and the zoo.”
playful polar bear and we will miss him � Confirmed that two other animals had
terribly.” died this month: a giraffe and a bobcat.
Said the deaths are unrelated.
Notes from your conversation with Dr.
Shanda Lear, senior staff veterinarian: Information from a previous news release:
� Quote: “The zoo will perform a necropsy Polar bears have thrived at the zoo since 1985.
to try to determine the cause of death. Our unique exhibit allows the bears to engage
The results will not be available for in natural behaviors, playing in manufactured
several weeks.” snow, digging in gravel and hunting trout in
� A 10-year-old female bobcat named the chilled pool. The bears are ambassadors
Regina died of renal failure last week. for their wild relatives, educating zoo visitors
Two weeks ago, a 6-year-old giraffe about these threatened animals.

NOW TURN THAT RELEASE INTO A NEWS STORY

Now assume you’re a newspaper reporter. You’ve received a news release from
the local zoo reporting the death of a polar bear. You interview the same three
people above, who repeat that same information. Write a news story.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS NEWS RELEASE? PLAN A MEDIA KIT

Here’s the text of a bad news release. It suffers from at least five serious flaws. What are they? Part One:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — May 20, 2009
Your company is launching a
new line of gourmet organic
Rock Legend Dan Druff to Perform Benefit Concert for Hurricane Victims chocolates. This new product
“I really want to help those people. No one else seems to really give a crap about them, launch is being promoted with a
even though we live in the richest country in America,” said Dan Druff, lead singer of the chocolate-tasting event in local
Flakes, announcing plans to perform a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. grocery stores.
The Grammy-nominated star has a long history of such selfless activism. “Now it’s time You’ve been asked to mail
for our fans to do their part,” Druff said. media kits to help generate
Will you do your part? If you love rock ’n’ roll and have even an ounce of compassion for interest and publicity. What
victims, you can’t miss our concert. would you recommend
One of the best bands of the century, Dan Druff and the Flakes recently released their including in each media kit?
latest CD, “Shampoo This,” which Rolling Stone magazine called “one of the . . . albums
released this year.” They’re about to launch a 10-city nationwide tour. Part Two:
The concert will take place on Saturday night at the LaBelle Theatre. Donations of $20 You work in a midsize city.
will be taken at the door. Ten percent of the proceeds will go to the American Red Cross. You want to promote your new
Advance tickets are on sale at http://www.dandruffandflakes.com. chocolates and the tasting event to
the local community. Who should
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In the newsrooms of yesteryear, editors saved copies of old stories, photos and
back issues of the newspaper. These archives became known as “the morgue.”
This book’s morgue contains examples of stories discussed in the text,
many of them annotated with commentary by their original authors.

CONTENTS
NEWSROOM HISTORY (p. 6) The city has $548-million: What do you want?
The Death of George Washington . . . . . . . . . . 202 Bryan Gilmer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
A Bloody Massacre Near Carson, Mark Twain . . 204 POLITICS (p. 110)
A Presidential Candidate, Mark Twain . . . . . . . 205 Readings: On “Deep Throat,” whistleblowers
Ten Days in a Mad-House, Nellie Bly . . . . . . . . 206 and anonymous sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
Old Constan, Ernest Hemingway . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 SPORTS (p. 112)
The Constitution, H.L. Mencken . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Amazing finish in relay wins gold, saves
The Kentucky Derby is Decadent Phelps, Mark Zeigler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
and Depraved, Hunter S. Thompson . . . . . . . 212 Verr-ific!, Jon Paul Morosi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Give me the sign, Dave Scheiber . . . . . . . . . . . 254
OBSERVATION (p. 74)
Vermeil sensed it was go time, Joe Posnanski 256
Oregon pays tribute to its Vietnam vets,
Don Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 FEATURE STORIES (p. 122)
STORY IDEAS (p. 69) Girl’s last gifts bring smiles to kids’ faces,
Colleen Kenney . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 258
Mail species, Dave Philipps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Always, Ed, Kelley Benham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260
Glove story, Don Hamilton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
The perfect kiss, Karen Sandstrom . . . . . . . . . . 265
You wore flip-flops to the White House ?!
Jodi S. Cohen and Maegan Carberry . . . . . . . . 222 PROFILES (p. 124)
All this ice, and the captain is hot
OBITUARIES (p. 96) Judd Slivka. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266
A passion for raising rabbits, Alana Baranick . 224 The good doctor, Manish Mehta . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
BGSU professor a talented sculptor . . . . . . . . . 225
ENTERPRISE STORIES (p. 126)
ACCIDENTS & FIRES (pp. 98-101) If I Die, Diana K. Sugg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Church bus crash on turnpike kills 3 . . . . . . . . 226 Why do we speed? Rick Hampson
For those cut off, a life primeval, and Paul Overberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Vanessa Gezari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
“This one’s for real,” Mary Jo Patterson . . . . . 230 EDITORIALS AND COLUMNS (p. 134)
One happy big-box wasteland,
Family loses all in house fire, Sanne Specht . . 232 Mark Morford . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282
Into the flames, Stuart Tomlinson . . . . . . . . . . 234 Old man sat, stared until a child
CRIME (p. 102) happened to pass, Charles Kuralt . . . . . . . . . 284
Four crime briefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 Invest in America, Stephen Henderson . . . . . . 285
Check-writer sets off clerk’s internal alarm, REVIEWS (p. 136)
Stuart Tomlinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Spears’ stripper act an unfocused bore,
Murderer caught in Texas 15 years Doug Elfman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 286
after escape, Linda J. Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . 238 The Dark Knight, Claudia Puig . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Rampaging rooster attacks girl, Sustaining sushi, David Sarasohn . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Kelley Benham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
MISCELLANY
COURTS (p. 104) In Baltimore, No One’s Left to Press the
The Michael Jackson verdict . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Police, David Simon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292
MEETINGS (p. 108) The Occult Hand Society . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 294
City makes a U-turn, Alandra Johnson . . . . . . . 244 The Book of Always, J. Taylor Buckley . . . . . . . 295
Putnam commissioners get an earful over The 12-step program to good writing,
abandoned house, Heather Svokos . . . . . . . 245 Michael Gartner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296

201
 202

The Ulster Gazette began publication in Kingston, N.Y., in reporting (“WASHINGTON will triumph over DEATH!”).
THE DEATH OF 1798. When George Washington died on Dec. 14, 1799, the paper Incidentally, this page has been called the most copied and
GEORGE WASHINGTON first reported the story two weeks later — in its Dec. 28 edition — faked antique newspaper in history. Only two known copies of
The front page of the and followed up with more details on the Jan. 4 page below. the original paper remain, but thousands of reprints have been
Ulster County Gazette — Jan. 4, 1800 Though most of the text here is dull and pompous, notice how circulating since 1800, fooling many collectors into thinking they
< MORE ON COLONIAL NEWSPAPERS ON PAGE 8 the author of the Washington obituary injects his grief into his own a priceless, authentic piece of American history.
THE MORGUE
THE MORGUE 203
204 THE MORGUE

A BLOODY MASSACRE In 1862, Samuel Clemens landed a job at the Territorial Enterprise, a newspaper in Virginia
NEAR CARSON City, Nev., where he began writing under the name of Mark Twain — often fabricating entire
news stories like this one. As he later recalled: “To find a petrified man . . . or massacre a family
By Mark Twain
at Dutch Nick’s, were feats and calamities that we never hesitated about devising when the public
Territorial Enterprise — Oct. 28, 1863 needed matters of thrilling interest for breakfast. The seemingly tranquil Enterprise office was a
< MORE ON MARK TWAIN ON PAGE 6 ghastly factory of slaughter, mutilation and general destruction in those days.”

F
rom Abram Curry, who arrived here yesterday after- in the kitchen, bruised and insensible, but it is thought their
noon from Carson, we have learned the following recovery is possible. The eldest girl, Mary, must have taken
particulars concerning a bloody massacre which was refuge, in her terror, in the garret, as her body was found
committed in Ormsby County night before last. there, frightfully mutilated, and the knife with which her
It seems that during the past six months a man named wounds had been inflicted still sticking in her side. The
P. Hopkins, or Philip Hopkins, has been residing with his two girls, Julia and Emma, who had recovered sufficiently
family in the old log house just at the edge of the great pine to be able to talk yesterday morning, state that their father
forest which lies between Empire City and Dutch Nick’s. knocked them down with a billet of wood and stamped on
The family consisted of nine children — five girls and four them. They think they were the first attacked. They further
boys — the oldest of the group, Mary, being 19 years old, state that Hopkins had shown evidence of derangement all
and the youngest, Tommy, about a year and a half. Twice day, but had exhibited no violence. He flew into a passion
in the past two months Mrs. Hopkins, while visiting in Car- and attempted to murder them because they advised him to
son, expressed fears concerning the sanity of her husband, go to bed and compose his mind.
remarking that of late he had been subject to fits of violence, Curry says Hopkins was about 42 years of age and a native
and that during the prevalence of one of these he had threat- of Western Pennsylvania; he was always affable and polite,
ened to take her life. It was Mrs. Hopkins’ misfortune to be and until very recently we had never heard of his ill-treating
given to exaggeration, however, and but little attention was his family. He had been a heavy owner in the best mines of
paid to what she said. Virginia and Gold Hill, but when the San Francisco papers
About 10 o’clock on Monday evening Hopkins dashed exposed the game of cooking dividends in order to bolster
into Carson on horseback, with his throat cut from ear to up our stocks he grew afraid and sold out, and invested to
ear, and bearing in his hand a reeking scalp from which the an immense amount in the Spring Valley Water Company of
warm, smoking blood was still dripping, and fell in a dying San Francisco. He was advised to do this by a relative of his,
condition in front of the Magnolia saloon. Hopkins expired one of the editors of the San Francisco Bulletin, who had suf-
in the course of five minutes, without speaking. The long red fered pecuniarily by the dividend-cooking system as applied
hair of the scalp he bore marked it as that of Mrs. Hopkins. to the Daney Mining Company recently. Hopkins had not
A number of citizens, headed by Sheriff Gasherie, mounted long ceased to own in the various claims on the Comstock
at once and rode down to Hopkins’ house, where a ghastly lead, however, when several dividends were cooked on his
scene met their gaze. The scalpless corpse of Mrs. Hopkins newly acquired property, their water totally dried up, and
lay across the threshold, with her head split open and her Spring Valley stock went down to nothing. It is presumed
right hand almost severed from the wrist. Near her lay the ax that this misfortune drove him mad and resulted in his
with which the murderous deed had been committed. In one killing himself and the greater portion of his family. The
of the bedrooms six of the children were found, one in bed newspapers of San Francisco permitted this water company
and the others scattered about the floor. They were all dead. to go on borrowing money and cooking dividends, under
Their brains had evidently been dashed out with a club, and cover of which cunning financiers crept out of the tottering
every mark about them seemed to have been made with a concern, leaving the crash to come upon poor and unsus-
blunt instrument. The children must have struggled hard for pecting stockholders, without offering to expose the villainy
their lives, as articles of clothing and broken furniture were at work.
strewn about the room in the utmost confusion. We hope the fearful massacre detailed above may prove
Julia and Emma, aged respectively 14 and 17, were found the saddest result of their silence.
 THE MORGUE 205

A PRESIDENTIAL By the time he wrote this piece, Twain’s writing style had become much more refined and
CANDIDATE readable than it was in his “Bloody Massacre” story (previous page). He’d spent years writing
stories, letters and essays for several newspapers. More importantly, his first major work —
By Mark Twain
“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” — had previously been published in 1876.
New York Evening Post — June 9, 1879 This piece typifies the folksy, sarcastic style Twain popularized in his social satires and
< MORE ON MARK TWAIN ON PAGE 6 political commentaries.

I
have pretty much made up my mind to run for Presi- is empty. If it is loaded my immortal and inflexible purpose
dent. What the country wants is a candidate who cannot is to get over the fence and go home. My invariable practice
be injured by investigation of his past history, so that in war has been to bring out of every fight two-thirds more
the enemies of the party will be unable to rake up anything men than when I went in. This seems to me to be Napoleonic
against him that nobody ever heard of before. If you know in its grandeur.
the worst about a candidate to begin with, every attempt to My financial views are of the most decided character, but
spring things on him will be checkmated. they are not likely, perhaps, to increase my popularity with
Now I am going to enter the field with an open record. the advocates of inflation. I do not insist upon the special
I am going to own up in advance to all the wickedness I supremacy of rag money or hard money. The great funda-
have done, and if any Congressional committee is disposed mental principle of my life is to take any kind I can get.
to prowl around my biography in the hope of discovering The rumor that I buried a dead aunt under my grapevine
any dark and deadly deed that I have secreted, why — let it was correct. The vine needed fertilizing, my aunt had to be
prowl. buried, and I dedicated her to this high purpose. Does that
In the first place, I admit that I treed a rheumatic grandfa- unfit me for the Presidency? The Constitution of our country
ther of mine in the winter of 1850. He was old and inexpert does not say so. No other citizen was ever considered unwor-
in climbing trees, but with the heartless brutality that is thy of this office because he enriched his grapevines with his
characteristic of me I ran him out of the front door in his dead relatives. Why should I be selected as the first victim of
nightshirt at the point of a shotgun, and caused him to bowl an absurd prejudice?
up a maple tree, where he remained all night, while I emp- I admit also that I am not a friend of the poor man. I
tied shot into his legs. I did this because he snored. I will do regard the poor man, in his present condition, as so much
it again if I ever have another grandfather. I am as inhuman wasted raw material. Cut up and properly canned, he might
now as I was in 1850. be made useful to fatten the natives of the cannibal islands
I candidly acknowledge that I ran away at the battle of and to improve our export trade with that region. I shall
Gettysburg. My friends have tried to smooth over this fact recommend legislation upon the subject in my first message.
by asserting that I did so for the purpose of imitating Wash- My campaign cry will be: “Desiccate the poor workingman;
ington, who went into the woods at Valley Forge for the stuff him into sausages.”
purpose of saying his prayers. It was a miserable subterfuge. These are about the worst parts of my record. On them
I struck out in a straight line for the Tropic of Cancer because I come before the country. If my country don’t want me, I
I was scared. I wanted my country saved, but I preferred to will go back again. But I recommend myself as a safe man —
have somebody else save it. I entertain that preference yet. If a man who starts from the basis of total depravity and pro-
the bubble reputation can be obtained only at the cannon’s poses to be fiendish to the last.
mouth, I am willing to go there for it, provided the cannon
206 THE MORGUE

TEN DAYS IN On one level, this story could be viewed as a shamelessly sensational stunt to sell papers. But
A MAD-HOUSE what resulted was a historic exposé by ambitious, 23-year-old Elizabeth Jane Cochran — or
“Nellie Bly,” as she became known to the world. Bly’s undercover assignment to Blackwell’s Island
By Nellie Bly
began as a dare from John Cockerill, managing editor at Joseph Pulitzer’s New York World. But
The New York World — October 1887 once Bly’s report was published, it brought funding and reforms to the institution and helped
< MORE ON NELLIE BLY ON PAGE 6 establish a model for investigative reporting that remains inspiring and engrossing to this day.

O
n the 22d of September I was asked by the World if I “No, I will not. I will not talk with women.”
could have myself committed to one of the asylums “What do you do in New York?”
for the insane in New York, with a view to writing “Nothing.”
a plain and unvarnished narrative of the treatment of the “Can you work?”
patients therein and the methods of management, etc. Did I “No, senor.”
think I had the courage to go through such an ordeal as the “Tell me, are you a woman of the town?”
mission would demand? Could I assume the characteristics “I do not understand you,” I replied, heartily disgusted
of insanity to such a degree that I could pass the doctors, live with him.
for a week among the insane without the authorities there “I mean have you allowed the men to provide for you and
finding out that I was only a “chiel amang ‘em takin’ notes?” keep you?”
I said I believed I could. I had some faith in my own ability as I felt like slapping him in the face, but I had to maintain my
an actress and thought I could assume insanity long enough composure, so I simply said:
to accomplish any mission intrusted to me. Could I pass a “I do not know what you are talking about. I always lived
week in the insane ward at Blackwell’s Island? I said I could at home.”
and I would. And I did. . . . After many more questions, fully as useless and sense-
“How will you get me out,” I asked my editor, “after I once less, he left me and began to talk with the nurse. “Positively
get in?” demented,” he said. “I consider it a hopeless case. She needs
“I do not know,” he replied, “but we will get you out if we to be put where someone will take care of her.”
have to tell who you are, and for what purpose you feigned And so I passed my second medical expert.
insanity – only get in.”
[At last, Bly reaches the Insane Asylum on Blackwell’s Island.]
I had little belief in my ability to deceive the insanity
experts, and I think my editor had less. . . . As the wagon was rapidly driven through the beautiful
lawns up to the asylum my feelings of satisfaction at having
[Using the name “Nellie Brown,” Bly rents a room in a board- attained the object of my work were greatly dampened by the
inghouse and acts like a “poor, unfortunate crazy girl” until, look of distress on the faces of my companions. Poor women,
finally, the police take her away. After a judge and a doctor both they had no hopes of a speedy delivery. They were being
declare her insane, Bly is shipped to Bellevue Hospital.] driven to a prison, through no fault of their own, in all prob-
I put the moth-eaten shawl, with all its musty smell, ability for life. In comparison, how much easier it would be to
around me, and sat down on a wicker chair, wondering what walk to the gallows than to this tomb of living horrors!
would come next, whether I should freeze to death or survive. On the wagon sped, and I, as well as my comrades, gave
My nose was very cold, so I covered up my head and was in a a despairing farewell glance at freedom as we came in sight
half doze, when the shawl was suddenly jerked from my face of the long stone buildings. We passed one low building,
and a strange man and Miss Scott stood before me. The man and the stench was so horrible that I was compelled to hold
proved to be a doctor, and his first greetings were: my breath, and I mentally decided that it was the kitchen. I
“I’ve seen that face before.” afterward found I was correct in my surmise, and smiled at
“Then you know me?” I asked, with a great show of eager- the signboard at the end of the walk: “Visitors are not allowed
ness that I did not feel. on this road.” I don’t think the sign would be necessary if they
“I think I do. Where did you come from?” once tried the road, especially on a warm day.
“From home.” The wagon stopped, and the nurse and officer in charge
“Where is home?” told us to get out. The nurse added: “Thank God they came
“Don’t you know? Cuba.” quietly.” We obeyed orders to go ahead up a flight of narrow,
He then sat down beside me, felt my pulse, and examined stone steps, which had evidently been built for the accommo-
my tongue, and at last said: “Tell Miss Scott all about your- dation of people who climb stairs three at a time. I wondered
self.” if my companions knew where we were, so I said to Miss
 THE MORGUE 207

Tillie Mayard: as I hated my recent bath, I would have taken another if by it

“Where are we?” I could have saved her the experience. Imagine plunging that
“At the Blackwell’s Island Lunatic Asylum,” she answered, sick girl into a cold bath when it made me, who have never
sadly. been ill, shake as if with ague. I heard her explain to Miss
“Are you crazy?” I asked. Grupe that her head was still sore from her illness. Her hair
“No,” she replied; “but as we have been sent here we will was short and had mostly come out, and she asked that the
have to be quiet until we find some means of escape. They crazy woman be made to rub more gently, but Miss Grupe
will be few, though, if all the doctors, as Dr. Field, refuse to said:
listen to me or give me a chance to prove my sanity.” We were “There isn’t much fear of hurting you. Shut up, or you’ll
ushered into a narrow vestibule, and the door was locked get it worse.” Miss Mayard did shut up, and that was my last
behind us. look at her for the night.
I was hurried into a room where there were six beds, and
[Shortly after her arrival, Bly is given a bath.]
had been put into bed when some one came along and jerked
A few more songs and we were told to go with Miss Grupe. me out again, saying:
We were taken into a cold, wet bathroom, and I was ordered “Nellie Brown has to be put in a room alone to-night, for I
to undress. Did I protest? Well, I never grew so earnest in my suppose she’s noisy.”
life as when I tried to beg off. They said if I did not they would I was taken to room 28 and left to try and make an impres-
use force and that it would not be very gentle. sion on the bed. It was an impossible task. The bed had been
At this I noticed one of the craziest women in the ward made high in the center and sloping on either side. At the first
standing by the filled bathtub with a large, discolored rag in touch my head flooded the pillow with water, and my wet slip
her hands. She was chattering away to herself and chuckling transferred some of its dampness to the sheet. When Miss
in a manner which seemed to me fiendish. I knew now what Grupe came in I asked if I could not have a night-gown.
was to be done with me. I shivered. They began to undress “We have not such things in this institution,” she said.
me, and one by one they pulled off my clothes. At last every- “I do not like to sleep without,” I replied.
thing was gone excepting one garment. “I will not remove it,” “Well, I don’t care about that,” she said. “You are in a pub-
I said vehemently, but they took it off. I gave one glance at the lic institution now, and you can’t expect to get anything. This
group of patients gathered at the door watching the scene, is charity, and you should be thankful for what you get.”
and I jumped into the bathtub with more energy than grace. “But the city pays to keep these places up,” I urged, “and
The water was ice-cold, and I again began to protest. How pays people to be kind to the unfortunates brought here.”
useless it all was! I begged, at least, that the patients be made “Well, you don’t need to expect any kindness here, for you
to go away, but was ordered to shut up. The crazy woman won’t get it,” she said, and she went out and closed the door.
began to scrub me. I can find no other word that will express
[Nellie begins to witness acts of cruelty.]
it but scrubbing. From a small tin pan she took some soft
soap and rubbed it all over me, even all over my face and Soon after my advent a girl called Urena Little-Page was
my pretty hair. I was at last past seeing or speaking, although brought in. She was, as she had been born, silly, and her
I had begged that my hair be left untouched. Rub, rub, rub, tender spot was, as with many sensible women, her age. She
went the old woman, chattering to herself. My teeth chattered claimed eighteen, and would grow very angry if told to the
and my limbs were goose-fleshed and blue with cold. Sud- contrary. The nurses were not long in finding this out, and
denly I got, one after the other, three buckets of water over then they teased her.
my head–ice-cold water, too–into my eyes, my ears, my nose “Urena,” said Miss Grady, “the doctors say that you
and my mouth. I think I experienced some of the sensations are thirty-three instead of eighteen,” and the other nurses
of a drowning person as they dragged me, gasping, shiver- laughed. They kept up this until the simple creature began to
ing and quaking, from the tub. For once I did look insane. I yell and cry, saying she wanted to go home and that every-
caught a glance of the indescribable look on the faces of my body treated her badly. After they had gotten all the amuse-
companions, who had witnessed my fate and knew theirs was ment out of her they wanted and she was crying, they began
surely following. Unable to control myself at the absurd pic- to scold and tell her to keep quiet. She grew more hysterical
ture I presented, I burst into roars of laughter. They put me, every moment until they pounced upon her and slapped her
dripping wet, into a short canton flannel slip, labeled across face and knocked her head in a lively fashion. This made the
the extreme end in large black letters, “Lunatic Asylum, B. I., poor creature cry the more, and so they choked her. Yes,
H. 6.” The letters meant Blackwell’s Island, Hall 6. actually choked her. Then they dragged her out to the closet,
By this time Miss Mayard had been undressed, and, much and I heard her terrified cries hush into smothered ones.
208 THE MORGUE

After several hours’ absence she returned to the sitting- summer the flies swarm the place. The food is worse than we
room, and I plainly saw the marks of their fingers on her get in other wards and we are given only tin plates. Instead of
throat for the entire day. the bars being on the outside, as in this ward, they are on the
inside. There are many quiet patients there who have been
[As the days go by, Bly recounts other “unfortunate stories,” as
there for years, but the nurses keep them to do the work.
she calls them.]
Among other beating I got there, the nurses jumped on me
One of the patients, Mrs. Cotter, a pretty, delicate woman, once and broke two of my ribs.
one day thought she saw her husband coming up the walk. “While I was there a pretty young girl was brought in. She
She left the line in which she was marching and ran to meet had been sick, and she fought against being put in that dirty
him. For this act she was sent to the Retreat. She afterward place. One night the nurses took her and, after beating her,
said: they held her naked in a cold bath, then they threw her on
“The remembrance of that is enough to make me mad. her bed. When morning came the girl was dead. The doctors
For crying the nurses beat me with a broom-handle and said she died of convulsions, and that was all that was done
jumped on me, injuring me internally, so that I shall never about it.
get over it. Then they tied my hands and feet, and, throwing “They inject so much morphine and chloral that the
a sheet over my head, twisted it tightly around my throat, so patients are made crazy. I have seen the patients wild for
I could not scream, and thus put me in a bathtub filled with water from the effect of the drugs, and the nurses would
cold water. They held me under until I gave up every hope refuse it to them. I have heard women beg for a whole night
and became senseless. At other times they took hold of my for one drop and it was not given them. I myself cried for
ears and beat my head on the floor and against the wall. Then water until my mouth was so parched and dry that I could
they pulled out my hair by the roots, so that it will never not speak.”
grow in again.” I saw the same thing myself in hall 7. The patients would
Mrs. Cotter here showed me proofs of her story, the dent beg for a drink before retiring, but the nurses – Miss Hart
in the back of her head and the bare spots where the hair had and the others – refused to unlock the bathroom that they
been taken out by the handful. I give her story as plainly as might quench their thirst.
possible: “My treatment was not as bad as I have seen others
[Finally, Bly is freed from the asylum.]
get in there, but it has ruined my health, and even if I do get
out of here I will be a wreck. When my husband heard of the The insane asylum on Blackwell’s Island is a human rat-
treatment given me he threatened to expose the place if I was trap. It is easy to get in, but once there it is impossible to get
not removed, so I was brought here. I am well mentally now. out. I had intended to have myself committed to the violent
All that old fear has left me, and the doctor has promised to wards, the Lodge and Retreat, but when I got the testimony
allow my husband to take me home.” of two sane women and could give it, I decided not to risk
I made the acquaintance of Bridget McGuinness, who my health – and hair – so I did not get violent.
seems to be sane at the present time. She said she was sent I had, toward the last, been shut off from all visitors, and
to Retreat 4, and put on the “rope gang.” “The beating I got so when the lawyer, Peter A. Hendricks, came and told me
there were something dreadful. I was pulled around by the that friends of mine were willing to take charge of me if I
hair, held under the water until I strangled, and I was choked would rather be with them than in the asylum, I was only too
and kicked. The nurses would always keep a quiet patient glad to give my consent. . . .
stationed at the window to tell them when any of the doc- I had looked forward so eagerly to leaving the horrible
tors were approaching. It was hopeless to complain to the place, yet when my release came and I knew that God’s
doctors, for they always said it was the imagination of our sunlight was to be free for me again, there was a certain pain
diseased brains, and besides we would get another beating in leaving. For ten days I had been one of them. Foolishly
for telling. They would hold patients under the water and enough, it seemed intensely selfish to leave them to their
threaten to leave them to die there if they did not promise sufferings. I felt a Quixotic desire to help them by sympathy
not to tell the doctors. We would all promise, because we and presence. But only for a moment. The bars were down
knew the doctors would not help us, and we would do any- and freedom was sweeter to me than ever.
thing to escape the punishment. After breaking a window I Soon I was crossing the river and nearing New York. Once
was transferred to the Lodge, the worst place on the island. again I was a free girl after ten days in the mad-house on
It is dreadfully dirty in there, and the stench is awful. In the Blackwell’s Island.
 THE MORGUE 209

OLD CONSTAN If you’re seriously considering a writing career, you owe it to yourself to become familiar
By Ernest Hemingway with the work of Ernest Hemingway. His fiction is universally acclaimed, but his earlier stories
The Toronto Daily Star — Oct. 28, 1922 deserve study, too — particularly the dispatches he wrote as a reporter for The Toronto Daily
Star. Many of Hemingway’s stories, such as “Old Constan,” use a first-person narrative that’s
< MORE ON ERNEST HEMINGWAY ON PAGE 6 discouraged in modern reporting, but his descriptions and insights remain impressive.
This is one of those stories that demonstrate how journalism provides a rich training ground
for writers who romanticize about becoming novelists.

CONSTANTINOPLE — In the morning when you wake Kemal’s cavalry. My jaw muscles are beginning to bulge like a
and see a mist over the Golden Horn with the minarets rising bulldog’s from chewing, or chawing, Turkish meat.
out of it slim and clean towards the sun and the muezzin call- The fish is good, but fish is a brain-food and any one taking
ing the faithful to prayer in a voice that soars and dips like an about three good doses of a brain-food would leave Constan
aria from a Russian opera, you have the magic of the East. at once — even if he had to swim to do it.
When you look from the window into the mirror and dis- There are one hundred and sixty-eight legal holidays in
cover your face is covered with a mass of minute red speckles Constan. Every Friday is a Mohammedan holiday, every Sat-
from the latest insect that discovered you last night, you have urday is a Jewish holiday, and every Sunday is a Christian holi-
the East. day. In addition there are Catholic, Mohammedan and Greek
There may be a happy medium between the East of Pierre holidays during the week, not to mention Yom Kippur and
Loti’s stories and the East of everyday life, but it could only other Jewish holidays. As a result, every young Constaner’s life
be found by a man who always looked with his eyes half shut, ambition is to go to work for a bank.
didn’t care what he ate, and was immune to the bites of No one who makes any pretense of conforming to custom
insects. dines in Constantinople before nine o’clock at night. The
No one knows how many people there are in Constan. Old- the- atres open at ten. The night clubs open at two, the more
timers always call it Constan, just as you are a tenderfoot if you re- spectable night clubs, that is. The disreputable night clubs
call Gibraltar anything but Gib. There has never been a census. open at four in the morning.
Estimates of the population give a million and a half inhabi- All night hot sausage, fried potato and roast chestnut stands
tants. This does not include hundreds of battered Fords, forty run their charcoal braziers on the sidewalk to cater to the long
thousand Russian refugees in every uniform of the Czar’s lines of cab men who stay up all night to solicit fares from
army in all stages of dilapidation, and about an equal number the revelers. Constantinople is doing a sort of dance of death
of Kemalist troops in civilian clothes who have filtered into before the entry of Kemal Pasha, who has sworn to stop all
the city in order to make sure that Constantinople will go to booze, gambling, dancing and night clubs.
Kemal no matter how the peace negotiations come out. All Galata, halfway up the hill from the port, has a district that is
these have entered since the last estimate. more unspeakably horrible than the foulest heyday of the old
If it doesn’t rain in Constan the dust is so thick that a dog Barbary Coast. It festers there, trapping the soldiers and sailors
trotting along the road that parallels the Pera hillside kicks up of all the allies and of all nations.
a puff like a bullet striking every time his paws hit the ground. Turks sit in front of the little coffee houses in the narrow
It is almost ankle-deep on a man and the wind swirls it in blind-alley streets at all hours, puffing on their bubble-bubble
clouds. pipes and drinking deusico, the tremendously poisonous,
If it rains this is all mud. The sidewalks are so narrow that stomach-rotting drink that has a greater kick than absinthe
everyone has to walk in the street and the streets are like riv- and is so strong that it is never consumed except with an hors
ers. There are no traffic rules and motor cars, street cars, horse d’oeuvre of some sort.
cabs and porters with enormous loads on their backs all jam Before the sun rises in the morning you can walk through
up together. There are only two main streets and the others are the black, smooth worn streets of Constan and rats will scuttle
alleys. The main streets are not much better than alleys. out of your way, a few stray dogs nose at the garbage in the
Turkey is the national dish of Turkey. These birds live a gutters, and a bar of light comes through the crack in a shutter
strenuous life chasing grasshoppers over the sun-baked hills of letting out a streak of light and the sound of drunken laughing.
Asia Minor and are about as tough as a race horse. That drunken laughing is the contrast to the muezzin’s beau-
All the beef is bad because the Turk has practically no cattle. tiful, minor, soaring, swaying call to prayer, and the black,
A sirloin steak may be either the last appearance of one of the slippery, smelly offal-strewn streets of Constantinople in the
black, muddy, sad-eyed buffalo with the turned-back horns early morning are the reality of the Magic of the East.
who sidle along the streets drawing carts or the last charge of
210 THE MORGUE

THE CONSTITUTION Henry Louis Mencken was one of the most influential journalists of the last century, but
By H.L. Mencken unlike news reporters — whose personal views should be excluded from their stories — Mencken
The Baltimore Sun — Aug. 19, 1935 was renowned and reviled for his cynical and satirical social commentary. With brilliant ferocity,
his editorial columns attacked social injustice, religious extremism and the endless imbecility of
< MORE ON H.L. MENCKEN ON PAGE 6 politicians. Writer P.J. O’Rourke called Mencken the “creator of a new and distinct style of
journalism I like to call ‘big-city smartass.’ ”

A
ll government, in its essence, is organized exploita- the governor of an American state turns out to be a man of
tion, and in virtually all of its existing forms it is the ability and honesty it is a miracle indeed, and of a very rare
implacable enemy of every industrious and well- sort, for most American governors are shabby and scurvy
disposed man. In theory, it invades his liberty and collars his politicians, and some of them are obvious knaves.
money only in order to protect him, but in actuality it always
makes a stiff profit on the exchange. That profit represents II
the income of the professional politicians, nine-tenths of The one aim of all such persons is to butter their own
whom are simply professional rogues. They employ a great parsnips. They have no concept of the public good that can
many technicians to carry on the ostensible functions of be differentiated from their concept of their own good. They
government, and some of those technicians are honorable get into office by mailing all sorts of fantastic promises, few
and competent men, but the politicians themselves are sel- of which they ever try to keep, and they maintain themselves
dom either. Their only object in life is to do as little honest there by fooling the people further. They are supported in
work as they can for the most profit, whether in money, in their business by the factitious importance which goes with
power or in mere glory. The typical politician is not only high public position. The great majority of folk are far too
a rascal but also a jackass, so he greatly values the puerile stupid to see through a politician’s tinsel. Because he is talk-
notoriety and adulation that sensible men try to avoid. ed of in the newspapers all the time, and applauded when
The prevailing view seems to be that the lower orders of he appears in public, they mistake him for a really eminent
the governmental camorra are the most parasitical and anti- man. But he is seldom anything of the sort, and when he
social, but this is not really the case. The minor jobholders loses his office his eminence usually vanishes instantly.
that everyone disdains are actually much better fellows than But while it lasts it is very useful to him, and he is well
the political bigwigs that most people find it so hard not to aware of it. One of the favorite devices of politicians whose
venerate. Consider, for example, the post office. Its rank and stupidity or roguery gets them into trouble is to call upon
file is made up of poor men who work hard for every nickel all good citizens to sustain them as a patriotic matter. This is
they get, and are so closely watched that the slightest aberra- done not only by the President of the United States, but also
tion means disaster to them. In return for the relative secu- by all sorts of lesser functionaries, down to the members of
rity of their jobs they have to show a constant competence, school boards and county road boards. It commonly works
and to submit, more often than not, to brutal overloading. pretty well, for most people are flattered when anyone who
But as one goes up the line one finds less and less diligence seems to be distinguished asks for their aid. So they go on
and less and less capacity for the work in hand, until at the whopping up their own creature until in the end his unfit-
top one commonly encounters a professional politician of ness for his job can be concealed no longer, and then they
the most crass and shameless sort, bent only upon serving turn him out in anger, and put in someone still worse.
his party machine. Here the public gullibility is reinforced by the common
It is the same in the City Hall. People who go there on notion that government is a kind of separate and autono-
business for the first time are usually greatly surprised to mous entity, standing from all other institutions. People
find so many polite, industrious and expert men behind the constantly speak of “the government” doing this or that,
desks. They expect a gang of lazy, impudent ward heelers, as they might speak of God doing it. But the government
but what they discover is a body of functionaries at least is really nothing but a group of men, and usually they are
as well qualified as those they are used to meeting in stores very inferior men. They may have some better man work-
and banks. But the higher offices are seldom so decently ing for them, but they themselves are seldom worthy of any
manned, and in the highest of all, that of the Mayor, it is so respect. Not many of them have ever been able to make
rare to find reasonable real and genuine competence that their marks at any reputable trade, and not many of them
when they happen to be encountered, as in the case say, know anything worth knowing, or ever have a thought that
of the Hon. Mr. Jackson, it seems almost a miracle. When is worth having.
 THE MORGUE 211

III IV
At intervals in the history of the world, the people of some This device is probably the greatest invention that man
country or other, or, more accurately, a relatively enlight- has made since the dawn of civilization. It lies at the bottom
ened and resolute faction of them, become unhappily aware of most of his progress. It was responsible for the rise of free
of the nature the government they live under, and undertake government in the Greek city states, and it has been respon-
measures to improve it. Sometimes those measures take the sible for the growth of nearly all the great nations of modern
form of assassinating its principal dignitaries, or of driving times. Wherever it has passed out of use there has been decay
them into exile, but more often the thing is done more gen- and retrogression. Every right that anyone has today is based
tly. There was a good example, known to every schoolboy, on the doctrine that government is a creature of limited
in England in the year 1215, when the barons of the realm, powers, and that the men constituting it become criminals if
tiring of the tyrannous exactions of King they venture to exceed those powers.
John, corralled him at Runnymede, and Naturally enough, this makes life
forced him to grant them a long series of Beware of all uncomfortable for politicians, and espe-
liberties, some of which remain the com- cially for the more impudent and uncon-
mon liberties of every Englishman to this
politicians at scionable variety of them. Once they get
day. John kept his throne, but only at the all times, but into office they like to exercise their power,
cost of surrendering most of his old pre- beware of them for power and its ketchup, glory, are the
rogatives. victuals they feed and fatten upon. Thus
most sharply
At such times, not unnaturally, the con- it always annoys them when they collide
cessions wrung from the tyrant brought when they talk with a constitutional prohibition. It not
to bay are commonly reduced to writing, of reforming only interferes with their practice of their
if only that the parties of both parts may and improving nefarious trade — to wit the trade of hood-
remember them clearly. A writing of that winking and exploiting the people: it is also
sort is variously known as a charter, a con- the constitution. a gross affront to their high mightiness. Am
stitution, or a bill of rights. In a few coun- I not Diego Valdez, Lord Admiral of Spain?
tries, notably England, some of the princi- Why, then, should I be bound by rules and
pal articles in the existing Constitution are not written down regulations? Why should I be said nay when I am bursting
at all, but only generally understood. But whether they are with altruism, and have in mind only the safety and felicity
written down or not, they have a kind of force that is greatly of all you poor fish, my vassals and retainers?
superior to that of all ordinary law, and changing their terms But when politicians talk thus, or act thus without talk-
is looked on as a very grave matter, to be undertaken only ing, it is precisely the time to watch them most carefully.
on long consideration, and after getting the consent of all Their usual plan is to invade the constitution stealthily, and
the persons, or at least of a majority of them, whose rights it then wait to see what happens. If nothing happens they go
is proposed to modify. on more boldly; if there is a protest they reply hotly that the
In brief, a constitution is a standing limitation upon the constitution is worn out and absurd, and that progress is
power of the government. So far you may go, but no far- impossible under the dead hand. This is the time to watch
ther. No matter what the excuse or provocation, you may them especially. They are up to no good to anyone save
not invade certain rights, or pass certain kinds of laws. The themselves. They are trying to whittle away the common
lives and property of the people are at your disposition, but rights of the rest of us. Their one and only object, now and
only up to a plainly indicated point. If you go beyond it, you always, is to get more power into their hands that it may be
become a public criminal, and may be proceeded against, at used freely for their advantage, and to the damage of every-
least in theory, like any other criminal. The government thus one else. Beware of all politicians at all times, but beware of
ceases to be sovereign, and becomes a creature of sharply them most sharply when they talk of reforming and improv-
defined and delimited powers. There are things it may not ing the constitution.
do.
212 THE MORGUE

THE KENTUCKY DERBY Hunter S. Thompson personified the crazed extremes of journalism. He was a terrific
IS DECADENT AND writer but an unreliable reporter — which made him both a brilliantly entertaining
commentator and a dangerously degenerate role model. (You’ve been warned.)
DEPRAVED Here’s an excerpt from one of Thompson’s first successful stories: “a classic of irresponsible
By Hunter S. Thompson journalism,” he called it. It demonstrates his legendary vulgarity, his shocking behavior and
Scanlan’s Monthly — June 1970 his maddening delight in dancing around the actual facts of the story. No matter what the
< MORE ON HUNTER S. THOMPSON ON PAGE 6 topic, the main character in any Hunter S. Thompson story is always Hunter S. Thompson.

I
got off the plane around midnight and no one spoke as I The grin on his face had collapsed. “What the hell are you
crossed the dark runway to the terminal. The air was thick talkin’ about?”
and hot, like wandering into a steam bath. Inside, people “Well . . . maybe I shouldn’t be telling you . . .” I shrugged.
hugged each other and shook hands . . . big grins and a whoop “But hell, everybody else seems to know. The cops and the
here and there: “By God! You old bastard! Good to see you, National Guard have been getting ready for six weeks. They
boy! Damn good . . . and I mean it!” have 20,000 troops on alert at Fort Knox. They’ve warned
In the air-conditioned lounge I met a man from Houston us — all the press and photographers — to wear helmets and
who said his name was something or other — “but just call special vests like flak jackets. We were told to expect shooting.
me Jimbo” — and he was here to get it on. “I’m ready for any- . . .”
thing, by God! Anything at all. Yeah, what are you drinkin’?” “No!” he shouted; his hands flew up and hovered momen-
I ordered a Margarita with ice, but he wouldn’t hear of it: tarily between us, as if to ward off the words he was hearing.
“Naw, naw . . . what the hell kind of drink is that for Kentucky Then he whacked his fist on the bar. “Those sons of bitches!
Derby time? What’s wrong with you, boy?” He grinned and God Almighty! The Kentucky Derby!” He kept shaking his
winked at the bartender. “Goddam, we gotta educate this boy. head. “No! Jesus! That’s almost too bad to believe!” Now
Get him some good whiskey . . . .” he seemed to be sagging on the stool, and when he looked
I shrugged. “OK, a double Old Fitz on ice.” Jimbo nodded up his eyes were misty. “Why? Why here? Don’t they respect
his approval. anything?”
“Look.” He tapped me on the arm to make sure I was listen- I shrugged again. “It’s not just the Panthers. The FBI says
ing. “I know this Derby crowd, I come here every year, and busloads of white crazies are coming in from all over the
let me tell you one thing I’ve learned — this is no town to be country — to mix with the crowd and attack all at once, from
giving people the impression you’re some kind of faggot. Not every direction. They’ll be dressed like everybody else. You
in public, anyway. S--t, they’ll roll you in a minute, knock you know — coats and ties and all that. But when the trouble
in the head and take every goddam cent you have.” starts . . . well, that’s why the cops are so worried.”
I thanked him and fitted a Marlboro into my cigarette He sat for a moment, looking hurt and confused and not
holder. “Say,” he said, “you look like you might be in the quite able to digest all this terrible news. Then he cried out:
horse business . . . am I right?” “Oh . . . Jesus! What in the name of God is happening in this
“No,” I said. “I’m a photographer.” country? Where can you get away from it?”
“Oh yeah?” He eyed my ragged leather bag with new inter- “Not here,” I said, picking up my bag. “Thanks for the
est. “Is that what you got there — cameras? Who you work drink . . . and good luck.”
for?” He grabbed my arm, urging me to have another, but I said
“Playboy,” I said. I was overdue at the Press Club and hustled off to get my act
He laughed. “Well, goddam! What are you gonna take together for the awful spectacle. At the airport newsstand
pictures of — nekkid horses? Haw! I guess you’ll be workin’ I picked up a Courier-Journal and scanned the front page
pretty hard when they run the Kentucky Oaks. That’s a race headlines: “Nixon Sends GI’s into Cambodia to Hit Reds” . .
just for fillies.” He was laughing wildly. . “B-52’s Raid, then 2,000 GI’s Advance 20 Miles” . . .“4,000
“Hell yes! And they’ll all be nekkid too!” U.S. Troops Deployed Near Yale as Tension Grows Over Pan-
I shook my head and said nothing; just stared at him for a ther Protest.” At the bottom of the page was a photo of Diane
moment, trying to look grim. “There’s going to be trouble,” I Crump, soon to become the first woman jockey ever to ride
said. “My assignment is to take pictures of the riot.” in the Kentucky Derby. The photographer had snapped her
“What riot?” “stopping in the barn area to fondle her mount, Fathom.” The
I hesitated, twirling the ice in my drink. “At the track. On rest of the paper was spotted with ugly war news and stories of
Derby Day. The Black Panthers.” I stared at him again. “Don’t “student unrest.” There was no mention of any trouble brew-
you read the newspapers?” ing at a university in Ohio called Kent State.
 THE MORGUE 213

I went to the Hertz desk to pick up my car, but the moon- reach my man in the press office, I decided my only hope for
faced young swinger in charge said they didn’t have any. credentials was to go out to the track and confront the man
“You can’t rent one anywhere.” he assured me. “Our Derby in person, with no warning — demanding only one pass now,
reservations have been booked for six weeks.” I explained that instead of two, and talking very fast with a strange lilt in my
my agent had confirmed a white Chrysler convertible for me voice, like a man trying hard to control some inner frenzy. On
that very afternoon but he shook his head. “Maybe we’ll have the way out, I stopped at the motel desk to cash a check. Then,
a cancellation. Where are you staying?” as a useless afterthought, I asked if by any wild chance a Mr.
I shrugged. “Where’s the Texas crowd staying? I want to be Steadman had checked in.
with my people.” The lady on the desk was about 50 years old and very
He sighed. “My friend, you’re in trouble. This town is flat peculiar-looking; when I mentioned Steadman’s name she
full. Always is, for the Derby.” nodded, without looking up from whatever she was writing,
I leaned closer to him, half-whispering: “Look. I’m from and said in a low voice, “You bet he did.” Then she favored
Playboy. How would you like a job?” me with a big smile. “Yes, indeed. Mr. Steadman just left for
He backed off quickly. “What? Come on, now. What kind the racetrack. Is he a friend of yours?”
of a job?” I shook my head. “I’m supposed to be working with him,
“Never mind,” I said. “You just blew it.” I swept my bag off but I don’t even know what he looks like. Now, goddammit,
the counter and went to find a cab. The bag is a valuable prop I’ll have to find him in that mob at the track.”
in this kind of work; mine has a lot of baggage tags on it — She chuckled. “You won’t have any trouble finding him.
SF, LA, NY, Lima, Rome, Bangkok, that sort of thing — and You could pick that man out of any crowd.”
the most prominent tag of all is a very official, plastic-coated “Why?” I asked. “What’s wrong with him? What does he
thing that says “Photog. Playboy Mag.” I bought it from a look like?”
pimp in Vail, Colorado, and he told me how to use it. “Never “Well . . .” she said, still grinning, “he’s the funniest looking
mention Playboy until you’re sure they’ve seen this thing thing I’ve seen in a long time. He has this . . . ah . . . this growth
first,” he said. “Then, when you see them notice it, that’s the all over his face. As a matter of fact it’s all over his head.” She
time to strike. They’ll go belly up every time. This thing is nodded. “You’ll know him when you see him; don’t worry
magic, I tell you. Pure magic.” about that.
Well . . . maybe so. I’d used it on the poor geek in the bar, Creeping Jesus, I thought. That screws the press credentials.
and now humming along in a Yellow Cab toward town, I felt I had a vision of some nerve-rattling geek all covered with
a little guilty about jangling the poor bugger’s brains with matted hair and string-warts showing up in the press office
that evil fantasy. But what the hell? Anybody who wanders and demanding Scanlan’s press packet. Well . . . what the hell?
around the world saying, “Hell yes, I’m from Texas,” deserves We could always load up on acid and spend the day roaming
whatever happens to him. And he had, after all, come here around the clubhouse grounds with big sketch pads, laughing
once again to make a 19th-century ass of himself in the midst hysterically at the natives and swilling mint juleps so the cops
of some jaded, atavistic freakout with nothing to recommend wouldn’t think we’re abnormal. Perhaps even make the act
it except a very saleable “tradition.” Early in our chat, Jimbo pay: set up an easel with a big sign saying, “Let a Foreign Artist
had told me that he hasn’t missed a Derby since 1954. “The Paint Your Portrait, $10 Each. Do It NOW!”
little lady won’t come anymore,” he said. “She just grits her
teeth and turns me loose for this one. And when I say ‘loose’ * * *

I
I do mean loose! I toss ten-dollar bills around like they were took the expressway out to the track, driving very fast and
goin’ outa style! Horses, whiskey, women . . . s---t, there’s jumping the monster car back and forth between lanes,
women in this town that’ll do anything for money.” driving with a beer in one hand and my mind so muddled
Why not? Money is a good thing to have in these twisted that I almost crushed a Volkswagen full of nuns when I
times. Even Richard Nixon is hungry for it. Only a few days swerved to catch the right exit. There was a slim chance, I
before the Derby he said, “If I had any money I’d invest it in thought, that I might be able to catch the ugly Britisher before
the stock market.” And the market, meanwhile, continued its he checked in.
grim slide. But Steadman was already in the press box when I got
* * * there, a bearded young Englishman wearing a tweed coat and

B
y noon on Friday I was still without credentials and RAF sunglasses. There was nothing particularly odd about
still unable to locate Steadman. For all I knew he’d him. No facial veins or clumps of bristly warts. I told him
changed his mind and gone back to London. Finally, about the motel woman’s description and he seemed puzzled.
after giving up on Steadman and trying unsuccessfully to “Don’t let it bother you,” I said. “Just keep in mind for the
214 THE MORGUE

next few days that we’re in Louisville, Kentucky. Not London. whiskey gentry — a pretentious mix of booze, failed dreams
Not even New York. This is a weird place. You’re lucky that and a terminal identity crisis; the inevitable result of too much
mental defective at the motel didn’t jerk a pistol out of the inbreeding in a closed and ignorant culture. One of the key
cash register and blow a big hole in you.” I laughed, but he genetic rules in breeding dogs, horses or any other kind of
looked worried. thoroughbred is that close inbreeding tends to magnify the
“Just pretend you’re visiting a huge outdoor loony bin,” I weak points in a bloodline as well as the strong points. In
said. “If the inmates get out of control we’ll soak them down horse breeding, for instance, there is a definite risk in breeding
with Mace.” I showed him the can of “Chemical Billy,” resist- two fast horses who are both a little crazy. The offspring will
ing the urge to fire it across the room at a rat-faced man likely be very fast and also very crazy. So the trick in breeding
typing diligently in the Associated Press section. We were thoroughbreds is to retain the good traits and filter out the
standing at the bar, sipping the management’s Scotch and bad. But the breeding of humans is not so wisely supervised,
congratulating each other on our sudden, unexplained luck particularly in a narrow Southern society where the closest
in picking up two sets of fine press credentials. The lady at the kind of inbreeding is not only stylish and acceptable, but far
desk had been very friendly to him, he said. “I just told her my more convenient — to the parents — than setting their off-
name and she gave me the whole works.” spring free to find their own mates, for their own reasons and
in their own ways.
* * * So the face I was trying to find in Churchill Downs that
weekend was a symbol, in my own mind, of the whole

L
ater Friday afternoon, we went out on the balcony doomed atavistic culture that makes the Kentucky Derby
of the press box and I tried to describe the difference what it is.
between what we were seeing today and what would On our way back to the motel after Friday’s races I warned
be happening tomorrow. This was the first time I’d been to a Steadman about some of the other problems we’d have to
Derby in ten years, but before that, when I lived in Louisville, I cope with. Neither of us had brought any strange illegal drugs,
used to go every year. Now, looking down from the press box, so we would have to get by on booze. “You should keep in
I pointed to the huge grassy meadow enclosed by the track. mind,” I said. “that almost everybody you talk to from now
“That whole thing,” I said, “will be jammed with people; fifty on will be drunk. People who seem very pleasant at first might
thousand or so, and most of them staggering drunk. It’s a suddenly swing at you for no reason at all.” He nodded, star-
fantastic scene — thousands of people fainting, crying, copu- ing straight ahead. He seemed to be getting a little numb and
lating, trampling each other and fighting with broken whiskey I tried to cheer him up by inviting him to dinner that night,
bottles. We’ll have to spend some time out there, but it’s hard with my brother.
to move around, too many bodies.” Back at the motel we talked for a while about America, the
“Is it safe out there? Will we ever come back?” South, England — just relaxing a bit before dinner. There
“Sure,” I said. “We’ll just have to be careful not to step was no way either of us could have known, at the time, that it
on anybody’s stomach and start a fight.” I shrugged. “Hell, would be the last normal conversation we would have. From
this clubhouse scene right below us will be almost as bad as that point on, the weekend became a vicious, drunken night-
the infield. Thousands of raving, stumbling drunks, getting mare. We both went completely to pieces. The main problem
angrier and angrier as they lose more and more money. By was my prior attachment to Louisville, which naturally led to
midafternoon they’ll be guzzling mint juleps with both hands meetings with old friends, relatives, etc., many of whom were
and vomiting on each other between races. The whole place in the process of falling apart, going mad, plotting divorces,
will be jammed with bodies, shoulder to shoulder. It’s hard cracking up under the strain of terrible debts or recovering
to move around. The aisles will be slick with vomit; people from bad accidents. Right in the middle of the whole fren-
falling down and grabbing at your legs to keep from being zied Derby action, a member of my own family had to be
stomped. Drunks pissing on themselves in the betting lines. institutionalized. This added a certain amount of strain to
Dropping handfuls of money and fighting to stoop over and the situation, and since poor Steadman had no choice but to
pick it up.” take whatever came his way, he was subjected to shock after
He looked so nervous that I laughed. “I’m just kidding,” I shock.
said. “Don’t worry. At the first hint of trouble I’ll start pump- Another problem was his habit of sketching people he met
ing this ‘Chemical Billy’ into the crowd.” in the various social situations I dragged him into — then
He had done a few good sketches, but so far we hadn’t giving them the sketches. The results were always unfortunate.
seen that special kind of face that I felt we would need for the I warned him several times about letting the subjects see his
lead drawing. It was a face I’d seen a thousand times at every foul renderings, but for some perverse reason he kept doing
Derby I’d ever been to. I saw it, in my head, as the mask of the it. Consequently, he was regarded with fear and loathing by
 THE MORGUE 215

nearly everyone who’d seen or even heard about his work. He He grinned. “When you shot it at the headwaiter, don’t you
couldn’t understand it. “It’s sort of a joke,” he kept saying. remember?
“Why, in England it’s quite normal. People don’t take offense. “Hell, that was nothing,” I said. “I missed him . . . and we
They understand that I’m just putting them on a bit.” were leaving, anyway.”
“F--k England,” I said. “This is Middle America. These “But it got all over us,” he said. “The room was full of that
people regard what you’re doing to them as a brutal, bilious damn gas. Your brother was sneezing and his wife was crying.
insult. Look what happened last night. I thought my brother My eyes hurt for two hours. I couldn’t see to draw when we
was going to tear your head off.” got back to the motel.”
Steadman shook his head sadly. “But I liked him. He struck “That’s right.” I said. “The stuff got on her leg, didn’t it?”
me as a very decent, straightforward sort.” “She was angry,” he said.
“Look, Ralph,” I said. “Let’s not kid ourselves. That was a “Yeah . . . well, okay . . . Let’s just figure we f--ked up about
very horrible drawing you gave him. It was the face of a mon- equally on that one,” I said. “But from now on let’s try to be
ster. It got on his nerves very badly.” I shrugged. “Why in hell careful when we’re around people I know. You won’t sketch
do you think we left the restaurant so fast?” them and I won’t Mace them. We’ll just try to relax and get
“I thought it was because of the Mace,” he said. drunk.”
“What Mace?” “Right,” he said. “We’ll go native.”

DEWILDT, South Africa – The

cheetahs converged on the old woman OPENERS Derrick Hanna, 16, would-be car
thief, pointed a .357 magnum at a kid
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
in two bounding strides. First one, then in a driver’s seat one night. “Get out!”
two, then five big cats emerged from the This is a murder mystery. he screamed at Lazaro Gutierrez, 17.
tall golden grass, tails twitching and eyes The victim is a tree. Lazaro flinched. Derrick squeezed the
bulging with dreams of meat. Not just any tree, but a trigger five-eighths of an inch.
Ann Van Dyk beckoned them with a 500-year-old live oak, The upshot:
freckled hand. which Texans like to brag For Derrick, 50 years in prison.
“Come here,” she purred, “and bite is “the most perfect tree in For Lazaro, life in a wheelchair.
my finger.” America.” For the rest of us, $661,534.83.
Van Dyk, 73, is Africa’s original It is 50 feet tall. The Forget, for the moment, the wasted
cheetah guardian. Among the continent’s lives. Forget the argument about gun
branches reach out 127
more illustrious khaki-clad conserva- control.
feet. Its picture has hung
tionists, she is an enigmatic, almost Think about the money.
in the Tree Hall of Fame in
mythical figure. To armchair adventurers The bullet that fragmented inside
Washington. It is revered
glued to “Animal Planet,” she is a virtual Lazaro’s neck the night of Oct. 21,
because of a legend that is
stranger. 1988, set off an awesome run of
probably untrue — that
Yet thousands of times since 1968 — expenses, mostly underwritten by tax-
Stephen F. Austin made
47 times in 2002 alone — Van Dyk and payers with little idea of the medical-
peace with the Indians in
her team have rescued hungry and legal costs of America’s gun culture.
cornered cheetahs with little more than its shade.
Patrick May, The Miami Herald,
a stick and a scowl. Anyway, that is why it from a story that tabulates in great detail
Six hundred times she has successfully is called the Treaty Oak. the medical and legal costs of a typical crime
bred the notoriously fickle and high- Marriages have been held
strung hunters. It’s a record that zoos under its canopy. Nearby
STROUDSBURG, Pa. — Everything
and universities with state-of-the-art cafes and office complexes
was set for Brian Storm and Angela
embryo labs can only envy. have taken its name.
Harms to say “I do” until their pastor
But it’s not enough. Now someone is trying
said “I won’t.”
Joe Verrengia, The Associated Press, to kill it.
Ted Anthony, The Associated Press,
using a startling-statement lead to begin Lisa Belkin, opening a story about a minister refusing to
this profile of a cheetah specialist The New York Times perform a wedding for an interracial couple
216 THE MORGUE

OREGON PAYS TRIBUTE On Memorial Day in 1987, reporter Don Hamilton was assigned to cover the dedication
TO ITS VIETNAM VETS of Oregon’s Vietnam veterans memorial, a wall in a city park inscribed with the names of
Oregon’s war dead. Hamilton wasn’t sure what kind of story he wanted to write, but after
By Don Hamilton
seeing the impact of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. — and knowing
The Oregonian — Nov. 12, 1987 Oregon had been a hotbed of antiwar sentiment two decades before — he knew the story
< MORE ON STORY ENDINGS, 51 / OBSERVATION, 74 would carry a huge emotional wallop.

G
HAMILTON’S ary Thompson finally had his Viet- rainy tears from his face. The two men
COMMENTARY: were both a
I had no clear plan nam medal pinned on his chest. It Through a bureaucratic mix-up, Thomp- little uncomfortable.
when assigned a wasn’t easy, but then nothing about son hadn’t received the medal until March. They’d never met
sidebar at the and the lieutenant
dedication of Vietnam had come easy. And he hadn’t pinned it on until Wednes- didn’t really know
Oregon’s Vietnam It was a quiet ceremony on a Veterans Day day. In fact, when he carried it in his pocket what to say. They
memorial. But right probably never saw
away I saw a target- filled with powerful emotions as Oregon to the memorial, he still wasn’t sure what he each other again.
rich environment: a paid tribute to its 791 residents lost in the would do with it. But when he saw Hiestand The episode was sad
big crowd, intense and ambiguous, a
emotions, thick fog Vietnam War and to all those who served. — they’d never met — he decided to go lot like the war, and
and soaking rain Thompson didn’t lose his life or any limbs ahead with the ceremony in the rain. intensely personal,
that got worse and just like the events
worse. I knew my in Southeast Asia. He lost some self-respect, “It was about coming to terms with what of the day. And it
eyes and ears would but he regained a bit of it Wednesday in the I did in Vietnam,’’ Thompson explained. went completely
be my best assets. unnoticed by anyone
I’d describe what I quiet, wet moment before the dedication “You keep asking yourself, did I do enough? else.
saw and heard and of the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living You keep thinking you could have made
let the readers know
what it was like to Memorial in Portland’s Hoyt Arboretum. more of a difference. And when you come
be there. Like many veterans on this Veterans Day, back, you think you deserted them. Now I
Reading this story
Thompson, a 42-year-old forestry consul- feel a lot better about myself.’’
later, I was glad I tant from Springfield, confronted his past. He wasn’t alone. Small dramas were
included the
veterans’ ages.
He also hasn’t completely come to terms performed throughout the foggy, wet day
For some reason, with what happened to him as a Air Force along the five alcoves bearing the names of Here are my eyes
it intrigued me to and ears at work
know the stage of
medic in 1967 and 1968. Oregon’s Vietnam War dead. They came again: a look at
life these guys were But he found an officer he didn’t know, in wheelchairs, on crutches, some miss- the great mosaic
in while experiencing of things going on
these memories.
had a ceremony he hadn’t really planned, ing arms and legs. There were bikers and that day. I wanted
witnessed by the names of dead men he men in suits. There were widows and wives these images to fly
by quickly, reflecting
had never met. In a small way, the tearful and fathers and mothers and children and the busy crowd and
ceremony in the driving rain helped Gary grandchildren of the men and women intense emotions.
Any one of these
Thompson come to terms with his private whose names were etched in the hard black events could have
Vietnam war. granite. They gently reached out to touch become greater
fodder for the story.
The story needed
On the long, gently sloping spiral walk- the letters. They took rubbings off the wall. But there were just
to see the intensely way that makes up the memorial, retired They took pictures of each other standing so many and they
personal little reflected so many
dramas taking place
Air Force Lt. Col. Tom Hiestand pinned next to names. They left flowers and little different emotions.
that day as well as the yellow-and-blue ribbon of the Air Force scrawled notes and told each other stories
the war’s compli- Commendation medal on Thompson’s and wondered out loud about the 40 Orego-
cated impact. I found
what I needed walk- fatigues. nians listed as still missing.
ing up the spiral path It happened very quickly next to the Grim, tight-lipped men stood rock-still Back in the office,
when I glanced up I wrote this sequence
to see an Air Force alcove bearing the names of 374 Oregonians before the wall, examining names of lost not so much from
lieutenant pinning a who died in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969. It buddies. They searched their minds to bring notes but from what
medal on a soldier’s I remembered watch-
uniform. Even in the took place while they were surrounded by back their memories, the color of their ing people who didn’t
rain, I could see the scores of people hustling by, oblivious to the eyes or the crook of a smile or the sound know they were
tears streaming down being watched.
the soldier’s cheeks small ceremony being played out. of a voice or the way they smelled after I tried to read what
as he saluted. I The nation is grateful to you, Hiestand a few days in the mud. Sometimes they they were thinking
stopped dead as the and feeling in these
scene registered in told him, shaking his hand in the rain. remembered how they died, but mostly they private moments at
my brain and turned Thank you. His cap dripping wet, his uni- remembered the way they had lived. the wall. This just
back to catch them poured out of me, a
before they vanished form soaked, and his eyes red, Thompson The sights and the sounds and the memo- genuine, out-of-body
into the crowd. snapped off a salute and then wiped the ries were stirred in powerful ways by the writing experience.
 THE MORGUE 217

Looking at this events of the day. Sometimes the men with trees above the memorial.
section later, I feared
it was overwritten. the eagle-eyed pride stared blankly and “Look at this weather. It reminds me of
But in the end, scowled and swallowed hard lumps in their monsoon up north,’’ said Tom Arnholtz,
I thought it was
a good job on throats. Sometimes they could do nothing 38, a farmer from Dundee.
deadline. but silently weep under the bleak sky. “Naw. It’s not that bad. Nothing’s that
“It easily could have been me on that bad,’’ responded Bill Reed, 41, of Portland.
wall,’’ said Jay McAlister, 44, a mail handler “I’ve never been so wet as when I was over
from Clackamas. there. Never,’’ Arnholtz said, wiping the
There was a After searching for names, they stood on rain from his face.
dedication ceremony the muddy hillside and looked down into Toward the end of the ceremony, Lee
going on, remember?
This is the only the wide bowl that is the memorial and Ripley, 39, president of Mail Handlers Local
reference in the story heard the band and the speeches and the 315 in Portland, looked down and shook his Here’s the kicker.
to the official events It helps complete
of the day. We hadn’t slow, solemn thumping of the snare drum. head. Ripley served in the Air Force in 1968 the steps from very
heard enough The rain beat so hard against their faces and and 1969. intimate details to a
veteran voices yet, so progressively larger
it was time to eaves- heads and umbrellas, and it was hard to “I hope we don’t have to do this again any view. I liked ending
drop a little. The hear. As the ceremony started, the rain fell time in the future,” he said quietly. “But I with a quote on the
quotes also helped judgment of history.
lighten the somber harder and it got darker and the fog seeped bet they said that after Gettysburg. We still
tone of the story. even lower and misted over the tops of the haven’t learned anything.”

MAIL SPECIES This lighthearted story is the kind feature sections do best, and it succeeds on a number of levels.
By Dave Philipps First, there’s the inviting writing style: short words, short sentences, short paragraphs. There’s the
The Gazette — Dec. 11, 2003 helpful Christmas-shopping angle (introduced in the third paragraph), enhanced by a sidebar list
of Web sites that sell critters through the mail.
< MORE ON STORY IDEAS, PAGE 69 Finally, there’s the humor. Philipps doesn’t try to be laugh-out-loud funny, but takes a more subtle,
rolling-your-eyes-in-disbelief approach to the topic. “The secret to writing about the hilarious is to
play it totally straight,” Philipps says. “Let the readers laugh at the subject matter, not at you.”

T
PHILIPPS’ rue story: A few weeks ago, in a post chapter on live animal mail-ability. Any alli-
COMMENTARY:
I thought it was
office in Milwaukee, Wis., an alliga- gator or crocodile under 20 inches can travel
crucial to give tor tried to chew its way out of an through the mail with the proper postage.
readers a vivid
image at the start,
Express Mail box bound for Colorado. Not that you should mail an alligator, but The editors stuck
in this line to head
then hook them with The toothy snout of the 4-foot gator you could. off calls from P.E.T.A.
a “Huh?” paragraph
saying this stuff is
chomped through the cardboard even as Surprised? Maybe we, as a nation, need to It didn’t work.
actually legal. workers tried to seal it back in the box with bone up on animal mail-ability.
tape. If we don’t, we’ll have no one to blame
Since it’s that package-sending time of but ourselves if our alligators don’t arrive on
year, it might be a good idea to take this time so they can be chewing through bows
pop quiz. It was illegal to send this alligator and ribbons on Christmas morning.
through the U.S. Postal Service because:
I didn’t know the
A. Any knucklehead knows not to mail a
SQUIRMY THINGS
Postal Service
Domestic Mail living creature. First rule:
Manual’s chapter on A list of rules
live animal mail-
B. Reptiles must be detoothed for mailing. No snakes. seemed like the
ability actually C. The gator was more than 20 inches It doesn’t matter if it’s a poisonous viper most potent way to
existed until I get this information
talked to the main
long. addressed to a personal enemy (which actu- out. I intentionally
headquarters near If you answered anything but C, you are ally happened this year in Arkansas) or a did not include any
Washington, D.C. quotes from postal
As soon as I found
in danger of letting logic get in the way of saintly little garter snake that catches pests employees because I
out, I had them fax postal codes. in the garden. No snakes, period. thought their boring,
me the entire chapter bureaucratic state-
and got out my
The rules are clearly spelled out in the And no turtles either, snapping or non. ments just watered
highlighting pen. Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual’s Newts, crickets, horned toads, millipedes things down.
218 THE MORGUE

The unusual quasi- and other small, cold-blooded animals are

biblical bossy tone I
used here was quite allowed and will be welcomed with open ALIVE, ONLINE, OVERNIGHT:
accidental, but it arms at the post office, so long as they aren’t CRITTERS DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR
works well to lead
the reader right into snakes or legless lizards that could be con- A sampling of Web sites that ship live animals
the regulations. fused with snakes. Snakes, we repeat, are not through the mail:
If I’d used a more
bemused “Isn’t this allowed. PHEASANT CHICKS: McFarlane Pheasants will
strange?” tone, I Although yeast qualifies as a small, cold- send, by Express Mail, 50 chicks for $2 a chick,
would have sounded plus postage. Order 1,000 chicks and the price
more removed from blooded animal, one cannot send home-
drops to around $1. www.pheasant.com
the material. brew through the mail.
OSTRICH CHICKS: Three Fork Creek Ostrich
Ranch will mail six chicks for $80 a chick,
STINGING, BITING THINGS including postage and a reusable carrier.
Poisonous spiders have no place in an www.gjsostrichranch.com
envelope, nor do any poisonous or disease- LADYBUGS: Planet Natural will ship a half pint
carrying insects. This is the law. of ladybugs (about 4,500 eggs) for $15.95,
shipping included. www.planetnatural.com
But bees may travel the United States,
ALBINO GECKO: Hanley’s Herps will ship a male
provided they use ground transportation
These are real rules. albino gecko for $90, shipping not included.
Of course, I had to and not air. Only queen bees may take a www.hanleysherps.com
translate them from plane, accompanied by no more than eight
some of the dullest
regulatory language attendant bees. No kidding.
imaginable. These If a package contains one queen and nine roadrunner. A box marked “LIVE ROAD-
days, it seems like
everybody with a attendant bees, the sender will be in viola- RUNNER” will be refused.
desk and an official tion of postal codes. Don’t joke around, either. If you mail a
title talks like a mix
between a cop and Scorpions are quite all right to mail, even box marked “LIVE ROADRUNNER” or
a tax lawyer. The deadly, venomous scorpions that hide in “LIVE SWAN” that actually contains snakes,
journalist’s job is to
translate into real people’s shoes, as long as they are being you will be sent to lick stamps at a federal
English. sent for the purpose of making antivenin, prison.
which makes perfect sense. Please, seal them If you need to mail baby pheasants, that’s
in an escape-proof package marked “LIVE fine, but send them only between April and
SCORPIONS.” August, or else. Adult pheasants can be
Dead scorpions can be mailed without mailed year-round.
The third reference
special labeling. So can dead eels, seals Small sharks are OK. Squirrels are not. to snakes officially
and cockatiels, so long as they have been Hummingbirds are not. Pigeons are OK. makes them a run-
ning gag, which
obtained legally and are packaged to prevent Snakes are not OK. No snakes. means I can mention
oozing and obnoxious smells. No funny It may seem strict, but calling birds cannot them sparingly from
now on and get a
business. be mailed under any circumstances, not even good chuckle. I’m
in the name of true love on Christmas. With not sure if this is a
In selecting FEATHERED AND FURRY THINGS the right vaccinations, however, geese a-lay- rule of journalism
animals, the sound or vaudeville, but it
of language and the Do not mail ocelots, elk, flying foxes or ing, swans a-swimming, French hens, turtle works.
wealth of images is flamingos. In fact, do not mail any warm- doves, partridges and pear trees are allowed.
important. Since I
could pick anything blooded animal, horned or hoofed, furry or These rules are made to protect mail carri- I could have done
in the world, I didn’t feathered, mammal or marsupial, that crawls ers and ensure your packages arrive safely. a story about why
want to choose bor- these rules are in
ing animals. Notice the earth, not even the slightest shrew, unless So mail your legal animals early to beat place. Would that
how the rhythm of it is specifically named in the postal codes. the holiday rush — though maybe you’d be have been much
“ocelots, elk, flying fun?
foxes and flamingos” Swans are perfectly fine to mail, as long as better off giving gifts of food instead of scor-
feels very natural they weigh more than 6 ounces and are in pions or some other living creature. Even
while creating a wild
kingdom rainbow in an approved container. This goes for guinea the snakes will appreciate it.
the reader’s head. fowl and quail, too. But do not try to ship a
 THE MORGUE 219

GLOVE STORY It’s easy to write a baseball story that appeals to sports fans. It’s much harder to write one that will
By Don Hamilton appeal to everybody. But this story won a presitigious Penney-Missouri award for feature writing
The Oregonian — April 8, 1986 because of the engaging way it combined nostalgia, folklore and useful consumer information.
The design for this story nearly filled a broadsheet page; the package included an illustrated glove
< MORE ON FEATURE STORY IDEAS ON PAGE 69 timeline, shopping tips and a baseball-mitt diagram loaded with history and fun facts.

M
HAMILTON’S e and my Mel Stottlemyre glove right hand. The glove is named not for the
COMMENTARY:
were big heroes one day when I hand it is worn on, but for the hand that
Yeah, I know.
A grammatical error was 13. throws the ball.
to start, and — gasp! If I hadn’t dropped to my knees and There are black gloves, red gloves, brown
— I’m using the first
person. But the stuck my Spalding right down onto the gloves, green gloves and blue gloves. The
weird syntax echoes brown dirt of the infield, that line drive color makes no difference, except that
baseball’s rural
roots, while writing would have skipped through for a hit. everything but brown looks stupid. Espe-
first-person lets me It didn’t. I caught it for the last out of cially green.
personalize it, lets
me brag and provides the game. I glanced down into the pocket, There are lots of different kinds of gloves The difference
a nice bracket at the between gloves and
saw the ball snugly covering Stottlemyre’s and mitts, and there is a difference between mitts was an editor’s
close of the story.
The voice shifts signature and trotted casually to the bench, the two. Gloves have fingers; mitts don’t. question. I sputtered
between first, second and guffawed before
only vaguely hearing the cheers and whis- Therefore, we have outfielder’s gloves and realizing I didn’t
and third person,
done more by tles of amazement from my teammates and infielder’s gloves — with fingers — but know the answer.
instinct and intuition OK. Good question.
the few fans. Cool. I had the right glove. catcher’s mitts and first baseman’s mitts. By the way, green
than design. The
rhythm and the Things like that happen with the right That pie-shaped catcher’s mitt may gloves still look
voice felt right. stupid.
glove. The right glove went with Willie not have fingers, but it has a lot of pad-
Mays to the deepest part of center field for ding. Good thing. Genetic selection hasn’t
When I was a kid, I
heard Casey Stengel The Catch in the 1954 World Series. Graig brought us to the point where the hand
tell an incompre- Nettles was wearing the right glove when is naturally formed to accept 100 mph
hensible story about I loved some of the
players ripping he performed his astonishing acrobatics fastballs without protection. Legend has old baseball history I
their gloves open. near third base in the 1978 Series. it that in the days before the heavily pad- dug up. The beefsteak
I wanted weird was one of the more
tales, the anecdotes, With the right glove, anything is pos- ded catcher’s mitt, Cy Young’s first catcher pungent factoids and
dugout babble and sible: great catches. big contracts, World would line his glove with a hunk of beef- helped show how
oddball history that brutal the game was
baseball does so well. Series heroics. The world is an infield fly steak. Messy, but safe. 100 years ago.
I wanted this to be when you have the right glove. Finding a left-handed catcher’s mitt is
fun and interesting.
And this week it is only fitting that we nearly impossible; so don’t try. There have
This ran on Opening
turn our attention to the care and feeding been only two left-handed catchers in the
Day 1986. I wanted of the right glove. Monday was the opening major leagues since the World War I era.
to establish the hold
baseball has on me
day of the major-league baseball season, a No one can come up with a really good
and on America. holiday of the mind, an unofficial school reason why. Perhaps it has something to Not “perhaps” —
It has, I’ve always that IS why there are
believed, magical
holiday in many big-league towns. do with a left-handers’ inability to get off a so few lefty catchers.
powers that heal the On opening day, we celebrate eternal quick throw to third base. I shouldn’t have
sick and raise the hedged.
dead. Or something.
youth. On opening day, everyone’s in first Generally, outfielders and pitchers wear
place. the biggest gloves while infielders — except
Celebrate now, because it won’t last. the first basemen — wear smaller ones.
The big gloves are allowed to be as big
The right glove as one foot. These are favored by pitchers
If you want to be a big hero like me with because they can hide the throwing hand
my Mel Stottlemyre, you’ve got to start by from the batter. Outfielders, too, like the
getting the right glove. What surely will fol- big glove, because it gives them an extra
low is the right skills, the right insight and inch or two when leaping, diving or jump-
I wanted people who the right attitude for baseball and for life. ing after a ball.
knew little about
baseball to learn
The first thing you need to know about
something, even the right glove is that it’s usually a left It takes all kinds
starting with obvi-
ous observations
glove. Right-handed gloves go on the left Infielders tend to like smaller gloves
like this. hand, and left-handed gloves go on the because they make it easier to reach in and
220 THE MORGUE

These four grafs grab the ball for a throw. A baseball can from the glove company.
really explain which
fielders wear what get lost in one of those small tents worn by Generally, though, you’ll find a catcher’s
kind of gloves and outfielders. name on a catcher’s mitt and a first base-
why, a very practical
explanation. By the First basemen wear long, padded mitts man’s name on a first baseman’s mitt.
way, I hated how designed for scooping low throws out of Even so, a player can become famous for
that subhead broke
up what I saw as a the dirt. This is very important to the fans his glove. Of course, that’s got nothing to
unified, coherent sitting behind them. do with what’s on his hand: it refers to how This represents some
section. of that field-level
A baseball glove triggers an incredible well he fields. Or sometimes how badly he humor. I wanted to
array of senses. fields. Dick Stuart, for example, was known get a feel for what
it sounded like in
Walk quietly through a sporting goods for his glove. He was known as “Dr. the dugout. Oh, and
store and spot someone examining gloves. Strangeglove.” Or “Clank,” for the sound of I wanted an excuse
to use a few colorful
Maybe he’ll glance from side to side and, a ball hitting metal. That’s what teammates baseball nicknames.
Well, I used to do
that. I love the smell when no one’s looking, he’ll smash the said they heard when balls came his way.
of a new baseball glove into his face and take a deep breath, A glove can tell you more about a player Players get unusually
glove. attached to their
inhaling the aroma of the leather. than his fielding average. Third baseman gloves, which, as this
The mere sound made by a ball hitting Graig Nettles, for example, is self-effacing Graig Nettles story
a glove evokes a whole world of emotions. and needs to concentrate. We know that shows, can illustrate
how they feel about
In the winter, the fist is pounded repeat- because he has “Think” written on each themselves and
edly into the glove’s pocket, not only to finger of his glove. He also has “E-5” on it, what they do. I really
wanted to interview
improve the pocket but also to evoke the the scorekeeper’s mark for an error by the Nettles but could
memory of catching a ball. third baseman. never reach him at
spring training.
The ears and eyes By spring the solid “thwock” sound a In some cases, the glove is used for
are a reporter’s best
friends and I wanted ball makes when hitting a glove can be something other than fielding. Something
to employ the senses heard in fields all over the country. There’s like terror.
here to summon
simple and evocative a studied concentration in the simple, “After it rains in Midland, Texas, the
baseball images. casual act of tossing a ball — no talking, tarantulas come out on the field,” remi-
And I liked the word
“thwock.” just thwock, thwock, thwock. It’s a nice nisced Bobby Mitchell, a former Portland
sound, the sound of summer. Beaver. “We’d get them and put them in
But while the sound never changes, some players gloves. It was great sitting there
very strange things have been happening in in the locker room and waiting, know-
the appearance of gloves lately, ing when they put the glove on they’d go
Now there are gloves with little dimples crazy.”
This is the
traditionalist in me in the pocket — supposedly to help you
getting grumpy and catch the ball. There are gloves with little Handle with care
sarcastic about all
those new-fangled electronic scoreboards — supposedly to Few pieces of sports equipment get the
modern conveniences. help you understand that you must catch same care and feeding as a baseball or
Haven’t heard a
word about these the ball. And there are gloves with elec- softball glove, which are pretty much the
so-called innovations tronic beepers to warn you when you’re same except the softball glove might have
since.
getting dangerously close to the outfield a slightly larger pocket.
wall — supposedly to keep you safe while Like a good pair of shoes, a glove should Here comes the
you are catching the ball. be formed to fit only you. I was angry and how-to section. I
wanted this to have
There are gloves with Velcro strips and upset when someone broke into my car practical uses but
gloves with miles of leather thongs just and stole the radio. When I learned the also to explore the
things I did as a
great for tying and untying. Which you scoundrel had made off with my glove, a boy to break in my
choose depends on whether you like to tie perfectly broken-in Wilson A-2000, I was gloves. I never did
get that Wilson
or rip. ready to kill. A-2000 back.
The signature in the glove really means Gloves always are handled with care.
When I was first nothing. Because Stottlemyre’s name was The leather — they’re all cowhide — is
starting to play
baseball, I really in mine didn’t mean he used a glove like gently warmed by the hand, and the glove
thought Mickey mine, designed my glove or even knew is caressed and massaged endlessly with
Mantle used a
glove like mine. what my glove looked like. All the signa- soothing oils.
Yeah, right. ture means is that the player gets money Oddly enough, all this tender attention
 THE MORGUE 221

comes after a traumatic breaking in phase. your pick: Rawlings’ Glovolium, Mizuno’s
There are various schools of thought Glove Oil, Louisville Slugger’s Glove Soft-
on how to properly break in a new glove. ener, G-96 Glove Conditioner, Mink Oil.
Some suggest simply using it a lot. Use it in Once you get the glove oiled up right,
the field and pound your first into it while you must begin to form the pocket
you’re sitting on the bench. Pound it a lot. Most of the methods used to form the
Gloves become But before most players use the glove, pocket involve placing a ball or two in the
an extension of they go through some ritualistic steps to glove and tying it up overnight or longer. A
the hand, and this
phase represents break it in. Breaking it in means just that: variation involves sticking the glove hold-
the beginning of softening the leather, making it malleable, ing a ball under a pillow, a method which
that connection.
flexible. probably has resulted in a lot of sleepless
Some ballplayers run over their gloves nights for budding ballplayers.
with their cars. Some throw their gloves Once it’s broken in it should fit like a,
against walls, or soak them in water, oil or well, glove.
even shaving cream. (The lanolin is sup- The night I bought my Mel Stottlemyre This closing segment
posed to soften the leather.) glove, I greased it up right, put a ball in the was really about
setting up that story
One baseball fanatic said he knew some- pocket and tied it up with kite string. Then of staring across
one who stuck his glove in a microwave I pressed it underneath a bookshelf in the my bedroom at that
crooked bookshelf.
oven. You youngsters out there shouldn’t corner of my bedroom. I knew I was form- Baseball always
try this. ing the perfect pocket. looks best when
seen through a kid’s
But the standard practice is somewhat I woke up a few times that night and eyes, and this was
more refined. The best way to break in peered across the room at the silhouette of my chance to look
through my inner
a glove is to buy a bottle of mitt oil and the bookcase at that crazy, cockeyed angle. child’s eye again.
slowly work it into the glove with a cloth. It must have worked. I caught that line
There are lots of brands of mitt oil. Take drive, didn’t I?

In preparation for tonight’s poetry reading,

Charles Bukowski is out in the parking lot,
OPENERS KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Everywhere,
the city is booby-trapped.
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
vomiting. A woman returns to her home after five
He always vomits before readings; crowds give him years in a refugee camp, opens a door and loses her life.
the jitters. And tonight there’s a big crowd. A bus crammed with wedding day revelers runs over a
Glenn Esierly, Rolling Stone, using a startling-statement lead mine and 45 die. A farmer wades into his field, walks
to begin this profile of poet Charles Bukowski around, loses a leg.
Six years after the shooting stopped in this city, the
For two years, live music has boomed off the deck of a mines are still claiming victims. So are old grenades,
Beach Boulevard lounge and rolled down the Intracoastal unexploded shells and even bombs that look like toy
Waterway into Donna Theiss’ home across the water. butterflies. Children play among the mines, women step
Sometimes the bands play so loud, she can hear every around them. A few times a week, another one explodes.
lyric from fives blocks away. Dexter Filkins, Los Angeles Times,
Big wheel keep on turnin’, using a roundup lead to open a story on land mines in Afghanistan
Proud Mary keep on burnin’
Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’ on the river. Have you ever really embarrassed yourself? Don’t
That song, “Proud Mary,” prompted Theiss’ last call answer that, stupid. It’s a rhetorical question. Of course
to a restaurant about a month ago. She said the employ- you’ve embarrassed yourself. Everybody has. I bet the
ee who took her call wasn’t very sympathetic. pope has. If you were to say to the pope: “Your Holy
“He said, ‘If the music is so loud, then tell me what’s Worshipfulness, I bet you’ve pulled some blockheaded
playing right now,’ ” Theiss said. “I said, ‘ “Proud Mary.” boners in your day, huh?” he’d smile that warm, know-
I could stand here and sing the words to “Proud Mary” ing, fatherly smile he has, and then he’d wave. He can’t
right now.’” hear a word you’re saying, up on that balcony.
Caren Burmeister, The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) Dave Barry, using a direct-address lead to launch a humor column
222 THE MORGUE

In the Northwestern lacrosse team’s White House photo, four of nine women in the front row wear flip-flops. (President Bush, in the center, wears dark shoes.)

“YOU WORE As Jodi Cohen explains it: “I got a call on my cell phone at about 12:15 p.m. to get back to the
office and write about Northwestern University lacrosse team members wearing flip-flops when
FLIP-FLOPS TO they met the President. I didn’t know the team had been to the White House and thought the call,
THE WHITE HOUSE?!” from one of the Metro editors, was a joke. I soon realized he was serious.
By Jodi S. Cohen and Maegan Carberry, “The story idea came from the Chicago Tribune’s top editor, who spotted the photo of the
with additional reporting by Michael Kilian lacrosse team in the Tribune and thought there was an interesting fashion/trend story about
and Christi Parsons wearing flip-flops to the White House. So I can’t claim credit for the idea. Who knew that a photo
Chicago Tribune — July 15, 2005 in the back of the sports section would turn into a front-page story that would get picked up by
< MORE ON STORY IDEAS ON PAGE 69 media around the world? It was the most unlikely story during the summer of 2005.”

B
COHEN’S efore visiting the White House, Kate like the beach.
COMMENTARY:
I decided to start the
Darmody carefully planned her out- One of the hottest trends this summer, These paragraphs
story this way to add fit. She bought a sundress from Ann flip-flops are no longer a dime-store pur- get to the gist of
drama and show that why the lacrosse
while she carefully
Taylor. She put on a strand of white pearls. chase, with some costing several hundred team wearing flip-
planned her outfit, And then she slipped on flip-flops to dollars. They come flat and with wedge flops became a story.
she didn’t give a Flip-flops had
second thought to
meet the president. So did about half of heels. They have rhinestones and sequins become acceptable
the decision to wear her teammates from the national champi- and flowers. The straps are made of terry almost anywhere.
flip-flops. The The question
contrast of wearing
onship Northwestern University women’s cloth and leather. became: Are they
flip-flops and white lacrosse team, invited to the White House But in today’s laid-back society, is there acceptable at the
pearls — the epitome White House?
of conservative dress
on Tuesday after a 21-0 season. a distinction between ratty old flip-flops
— couldn’t have She didn’t think twice about the foot- and ones from Neiman Marcus? Can they
been more perfect.
wear until she got an e-mail — in all capital be worn at the White House, arguably the
Kate Darmody was letters — from her brother. most formal setting in the United States?
not the first player
I talked to, but she
“YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE Shoe expert Meghan Cleary, author of Here’s the “shoe
definitely provided WHITE HOUSE????!!!!” he wrote after see- “The Perfect Fit: What Your Shoes Say expert” of the story.
the best material. I found out about her
When she told me
ing the picture on the team’s Web site. About You,” says no. In her chapter on while doing a search
about her brother’s Aly Josephs’ mother had the same reac- flip-flops, where she weighs whether “to for other stories
e-mail, I knew I had about the flip-flop
hit the jackpot. His
tion after seeing her daughter in the front flip-flop, or not to flip-flop” for particular trend. I Googled her,
e-mail became the row of the photo — the fifth person away occasions, she would add a White House found her Web site
great headline and and e-mailed her.
the reason, I believe,
from the president — wearing brown suede visit to the “not” category. She called back right
that the story got so flip-flops with a skirt, sleeveless top and “For me, flip-flops are just not for a before deadline. She
much attention. was on the “Today”
matching beaded jewelry. formal occasion,” Cleary said. “But meet- show a few days
Figuring out the “Don’t even ask me about the flip-flops,” ing the president, maybe this really speaks later — and was way
names of the players more excited about
wearing flip-flops
her mother said when a reporter questioned more to the worldwide acceptance of the that than being
in the picture, then her about the picture. “As somebody who is flip-flop.” quoted in the
tracking them down Tribune.
within a few hours,
52 years old, it mortified me. I don’t go out But Northwestern’s lacrosse team mem-
was the key to this of the house without pantyhose on.” bers, dressed in skirts and dresses, thought
story. No photo
caption identified
Twenty- and 30-somethings will pair nothing of it. Of the nine women in the
the players. I learned flip-flops with everything from shorts to front row with the president, four wore
their names from the
Northwestern lacrosse
cocktail dresses, with the footwear accept- flip-flops. The rest wore heeled sandals.
Web site, which also able (at least to them) at work and at clubs, This past season was only the fourth year
listed their home
towns. I used Nexis/
for a stroll down Michigan Avenue or even that Northwestern has had a varsity lacrosse
Lexis and Autotrack down the wedding aisle. For their moms, team, and the women were thrilled to join
to get phone numbers
and then started the shoes — best known for the flapping 14 other college championship teams at the
calling. noise they make — are meant for places White House.
 THE MORGUE 223

Aly Josephs’ mother “Nobody was wearing old beach flip- a sundress, cardigan, bag and shoes from
gave me Aly’s phone
number. She lived flops,” said Josephs, 20, who wore $16 Ann Taylor. “I think she was going more
with four or five brown, flat flip-flops with rhinestones, one for the heel look than flip-flops,” she said.
other lacrosse play-
ers at Northwestern of about 15 pairs in her closet.
What’s the dress code?
so they passed the Darmody, 22, who decided on a wedge-
phone around. They
heel flip-flop, said: “I tried to think of White House spokeswoman Erin Healy
also identified which
other players wore something that would go well with my out- wouldn’t comment on whether the White
flip-flops and gave
fit and at the same time not be that uncom- House has a dress code. Soon after Presi-
me some of their
numbers. fortable. But at the same not disrespect the dent Bush took office, he suggested that
White House.” men should wear a tie in the Oval Office,
Michael Kilian, a
She said that from May to September, and staffers reportedly do not wear jeans in Washington reporter,
“that is all I have on my feet all the time.” the West Wing. contributed this
reporting about the
The teammates, and their athletic direc- Ann Stock, who was Hillary Clinton’s current and former
tor, commented several times that it was social secretary, said that while there was White House dress
codes. After the
actually the University of Michigan softball no written dress code for White House story was published,
team – dressed in khaki shorts, polo shirts guests, “people who visit the White House Kilian told me that
he thought the
and sneakers – that was way underdressed. know they’re going to a very special place quote from Muffie
“I would have felt out of place if that and that one should dress appropriately.” Brandon sounded
like a current quote
was what I was wearing,” said Darmody, a Nancy Reagan’s social secretary, Muffie when it was really
lacrosse midfielder. Brandon, was aghast to discover that some from the time of the
Reagan presidency.
female staffers routinely wore flip-flops to In retrospect, I would
Flip-flops also pooh-poohed work in hot weather. have explained
that better.
But etiquette experts generally thought “We do not wear clogs at the White
Maegan Carberry,
a co-reporter on the flip-flops also were out of place. House,” Brandon proclaimed.
the story, called “Many people are confused nowadays Josephs, a junior on the lacrosse team I wanted to make
etiquette experts sure the story
to add another about when an occasion calls for dressing who scored about 45 goals last season, had acknowledged the
dimension to the more formally. I’d say meeting a world planned to wear a pair of heeled orange team’s athletic
story. She also talked success as well
to people on the leader is one of those occasions,” said shoes to the White House but left them at as their flip-flop
streets of Chicago, Charles Purdy, who writes the San Fran- home. She said the trip to the White House fashion. I worried
but unfortunately, that their success
that didn’t make it cisco Weekly’s Dear Social Grace column. was “surreal.” would be lost in
into the story. Lesley Carlin, co-author of “Things You The team gave Bush two “GWB43” this story.
Need to be Told,” said wearing flip-flops to lacrosse sticks. The teammates then shook
the White House is a “huge no-no.” his hand and posed for a picture, four rows
“You see them a lot more, but I’ve heard of women standing tall with the president,
a lot of people remarking, ‘Those belong at who was dressed in a suit, blue tie and dark The story took about
six hours to report
the beach and not at the office.’ ” dress shoes. and write. The way it
Even Joe Guidry, a salesman at the Josephs’ mother, Lydia, said her daugh- was displayed — with
a long, narrow photo
upscale Stuart Weitzman store on Michigan ter’s freshly pedicured toes were the first of just the players’
Avenue, said he wouldn’t advise women to thing she noticed when she saw the picture. feet – set the tone
for the story. I never
wear the company’s $150 flip-flops to the “I called her up and screamed at the mes- could have imagined
White House. sage machine, ‘How could you go to the the reaction that
followed, with
“Meeting the president? I personally White House in flip-flops?’ ” she recalled. newspapers and TV
wouldn’t wear them,” he said. “She said, ‘Mom, it didn’t matter. Every- stations around the
country and even
Lindsey Munday, Northwestern senior body was wearing flip-flops.’ ” the world reporting
and offensive player on the lacrosse team, Tom Darmody, 38, also was surprised on the flip-flops and
the broader trend.
chose to wear light blue sandals, but said when he saw his sister in the picture. I received more
the flip-flops were suitable too. “I was a little taken aback, to say the reader feedback than
for any other story.
“I didn’t look at any of my teammates least,” said Darmody, an attorney who One reader even sent
and say, ‘That was so inappropriate.’ I admitted he might be jealous as his feet her sister’s wedding
photo of the brides-
think there is a line between certain flip- sweated in socks and leather shoes. “You maids all wearing
flops and others,” she said. are two people away from the leader of the silver flip-flops! And
I wore flip-flops to
Munday said she shopped for the White most powerful country in the free world work for the rest of
House outfit with her mother, and chose and you’re wearing flip-flops?” the week.
224 THE MORGUE

A PASSION FOR “People are dying to get into my columns,” says Alana Baranick, winner of the 2005 award for
best obituary writing by the American Society of Newspaper Editors. As the ASNE judges put it:
RAISING RABBITS “With vivid detail and direct language, Baranick creates richly textured portraits of everyday folks
By Alana Baranick who become extraordinary through her words.”
The Plain Dealer — Nov. 22, 2004 Baranick chooses the subjects for her feature obituaries based on their quirks and character, not
< MORE ON OBITUARIES ON PAGE 96 on public prominence or fame. Take Patty Crites, for example.
“I read a short paid notice for ‘Patty Crites, owner of Pat’s Bunny Farm’ in a small-town daily,”
Baranick recalls. “Other biographical details were sparse. In my quest for obit diversity — I had
never written about a bunny farmer — I contacted her family for more info.”

BARANICK’S SPENCER TOWNSHIP – Patty Crites’ I stash little tidbits

COMMENTARY: and unused quotes,
I like to start these prize-winning rabbits were known for Patricia Ann Crites which could inter-
“Life Story” obit their long floppy ears, luxurious coats and Nov. 9, 1940 - Oct. 27, 2004 rupt the flow of the
features with story, into a bio box
something lively to unscheduled public demonstrations of Her mother, Helen Fetzer, lives in Spencer. or in photo cutlines.
grab the reader’s bunny-birth.
attention. Former married name: Gerrick.
The 63-year-old grandmother, who died This last line is pretty
She was only 63 — Enjoyed going with friends to movies, flea lame. I usually put
too young to die. of complications from congestive heart some quirky saying
markets and country-music concerts.
I had to explain why failure and other health problems Oct. 27, or words to live by
she’s dead. I use that the deceased
terms like “grand- raised droopy-eared English lops and other was known to say.
mother” rather than breeds at Pat’s Bunny Farm in Spencer she tried to bring home an African anteater. But I couldn’t pump
“Crites” or “She” to that sort of thing out
keep the text from Township for 30 years. She went to an auction in Wooster and of her relatives and
becoming repetitive. She showed her best bunnies at rabbit- brought an emu home. The only thing she friends.
I could have listed club events and county fairs throughout never brought home was a monkey.”
all the events, fairs Including what the
and bunny shows,
Ohio. Crites, the daughter of a steel-hauling parents did for a
but I used a generic At a few Medina County Fair rabbit con- truck driver, was born Patricia Ann Fetzer living helps define
phrase to save space. the person and
tests, Crites entered pregnant rabbits who at Berea Hospital. She started bringing shows how far the
I interview people ended up giving birth before the judging stray animals home while growing up on deceased moved
who knew the away from or stayed
deceased from began. Worthington Avenue near West 117th close to her roots.
various aspects of “She didn’t realize how far along they Street in Cleveland. Why did I give their
their lives. Some, like address? See the
Renee Burns, are were,” said her friend Renee Burns. “People The location of her childhood home next sentence.
quotable. Others loved it, to see these little tiny pink things made Crites a city girl, but Crites really was
aren’t worth quoting,
but the information coming out.” a country girl at heart.
may be valuable. Crites had as many as 250 rabbits at one “We always used to go out to see my
I sat at a table at time, and every one of them had a name. grandmother on the farm in Medina,” said
the Crites home,
looking at pictures
“She read a lot of novels,” said her her younger sister, Beverly Magyar. “We
with her husband daughter Regina Manos. “Every time she weren’t surprised when she started her
and daughter as they
reminisced. I never
saw a good name, she’d write it down.” bunny farm. She had trophies and all kinds
would have thought She also raised ferrets and Peruvian of ribbons she’d won over the years. The
to ask about the
rabbits’ names. It
guinea pigs. Over the years, she had a Viet- hardest thing was for her to sell her rabbits
just popped out. So I namese pot-bellied pig and a de-scented when she was so sick.”
asked where she got
those names.
skunk as house pets. She kept a goat, Crites had three children – Brian Gerrick,
I didn’t have enough
ponies, horses, dogs and cats. She took care Scott Gerrick and Regina – with her first The first husband did
of two crows, Igor and J.J., a pig named husband, whom she married and divorced not want his name
space to say that
included in his ex-
Peggy ended up on Peggy and her nine piglets.
the Crites’ dinner
twice. wife’s story. He told
Crites also had an African parrot and “They had some problems and were try- me he really wasn’t
table. This would
part of her life for
not have been the cockatiels. Her part-time jobs at a vet-
place to address that
ing to patch things up,” her sister said. “It long. Although I
erinarian’s office in Litchfield and at a pet didn’t work. When I got married she said, did not name him,
anyway.
I acknowledged his
I thought it was shop in Ashland yielded opportunities to ‘Didn’t you learn anything?’ “ existence, because
nifty that she had adopt even more exotic animals. After her second divorce, she met Jim the kids’ surnames
everyday pets, farm were different.
animals, wildlife and “We almost ended up with a tiger,” said Crites, who also was divorced and had
exotic creatures. her husband of 32 years, Jim. “One time kids. They moved from Lakewood to a
 THE MORGUE 225

17-acre farm in Spencer Township in the animals she raised — including bunnies
early 1970s. that weren’t suitable for show or too old or
Patty, her husband and her kids engaged unattractive to be sold as pets — and cook- I included the last
in 18th-century re-enactments, where par- ing the meat for her family. The practice is sentence because
urban and suburban
ticipants slept outdoors, wore pioneer garb, common among rabbit breeders and farm readers might not
shot muzzle-loaders and paddled canoes. folk. understand the
reality of life — and
“On all the campouts and everything, “At rabbit shows, they’ll have bunny-on- death — on the farm.
Patty always came out looking beautiful a-bun, creamed rabbit or barbecued rab-
I love this woman.
with perfect makeup on and never got bit,” said Burns, a fellow bunny breeder. Burns freely spoke
dirty like the rest of us,” said re-enactor “How many animals can you raise and eat without regard to
political correctness.
The hunting Bob Wulff. your mistakes?” But I did warn her
excursions sounded
impressive —until
When she was younger, Crites hunted Crites grossed out her sister’s kids one that I intended to
use the quote. She
we learn that she shot bear in Canada and deer in southern Ohio Easter when she tried serving them rabbit was cool with it.
only one animal,
and it was a predator.
with her husband. She even went on rabbit for dinner. And then I moved
in with the killer
This is in stark hunts. “They just thought that was amazing,” walk-off.
contrast to Patty, the
hopper chopper, in
The only thing she ever shot was a fox. her sister said. “You never knew what you
the next sentence. But she was not averse to butchering the were going to get on the holidays.”

BGSU PROFESSOR A Most obituaries, unlike the one above, are written on tight deadlines using information
supplied by funeral homes and supplemented by phone calls to families or friends of the deceased.
TALENTED SCULPTOR That’s true of this one, as well. Like most ordinary obits, it supplies essential facts about the
The Toledo Blade — Aug. 8, 2002 subject’s interests and accomplishments along with details about survivors and funeral services.

BOWLING GREEN — Clifford Long, a mathematics pro- person to visualize — in wood and marble for his students to
fessor at Bowling Green State University and gifted sculptor see.
who used his talent to help students visualize math, died of “People would see it and say, ‘I always wanted to see what a
cancer Tuesday in his home here. He was 71. trefoil knot would look like!’ ” Steven Long said.
Dr. Long was born April 10, 1931, on the south side of Chi- Dr. Long took a special interest in computer graphics and
cago. His father was a carpenter, and his influence may have the visualization of mathematical ideas. He was a pioneer in
been what first attracted Dr. Long to math, his son Steven bringing the computer into classrooms at BGSU, and pho-
Long said. tographs of his sculptures were published in many science
“He liked the angles, the measuring, the visual side of life,” journals.
he said. Despite a strong commitment to his work, Dr. Long found
After high school, Dr. Long took a job as an order checker time to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Wheeled
in the stockyards with Armour, Inc. He left the stockyards for Meals, a meal delivery service he helped found.
the University of Illinois at Navy Pier in Chicago, where he He was devoted to his family, coaching his children’s base-
studied math. Later, he transferred to the university’s Cham- ball teams and singing with his sons in a barbershop quartet.
paign-Urbana campus, where he met his future wife, Patricia Surviving are his wife, Patricia Marilyn Long; sons, Steven,
Marilyn Cline. Andrew and Thaddeus, and daughter, Melinda Gedeon.
Dr. Long obtained his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Bowling Green First
and doctorate in mathematics from the University of Illinois. Presbyterian Church, where the family will receive friends
He took a teaching position at BGSU in 1959 and taught there from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today and again from 1:30 p.m. until
for the next 35 years. the service begins on Saturday. The Dunn Funeral Home is
“So many people just want to do research and get grants,” handling arrangements.
said his son, Thaddeus Long. “He wanted to teach people to The family requests tributes to the BGSU Foundation Cliff
love math.” & Lyn Long Scholarship Fund or to the Presbyterian Church
Dr. Long carved the graphical displays of functions — Foundation Cliff & Lyn Long Local Benevolence Fund.
mathematical relationships often too complex for the average
226 THE MORGUE

CHURCH BUS CRASH Most accident stories are written by one reporter citing one or two sources. But for this
ON TURNPIKE KILLS 3 tragic accident, five Sun-Sentinel staff writers contributed to the final report: Mike Clary,
Neil Santaniello, Patty Pensa, Sallie James and Cadence Mertz.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel As you study the story, notice how the additional reporting makes the coverage more
Aug. 8, 2004 comprehensive. At least eight different sources (including the reporters’ own observations
< MORE ON COVERING ACCIDENTS ON PAGE 98 at the scene) describe the impact of the accident from a variety of dramatic perspectives.

Three people were killed Saturday night when a church Firefighter-paramedic Jeffrey Newsome, a member of Fire
bus was hit by an SUV on Florida’s Turnpike, went out of Rescue’s Special Operations Team, was one of the first two
control and crashed into the Boca Rio Canal just south of divers in the water, which he said was 10 to 12 feet deep.
Glades Road. The bus was full of water, but no people were inside. Its
The crash happened just before 10 p.m., and it wasn’t until horn was still sounding, its light and wipers still on.
1 a.m., when the white Girardin minivan was pulled from While he was under water for 15 to 18 minutes, he saw the
the 10- to 12- foot-deep canal, that authorities confirmed all interior littered with book bags and shoes.
of its occupants were accounted for. At one point, a near-hysterical woman ran up to the west
The bus, from First Baptist Church Hillsboro in Coconut bank of the canal, crying, “My son was on that bus!”
Creek, was bringing 23 passengers back from a water-park As a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy consoled her, she
outing in Orlando. looked up to spot her son on the other side of the canal.
Late Saturday, one seriously injured person had been “Greg!” she yelled.
airlifted to Delray Medical Center, six had been taken to But with the noise and commotion, her son could not hear
West Boca Medical Center and two to Boca Community her. She ran back to her car in an attempt to get onto the
Hospital. turnpike side of the road.
FHP Lt. Pat Santangelo said both the bus and a Ford Expe- At West Boca Medical Center, at least two dozen family
dition were southbound on the turnpike when the Ford got members and friends clustered around each other, hugging
a flat tire. Its driver lost control and bumped the bus, which and crying. Some called on cell phones, trying to locate other
was in the left lane. members of the group.
The bus went out of control, swerving to the right and Passengers with less-serious injuries, mostly children, were
over about a 6-foot drop into the canal. brought to the hospital by police cars and private vehicles. A
It was a section of the turnpike where the canal is not pro- boy walked in wrapped in a blood-soaked sheet. Highway
tected by a guardrail, Santangelo said. Patrol troopers and sheriff’s deputies talked to survivors as
The bodies lay on the west side of the canal, side-by-side part of the investigation.
and covered with plastic. Sylvia Williamson, the wife of the Rev. Jerry Williamson,
He said it was unknown whether the three people killed the church pastor, said most from the church youth group
were children or adults. were in grades 7 to 12.
Doug Doan, 53, of Davie, was one of the drivers who “It was the last hurrah before school starts,” Williamson
pulled over on the turnpike and jumped into the water to said, her voice faltering.
help rescuers. The church, at 5100 W. Hillsboro Blvd., has a small con-
Five or six people were on the roof of the vehicle, he said, gregation of about 550. She said the accident has hit them
and all were calling for help. hard.
Doan, who was on his way home from a tubing trip, The white top of the school bus gleamed beneath about 8
grabbed a diving mask from his car and jumped into the inches of water in the canal. The bus sat upright, its pop-up
water. He helped pull out two children. He thought one was roof hatch open with divers peering in the top and swim-
dead and one unconscious. ming below.
“Everybody was screaming from the bus,” he said. “Some- Helicopters hovered above the scene while the red-and-
body was shouting, ‘Get my brother,’ ” but mostly he blue lights of more than 25 emergency vehicles lit up the
remembers a lot of shrieking. night.
Raymond Acevedo, 23, of Coral Springs, also stopped to The northbound lanes of the turnpike were opened to
help rescuers. He said a man who identified himself as the traffic just before midnight. Southbound lanes remained
driver seemed consumed by remorse. closed at 1:15 a.m.
“I just acted on instinct,” Acevedo said. He said a lot of On the turnpike side of the canal, medical teams treated
people stopped along the turnpike to watch, but few jumped dazed, wet survivors, while TraumaHawk helicopters lifted
in. off with other victims.
 THE MORGUE 227

FOR THOSE CUT OFF, “I drove to New Orleans a week after Hurricane Katrina,” Vanessa Gezari explains, “mainly
to gather string for future stories. It was clear that the hurricane would transfigure the South,
A LIFE PRIMEVAL displacing tens of thousands of people, transforming a major city and altering the racial and
By Vanessa Gezari economic composition of at least three states. I knew that as a national reporter, I’d be writing
St. Petersburg Times — Sept. 12, 2005 about these changes for months, and I didn’t want to be forced to re-create damage I hadn’t seen.
< MORE ON STORY STRUCTURE, PAGE 50 “But after I’d spent a few days in New Orleans, my editor and I decided that I should do a
story right then to give readers a sensory picture of the empty city. The situation was strange
enough, the sense of displacement powerful enough that even though I didn’t feel I had a single
blockbuster character or narrative, I thought I might be able to pull together an evocative piece
that would put people in the ruins.
“I reported the story over about four days, drawing not just on my interviews and observations
about other people, but very heavily on things I saw and felt, what I thought about driving through
the deserted streets after nightfall, my own uneasiness, fear and wonder at what was happening.
The hardest thing about writing it was stepping back from the reporting and getting clear about
the idea I wanted to express, then choosing the best details to convey that idea to readers.”

I
GEZARI’S COMMENTARY: n the basement of a house on Panola way down deserted highways. Helicop-
At first this story had a
completely differ-
Street, Armand Rodriguez’s girl- ters drone overhead, carrying away the
ent lead. My editors friend moved the porcelain elephants living, and along Interstate 10, trucks
unexpectedly held it a
day, and sometime that
and glass bells to the top shelf, along with wait to ferry away the dead.
night, I realized that the a college textbook called “Society: the On Esplanade Avenue just north of the
textbook wasn’t just a
nice detail but contained
Basics.” French Quarter, an Army truck rumbles
the central idea of the The book says the Earth began 5 bil- past big old houses with white columns I saw this on my last
story. Then I knew I had
to find a way to use it to
lion years ago, and for a long time, there and gracious balconies. half-day of reporting.
It’s an important detail
bracket the rest of the was no life at all. Then came plants and “Attention citizens,” a recorded voice because it uses
reporting.
animals, and finally people. booms. “If you are trapped or in need of emptiness — the
disembodied voice,
“We see that what we call ‘civilization’ medical assistance, please make as much the absence of human
is relatively recent indeed,” the introduc- noise as possible and you will be rescued. beings — to convey
emptiness. In other
tion says. If you are not injured and are able to parts of the story, I’m
Rodriguez hasn’t read “Society: the walk, please step out on your front porch using solitary people
After introducing the to convey emptiness,
Basics.” He doesn’t need to. Outside and tell us you’re OK.” which is trickier.
big idea, I had to put
readers back on the his window, Panola Street is a stagnant No one steps out. The truck passes.
street. Clear, sharp canal. Big blue dragonflies buzz over the The street is silent again.
details are usually the
quickest way to do that. water and magpies cry from the trees. Only a few thousand people remain Here is some obligatory
The neighbors are long gone. here, in a city that was home to some nut graf stuff — the
change in population,
Despite a note from my “I have been so lonely around here,” half-million two weeks ago. Emptiness the effects of looting,
editor, someone on the says Rodriguez, who has been holed up has grown so ordinary that in some the fate of the city’s
copy desk changed this tombs and the curfew
quote. What he said, with his dog since the day after Hurri- neighborhoods, the sight of another — which I tried to write
in true New Orleans cane Katrina hit. human being is like an electric shock. so it wouldn’t seem
fashion, was: “I been like “information” and
so lonely around here.” This isn’t the New Orleans you know. Civilization is a memory evoked by the break the mood of the
It’s not what you remember. Rite Aids with shattered windows and story. Don’t settle for
boring nut grafs. Work
I wrote this section very It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen, pried-open metal grates, the blocks of them over and they
early, knowing that will sing.
many readers would
though you might have imagined it, or ruined houses, the flooded cemeteries
come to the story you might have dreamed it. It is an aban- with their moldering caskets and broken
with memories and
preconceptions about
doned city, where trees grow through angels. At night, the sky is black and thick
New Orleans. I had to windows, water laps under roof lines with stars. There’s a 6 p.m. curfew, and by
get rid of those before I
could show them what
and the pavement is giving way to mud. 9 p.m. it feels like anything could happen.
the city had become. Voices echo down flooded blocks, and In a way, it already has.
When you’re writing
about a big change, it’s
fish swim in the streets. Cicadas are the Never has a modern American city
sometimes useful to tell new jazz. emptied in a few days, leaving behind
people up front: Hey,
this isn’t what you think.
Soldiers patrol the streets in Humvees, miles of ruins that are already giving way
and convoys of police speed the wrong to the persistent decay of the bayou.
228 THE MORGUE

In the 9th Ward, a poor, mainly Afri- “God didn’t make us to live alone,” This is probably the
best quote in the story,
can-American neighborhood in Orleans Bernard says, looking out over the mud partly because it’s got
While we were out on
the water with rescuers,
Parish, the water is so deep that traffic and branches piled in the street. “He the unmistakable ring
of New Orleans speech.
I wrote down every- lights barely clear the surface. At Nation- didn’t make us to live on an island by Look for quotes where
thing, not knowing
whether or when I
al Linen Service down Louisa Street, ourselves.” you can hear the
speaker’s voice. Use
would use it. If you graying sheets are knotted around chain- His mother built this white frame them like drumbeats to
meticulously describe
what you see, detail
link fences, and the Church of Christ is house on Burdette Street; this is the punctuate the story’s
melody.
by detail, you can put flooded halfway up its A-frame facade. A address on his birth certificate. He’s a
readers right there.
Pepsi machine floats by. retired electrician, but he says he doesn’t
These are the archaeological remnants need air conditioning or TV. He has a
of New Orleans: Here was the city, here mosquito coil and a couple of cans of
I argued with my editor
to keep the paragraphs were its people. That’s Muhammad Ali Chef Boyardee. He has a cell phone to
long through this on the wall, there’s a living room couch, call his daughter in New York. He has
section because I
wanted readers to a rocking horse, a basketball. These were Bling-Bling.
feel the cascade their trophies, their photographs of He spends his days talking to the few
of impressions as I
had felt them. I saw births and marriages. This was the gro- people who happen by. He sits on the
myself in these flooded cery store where they shopped, the sign porch, and if the soldiers ask him to
living rooms. I felt the
futility of our efforts to still advertising fresh-cut meat and po’ leave, he’s polite. After all, he says, they
organize the world boy sandwiches and money orders. This work for him. He’s not a criminal.
and, at the same time,
how deeply human was the liquor store, called In a Hurry, He feeds the birds and the cats. At twi-
those efforts were. where they bought beer and cigarettes. light, his street is dead quiet. He sits on The aloe water,
You are not a machine. suggesting a resort to
Don’t be afraid to let There’s the billboard for McDonald’s, the porch with the dog, drinking water primitive remedies,
your feelings illuminate a restaurant they liked, and this painted mixed with the juice of an aloe plant. was a gift. So was the
your writing. dog’s name, a reminder
sign is what’s left of their local joint: He says aloe water can cure anything. A of materialism in a city
“Down Home Cookin’ 24 Hours.” parakeet calls in the trees, and a mock- that had lost everything
it owned. Reporting is
We identify with Dogs still live here. A black beagle ingbird. Bernard listens, shudders. like that: if you work
animals. After Katrina, paddles weakly, trying to reach land in a “Kind of eerie,” he says. at it, good details will
when the lines between come naturally.
people and animals neighborhood that has lost its boundar- In the Carrollton neighborhood of
began to blur, the fate ies. Pit bullterriers prowl porches, get- Uptown a dozen blocks from the Missis- An environmental activ-
of dogs became really
poignant. Whatever ting skinnier by the day, or perch on the sippi River, the water is iridescent with ist in New Orleans told
me that the two basic
happened to dogs roofs of pickups, growling and whining chemicals. It smells of sewage and rotting components of a swamp
was happening to
people, too. at passing boats. Sometimes rescuers garbage, but under all that is the smell of are growth and decay,
and that’s just what
pick them up, but no one knows which earth, the rich loam of a compost heap. was threatening about
dogs are sick, which ones are dangerous. Uptown is a swamp, and somewhere the emptiness after the
flood: the feeling that
The large ones can tip a boat, so crews below the water, the mud is alive. nature was growing
usually leave them behind. This is where Armand Rodriguez while human things
melted away.
At a school on Louisa Street, police in lives, in the pink wooden house on I wanted to get both
a boat try to convince a group of hold- Panola Street with pictures of Ronald of those elements into
the story.
outs to leave. A man in the school says Reagan on the kitchen walls and Hunter
he still hears shooting at night. Peo- S. Thompson novels on the shelves. He Back to the guy we met
ple say that armed looters paddle these is 60, wiry and compact, as steady as a at the beginning. This
kind of ending should
streets in canoes, though there is little ship’s captain. He was born here, and be a reminder and an
left to steal. he has lived here since the hurricane on expansion of the lead
that takes the reader
Across the parish in Uptown, the water bottled water, canned milk and military somewhere new. It’s
is slowly receding. Ben Bernard, 62, is the meals-ready-to-eat. When soldiers came simple and has an
intrinsic logic; it quietly
Dogs again. Relation- last man on his block, maybe the last one knocking last week, he didn’t answer asks the reader to think
ships with dogs had
become the most on his street. He has been here the whole the door. about where the story
has taken him. I chose
important – often the time with his dog, a sweet-tempered “I didn’t want them to force me to a simple structure on
only – relationships
people had left. yellow puppy named Bling-Bling. He leave,” he says. purpose. I didn’t want
anything to distract
says he wouldn’t have survived without He’s a carpenter for the Port of New from the central idea of
her. Orleans, and he has been taking care the story.
 THE MORGUE 229

of things around the house: painting city. Her clothes and photographs are
In these final grafs, I
screens, cutting a hole in the bedroom still here, along with her textbooks.
tried again to weave wall to hang the ironing board. He talks On the timeline inside the front cover
sharp details through
the big idea. I wanted
to Shemp, a big German shepherd. He of “Society: the Basics,” Rodriguez has
a fusion of abstract and tells him what a good boy he is, what a drifted backward. He is somewhere
concrete that would
bring the force of the
real good boy, and Shemp wags his tail between the invention of the telephone
story home. so hard he nearly knocks over the trash in 1876 and the birth of the light bulb in
can. 1879 — his phone works but he has no
The day before Katrina hit, Rodriguez electricity. He has a radio that runs about I rewrote this ending
drove with his girlfriend, Cristina Lou- half an hour before he has to wind it up about a dozen times
before I got it to where
Thank God for the
viere, to Texas. When they came back, a again. He has a small silver .22-caliber it is. I’m still not entirely
alligator. I needed 4-foot alligator crawled across the road pistol, but no bullets. There’s a canoe in convinced. I wanted the
Cristina’s tears, not just story to end quietly,
Rodriguez’s survivalism,
right in front of them. This was on the back yard. He’s out of Jack Daniels. and I liked the idea
to convey how Airline Highway in the middle of New The loneliness is the worst part, and that sleep had become
unnerving the whole a refuge. I think it
situation had become.
Orleans. The water was already rising, the stench of mold and death. The nights achieves the feeling of
and Cristina started to cry. She left soon are quiet and hot, but when sleep finds an ending, which is half
the battle.
afterward to stay with family outside the him, it overtakes him completely.

OPENERS Outlined against a blue-gray

October sky, the Four Horsemen
GULF SHORES, Ala. – Sometimes
Chucky has three-chicken days, and some-
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
rode again. In dramatic lore they are times Chucky has six-chicken days. But
known as Famine, Pestilence, Destruction and Death. Chucky does not enjoy no-chicken days —
These are only aliases. Their real names are Stuhldreher, Miller, and yesterday was his second in a row.
Crowley and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend So Chucky was hungry. And this was a
cyclone before which another fighting Army football team was problem, because Chucky, a 12-foot, half-
swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds yesterday afternoon ton American alligator that had spent the
as 55,000 spectators peered down on the bewildering panorama past 15 years at the Alabama Gulf Coast
spread on the green plain below. Zoo, was nowhere to be found.
Grantland Rice, The New York Herald Tribune, Hurricane Ivan’s eye blasted through the
penning the most famous passage in sportswriting history (1924) resort town of Gulf Shores early yesterday,
ripping down the fence around Chucky’s
Much later, after nearly two years of searching for her killer, pond.
after the interviews at the station and the re-enactments in the Zoo Director Patty Hall loves Chucky,
dark and the lie-detector tests and the growing list of blind alleys as she loves every animal in her care, but
and one sudden moment of stupid good luck — long after all she still dispatched a four-man crew with
that, they finally arrested a man and charged him with rape and shotguns and pistols to kill him, if neces-
first-degree murder. sary. The heavily armed men sloshed their
An investigator asked a neighbor: way through the waist-deep water that Ivan
Does he look like a murderer to you? deposited on the zoo grounds, bringing a
The neighbor said: raw mix of the Wild Kingdom and the Wild
What does a murderer look like? West to the aftermath of the storm.
Tom French, St. Petersburg Times “As long as Chucky’s been fed, Chucky’s
happy,” said Hall, wearing hip boots
Ann Coulter is talking too loud. Sitting across from me at an and wielding a plywood board in case
outdoor table at a restaurant on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, she encountered water moccasins — or
she’s almost shouting, laughing, tossing her long blond hair, flail- Chucky. “Right now, I don’t think he’s
ing her hands, her voice drowning out the people at the adjacent happy.”
tables with her staccato one-liners. They gradually fall silent, turn, — Michael Grunwald and Manuel Roig-Franzia,
The Washington Post, opening a story that ran the day
and stare. John Colapinto, Elle magazine after Hurricane Ivan ripped through Alabama in 2004
230 THE MORGUE

“THIS ONE’S When a deadly fire struck Seton Hall University, the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger dispatched a team
FOR REAL!” of reporters to the scene. This was the lead story in the paper’s coverage; other related stories focused
on the students, their families, the response at local hospitals and the investigation into the blaze.
By Mary Jo Patterson Notice how this story summarizes the essential facts about the fire while incorporating a variety
Star-Ledger — Jan. 28, 2002 of gripping anecdotes. Notice how many sources (and interviews) contributed to the story. And
< MORE ON COVERING FIRES ON PAGE 100 notice how, despite the horror and anguish, the reporter maintains a professional, objective tone.

A
small but intense fire sent acrid black smoke through heads in their pillows at the sound of the alarm. “I didn’t
a dormitory at Seton Hall University in South Orange think anything of it,” said Tom Semko of Howell. “We’ve
before dawn yesterday, killing three students and had fire alarms going off all the time during finals week, and
sending hundreds of others on a flight for their lives. I figured, ‘More of the same.’ ”
Fifty-eight students were injured, four critically, by the Hellish sights and sounds confronted fleeing students.
flames and thick smoke that billowed from a third-floor Anthony Neis, an 18-year-old from Staten Island, passed a
lounge. The smoke blinded and choked 18- and 19-year- young man who was clad only in shorts, covered with burns,
olds as they felt their way, or crawled, to stairwells. Others, and moaning. “He must have been in such pain,” said Neis,
terrorized, remained in their rooms, crying and begging for who escaped unharmed.
help. At least one jumped from his window before firefight- Carrie Fleisher, a freshman from Hillsborough, saw a
ers could extend rescue ladders. teenager on fire. “He was totally blackened. Some kids were
Nearly a score of false alarms in recent weeks had caused hitting him with a jacket. He was conscious and hitting him-
many students to disregard the fire alarm at first. Then, as self, too,” she said.
the smoke filled the building, they realized this was no prank. Yatin Patel, 19, of Jersey City, trapped in his room, heaved
‘‘I heard people screaming. . . . ‘This one’s for real! This mattresses out his window, with his roommate’s help. Para-
one’s for real!’” said Jason Esposito, a resident of the dormi- lyzed with fear, he was standing at the window, contemplat-
tory, Boland Hall. ing jumping, when a firefighter burst into the room. Patel
Alison Liptak was one of those who discounted the alert. wet a sock, put it over his mouth and nose and — grabbing
“I just thought it was another false alarm. I just laid there, the kneeling fireman’s left leg — began to crawl out into the
kind of ignoring it, until I heard someone running down the corridor. His roommate held Patel’s leg in turn and crawled
hall,” said Liptak, 18, of Clifton. The pajamas-clad freshman behind them. The trio moved slowly through the darkness,
escaped from her fourth-floor room to find another horror under flames licking from ceiling tiles, to a stairwell.
scene outside. She looked up to see students leaning out Down the hall, Virginia Wannamaker dialed 911 on her
windows, pleading for help. cell phone as she waited in fear with her roommate. The
As of early this morning, investigators had not pinpointed 18-year-old from Irvington heeded the advice of the fire
the cause of the fire, but they had ruled out careless smoking dispatcher, stuffing a comforter under the door and sealing
and faulty electrical wiring. it tight with packing tape. They opened windows and turned
Authorities identified the three dead students as John on a fan.
Giunta of Vineland, Aaron Karol of Green Brook and Frank South Orange fire sources said they were alerted to the fire
Caltabilota of West Long Branch. Two of the three were at 4:28 a.m. by the college’s public safety department and
found in the lounge, burned beyond recognition, according had the fire under control by approximately 4:45 a.m. Offi-
to sources at the scene. The third, whom fellow students cials on the scene could not pinpoint exactly when the blaze
tried to revive, was found in a bedroom nearby. started, however. Seven other municipalities also responded
The most seriously injured were three of 12 victims admit- to the general alarm fire.
ted to the burn unit of Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Liv- University officials said the building’s occupants included
ingston, and one victim at University Hospital in Newark. 18 paid resident assistants, one priest and four professional
By day’s end, 45 students had been treated and released staffers. In the event of a fire, resident assistants are to knock
from seven area hospitals, most suffering from smoke inha- on every door, said Lisa Grider, a spokeswoman for Seton
lation. Hall. South Orange firefighters conducted an extensive pri-
The six-story Boland Hall — built in 1952 as the universi- mary search of the dorm, followed by two more, she added.
ty’s first dormitory — is home to 600 Seton Hall freshmen. Still, two freshmen slept through the entire ordeal unde-
University officials said that 18 false alarms had been reg- tected and emerged unscathed hours later, at 2 p.m.
istered at the 350-room structure since Sept. 1, fewer than The blaze was confined to a lounge area off the elevators,
in previous years. Still, a number of students buried their open on two sides to student rooms. Students use the area —
 THE MORGUE 231

furnished with three plush velour sofas, a rug, a cork bulletin who are constantly pulling the alarms.”
board and pay phones — to socialize and study. Sometimes Rob Cardiello, who lived two doors from the lounge,
they nap there, too. was one of the few students to report actually seeing fire.
University officials said smoking is allowed in dorm rooms He hadn’t heard the smoke alarms, having put on earplugs
but prohibited in the lounge. In the fire, the sofas were before going to sleep. Suddenly he awoke, wet and sweaty.
completely burned; the ceiling, cinderblock walls, and low- ‘‘I looked to the right, to the lounge, and saw (orange)
pile rug were singed. Fire officials speculated that the two flames,” he said. As he exited the building in the opposite
dead students found in the lounge had left their rooms and direction, the sharp black smoke penetrated his lungs like
became disoriented. acid. “I could feel the whole way down the hallway: Your
Boland Hall is one of six dormitories on campus and one lungs are burning,” Cardiello said. The 18-year-old fresh-
of two without sprinklers. It is equipped with smoke detec- man from Clark was treated at Mountainside Hospital in
tors and 55 fire extinguishers, one of which was found, used, Montclair for smoke inhalation.
near the fire, university officials said. As Cardiello ran toward safety, he smacked into two
‘‘This is a heartbreaking tragedy for Seton Hall University, students who were running and screaming. He pushed one
for our families, for all the Seton Hall family, and for the toward the right direction, grabbed the other, and charged
larger family of the state,” said Msgr. Robert Sheeran, presi- down the hallway. The smoke was so thick, he said, that they
dent of Seton Hall, a Catholic university founded in 1856. ran past the exit, into a wall.
Some 2,200 of its 10,000 students live on campus. Once outside, Cardiello ran around campus, looking for a
Sheeran suspended all classes, activities, and events through missing friend. “I didn’t really realize how I was feeling until
Sunday pending further notice. I stopped,” he said hours later.
Gov. Christie Whitman, who visited the scene, called the All four of the students listed as “very critical” were on
fire a “huge tragedy.” respirators last night. The three at Saint Barnabas, all males,
By all accounts, the hours immediately before the fire had second-degree burns covering from 15 to 56 percent of
passed like most nights at Boland Hall — except for the their bodies. Only one, Alvaro Ilanos, was identified.
lingering air of jubilation caused by Seton Hall’s unexpected At University Hospital, the patient was Dana Christmas,
win, 78-70, over basketball archrival St. John’s. The winter a resident adviser who suffered severe burns and respira-
semester, which began last Thursday, was fresh and new. tory distress. Christmas, 21, of Paterson was unconscious
Students were up late, as usual. and attached to a ventilator to ease pressure on her smoke-
For example, Tiffany Hill, an 18-year-old from Maryland, damaged lungs. Doctors said she had burns over 60 percent
had spent the night alternately studying her economics of her body, including her face, back and extremities.
textbook and bouncing between friends across the hall and ‘‘She has fairly extensive injuries. Her condition is being
in the lounge. Around 3 a.m. she finally called it quits and monitored on a minute-to-minute basis,” said Sanjeev Kaul,
retired to her room. She dozed for about an hour, when her the trauma physician attending to her.
roommate woke her, saying she needed to talk. Exhausted, News of the fire hit the airwaves early, frightening parents.
Hill put her off and fell back asleep, but woke not many In Teaneck, Roderico Sumilang and his wife, whose alarm
minutes later. radio had been set to an all-news station, heard about the
This time her friend was in her face. “Tiff, get up, get up,” fire the second they woke up. Sumilang turned on the TV.
she yelled. “It’s real.” Hill had not heard the alarms, but she He dialed the number of the cell phone he had just given his
smelled smoke as soon as she shook herself awake. Someone son, Romil. The son’s roommate answered.
banged at the door. ‘‘He said, ‘I can’t talk, the firemen are trying to get us
‘‘We put on our stuff and ran,” Hill said, interviewed out,’ ” the father recalled. “I said, ‘Where’s my son?’ He said,
hours later as she walked across campus, carrying the teddy ‘He might have gotten out the back.’”
bear slippers she had put on to escape the fire. Sumilang called the college but got a recording. Again, he
Michael McCaffrey, a roommate of victim Aaron Karol, dialed his son’s cell phone. This time, a different voice deliv-
was still awake when the alarms sounded. He was not in his ered the news: Romil had been taken away in an ambulance.
third-floor room but on the floor above, watching movies Many parents endured hours of agonizing uncertainty.
with friends. Others counted their blessings to find children alive. So
‘‘My bed is on the other side of the lounge wall,” McCaf- did their kids.
frey said. “If I was there, I probably wouldn’t be here right ‘‘I think God had his arms around me this morning,” said
now. And when I heard the fire alarm, at first I didn’t react Nicole McFarlane, 19, a freshman from Summit who lived
much. I was very nonchalant. There’s a fire alarm almost on Boland Hall’s fifth floor. “That’s why I got out. I had
every night sometimes, it seems. It’s those idiot frat pledges God’s arms around me.”
232 THE MORGUE

FAMILY LOSES ALL Reporter Sanne Specht explains the origins of her story about fire victim Luis Davila:
IN HOUSE FIRE “Davila’s co-worker called the newsroom to pitch his friend’s plight for one of our weekly
‘Hometown Hero’ stories. ‘Can the community help?’ he asked. We’d already done a brief on
By Sanne Specht the structure fire. This story would demonstrate the family’s material losses — and how close
Mail Tribune (Medford, Ore.) — June 1, 2005 they came to losing their youngest child. It would also allow the community to be the ‘hero’
< MORE ON COVERING FIRES ON PAGE 100 if they chose to help the family.
“I called Davila. In the initial telephone interview, he seemed anxious for publicity and
eager to get cash donations. He was just back from the bank where he’d opened a special
trust account, he said. We made an appointment to meet at the scene the next day.
“When the photographer and I arrived, the family was not there. The family dog — a
young female Great Pyrenees — was tied to a large tree next to the burned-out trailer.
The dog’s brown eyes were red-rimmed and her normally white coat was greasy and black
with smoke. She flinched when I went to pet her, then licked my hand.”
Specht’s journalistic skepticism becomes evident in her comments below. But as you’ll see,
she managed to conceal her doubts in the finished story.

SPECHT’S CENTRAL POINT — Luis Davila picked

COMMENTARY:
In our phone
up his young son, stepped over a melt-
conversation, Davila ed Hula-Hoop and carried him into the
described his young burned-out husk of their former home.
son’s rough night
after the fire: “He The toddler squirmed in his father’s
was coughing and arms.
smoke was coming
out his nose. He “He was the one inside the house when
couldn’t sleep all the fire started,” said Davila, looking at
night. I was very
worried.” I was the charred wreckage — then back at his
surprised when 22-month-old son, Abraham.
Davila told me
he hadn’t sought Davila’s three older children were at
medical attention for school late on the morning of May 18.
the toddler. The EMTs
had checked the boy Davila was at a neighbor’s house. Davila’s
out that morning, wife, Silvia, popped in Abraham’s favorite
he replied.
cartoon video: “Finding Nemo.”
BOB PENNELL / MAIL TRIBUNE
I wanted the readers Silvia’s plan was to keep the boy occu- Luis Davila carries his son, Abraham, though the charred remains
to go back to that pied while she slipped out to the yard to do of their home in Medford, Ore., after it was destroyed by fire.
morning, right
before the fire — the some chores, he said.
“It was a day like “She put in ‘Nemo’ and was feeding the Fire officials said the fire probably started
any other, until . . .”
scenario. dog,” said Davila, 39. in the family’s wood stove. Although fire
But looking back toward the house, Silvia crews arrived within seven minutes, the
I had already spoken
Davila was saw a sight that sent her heart racing. Black home was already fully ablaze, said Central to the fire officials
attempting to control smoke billowed out of the windows. Point Deputy Fire Marshall Don Hickman. before arriving at
the dialogue. It was Davila’s property.
clear he wanted to “She ran in and grabbed my son,” said “We have digital photos of the fire blow- They validated the
be the sole narrator. Davila. “Then she came running down the ing out the windows,” said Hickman. “They ferocity of the fire,
He would wander off the totality of the
with the photo- street crying ‘Luis! Luis! Our house is on absolutely did lose everything.” family’s property
grapher when I was fire!’ ” Davila is grateful no one was hurt in the loss and its monetary
quietly writing notes value. The fire-
but immediately Davila, two doors away, responded blaze, but the loss of their uninsured home fighters’ statements
shadow me when quickly to his wife’s calls. The trailer’s and its contents — estimated at a total of also painted a
I’d ask questions of sympathetic portrait
family members. phone lines, already melted, were useless. $33,000 — has been a severe blow. of Davila.
I wasn’t having Neighbors called 9-1-1 as Davila used the “That cute little boy was pretty upset,”
trouble understand-
ing their comments, garden hose in a futile effort to stem the said Hickman. “Mr. Davila told me the
but his constant furious blaze engulfing the 25-year-old sin- stuff can be replaced, but his family can’t.”
interruptions to
“translate” derailed gle-wide mobile home. Silvia tried to calm The American Red Cross is working to
their answers — her terrified son. provide some relief, while neighbors have
making it difficult to
get their voices in “He had smoke coming out of his nose,” donated clothes and food. But, for now, the
the story. said Davila. six-member family is crammed into one of
 THE MORGUE 233

Davila continued the property’s outbuildings, Davila said. more is needed, he said.
interrupting my Willie Woolfolk
conversations with Davila’s 9-year-old daughter, Diane, “He’s got a family,” said Woolfolk.
provided the
family members, so attends sixth grade at Scenic Middle “Clothes, food, toys — all gone. I’ve never “Everyman” voice:
I waited for him to someone who can
be distracted before School. She said living in relative home- had anything like that happen. It must be
relate but isn’t
approaching his lessness in the aftermath of the fire “has devastating.” directly related to
daughter again. She the fire. Also, for
was sticking close, been a nightmare.” Davila said his priority is getting his fam-
the purposes of this
and I wanted her “It’s hard to sleep,” said Diane. “I’ve ily back on its feet. He admitted he’s at a story, it led into the
story. If that hadn’t “What can the
worked, I would have been used to this house since I was born.” loss as to what to do next.
community do to
told Davila I needed Willie Woolfolk has worked with Davila “I’m no rich man,” said Davila. “I’ve been help?” section.
to talk to Diane with-
out his “interpret- for the past seven years. Both are union poor all my life. But we lost quite a bit.”
ations.” However, laborers and Woolfolk said their union has Donations may be made to the Luis and
I doubt she’d have
spoken as freely. raised about $500 to help the family. But Silvia Davila Fire Fund (555-5555). . . .

FINAL COMMENTS FROM SANNE SPECHT:

“Davila had a large number of roosters leg-staked on his property. He was evasive answering
questions about the birds. But, when asked directly, Davila reluctantly admitted there’d been a lot
more prior to the fire. He was clearly agitated by the topic. ‘Why you want to know about my chickens,
Sanne? Please don’t talk about them, OK?’
“Back in the newsroom, I told the editor I had some concerns. As I did for all ‘Hometown Hero’
subjects, I ran Davila for criminal violations. He had a number of traffic violations, but nothing that
dissuaded us from doing the story.
“Next, I called animal control to check for complaints. The animal control agent said they were
watching the property, but no action had been taken. Ironically, prior to the fire, Davila had lodged his
own complaint for the loss of several roosters. The birds had been killed by a neighbor’s loose dog, he’d
said. The agent said Davila had listed the birds as worth thousands of dollars — red-flagging the agent
to suspect Davila may be involved in cockfighting.
“In the absence of hard evidence of current criminal activity, I wrote the story. I also gave the agent
my name and number, requesting a call if their investigation turned up anything.
“This story brought forth a wave of folks offering donations. Even months later, community
members continued calling to offer the family clothes and furniture.
“Animal control did not call.”

Joe and M.A. Rowe are sitting in their

kitchen at 11:43 on a cold Sunday morn-
OPENERS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
Their house would collapse in a smoking
ruin, and tears would stain their faces for
ing when they hear a pickup truck in the hours afterward, but at least they had the
gravel driveway of their large adobe house, RoweVista. family pictures.
“Oh, God,” they say in unison, “They’re here.” “That was all we took,” Miguel Mejia, a security
Through the wide windows of their kitchen, they see guard in his 30s, said as he wiped his eyes.
a man with a rifle run behind the truck and another On Sunday afternoon, he and his companion,
man with a rifle run around the side of the house and Carmen Romero, sat in their Toyota 4-Runner across
aim through the sun-room windows. A third man the street from what remained of their hilltop home
crouches behind the short adobe wall in front of the above Claremont. Embers still blew off the gutted
Rowes’ porch, only his rifle barrel visible. structure. The melted hulk of Romero’s Lexus looked
“Go dial 911,” Joe Rowe tells his wife. He picks up like it was fused to the driveway.
his Ruger 9 mm pistol and walks into the laundry The couple had fled Saturday night with their two
room, peeking outside from behind the shaded glass of children, 14 and 3, when a wildfire charged up the can-
the laundry-room door. “What do you want?” he yells. yon behind their home.
“We’re from the Republic of Texas, and you’re our “Just the pictures,” said Romero, her voice trailing
prisoners of war,” a voice calls out from behind the off to a sob.
adobe wall. Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times,
Judd Slivka, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, opening a story headlined, “What Do You Save
using a dramatic-action lead to open a story on violent Texas militias From a House Full of Memories?”
234 THE MORGUE

INTO THE FLAMES Less than a month after the Sept. 11 attacks, firefighters had attained heroic status in
By Stuart Tomlinson American culture. When Oregonian editors heard about the dramatic rescue of a
The Oregonian — Oct. 4, 2001 3-year-old girl, they asked writing coach Jack Hart to work with reporter Stuart Tomlinson
to create a chronological account of the event. The resulting piece provides a dramatic example
< MORE ON COVERING FIRES ON PAGE 100 of how a news story can be transformed into a gripping narrative.

L
TOMLINSON’S t. Jason McGowan was asleep when what one battalion chief referred to, with
COMMENTARY: They’ve mostly
We had many
the call came into Gresham’s Station heavy irony, as “beautiful obstructions.” cleared the obstacles
different ways to No. 72 at 1:25 a.m. Wednesday: a fire Then they arrived at a steel gate strung getting to the house,
get into the story, but the truck won’t
but chose simple
at 2945 S.E. Ambleside Drive. between brick pillars, the entrance to fit. They make the
chronological order As he has a hundred or more times 2945 Ambleside. The truck would not fit decision: Go! Now it’s
— starting at the full speed ahead.
beginning and then
before, McGowan stepped into his grubby through.
letting the action brown turnouts and jumped into Engine Byrne and McGowan grabbed a 21/2-gal- The things they
unfold and rise.
72, with firefighter Fred Butler at the wheel lon stainless-steel fire extinguisher, an ax, carried.
and firefighter Eric Byrne in the third seat. a prybar and a flashlight. Weighed down
As they rolled south on Kane Road by their gear and the air tanks strapped to More obstacles;
they’re pumping
toward Hogan Drive, the radio crackled, their backs, the two men ran up another adrenaline. Jack
and dispatchers told them a 3-year-old girl 500 feet of driveway to the white clapboard pulled these details
The exposition. out of me, stuff that
The players have was trapped in the basement. McGowan, house with the green trim. might never make it
launched into action; a nine-year veteran, remembers that news Fire and smoke streamed from the win- into a first-day story
one of them is a about a fire rescue.
father. making him think about his own 3-year- dows.
old daughter, Rylee. Fowler stood in the driveway holding 54-
But the situation wasn’t good. McGowan year-old Shirley Huddleston, who rents the
knew by looking at his map that the house house, in a bear hug. She was screaming.
was at the far end of Ambleside Drive, a It was Mrs. Huddleston who woke up to How do you get in
the basic facts of
winding one-lane road that does indeed the smell of smoke and the insistent beep the fire — who lived
amble, through a stand of old cedars beside of a smoke alarm. She called 9-1-1 and there, how the fire
was detected —
the green water of Johnson Creek. hurried two of her grandchildren — Zane without gumming up
They passed the hydrant at Hogan and Langley-Harvey, 2, and Bryce Langley, 8 the narrative? This
approach (what to
Ambleside, the closest water source. The — outside. They were safe in Fowler’s com- call it — breathless?)
house was another 3,500 feet up Amble- mand rig. seemed to work
best.
side, and Engine 72 carried only 1,000 feet Huddleston’s daughter, 29-year old
Rising action. of hose. Melanie Langley, who also lives in the
In the previous three Butler threaded the 20,000-pound fire house, was away at work. But Huddle-
grafs, the firefighters
are presented with engine down the road, clearing the hefty stone’s 3-year-old granddaughter, Harley
obstacles: the trunks of the cedars by inches. Then he Langley-Harvey, was trapped in a basement
winding and narrow
road, squeezing neared the wooden bridge across Johnson bedroom.
through old cedars, Creek. He hesitated. McGowan knew about
the extra 2,500 feet
the bridge, and he knew it was rated to hold Basement choked with smoke
to the hydrant, the
flimsy bridge. the heavy engine. But it looked flimsy. Fowler told his two firefighters to go The climax. McGowan
and Byrne actually
The radio barked again: Battalion Chief around the far right of the house. Byrne enter the burning
Larry Fowler came on the air. He was broke out a window and reached in to basement. They still
have obstacles to
already at the house, he reported, and the unlock the door. Fire rolled along the overcome — they
little girl was still trapped inside. ceiling and glowed behind a wall. Smoke can’t see, but they
can hear. I must have
“There’s a kid in there,” McGowan choked the basement all the way down to called McGowan back
shouted at Butler. “We’re going.” the floor. And the firefighters had no hose 10 times at home for
additional details
And go they did, scuffing the rig’s mas- to beat back the flames. about the rescue, the
sive tires along the low railing of the narrow Byrne went right; McGowan went left. equipment he and
Byrne used and how
bridge. Byrne couldn’t even see the floor he was they felt during the
They twisted up the road, past small crawling on. He had a hard time believing rescue.
houses tucked into the woods and through that anyone could be alive in the heat and
 THE MORGUE 235

smoke. The fire apparently started when a candle

But he heard a child cry, and he yelled, was left burning on a wooden mantelpiece.
“Hey, kid, come to me, come to me.” The house is a total loss.
And then he felt her head. He picked up And Lt. Jason McGowan went back to
the surprisingly lightweight form of the work — he had another 24 hours on his
girl. Then he and McGowan ran out of the shift. They call it “working a double,” a
inferno into the forest, bathed in the cool 48-hour shift.
light of the full moon. He laid little Harley But he was still at the address on Amble-
on the ground, and she started to cry. side Drive late Wednesday morning when
It was the sound of life. From the time the father of the three children, Peter Har-
the men sprinted to the house to the time vey, stopped by. Harvey shook McGowan’s
they pulled Harley from the flames took hand, gave him a hug and thanked him. We struggled with
the ending, and Jack,
four minutes. I was glad to do it, McGowan said. who has worked
The denouement. But there was more to do. Fowler told Byrne slept and spent some time with his extensively with
They’ve made the Pulitizer Prize-
rescue, but there is them a man was still inside. 3-year old daughter, Allison. winning writer Tom
still someone inside. They went back into the burning base- Everyone told them they were heroes: Hallman, pushed
Unfortunately, they for short, punchy
can’t save them. It ment and ran into the same hellish condi- Photographers wanted pictures, perhaps sentences. Who was
does not diminish tions. Again they crawled along the floor, with them holding their own daughters. I to argue?
what they’ve done,
but adds a note of sweeping back and forth. But the fire was Their emotions were mixed, the firefight-
sorrow to an other- too hot, and the ceiling was starting to ers said. They wished they could have saved
wise uplifting story.
We tried to set that buckle, starting to fall. Six minutes, seven. two lives.
tone throughout. They had to retreat. Both men said they never once thought
about the events of Sept. 11, when so many
Friend dies in fire of their brother firefighters died doing the
Terry L. Corcoran, 27, a friend of the same thing they had just done: running into That final phrase
Huddleston family who was only staying a burning building, trying to save lives. from McGowan kept
running around my
the night because his truck wouldn’t start, “We don’t make a habit of going into head all day, and
died in the smoke and flames. burning houses with only a fire extinguish- seemed the perfect
kicker. In late 2004,
Harley was treated for smoke inhalation er,” McGowan said. McGowan, working
at Emanuel Hospital & Health Center and “But,” he added, “we have a slogan as a reserve police
officer, pulled a
was released a few hours later. The Ameri- around here: woman from a
can Red Cross put the family up in a hotel. “ ‘Whatever the day demands.’ ” burning car.

In cold, wet blackness 240 feet below the swim for a time in their heavy mining clothes.
world that didn’t know if they were alive OPENERS At one point, they tore up a cardboard
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
or dead, nine miners took turns snuggling box, jotted last words to their loved ones
each other for warmth. Since Wednesday night when and dropped them into a pail they affixed to a wall.
they’d accidentally dug into a neighboring abandoned At another point, they built a dike of cinder blocks
mine and their mine was inundated by an explosion of and tried to block the water with piles of canvas, but it
millions of gallons of water, they’d spent hours swim- was no use.
ming, walking, standing and crouching in the frigid So the nine began tying themselves together. If they
water that glowed orange in the intermittent light from were going to drown, they were going to drown togeth-
their headlamps. er, and their bodies could be found together, too.
They found refuge in a chamber about 20 feet wide The water kept coming. At one point it rose so high
and 4 feet high. But when the water began rising, the that the nine men strained to stretch their necks above it
men kept moving, hoping to find an even higher spot. and gasped for air.
Once they even tried to break through another rock wall Then, the water stopped rising.
to bring the water level down. Bob Batz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, opening a story
Instead, the water rose over their heads and they had to on the rescue of the Quecreek coal miners in Pennsylvania
236 THE MORGUE

FOUR We’ve selected these crime briefs not because they’re odd (although they are) but because they contain the
CRIME kinds of facts, quotes and sources typical of most crime stories. Notice:
� How that second story uses a chronological narrative, a “martini” structure, to re-create the incident.
BRIEFS (For a longer example, see the next page.) Chronologies often provide the best way to explain WHAT HAPPENED.
< MORE ON COVERING CRIME � How some of these leads are more featurized than others, which makes the story more of a brite than a brief.
ON PAGE 102 That’s a popular approach, provided the topic and tone are appropriate. Are they, in these cases?

An Englewood woman has landed in jail after to go back and give the money back.” but he hasn’t abandoned hope of finding Jef-
allegedly padding her bra with a rare greenwing Police said Mr. Ellis returned to the bank 20 ferson’s truck.
parrot. minutes after the robbery, the cash stuffed in his “This thing is so unique,” he said. “What would
Jill Knispel, 35, faces felony charges for steal- jacket pocket. He could not get in, though. anyone do with it?”
ing the bird from her employer, Baby Exotic After a bank is robbed, the institution usually Larry Ballard
Birds of Englewood, after she traded it for a locks its doors. Mr. Ellis tried banging on the The Des Moines Register
vintage 1964 Karmann Ghia automobile. window to get an employee’s attention, but to
According to the Fish and Wildlife Conserva- no avail, police said. [ Note: This crime occurred Sunday, Dec. 25 ]
tion Commission, Knispel bragged to the car Harmony police Officer Robert Santo, who ’Twas the morning after Christmas and all
owners that she had flown the coop with the used to work for Ambridge, spotted Mr. Ellis, through the Coca-Cola bottling plant, not a
$2,000 bird after nesting it in her brassiere. matched him to the description of the robber, creature was stirring — except for the would-be
The car owners turned out to be close friends and notified other officers in the area. Mr. Ellis burglar hanging head-first from an air vent.
of the rightful owner, and squawked. After DNA was arrested without a struggle. That’s not exactly how the story goes, nor
tests confirmed the bird was the baby of parrots Police charged him with robbery, theft and likely the way 23-year-old Jason Bibeau hoped
owned by Hobbs Guenther, Knispel was booked receiving stolen property. He was held on things would end up.
at the Sarasota County Jail under a $1,000 bond. $100,000 straight bond and jailed. But police said workers arriving Monday morn-
“The circumstances of the case are the most Sgt. Bufalini said he had never heard of a rob- ing at the Coca-Cola Bottling Co., 912 E. Broad-
bizarre I’ve ever encountered,” said veteran FWC ber returning his proceeds until yesterday. way in Bolivar, found the Urbana man stuck in
investigator Lenny Barshinger. “Too bad all bank robbers aren’t like this,” he the air vent, his legs dangling on top of the roof.
But then, Barshinger may not have heard of said. His bag, later recovered by authorities, con-
Giraldo Wong, charged in August with smug- Jonathan D. Silver tained no toys. Instead, it carried tools to aid the
gling two songbirds — tiny Cuban grassquits — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette break-in, including a crowbar and pliers.
into Miami by hiding them in his underpants. Police estimated Bibeau was hanging for one
The News-Press (Fort Myers, Fla.) It’s been more than a month since the clown to two hours before he was found. They had to
last laughed. get the Bolivar Fire Department to extract him.
It’s not every day that a robber gives instead That’s how long Delmer Jefferson of Des “He couldn’t go backwards and he couldn’t go
of takes. Moines has searched for his miniature, flame- forward,” said Bolivar Police Chief Michael Seib-
But Ambridge police said that’s what hap- emblazoned, bright yellow tow truck. The one he ert. “You had to see it. It was quite intriguing.”
pened yesterday when a man attempted to built himself. The one the kids flocked to when Bibeau was charged with second-degree
return a wad of cash to the bank he had alleg- he drove it in parades in his greasepaint, red burglary and first-degree property damage. He
edly robbed minutes earlier. nose and goofy shoes. is being held in the Polk County Jail in lieu of
“He told us he knew he did wrong and he “It’s a clown car. It shouldn’t be hard to spot,” $25,000 bail.
wanted to make it right,” Ambridge police Sgt. Jefferson said. “They took the trailer, too. They Bibeau told Bolivar police he gained access to
Rick Bufalini said of suspect Andre Ellis. took the whole thing.” the roof by placing a PVC pipe against the building
Police said Mr. Ellis, 39, walked the nine blocks Jefferson’s pride and joy disappeared July 5 and climbing it. He later “ripped out a vent” and
from his apartment to ESB Bank on busy Mer- from a parking lot at the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in tried to climb through it. That’s how he got stuck.
chant Street yesterday morning. Altoona. Police have been unable to pinpoint “The guy was basically goofy,” Seibert said.
Upon entering the bank, Mr. Ellis grabbed a the culprit. “He was like Santa Claus stuck in the chimney.”
withdrawal slip and scribbled a demand note on “I’m heartbroken,” said Jefferson, who has A T-shirt over his head hid Bibeau’s identity
the back, Sgt. Bufalini said. At 9:57 a.m., the rob- been a Shriner clown for 34 years and manages from authorities at first. Seibert said an officer
ber handed the piece of paper to a teller. the bar at the lodge. who knew Bibeau responded to the scene.
“Put the money on the counter,” the note said. Jefferson has crafted two other mini parade Bibeau told the officer he put the T-shirt over
“Sorry I did this. God forgive me. I need help.” vehicles, a red semitrailer truck and a toilet- his head because he didn’t want anyone to rec-
The teller handed the robber about $1,100. toting go-kart that looks like a bathroom on ognize him. He later told the officer he broke into
Police said Mr. Ellis left the bank and headed to a wheels. But the tow truck, fashioned from a rid- the bottling company to steal money, police said.
laundromat about a block away. ing lawn mower, was easily his favorite. A stocking cap that lay on the floor below
As police swarmed to the scene, something “I had it just the way I wanted it,” he said, Bibeau appeared to have fallen from the ceiling,
odd happened. Amid the washers and dryers describing the various flashers and sirens that police said. An orange bag of tools near Bibeau’s
and piles of dirty clothes, Mr. Ellis mulled over made children perk up along a parade route. feet was also recovered from the roof. Inside was
his predicament and apparently had some sort Don’t even ask what the toy truck is worth. a crowbar, flashlight and pliers.
of revelation. “I can’t replace it,” Jefferson said. “And it’s not An official at the bottling company told police
“He had a change of heart,” Sgt. Bufalini said. worth anything to anyone else. It’s a clown car.” that the damages would exceed $800.
“He saw all the police cars going around and got Altoona Police Detective Jason Ferguson said Melissa DeLoach
scared and knew that he did wrong. He decided he has looked into one tip that didn’t pan out, The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader
 THE MORGUE 237

CHECK-WRITER SETS OFF This isn’t a sensational crime story — no bullets, no thrilling chases, no dramatic
CLERK’S INTERNAL ALARM rescues — but it’s an excellent example of how engaging a crime story can be when
the reporter re-creates events chronologically. “Without quite realizing it, I used
By Stuart Tomlinson the martini-glass style, a technique I picked up at a Bruce DeSilva workshop,”
The Oregonian — Dec. 19, 2004 Tomlinson says. “It’s a variation on the inverted pyramid. As you work your way
< MORE ON STORY STRUCTURE ON PAGE 50 through the story, you reach the ‘olive’ — the story told in chronological order.”

TOMLINSON’S
COMMENTARY:
TROUTDALE — It was the check for “I thought, ‘Oh, here it comes,’ “ Kramer
It seemed like $80.60 that put Brian Jake Parsons behind said. “He just had the single check and no
sweet justice that a bars. checkbook. . . . Then he gave me an ID card
guy who ripped off
so many people got Parsons, 24, who police say wrote nearly that said he worked for the Department of
caught and sent to $300,000 in bogus checks in three states, Homeland Security. I said, ‘You mean the
the graybar hotel for
writing an itty-bitty couldn’t get that one past Judi Kramer. national Department of Homeland Secu-
check for 80 bucks. “Maybe it’s because I’ve been in retail rity?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ “
So that was the lede
right there. for 36 years,” said Kramer, manager of Alarm bells went off in Kramer’s head
What was his The Great Outdoor Clothing Store at the again when Parsons said he was a 38-year-
I love this quote.
downfall? Not only Columbia Gorge Outlet stores. “I’ve seen old retired U.S. Army major. It shows not only
an itty-bitty check,
but an itty-bitty a lot.” “He looked 25, tops,” she said. how young Parsons
looked, but raises
clerk with tons of Other clerks and store managers in Ore- Because of her experience with bad- the question how
experience.
gon, Washington and Alabama were less check writers, Kramer knew she had to let anyone else bought
the story that he
critical. An employee of a Kirkland, Wash., Parsons write the check and leave the store was a retired army
car dealership accepted a $44,000 check with the merchandise for any charges to officer, let alone a
MAJOR?!
We’re getting the from Parsons for a new black BMW. stick. After Parsons left, she ran the check
charges out of the
way early on,
Parsons was arraigned Friday in Mult- through a verifying machine. The machine
keeping the news nomah County Circuit Court on an indict- spit back numerous alerts and warnings.
up high before
switching to the
ment charging him with three counts of An official at Bank of America confirmed My editor at the time
was a stickler for
narrative. identity theft and three counts of second- what Kramer suspected: The check was no attribution, which
degree forgery. good, according to court records. Parsons really bogs the
story down. Did we
Parsons, who appeared on a video moni- had written more than $10,000 of bad really need to say
tor during his arraignment, pleaded not checks on a nonexistent account, according “according to court
records” twice in the
guilty and is expected to next appear in to the records. same paragraph? I
This is the “turn,” court in January. Kramer called 9-1-1. Troutdale Police think not.
shifting into a juicy How did Parsons’ journey of grandiose watched Parsons as he went shopping,
narrative of how the
crime went down. deception — that stretched from the Deep successfully writing two checks: one for The dollar amount
Narrative can be South to the Pacific Northwest — end in an $201.91 at the Levi’s store and $129.97 of the bad checks
quite effective, even at the other store
on deadline. This outlet mall at the mouth of the Columbia to the Factory Brand Shoes store. He was came from the police
required numerous River Gorge? Police said it was a classic, if arrested trying to write a fourth check. report. Although
callbacks to the these reports are
detectives involved unplanned, sting. He later admitted to police that he used usually chock-full
and to our spunky Just after 10:30 a.m. Dec. 8, the Kirkland, his computer to print about 50 fake checks, of jargon and dry
clerk, the protagonist narrative, cops are
in this narrative. Try Wash., man — who has ties to Florida and according to court records. trained to pick up
and get as many Alabama — walked into the store Kramer Parsons was being held without bail at the small details, if not
small details as subtle nuance.
possible. manages. At 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds, Justice Center jail in Portland on an arrest
Parsons came across as smooth and well- warrant issued for theft in Wetumpka, Ala.
Looks nice . . .
and a big fan of the
dressed, wearing a black turtleneck sweater, He is also being held on a warrant for first-
turtleneck. These tan pants and a navy blue blazer. degree forgery in Hood River County.
are details anyone
other than a retail
But from the first Kramer was suspicious, And Judi Cramer is still selling turtle- The closing kicker.
sales clerk might not she said, especially when Parsons pulled a necks and busting bad check writers. Doesn’t the chief
remember. But they have a nice way of
are nice scene-
single folded check from his pocket to pay “Judi was a little sharper, paid a little bit saying the other
setters: the single for a Tommy Hilfiger turtleneck sweater, a more attention than the other people he clerks were brainless
check, the brand of boobs not to see this
turtleneck, the
plain white cotton turtleneck and a plaid came across,” said Troutdale Police Chief guy coming from a
brand of shirt. Columbia shirt. Dave Nelson. “She did a great job.” mile away?
238 THE MORGUE

MURDERER CAUGHT IN TEXAS Imagine putting your Internet sleuthing skills to work . . . and capturing an
15 YEARS AFTER ESCAPE escaped murderer. That’s what Linda Johnson did.
Johnson, the computer-assisted reporting coordinator at the Lexington Herald-
By Linda J. Johnson Leader, began investigating when the Kentucky corrections department posted a
Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader — Feb. 10, 2005 Web site listing escaped felons. “We focused on Annis,” she said, “because he was
< MORE ON INTERNET RESEARCH ON PAGE 72 the only escaped murderer still at-large, and he was from our coverage area.”
< MORE ON COVERING CRIME ON PAGE 102 Here’s the story that resulted:

JOHNSON’S Ralph Robert Annis, an escaped murderer into escaped prisoners in Kentucky. Even though the cops
COMMENTARY: wouldn’t release
Cops hadn’t returned
who had eluded Kentucky police since 1990, The paper used information services such all their informa-
my calls for two days, was arrested yesterday in Corpus Christi, as Lexis-Nexis and AutoTrack, Internet tele- tion, I had reams of
then left a 5 p.m. docu-ments from the
voice-mail that Annis
Texas. The arrest came just weeks after the phone directories, people-finders and other corrections depart-
had been caught. Herald-Leader began questioning state offi- tools. That particular Michael Winters had ment, Annis’ murder
trial and his common-
Once we decided to cials about their failure to close the case. no driver’s license, didn’t vote and did not law wife’s bankruptcy
focus on Annis, I Annis, who has been living under the alias own a home. file. That turned out
talked to the state to be a gold mine of
patrol officer who Michael Winters, was convicted in 1979 Neighbors at a former address identified information.
investigated the of strangling his girlfriend’s 10-month-old an old prison photo of Annis that the paper
escape, the cop The former
currently in charge of baby, Melanie Kaye Gifford, in Cynthiana. sent them. neighbors cinched
the case and the cop his ID. When the
Two months before a scheduled parole hear- Wolford, who transferred to the Colum- source described
who arrested Annis
for murder in 1979. ing, he fled while on a furlough from the bia post last fall, has had the case for only a Winters to me, I
Between few police knew we had Annis.
Marion Adjustment Center. few months, and he declined to speculate on
documents and 20-
year-old memories, “Oh God, I am so glad,” said Cathy Moore, how things were handled in the past.
it made me wonder Melanie’s mother. She said she feels a huge “It’s an old case, there’s not a lot of hard
how hard they had We’re still waiting to
looked for him. sense of relief that he is back behind bars. leads,” he said in January. But nothing in the see how thin this file
At first, Moore refused “It’s good for Melanie, too,” she said. “He file showed where Annis’ family or his wife’s is. The state patrol
refused to release it
to talk to me. She did this, and he escaped, and now I feel like family had been contacted. until after sentencing,
said she hadn’t been
able to sleep since she can rest.” “I just think there’s been a lack of docu- citing an ongoing
investigation. I have
I first contacted her Police had made little or no progress in mentation in the file,” he said. “I’ve seen it an open records
and wasn’t willing to
dredge up old mem- finding Annis until a former sister-in-law before in some of these older cases.” request ready to
fax to them after
ories. I went to her contacted authorities after she was inter- the trial.
job and convinced
viewed recently by the Herald-Leader. Disappeared with wife, her son
her to be interviewed.
We put this high “We owe you one,” Detective Sgt. Bobby Annis, 53, was the only Kentucky mur-
up so cops couldn’t Sullivan of the state police told a reporter. derer imprisoned by the state who had never
claim credit — which
they later tried “I’m just glad to catch him.” been caught or otherwise accounted for by
to do. They were Lt. Eric Wolford, the investigating detec- officials — until now. I found Reichert’s
thrilled with me, and
even joked about tive at the state police’s Columbia post, said He escaped from Marion while on a parents through their
marriage license —
hiring me for other last night that he was at a loss to explain why 48-hour furlough with his wife, Jane Reich- they married while
cases, until I wrote
a follow-up story they hadn’t been able to find Annis. ert Annis. Before leaving the prison, he he was in prison
— which was in the
showing how little “I don’t know,” he said. “We should have closed a small bank account there, and sold prison file. Corrections
they apparently did
to find Annis. Things been diligently looking for this guy, in my a television for cash while on the furlough. had blacked out the
family’s names, so
got a little chilly opinion.” Then he, his wife and her teenage son left the I ordered a copy
after that.
They “probably should have been” using area for Texas. from VitalChek.com
and drove to Terre
Using the Web the Internet, and he did some searching in He has been in the Corpus Christi area at Haute, Ind., to talk to
had never dawned the last couple of weeks, but that wasn’t until least 12 years, possibly longer, working in her mom. We found
on the cops. other family through
after he was contacted by the newspaper. construction and roofing, something he had Reichert’s father’s
done in Cynthiana before the murder. Jane obituary online.
Clues on the Web Reichert Annis died in 2000, but they had
In a matter of days, the Herald-Leader not been together since the early 1990s.
located a man in Texas using the first five The tip that resulted in the Texas arrest
digits of Annis’ Social Security number and came from Annis’ former sister-in-law. She
the name Michael Winters. Wolford provid- contacted local police in Indiana shortly
ed the alias to the paper, which was looking after she was interviewed by the Herald-
 THE MORGUE 239

Leader. It panned out

The best information the Kentucky police About a week ago, the Nueces County
ever had on Annis came in 1993, when they Sheriff’s Department contacted Detective
received an anonymous tip that he was liv- Sgt. Bobby Sullivan at the Columbia post
ing in a hotel room in Corpus Christi and of the state police, asking for Annis’ file. He
using the alias Michael Winters. e-mailed it to them and didn’t hear any-
“It was not an ambiguous tip,” Wolford thing back. “I kind of figured it didn’t pan
said in the January interview. “It was very out,” he said last night.
specific. ‘Ralph Annis is here, is living in Yesterday, Corpus Christi officials called
Corpus Christi at this address.’ ” Sullivan to tell him Annis had been arrested.
But when Kentucky officials contacted He had changed one date on his birthday
Corpus Christi police with the information, and his Social Security number by two dig-
they did not find Annis at that address. its, Sullivan said.
Annis lived at several addresses in Corpus Annis is being held in the Nueces County
Christi and in nearby Bayside, Texas. jail on a charge of escape. He is being held
Wolford hoped the Wolford didn’t think Annis would show without bond and was to appear before a
story we planned
would lead to a tip.
up after all this time, unless there was a tip magistrate this morning.
He even offered to or he was arrested somewhere and finger- If Annis waives extradition, Wolford said,
do an age-adjusted
photo for the story.
printed. he should be back in Kentucky fairly quick-
But we never got it. The officer in Indiana did some searching ly. If not, it could take a few weeks.
on his own, using the alias and Annis’ Social He faces a sentence one to five years for This has changed;
Security number provided by the former the escape, in addition to serving out the sentence is now
This is when Wolford 10-20 years plus
was not returning
sister-in-law, which she found about 10 remainder of his sentence. remaining time on
my calls. I think he years ago while trying to find her sister. The News researcher Linda Minch contributed to his sentence.
was waiting to hear
from Texas before
Indiana officer then contacted the police in this report.
talking to me again. Texas, who called the Kentucky State Police.

Grant Cooper knows he lives in prison, but there are days She is throwing up again.
when he cannot remember why. His crimes flit in and out of his It’s the fifth time this morning. There is
memory like flies through a hole in a screen door, so that some- nothing left in her stomach. Still, she leans
times his mind and conscience are blank and clean. over a toilet at the Grosse Pointe Woods
He used to be a drinker and a Municipal Courthouse.
OPENERS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
drifter who had no control over his
rage. In 1978, in an argument with a
Call her Ann. Her real name won’t be
used, for the same reason she is vomiting.
man in a bread line at the Forgotten In a few minutes, she and two other
Man Ministry in Birmingham, Ala., his hand automatically slid 15-year-old girls will walk in front of TV
into his pants pocket for a knife. cameras, a judge, parents and dozens of their
He cut the man so quick and deep that he died before his body schoolmates, and talk about sex. They’ll be
slipped to the floor. Mr. Cooper had killed before, in 1936 and in asked about penises and penetration. Things
1954, so the judge gave him life. Back then, before he needed help whispered about while listening to a Brandy
to go to the bathroom, Mr. Cooper was a dangerous man. CD, but humiliating in front of strangers.
Now he is 77, and since his stroke in 1993 he mostly just lies in Cindy will go first, then Bonnie, then
his narrow bunk at the Hamilton Prison for the Aged and Infirm, Ann. All wait in a small room near the court-
a blue blanket hiding the tubes that run out of his bony body. room. Out the window, across a lawn, they
Sometimes the other inmates put him in a wheelchair and park can see another waiting room where four
him in the sun. boys in navy blazers pace nervously. One of
“I’m lost,” he mumbled. “I’m just lost.” the boys looks up and sees the girls. He shuts
Rick Bragg, The New York Times, opening a story the blinds.
about an Alabama prison for aging and disabled inmates Ron French, The Detroit News
240 THE MORGUE

RAMPAGING ROOSTER Kelley Benham wrote this story about a month after arriving at the St. Petersburg Times,
ATTACKS GIRL her first newspaper job. She covered cops and city hall in Tarpon Springs, a funky city of
about 20,000 on the Florida coast. “I had told the police public information guy that I
By Kelley Benham wanted weird stuff,” she explains, “not just the obvious press-release filler.” After discovering
St. Petersburg Times — Oct. 4, 2002 the report on this attack, she visited the crime scene. “I walked up and there were all these
< MORE ON COVERING CRIME ON PAGE 102 people sitting under a tent outside, watching television and drinking Jack Daniel’s. I thought:
‘Right — they’re either going to be really good, or they’re going to run me off.’
“I said, ‘Hey, does anybody know anything about a rooster?’ ”

BENHAM’S
COMMENTARY:
I knew this story was
going to have to have
a great lead. I knew
it had to have the
word “rooster” in it.
W hen they heard the screams, no
one suspected the rooster. llllllll
Dechardonae Gaines, 2, was
toddling down the sidewalk Monday lug-
ging her Easy Bake Oven when she became
has a bad hip, he said, so he took his niece
by the hand and headed for her mother’s
house.
But Rockadoodle Two flew at the girl
I’m getting carried
away with my one-
sentence paragraphs
here. Young writers
use a lot of one-
a third time, latched onto her narrow sentence paragraphs
the victim in one of the weirder animal shoulders and hammered at her face from because they are
The story is set up very dramatic.
like a standard police attack cases police can recall. behind.
story, or actually, like In the cluster of beige houses at Lime
a parody of a police Kramer knocked the rooster down, but it
story, where the Street and Safford Avenue where Dechard- didn’t run away this time. It glared at him.
rooster is the good- onae lives, man and chicken have coexisted
kid-gone-bad. One of So he kicked it.
the first rules of jour- peacefully for years in quiet defiance of city The bird flew to a porch nearby, still
nalism I learned is, ordinance.
in any animal story, staring. It puffed its chest and ruffled its
get the name of the That ended Monday afternoon, when feathers.
dog/cat/ rooster, etc. authorities apprehended the offending
In this case, asking “He just sat there, all bold,” Current said.
if the rooster had a rooster, named Rockadoodle Two, and its “That chicken was not scared,” Kramer This used to say,
name led to “Was sister, named Hen. Hen was not involved
there a Rockadoodle said. “scratching, crowing,
and pooping” but
One? Which led to in the attack, police said. The neighborhood has never had any the copy editors cut
the entire tragic story The rooster struck around noon as
of the chicken’s chicken trouble beyond the usual scratch- out “pooping.” So I
would like to take
family. Dechardonae ventured from her house in ing and crowing, Kramer said. this opportunity to
the middle of the cluster to visit her Uncle Everybody there knew Rockadoodle put it back in.
Thank you.
Yep, I had to go back Tony, waiting in the driveway. It’s a short Two. Neighbors described the rooster as
there to find out
how tall the girl was, walk, even if you’re 3 feet tall and carrying a normally well-behaved bird from a good
because I forgot to a toy oven. I wrote this sentence
ask the first time.
family. Its father, Rockadoodle, and moth- approximately 14
Now, this next part Tony Kramer, 44, heard the little girl er, one-legged Henny Penny, lived in the times until I got it
is where the straight shrieking, spun around and saw the rooster. right. When you
narrative story part
neighborhood until their deaths by pit bull have information
picks up. I had to go Rockadoodle Two had knocked the and heat stroke, respectively. that adds nothing
over these details 27-pound girl flat on her belly and was to the story but is
with them about
Everyone knows Dechardonae too. She just interesting, you
47 times. pummeling her with beak, claws and blue- travels door-to-door in her too-big flip have to write it very
black wings. economically.
flops chatting with neighbors. She used to
The best thing I “He was beating the crap out of her,” said pet Rockadoodle Two when it was a chick.
know about quotes
is that the right her mother, Lori Current, 27. “A freaking Kramer raised Rockadoodle Two’s father. This guy had a
giant oil painting
quote is usually the rooster, you know?” He did not own the son, but thought well of of roosters on his
one that sounds the
most natural. At Kramer ran for the girl, snatched her up the bird until this, he said. living room wall.
He was wearing a
first, people try to by one arm and chased the bird off, waving “I had known him since he was an egg,” hat with a rooster
use formal language
and they’re self- his arms and shouting, “Oooh, get! Shoo! Kramer said. feather in it. The
feather came from
conscious about how Shoo! Shoo!” That did not matter to Current when she the attack rooster’s
they speak. Wait
until they loosen up. The man and the girl had taken about called authorities. father. My point is,
usually if you do
Get people talking in three steps when the rooster attacked again, The call surprised police, she said. your job there is too
their natural voices.
Those quotes are knocking the screaming girl to the grass a A chicken? they asked. much great stuff to
fit in the story, and
usually in the back second time. “Come and get him now,” she told them. the hardest thing is
of the notebook.
Kramer swatted at the rooster, back- “I am not going to rest.” choosing.
handed, and it shuffled off. Hen was captured easily, but Rocka-
He could not pick up the girl because he doodle Two led six people on a chase. They
 THE MORGUE 241

flushed the bird out from under a house Springs rooster to make news in recent
A good tip I got
when I was in high with a cane fishing pole. But the rooster months. This year, a woman battling cancer
school was to circle dodged the Humane Society officer’s net, befriended a stray rooster named Roosty
all the verbs in the
story and then try to eluded a couple of flying grabs, shucked and declared the bird her guardian angel.
make them stronger. and bobbed and skittered through the The city told the woman the rooster had
Take a look at some
of the verbs in this sandspurs and weeds. Finally, the officer to go, and the controversy died only when
story. Shucked, tackled him. Roosty did. It was killed by a raccoon in
bobbed, skittered.
Latched, hammered. “This was no scrawny rooster,” Current August.
Swatted. Glared. said. Police were unaware of the chickens I like this ending OK,
You get the idea. but I think it’s one
Rockadoodle and Hen were taken to the in Dechardonae’s neighborhood, but resi- of the last times I’ve
Humane Society of North Pinellas, said dents there say the birds are scattered in ended a story with a
quote. I tried to stop
executive director Rick Chaboudy. From back yards all over town. doing that shortly
there, they were sent for rehabilitation in “This right here is why we have those after I wrote this
story and I almost
Odessa, probably permanently, he said. kinds of ordinances, so 2-year-olds can never do it now.
This is the city’s first rooster attack in walk down the driveway safely,” Young I think it’s kind of
lazy, and working
The best quotes recent memory, said Tarpon Springs Police said. harder on my end-
usually are not long.
Sgt. Jeffrey Young. Dechardonae was shaken after the attack ings has made me a
You use them like
better writer. Notice,
punch lines. Set “It does not appear to be epidemic,” he but is recovering fine. Her scratches are though, that my edi-
them up well and
said. almost gone; her right eye is barely puffy. tor showed restraint
just drop them in.
in not changing the
There’s almost never But keeping chickens in city neighbor- She hid in the house after the attack but quote to say “He’s
a need to let people
hoods is illegal, although police did not cite said chickens don’t worry her now. gone.” I try to be
ramble on, except
honest in quoting
those people who any residents in this case. “He gone,” she said of the rooster. “The people how they
are like 85 and tell
Rockadoodle is the second Tarpon police got him.” really talk.
really good stories.

Like a doctor feeling for a pulse, Dave Though it seems somehow improper to admit, Frank Cashi is
Honaker lays his hands on the wide plastic 92 years old and he looks every second of it. Patches of white
hose. It begins to vibrate as pebbles and dirt hair orbit a head that, otherwise, has been bald for 60 years.
rush through. It shudders a bit, then is still. Four teeth, two on each side, are stationed apart like a 7-10 split.
Honaker smiles. He’s 5-foot-2, he weighs 125 pounds, and white stubble angles
OPENERS The furry body of
a prairie dog, still
from his cheeks and chin, giving his face the appearance of an
old pin cushion.
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS Chico Harlan, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,
in its subterranean opening a story about a senior athlete
hole, is plugging the end of the hose. It’s only a
matter of time now.
You can feel when he’s fighting back, In a statement against student shortcuts, Villanova University
Honaker yells over the roar of the powerful administrators plan to stop selling Cliffs Notes at the school
suction. He’s got a good hold, and then he bookstore, drawing praise from faculty and barbs from student
loses it. leaders and the guide’s publishers.
Just then, the hose jolts, and with a rum- (The foregoing was a brief synopsis of this story. Continue
bling whoosh, the rodent shoots up the hose. reading to learn the details and nuances, or you can stop right
One! Honaker mouths, his eyes gleaming with here and pretend you read the whole thing.)
excitement. Richard Sine, The Philadelphia Inquirer,
A moment later, another whoosh. Two! parodying a Cliffs Notes-style synopsis for this story on Cliffs Notes
It’s like playing the violin, Honaker says
modestly. After five years, you get a little better.
A jazz musician was injured Friday after jumping from a
Honaker is a master of the latest in rodent-
burning motor home driven by a one-time roller-skating stripper
control technology, the prairie dog vacuum.
Julia Prodis,
from Lodi.
The Associated Press Layla Bohm, Lodi News-Sentinel
242 THE MORGUE

COVERING THE MICHAEL JACKSON VERDICT

Celebrity trials often become media circuses — and the circus came to town in
Santa Maria, Calif., during pop star Michael Jackson’s four-month trial for child
molestation in 2005. Scores of reporters were on hand when the jury reached its
verdict on June 13. And the stories they filed provided a study in contrasting
styles, from the dry, distinguished New York Times to the more colorful flair
of London’s Daily Mail.
The examples below compare six treatments of that court story.
< MORE ON COVERING COURTS ON PAGE 104

THE NEW YORK TIMES USA TODAY MSNBC NEWS

SANTA MARIA, Calif., June 13 —Mi- SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Michael SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Michael
chael Jackson was acquitted today of all Jackson was acquitted Monday on Jackson was found not guilty Monday
charges in connection with accusations charges he sexually molested a 13-year- on all counts in his trial on child moles-
that he molested a 13-year-old boy he old boy, ending a four-month trial tation charges, ending a two-year legal
had befriended as the youth was recov- full of lurid glimpses of the pop star’s saga for one of the world’s most well-
ering from cancer in 2003. bizarre private life inside his Neverland known pop stars.
Mr. Jackson’s complete acquittal — a Valley Ranch. The courtroom sat silently as Judge
stinging defeat for a retiring prosecutor The onetime King of Pop wept softly Rodney Melville opened the jury enve-
who had spent more than a decade pur- and wiped his eyes as the jury’s verdict lopes one by one and silently read the
suing the singer on pedophilia accusa- was read inside a quiet courtroom. verdict forms to himself before allow-
tions — ends a nearly four-month trial Jackson said nothing after the verdicts ing the court clerk to read the verdict
that featured 140 witnesses who painted of not guilty on all 10 charges were read. out loud. Lead defense attorney Tom
clashing portraits of the 46-year-old in- He walked from the courthouse, waved Mesereau Jr., who scored a dazzling
ternational pop star as either pedophile and climbed inside a waiting vehicle for legal victory in the case, patted Jackson
or Peter Pan. the ride home. on the shoulder after the verdict was
“Mr. Jackson, your bail is exonerated “Justice was done. He was always in- read. Two jurors dabbed their eyes with
and you are released,” Judge Rodney nocent, and we proved it,” defense at- tissues.
S. Melville said after the string of not- torney Tom Mesereau said. Jackson showed no visible reaction in
guilty verdicts were read. Fans outside the courthouse jumped court. He then slowly, silently walked
Mr. Jackson stood for the verdicts and up and down, hugged and threw con- out of court surrounded by family and
later embraced his chief lawyer, Thomas fetti. A woman released one white dove his bodyguards, stone-faced and look-
A. Mesereau Jr. One of Mr. Mesereau’s from a pen as each acquittal was an- ing slightly stunned. The singer briefly
assistants had quietly started sobbing as nounced. Jackson’s family was ecstatic. waved to fans.
the first “not guilty” verdicts were read “Michael kept his strength, and he His fans, kept behind barriers at a dis-
out in court. hung in there,” his brother Tito Jackson tance from the courthouse, shouted and
Along with the verdict, the jury gave a told CNN. wept with joy over Jackson’s acquittal,
note for the judge to read out in court. A USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll celebrating a complete victory for the
In it, they said they felt “the weight of taken after the verdict showed that 48% singer’s defense team, though one that
the world’s eyes upon us all” and that disagreed with the verdict and 34% may not repair his tarnished and ever
they had “thoroughly and meticulously” agreed; 18% had no opinion. more bizarre public image.
studied all the evidence. The note con- The jury deliberated for 30 hours over “I would never have married a pedo-
cluded with a plea “we would like the seven days on charges that Jackson mo- phile. And the system works,” Jackson’s
public to allow us to return to our lives lested the boy in his home, a huge estate ex-wife Debbie Rowe said after the ver-
as anonymously as we came.” with carnival rides, circus animals and dict in a statement given to “Entertain-
The jury of eight women and four toys. . . . ment Tonight.” . . .
men delivered the verdict in California
Superior Court here on their seventh NOTICE HOW: NOTICE HOW:
day of deliberations, which began June � The lead for this story is very similar to the � Some emotions are described with verbs (as
3. The jury was not sequestered and lead on MSNBC’s story at right — but the wording in the story at left), but most of the descriptions
took weekends off. . . . (“lurid glimpses,” “bizarre private life”) is edgier. come from adjectives and adverbs.
Which version do you think is more effective? � That second paragraph is long. Too long?
NOTICE HOW: � Notice how the structure of both stories — The same could be said of the fourth paragraph,
� The writing style is formal, unemotional, al- the sequence of material — is similar, too. which ambitiously tries to merge at least three
most clinical (note the use of “Mr.”). � This is the only story to use those quotes different ideas into one sentence.
� This excerpt focuses intently on the judicial from Jackson’s brother and the defense attorney. � The third paragraph says Jackson showed no
proceedings. The story quotes the judge in the � USA Today’s editors cleverly planned ahead for emotion in court, but the story at left says he
third paragraph, but it’s a useless quote; Jackson, this moment, commissioning an instant poll to wept and wiped his eyes. Which is it?
meanwhile, is hardly mentioned. see if Americans agreed with the trial verdict. � The only quote comes from Jackson’s ex-wife.
 THE MORGUE 243

x
DAILY MAIL (LONDON) THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
There was no moonwalk and barely a Linda Deutsch wrote two versions of this story. As she explains: “It’s part of the AP’s new
smile from Michael Jackson as he was policy of offering optional leads on major stories so that newspapers can have a choice of a
dramatically cleared of sexually abusing more featurish approach if they want it. This makes sense particularly on a story that has
13-year-old Gavin Arvizo. been playing all day on TV and radio. On this particular story, the featurish approach
The pop star sat silently as 10 “not (below right) recieved wide play.”
guilty” verdicts rang out one by one SANTA MARIA, Calif. – A jury ac- SANTA MARIA, Calif. – Wanly blow-
across a hushed courtroom, ending the quitted Michael Jackson on Monday of ing kisses of gratitude to his screaming
nightmare he has endured since charges molesting a 13-year-old cancer survivor fans, Michael Jackson left court a free
were filed more than 18 months ago. at his Neverland ranch — exonerating man Monday and went back to Never-
As he left Santa Maria court for the the pop star who insisted he was the vic- land after he was cleared of all charges
last time, the self-styled King of Pop tim of mother-and-son con artists and a in his child-molestation trial.
held his hand to his heart and blew prosecutor with a vendetta. Jackson, 46, heard the words “not
kisses to the screaming crowd. Jurors also acquitted Jackson of get- guilty” uttered 14 times in a deathly still
Walking slowly under a large black ting the boy drunk and of conspiring to courtroom. The Peter Pan of pop music
umbrella, he stepped into a black SUV imprison his accuser and the boy’s fam- could have gotten nearly 20 years be-
vehicle and was whisked home to his ily at the storybook estate — a total legal hind bars if convicted.
Neverland ranch without a comment, victory but one that may do little to A motionless Jackson dabbed at his
followed by legions of hysterical fans. improve his bizarre image. Jackson had eyes with a tissue as the verdicts were
Just minutes earlier, the deathly quiet faced nearly 20 years in prison. read, and he later was embraced by his
atmosphere was incredible as the world The courtroom was deathly still as the chief lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr. An-
waited and watched for the verdict verdicts were read. Jackson, as motion- other member of his defense team burst
which would finally bring an end to a less as he had been throughout the trial, into tears, and some of the women in
sensational 16-week trial. dabbed at his eyes with a tissue. One of the jury also wept and passed around a
A heavy silence hung over the court as his lawyers burst into tears as the first box of tissues.
each juror filed in one by one. Adding verdicts were announced, and Jackson Jackson, looking drawn, walked out of
to the tension, Judge Rodney Melville later stood and was embraced by his court minutes later to shrieks from fans,
delayed proceedings by warning he chief lawyer, Thomas Mesereau Jr. Some waved weakly and was driven home to
would tolerate no reaction, whether de- of the women in the jury also wept and his Neverland ranch, where applauding
spair or jubilance, from anyone present. passed around a box of tissues. fans ran after his caravan as it disap-
As he opened each of 10 paper enve- As he left court, Jackson, looking peared behind the bunting-decorated
lopes containing the verdicts, Jackson drawn, held his hand to his heart and gates. He made no immediate statement.
sat back in his chair, not glancing at blew kisses to the screaming crowd. He The acquittals marked a stinging de-
his lawyer Tom Mesereau, and stared was escorted by his aides into a black feat for Santa Barbara County District
calmly ahead. Attorney Tom Sneddon, who displayed
SUV, and made no immediate public
At least one juror openly sobbed as open hostility for Jackson and had pur-
statement. Jackson later arrived at Nev-
each acquittal was read out by the court sued him for more than a decade, trying
erland, where applauding fans ran after
clerk. Still, Jackson, who had faced al- to prove the rumors that swirled around
his caravan as it disappeared behind the
most 20 years in prison, did not flinch.
bunting-decorated gates. Jackson about his fondness for children.
The frail star’s demeanour was in
“I would never have married a Sneddon sat with his head in his
complete contrast to the wild scenes of
pedophile. And the system works,” hands after the verdicts were read.
celebration outside.
Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe said in “We go back to work. We’ve got a lot
Hundreds of fans punched the air,
a statement given to “Entertainment of cases that we have pending. I have an
cheered, clapped and hugged each other
Tonight.” office to run,” he said. “I’m not going
as they heard that their idol was a free
Screams of joy rang out among a to look back and apologize for anything
man. One woman released white doves
throng of fans outside the courthouse. that we’ve done.”
for each not guilty verdict, another
Fans jumped up and down, hugged each Fans outside the courthouse jumped
released white balloons into the sun-
other and threw confetti in celebration up and down, thrust their fists in the air,
drenched sky and white confetti was
showered over them all. . . . of the news. A woman in the crowd re- hugged each other and threw confetti. A
leased one white dove as each acquittal woman in the crowed released one white
NOTICE HOW: was announced. . . . dove as each acquittal was announced.
� This story names the victim. Most American
papers withheld the boy’s name to protect his NOTICE HOW:
privacy — but here, it’s considered lead-worthy. � The first version uses a textbook news lead, � Descriptions of the charges against Jackson
� Unlike the reserved, neutral tone of the New opening with the news that “a jury acquitted Mi- in the first version have now been replaced by
York Times excerpt, this one leans toward more chael Jackson.” The rewrite opens with a more descriptions of the trial’s aftermath.
dramatic interpretations and punchier phrasing: colorful description of Jackson leaving the trial. � In all of these stories, the one quote we most
“ending the nightmare,” “legions of hysterical � The second version includes more material wanted was Jackson’s — but he never uttered
fans,” the “sensational” trial. about the significant, almost embarrassing defeat a word. Thus, these stories use almost no direct
� This story uses no direct quotes. for the prosecutors. quotes, relying instead on descriptions of events.
244 THE MORGUE

CITY MAKES A U-TURN; School board meetings, city council meetings, planning commission meetings — yes,
SPEED ZONE SET FOR meetings are a staple of community journalism. But here’s an example of a city council story
that avoids simply rehashing the minutes of a meeting. Instead, it focuses on the issue —
COUNTRY CLUB ROAD changing the speed limit near a local school — and explains how it affects the neighborhood.
By Alandra Johnson Notice how thoroughly reporter Alandra Johnson had done her homework before the
Lake Oswego Review — June 9, 2005 meeting began. Her story recaps the history of the problem, introduces key players and
condenses the debate into a few concise paragraphs. She punctuates the information with
< MORE ON COVERING MEETINGS ON PAGE 108
carefully selected quotes. And she summarizes the council’s action without bogging us down
in bureaucratic procedure.

A
fter months of telling concerned parents that reduc- others did not.
ing the speed on Country Club Road was unneces- For more than two months after the accident on March
sary to ensure student safety, officials with the city of 10, city officials maintained their initial position that re-
Lake Oswego have changed their tune. ducing the speed on Country Club was unnecessary. They
Tuesday night, the city council voted unanimously to re- argued speed was not a factor in the accident involving the
instate a school speed zone on Country Club Road in front student and that the intersection in question did not have a
of Lake Oswego Junior High School. history of pedestrian accidents over 20 years.
The new speed zone, which will drop the speed from 40 to But parents continued to push for the change until Tues-
20 miles per hour, will include flashing lights to alert driv- day’s decision.
ers and will be enforced during high student traffic periods “I’ve been badgering City Manager Doug Schmitz about
before and after school. this for three years,” said Holder.
“I think it’s an extremely reasonable solution that adds Holder has been one of the most vocal proponents of
safety for both cars and pedestrians,” said Lake Oswego reducing speed along that stretch. He helped instigate the
Mayor Judie Hammerstad. move to install the first speed zone and was one of the few
She said the solution settled long-standing debate between to fight its removal in 2004. He credits the recent efforts
parents and police without abandoning the city’s early com- of school committees and neighborhood associations with
mitment to motorist safety. pushing through the issue.
“What parents were looking at was the safety of the pedes- Holder says Schmitz asked his opinion before taking the
trian and what the police were looking at was the safety of the proposal to the city council, capping months of formal talks
motorist,” said Hammerstad. between city and school officials and residents championing
The solution, she said, is a win for both. Concerned par- the school zone. While Holder was pleased that the council
ents also celebrated the victory. agreed to implement the safety precautions, he said he didn’t
“We won,” said parent Tom Holder, an advocate for rein- understand why it took so long.
stating the school speed zone. “It was an awful lot of energy expended to get them to do
The flashing lights, which are expected to cost $10,000 and the right thing,” he said.
will be paid for by the city, will operate from 7 to 8:30 a.m. City officials don’t see the plans as a reversal of a previous
and from 2 to 3:30 p.m. They can also be programmed for policy, but rather as a new tactic. Citizen Information Co-
student events such as basketball and football games. ordinator Josh Thomas, who spoke to many groups during
Parents began clamoring for speed control on Country the last few months, told the city council the new decision
Club this spring after a junior high student darted into traffic evolved out of talks, study and planning.
and was struck by an oncoming vehicle. “We’re trying to provide the least restriction but certainly
Initially, officials at the city were reluctant to reinstate want to provide the most protection,” Thomas said.
the school zone. The city first installed a school zone at the He stressed that safety was still in the hands of drivers
site in November 2002 and removed it in May 2004 — after and pedestrians, no matter what tools were provided near
studies revealed that most drivers didn’t decrease speed in schools.
the area. Police argued that the speed limit was difficult to “There is no magic panacea, or cure-all, that’s going to
enforce and that the chance for rear-end collisions increased solve everybody’s problems,” Thomas said.
dramatically as a handful of vehicles slowed to 20 mph while
 THE MORGUE 245

PUTNAM COMMISSIONERS How do you cover a dull meeting in a lively way? By keeping an eye out for colorful
GET AN EARFUL OVER characters and intriguing issues.
For example, take this story that Heather Svokos wrote for the Charleston Gazette.
ABANDONED HOUSE “It had all the markings of a standard county commission meeting,” Svokos recalls —
By Heather Svokos “a few hours steeped in boredom with occasional bickering. But then riled-up citizen
The Charleston Gazette — Sept. 10, 1996 Dodie Griffin came in with her complaint.”
After Griffin’s dramatic appearance, Svokos chased her out the door to get her phone
< MORE ON COVERING MEETINGS ON PAGE 108 number, then called her after the meeting to collect more details. “I had a feeling
I could turn a blah commission meeting into an interesting vignette that would star
one of the town’s interesting characters,” Svokos says.
“You won’t meet a Dodie Griffin at every boring meeting. But when you find her,
grab her. And get her phone number.”

D
SVOKOS’ odie Griffin sits on her concrete roaches. “I can spray cockroaches all day
COMMENTARY:
I remembered the porch, aims her Mossberg shotgun and I’ve got a dozen to deal with the next
voice of Kate Long, across the way and blasts her target. morning,” she said.
the Gazette’s writing
coach, who said to try Over the last few years, she’s bagged a Griffin is demanding action from the
to think like a film slew of snakes and rats that take refuge commission. She says she has been to the
director: Write your
lead as if it were the most of the time in an abandoned house Health Department and the Solid Waste
opening frame of a next door. Authority, with little result.
movie. Doesn’t get
any more cinematic She told Putnam County commissioners She figures a recent state law regarding
than this. Monday how she had thought of gathering abandoned buildings should force com-
A somewhat startling up her dubious bounty and plopping it missioners into action.
visual — even if onto the desk in their chamber. The law, enacted June 1, gives counties If we wanted to write
it didn’t happen, the story in a mind-
it’s interesting to But she thought better of it and ad- and municipalities the power to sue prop- numbingly boring
imagine if it did. dressed the commission without visual erty owners who have let their structures or way, we could have
started here, with
aids. This time. property become run down. the legalese. Instead,
Thought this was Griffin recalled creating a stir 20 years Previously, the only avenue was to put we have a flesh-
relevant because it and-blood example
ago when she brought commissioners a a lien against the property, a lengthy and that illustrates how
established her as a
veteran rabble- dead dog. It had apparently been mistreat- often ineffective recourse. Now the county this new law should
rouser, bolstered be applied.
ed at the county’s animal shelter. or city would be able to recoup cleanup and
by the strong quote
below. “I’m gonna be nice about this in the be- legal fees from the owner.
ginning,” she said after Monday’s commis- But in order to enforce the law, the com- Hmm ...the layers
of red tape begin to
sion meeting. “But if something isn’t done mission needs to adopt a building code. reveal themselves.
about this, then I’m gonna be nasty.” They haven’t and have indicated they won’t There’s a law, but
no building code
And now, after Griffin said the house on Scott Lane has until they’ve studied the matter in great to enforce it. This
we’ve established
this character for the
been abandoned for three years, and it’s detail. exposes a glitch in
how the county has
reader, we start to not only driving the varmints into her yard, Commissioner Jim Caruthers said it been operating.
lay out the problem
in more detail.
it’s a dangerous hazard for the children would be difficult to track down the owner,
who often play there. but he agreed to talk with members of the With Dodie Griffin
and her special
The basement of the rickety house is Solid Waste Authority about the problem. promises, and a re-
half-filled with water which floods it con- Likewise, Commissioner Steve Hodges said porter sitting in the
room, I’m guessing
stantly, she said, because the lot used to be he would discuss it with officials at the these commissioners
a swamp. Health Department. probably did try to
talk to authorities.
In retrospect, this Children could easily fall through the If the commission doesn’t do something
might have been
stronger if I’d used floor and never be heard from again, Grif- within 10 days, Griffin says she will be back.
a quote or partial fin told commissioners. “If it’s a danger, they’re supposed to take
quote here.
Another danger is the freezer and other care of it immediately,” she said.
appliances that sit on the porch with their “I’ll be back over here with a pack of rats.
I wanted to close the
doors open. I’ll kill ’em, bring ’em here and dump ’em story with a zinger.
“They should be removed or turned to- on their desk. If it takes shock treatment to This was a stellar
parting line.
ward the wall,” Griffin said. get them to do something to that place, I
And don’t get her started on the cock- can give ’em shock treatment.”
246 THE MORGUE

THE CITY HAS “I remember where I was the morning I read the best city council budget story ever written,”
$548 MILLION: said Roy Peter Clark, writing coach at the prestigious Poynter Institute. “I was sitting at the
breakfast table eating my Cheerios.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT? Clark had stumbled upon an experiment in the St. Petersburg Times: a budget story, written
By Bryan Gilmer in the second person, urging YOU to help decide how the city spends its money.
St. Petersburg Times — Aug. 21, 2002 “Wow,” Clark wrote in his Poynter column. “This was remarkable. Perhaps even ground-
breaking. I then did something I rarely do with such stories: I read it to the end. And then,
< MORE ON COVERING MEETINGS ON PAGE 108 because I could not believe my eyes, I read it a second time.”
The reporter, Bryan Gilmer, admitted he’d dreaded writing another boring budget advance.
The text below was the main component in “I thought, ‘Readers must really hate these stories if I don’t even enjoy doing them,’ ” he later
a package that also included: said in an interview with Clark.
� A graphic providing a budget summary Gilmer further explained: “Newspapers often assume their readers know much more about how
and a quick crash course in city spending.
government works than they really do. And newspapers are really bad at interacting with their
� A breakdown of the three key budget
issues facing the city council. readers. So I wrote this piece in the second person. I used short sentences to make it an easy read
� A guide to getting involved, with links to for the government novices we pulled in with the graphics. And due largely to my strong feelings
council members, public speaking tips, etc. about the issue, it ended up . . . conversational, but with a point of view and a certain urgency.”
Judge for yourself: Reader-friendly? Or too dumbed-down?

Do you live in St. Petersburg? Want to help spend $548 Flowers said.
million? You can bring up any spending suggestion Thursday, but
It’s money you paid in taxes and fees to the government. here are some major items that are in — or proposed to be
You elected the City Council to office, and as your represen- cut from — the budget:
tatives, they’re ready to listen to your ideas on how to spend
it. Boyd Hill Nature Park
Mayor Rick Baker and his staff have figured out how Mayor Rick Baker proposes cutting a program specialist
they’d like to spend the money. At 7 p.m. Thursday, Baker supervisor and three of the park’s four full-time park rangers
will ask the City Council to agree with him. And council and replacing them with four part-time park rangers to save
members will talk about their ideas. about $112,000. Baker notes that “we have been forced to
You have the right to speak at the meeting, too. Each make difficult decisions that impact both our employees and
resident gets three minutes to tell the mayor and council the services they provide to our citizens.”
members what he or she thinks. This would reduce the number of educational programs at
But why would you stand up? the park south of Lake Maggiore from 850 per year to 400.
Because how the city spends its money affects lots of things Lovers of the southern St. Petersburg park hate the idea,
you care about. and many of them will be at Thursday night’s public hearing
It’s the difference between whether the Walter Fuller Pool to tell the council so.
is open and heated in the winter or not. It determines wheth- “I am concerned about a proposal to shrink the budget of
er there will be a new basketball court in North Shore Park. It the Boyd Hill Park educational arm,” resident Arlin Briley
determines whether the beloved volunteer coordinator at the wrote to the mayor in a letter this week. “Thanks to its large
Office on Aging for senior citizens gets laid off. acreage, Boyd Hill Park is a living lab, an invaluable opportu-
It’s a tight budget year, and lots of things like insurance nity to allow city kids a chance to learn about nature and life
are costing the city more than before. The mayor and council beyond shopping malls and sidewalks and classrooms.
have decided to cut services rather than raise the property Instead, Briley recommends pursuing county, state and
tax rate. federal educational grants to fund educational programs at
But will the council listen to you? the park.
“Absolutely,” said council member John Bryan, adding
that members of the public often change his mind on issues. Western St. Petersburg library plan
“I’m looking to the people, hoping to hear information for Baker proposes teaming up with St. Petersburg College to
my decision-making process.” build a new library on the college’s campus in western St.
Not everything can be done in one year, so council mem- Petersburg. City residents and students would share the
bers may hear your idea Thursday but wait until next year library, which would replace the current, smaller Azalea
to do it. Branch.
“It may not be able to be funded this year, but could be put The first of four $500,000 annual payments to the college
into a queue for future years,” council Chairwoman Rene for the cost of construction is in Baker’s proposed city bud-
 THE MORGUE 247

get. After the library opened, the city would move the meters from being installed now. The council seems to be
$300,000 it spends now on the Azalea Branch to the joint split about which way to go.
library instead. “No matter what the (council’s) decision is, it’s going to be
A vocal group of city residents has blasted the idea of pretty close to 50-50,” member John Bryan said. “It’s really
closing the Azalea Branch. If they could get the council to a tough one.”
remove money for the new library the budget, they might be Operating spending
able to kill the idea.
� Pays workers’ salaries and benefits, buys supplies, gasoline
“I’m not saying it’s a bad idea. But I don’t think we need to
and other recurring expenses.
lose the library we currently have in the process,” said Azalea
� Available: $488-million
neighborhood resident Mary Moser, who plans to remind
� The most flexible pot of operating money is called the
the council of her position Thursday.
“general fund.” It’s used for things such as police, fire, parks
Parking meters and recreation and Midtown economic development.
� All the other operating money provides services such as
Baker is counting on a new revenue source to help balance
water and sewer, sanitation and special projects such as the
the budget: parking meters. The city has had free on-street
Pier, called “enterprise funds” or “special revenue funds.”
parking since it abandoned its expensive experiment with
These services raise most or all of the money they spend, and
multispace, French-made “pay stations” in 1998.
money they raise generally cannot be spent in other areas.
Baker’s staff estimates meters could bring in about
� General fund money: $175-million, most of which comes
$800,000 per year, on top of the $1-million the city expects
from property taxes.
from parking fines. For several years, part of that money
� Major general fund spending the mayor recommends:
would be needed to repay the $1.2-million he expects the
police $63-million, fire $26-million, recreation $11-million,
meters to cost.
parks $13-million.
Some merchants like the idea that the meters will let
people stay in spaces longer than the two-hour time limit Capital spending
common for street parking now. Others worry that the me- � Pays for big-ticket items that can be used for several years,
ters will clutter the street. like new buildings, renovations, cars and trucks.
It was public outcry that got the pay stations yanked four � Total capital money available: $60-million. About $21-mil-
years ago. And broad opposition could easily prevent the lion comes from the Penny for Pinellas 1-cent sales tax.

REPORTER REACTION Aside from several nitpicky I can’t believe people would I know many people in the
matters (including the use of criticize great, readable writing business have a big objection to
After Roy Peter Clark raved about
“beloved” in this story) there’s like this — it’s what the public using the second person in a story.
this unconventional budget story on a glaring problem that does wants. I think it’s one of those rules that
the Poynter Web site, he solicited the reader a disservice: In its People want to read stories that stems from somebody’s pet peeve
feedback from journalists. Here’s a cleverness, the story doesn’t affect them. And we as journalists way back when and just gets in
sampling of opinions: frame the issue at all correctly. need to bring awareness to the the way of communicating with
St. Petersburg wouldn’t have issues that readers may not even readers.
As a gov’ment writer, my only (minor) $548 million to debate; as with know they should care about. I’ve found it to be very useful in
beef with this otherwise refreshing story any government, I suspect it Some of the most important sto- writing stories about government
is this: I fear it’s a bit of a one-trick pony. has fixed costs that devour ries of the day involve budgets or action and how it affects people. . . .
I suppose you could begin every year’s huge amounts of the budget. seemingly boring meetings, but It makes stories much less cold and
budget-hearing-advance story with the Anyone who comes to a munici- the language of the story gets impersonal, much less stilted.
sentence: “Do you live in (insert city pal budget public hearing with the article skipped over. By the way, I did like the story
name)? Want to help spend $ (insert the impression that the entire People don’t want to be treated you wrote about. I try to do similar
figure) million?” thing is up for dissection will be like those of us in the newsroom things myself. I try to give a short
But before long, it’s just another dismissed (at least silently) as know more or are better than lesson in how government oper-
budget-hearing-advance story. So how ignorant. The story needed to they. They want to be just ates when I can, because many
do you keep it fresh from year to year? clearly and prominently explain informed as we are — and then people don’t understand the most
A bit of news in the lead, I submit, what was truly available. And some. basic things about public budgets
would help: some detail other than the where is the deficit/surplus, I’m definitely going to take and property taxes. Sometimes I
amount of the budget and the mayor’s if any? The story talked so far this advice and use it. I’m guilty explain by telling readers how this
name. down to the readers that it of doing this to school board will affect “you.” So far, my com-
The bullets at the end explaining forgot to raise them up with stories, but I didn’t have the puter hasn’t started smoking, and
operating budgets v. capital budgets, essential information they kind of editors who allow using the God of Journalism hasn’t struck
however, ought to run with stories like needed to make more effective narratives to describe what goes me down with a bolt of lightning
this in every paper, every year. arguments. on . . . . through the roof.
— Alex Wayne — Jay Jochnowitz — Williesha Lakin — Linda Vanderwerf
248 THE MORGUE

READINGS: In 2005, Mark Felt ended a 30-year mystery by revealing he was “Deep Throat”: the
unnamed source who helped Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein and The Washington Post
ON “DEEP THROAT,” expose corruption in the Nixon White House, corruption that eventually forced Nixon
WHISTLEBLOWERS AND to resign. But was Felt a hero or a traitor? Do government whistleblowers do the public
ANONYMOUS SOURCES a service by exposing secrets, or do they deserve public scorn for betraying confidences?
Should news organizations publish accusations by unnamed sources — or forbid the
< MORE ON COVERING MEETINGS ON PAGES 71, 81, 111 practice entirely? Below, a selection of excerpts that debate the issues:

James Bettinger, director of the John S. Knight journalism fellowship head of the FBI, and he was disappointed that the FBI that
program at Stanford University: he loved and revered was being misused as part of a criminal
Deep Throat represents the kind of source that a lot of conspiracy. . . .
reporters would like to have. He served as someone that King: By today’s standards, Bob, did Mark Felt break the law?
Woodward could go to on a regular basis and say, “Are we on Woodward: No, I don’t think so. I think that he was careful to
the right track?” . . . That is a huge fear of every good reporter: give us guidance. He didn’t give us direct information from FBI
“Do we have this right?” files or reports, and at his insistence, we were not even supposed
There are certain kinds of reporting that cannot be done to say that we had such a source . . . technically, in journalistic
without sources who are unnamed, in particular reporting on terms, the conversations were on deep background.
national security or defense . . . because people jeopardize their King: What do I do, as a reader, if a journalist I believe in writes
careers and in some cases their legal status by disclosing things. that an informed source told him or her this?
That said, there is too great a reliance on anonymous sources. Bernstein: You need anonymous sources to get to the truth.
That’s why every news organization I know of is trying to re- Do reporters sometimes abuse that? Yes. Interestingly enough,
duce their use or their reliance on anonymous sources. really good editors today, more than when we were doing this
story, demand of their reporters that the editors know who
Howard Kurtz, The Washington Post: those anonymous sources are. There’s much more identifica-
Sometimes reporters have no other way to ferret out vital in- tion of those sources in terms of — are they in the Army? Are
formation than by promising anonymity. In the war-against- they in the Navy? Are they men? Women? Are they Republi-
its-enemies atmosphere of the Nixon administration, Felt not cans? Are they Democrats? — so you can help guide the reader
only would have lost his job had he gone public about White to see if the source has an ax to grind.
House skulduggery — he was threatened with firing just as a King: Don’t most sources have an ax to grind?
suspected leaker — but might well have been prosecuted for Bernstein: Look, there’s ambiguity in all human interaction,
breaking the law. and we all have a point of view that we’re trying to get across.
The revelation also serves as a reminder that sources may And sure, the source does. But our job is to see that it’s the best
have complicated motives for whispering to the press. Felt obtainable version of the truth, to keep looking for more infor-
may have worried about the FBI’s integrity but he also may mation, compare it, find more sources. That’s what this is about.
have been resentful, as the bureau’s No. 2 official, at being
passed over for the top job, and according to Woodward he Patrick Buchanan, Nixon speechwriter and adviser:
came to detest the Nixon White House. Inside sources rarely And so it turns out that the two most famous investigative
have clean hands. reporters of all time were a pair of stenographers for an FBI
Three decades later, the use and abuse of unnamed sources hack who was ratting out President Richard Nixon for passing
is rampant, especially in Washington, and the media all too him over as director.
often protect those with partisan agendas. It’s a long road from That corrupt cop, Mark Felt, should be named co-winner of
Felt telling Woodward to “follow the money” to a Bush adviser the 1973 Pulitzer Prize given to The Washington Post. For it
telling The New York Times that John Kerry “looks French.” appears Felt swiped the research for the Post’s Watergate sto-
But such potshots have become routine in daily reporting. ries from FBI files, while Woodward did rewrite and Bernstein
was on the coffee-and-Danish run.
From an interview with Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on And so the great mystery, “Who was Deep Throat?” reaches
CNN’s Larry King Live, June 2, 2005: its anticlimax. He turns out to be a toady who violated his oath
King: What about those who are saying, Carl, that Mark Felt is a and, out of malice and spite, leaked the fruits of an honest FBI
guy who wanted to be head of the FBI and all this was revenge? investigation to the nest of Nixon-haters at The Washington
Bernstein: I think that’s a much too simplistic way to inter- Post, then lied about it for 30 years.
pret it. He obviously felt an obligation to the truth. He felt an Why did Felt lie? Because he knew he had disgraced himself
obligation, I think, to the Constitution. He realized that there and dishonored everything an FBI agent should stand for. He
was a corrupt presidency, that the Constitution was being didn’t want his old comrades to know what a snake he had
undermined, and he was disappointed about not being made been.
 THE MORGUE 249

Charles Colson, former special counsel to President Nixon: Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle:
I am truly shocked that Mark Felt indeed turns out to be In her exhaustive and carefully reasoned study “Secrets:
“Deep Throat.” I knew him and worked with him closely and On the Ethics of Concealment and Revelation,” Sissela Bok
considered him completely trustworthy. argues that secrecy is both fundamental to modern society and
I am disappointed in Mark for choosing the media as the fundamentally dangerous. Police work, Greek tragedy, intel-
way to expose the corruption. If he felt that the wrongs of the ligence gathering, investigative journalism and a good deal
Nixon administration had to be remedied, he should have of the pleasure in our social lives would wither without the
walked into the FBI director’s office and told him so, and if power of secrets. . . . Quoting Woodrow Wilson, she cautions,
necessary walked in to the president. “Everybody knows that corruption thrives in secret places.”
No matter how Felt may justify his actions, it is not honor- History, in its customary role, will judge the Bush adminis-
able to leak classified information to the press. Governments tration’s arguments to justify the invasion of Iraq and conduct
cannot function if the chief executive cannot trust people who of the war more fully than we can. What was known, what
hold sensitive positions, and there are few positions more was concealed and what was cloaked in secrecy by whom?
sensitive than the deputy director of the FBI. A president has However that story is eventually told, the air of widespread
to be able to deal with someone in a sensitive position without public skepticism about “national security” that surrounds it
worrying that his conversations will be disclosed to the press. inevitably evokes the Nixon era. So does the current debate
over the appropriate use of unnamed sources in investigative
David S. Broder, The Washington Post columnist, responds to those reporting.
previous comments by Pat Buchanan and Charles Colson: How fitting, somehow, that Deep Throat should finally
In these comments, Americans born in the ’70s, ’80s and make his entrance now.
’90s can learn everything they need to know about the dan-
gerous delusions of the Nixon era. The mind-set that created Al Neuharth, former publisher of USA Today:
enemies lists, the blind loyalty to a deeply flawed individual, In 1982, when we founded USA Today, we effectively
banned all anonymous sources.
the twisting of historical fact to turn villains into heroes and
As competition for readers and viewers and listeners and
heroes into villains — they are all there.
prizes from peers has become greater, more and more pub-
Such tendencies are not unique to one White House; they
lishers and editors and broadcast managers have relaxed their
go with the territory. They must be consciously resisted by rules. More and more reporters have taken advantage of that
men and women of conscience working within an administra- environment.
tion and checked by those on the outside — notably journal- It’s so simple. Most anonymous sources often tell more
ists — whose job it is to monitor the presidency. than they know. Reporters who are allowed to use such sourc-
Mark Felt did what whistleblowers need to do. He took his es sometimes write more than they hear. Editors too often let
information to reporters who diligently dug up the evidence them get away with it. Result: Fiction gets mixed with fact.
to support his well-founded suspicions. The only way to win the war against this evil is for journal-
The Republic was saved and the public well-served. That ists at all levels to ban all anonymous sources.
Colson and Buchanan still don’t get it speaks volumes about Until or unless we do, the public won’t trust us, and we put
them. the First Amendment in jeopardy.

Howard Goodman, South Florida Sun-Sentinel: Michael Getler, The Washington Post:
If The Washington Post were running its Watergate stories Felt’s story reaffirms the ability of smart and dogged report-
today, each one would be followed by an unremitting battery ers, courageous editors and owners, and truly informed yet
of attacks from Limbaugh, Fox and Drudge to deliver their anonymous sources to help get information before the public
spin and sneer at the paper’s lack of patriotism. that is vital to a democracy’s functioning.
Even if those stories got traction with the public, they Many of the recent attacks on the media have come because
wouldn’t lead to congressional hearings, as you saw in Water- of the use of anonymous sources. In general, this is a healthy
gate. Not with the same political party controlling Congress as challenge because the use of such sources has become far too
the White House, as we have now. routine and has contributed to serious mistakes. But this at-
Watergate was all about government secrecy, domestic spy- tack is fairly easy to make and it is being used, in part, these
ing, the push toward unchecked presidential power. days to undermine news organizations that report things some
A lot of that is still with us. No less an expert than John people don’t want to hear.
Dean, who was Nixon’s White House counsel, says the Bush Watergate revisited reminds us that it is naive to believe
administration is more secretive than Nixon’s ever was. that important stories involving potentially serious danger to
What’s changed is that today’s public thinks less of the sources can always be reported on the record or should not be
watchdogs than it does of the politicians. reported at all.
250 THE MORGUE

AMAZING FINISH IN Here’s veteran sportswriter Mark Zeigler explaining the time pressures in filing this story:
RELAY WINS GOLD, “The finals of the Olympic swim meet in Beijing were switched from their traditional
evening spot to the morning to accommodate live, prime-time television on the U.S. East
SAVES PHELPS Coast. This particular race began at 11:27 a.m. in Beijing, which was 8:27 p.m. in San Diego.
By Mark Zeigler Deadline for us is generally 10 p.m.
San Diego Union-Tribune “I checked the file of the story from that day. I created it at 9:22 p.m. San Diego time, which
Aug. 11, 2008 means I had less than 40 minutes to write a 750-word story. Part of that time would be eaten
up by interviews, as the procession of medalists into the press conference room at an Olympics
< MORE ON COVERING SPORTS ON PAGE 112 is a slow, tedious endeavor. By my best guess, I wrote this story in about 20-25 minutes.
“Looking back, it’s not my best work. But when it comes to deadline journalism, a sort of
theory of relativity applies. It’s not about writing the best story you possibly can. It’s about
writing the best story you possibly can with the material you have in whatever time you have.
There is no time for writer’s block, no time to call Michael Phelps’ agent to see if you can
get him on the phone for a more expansive quote, no time to shoot the breeze with the U.S.
coaches in hopes of gleaning a nugget of information about the race, no time to search through
archived stories from past Olympics to lend sage perspective to the scene, no time to get a bite
to eat and collect your thoughts. You just start typing and hope for the best.”

ZEIGLER’S BEIJING – Michael Phelps and his quest record (by nearly four seconds), screaming I spent the final leg
COMMENTARY: of the race watching
Yes, this is a story for eight gold medals was over. Done. Fin- because Bernard had predicted the French Phelps through
about a relay that ished. Drowned. would “smash” the Americans, but mostly binoculars, knowing
had three other I could see a replay
swimmers and was His body language said so, standing on screaming out of sheer, utter relief. of the actual race
one of four finals the pool deck with his arms crossed, his The race for eight lives to see another later. His reaction,
that day. But let’s to me, was the
face it, the most torso slumping, his eyes glazed over. smoggy day in Beijing. Two down, six to signature moment of
important thing here The scene in the pool said so, too. France’s go. the Beijing Olympics,
was Michael Phelps particularly
and the tenuous fate Alain Bernard had just turned for home on Four years ago in Athens, the 4x100 considering how
of his attempt to win the final leg of the 4x100-meter freestyle freestyle relay was one of the events that out of character it
a record eight gold was for him to show
medals. That’s why relay, and he led by nearly a second — an tripped up Phelps, the South Africans pull- that much unbridled
I made it the lead. eternity in swimming — over American ing off the upset of the swim meet. In 2000, emotion.
Why waste time
dancing around the anchor Jason Lezak. Phelps, who swam the Gary Hall Jr. had predicted the Americans
obvious? Cut to the lead leg, looked at the split times on the would “smash” the Australians like a gui-
chase.
scoreboard and looked back at the pool. tar, only to watch the Aussies win and play Here’s where having
covered the previous
There were 50 meters to go, 40 meters, 30 air guitar on the pool deck. Now it was five Summer
meters. No chance. happening again. Olympics helps on
deadline. I was at
Or was there? Phelps clocked a respectable 47.51 in both those races in
Suddenly Lezak began closing on Ber- his lead leg but was in only second place 2000 and 2004, and
I didn’t have to take
nard, and Bernard began fading, and Lezak because Australia’s Eamon Sullivan went precious time to
began closing some more. Phelps snapped 47.24, a world record. research what hap-
I don’t get to the pened — time being
result until the to attention, stood over the end of the pool Garrett Weber-Gale regained the lead for a luxury on such a
seventh graph, and began wildly cheering Lezak, madly the Americans, only to have Cullen Jones tight deadline.
which goes against
everything you learn motioning him home. relinquish it in the third leg to the French.
about writing news They reached for the wall, and Phelps Bernard, the world-record holder before
stories. But in the
Information Age we swiveled his head to see the scoreboard. Sullivan broke it, extended the margin to
live in and given 1. USA, 3:08.24. .83 seconds with 50 meters to go.
how high profile Since the race ended
this story was, you 2. France, 3:08.32. “I’m not going to lie,” said Lezak, who just as NBC was
have to assume And then Phelps, usually the passive, was on the U.S. 4x100 teams that were going off the air for
practically every- the night, it didn’t
body already knows pensive victor, did something he rarely upset in 2000 and 2004. “When I flipped at have time to provide
what happened does. He went berserk, extending his arms the 50, the thought crossed my mind, ‘No many interviews.
(if not, the headline Newspapers can,
and photo give it to his sides and leaning back his head. And way.’ Then I thought, ‘That’s ridiculous. and that’s why I try
away). Providing the screaming. I’m at the Olympics and I’m here for the to quote as many
reader with a feel for different people as
the moment is more Screaming because they had won, scream- United States of America.’ possible. In all,
important. ing because they had destroyed the world “I got a supercharge and took it from I quote five.
 THE MORGUE 251

there.” ists, but French coach Claude Fauquet

A big assist here Lezak’s relay split was 46.06 seconds, the did.
goes to Scott Reid, fastest in history. Equally impressive, not “Well, I think he got it wrong,” Fauquet
the fine writer from
the Orange County to mention daring, was his reaction time: said of Bernard’s brash prediction. “I think
Register and a good 0.04 seconds. it’s as simple as that. Sport is made up of
friend. Scott has
extensively covered Or put another way: If Lezak takes off winners and people who come in second
Lezak, a local athlete five-hundredths of a second earlier, they’re and third place.”
for him, and gave
me a brief overview disqualified. It was a rough day all around for the
of his career, includ- It was vindication and validation for French. Laure Manaudou, the reigning There were other
ing the statistic notable races at the
about his medals. Lezak, 32, an Irvine High and UC Santa Olympic champion in the 400 freestyle, pool that day. Hoff,
Sometimes it’s not Barbara alum who has toiled his entire ca- finished last in the final. She was eight thankfully, provided
what you know a nice transition back
in journalism that reer in the anonymity of relays. He has won seconds behind winner Rebecca Adling- to Phelps and a way
matters, but who 15 medals at Olympics or World Champi- ton, who claimed the first swimming gold to neatly tie up the
you know. story, referring to
onships. All 15 are in relays. medal for Great Britain since 1960. what, for me, was
“I was thinking, if there’s anyone on this The day hadn’t gone well for the Ameri- day’s most striking
We’re nearly 600 moment: Phelps’
words into the story team or in the world who was capable of cans, either. Katie Hoff had a comfortable primal scream.
and we still haven’t
heard from Phelps.
doing it, it was Jason,” Weber-Gale said. lead in the 400 free, only to collapse in the I typed that final
There’s a reason “I was just pounding the (starting) block, final 20 meters and finish second. quote, quickly re-
for that. With more read the story and
events to swim in
saying the f-word.” Hoff returned to the pool deck just in sent it off to the
subsequent days, his Phelps was made available to media only time to see the finish of the 4x100 relay and office on the other
media availability side of the Pacific
was severely limited
briefly. His analysis of how Lezak’s anchor see Phelps, her training partner in the Bal- Ocean. Then I was off
in Beijing. And when leg saved his eight-medal hide: “Absolutely timore area, unleash his primal scream. to something else
he did speak, he in Beijing. This was
didn’t say much
incredible.” “I got chills,” Hoff said, “just seeing their one of three stories I
worth quoting. Bernard did not to speak with journal- reaction and how happy they were.” wrote that day.

He was on fire. It was three in the

morning, and most of his classmates OPENERS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
a voice. It said, ‘You don’t want to die.
Don’t do that.’ Outside we could hear
from the Kibimba school in Burundi Hutus giving up and leaving. I heard
were dead — beaten and burned alive one say, ‘Before we go, let’s make sure
by friends of theirs, kids and grown-ups they had known everyone is dead.’ So three came inside. One put a spear
most of their lives. Smoldering bodies lay in mounds all through a guy’s heart; another guy tried to escape, and
over the small room. He had used some of the corpses they caught him and killed him. I heard the voice say,
for cover, to keep from being hit by the fiery branches ‘Get out.’ There was a body next to me, burned down to
tossed in by the Hutu mob outside. For hours he had the bones. It was hot. I grabbed a bone — it was hot in
heard them laughing, singing, clapping, taunting. Waving my hands — and used it to break the bar on the window.
their machetes, they had herded more than a hundred The fires had been going for nine hours, so it was easy to
Tutsi teenagers and teachers from his high school into break. My thinking was, I wanted to kill myself. I wanted
the room before sunset. A couple dozen were still alive, to be identifiable. I wanted my parents to know me. I
moaning in pain, dreaming of death. didn’t want to be all burned up, like everyone else. I was
“There weren’t that many of us left,” he says. “A guy jumping to let them kill me.”
said, ‘I’m going out — I don’t want to die like a dog.’ He There was a fire underneath the window, set as an ob-
jumped from a window. They cut him to pieces. Then stacle to escape. He jumped. And somehow, in the dark-
they started a fire on the roof. After a while it started fall- ness, amid the uproar of genocide, at least for a few sec-
ing on me, and I held up my right arm as it came down, onds, no one saw him. His back was on fire, his legs were
trying to pull bodies over me. My back and arm were on smoking, and his feet were raw with pain. He ran.
fire — it hurt so bad. I decided I had had enough. I de- If you could call it running.
cided to kill myself by diving from a pile of bodies onto Michael Hall, Texas Monthly, using this dramatic anecdote
my head. I tried twice, but it didn’t work. Then I heard to begin a profile of distance-runner Gilbert Tuhabonye
252 THE MORGUE

VER-RIFIC! “Writing about Justin Verlander’s no-hitter is one of the most cherished memories of my career –
By Jon Paul Morosi and probably always will be,” recalls Detroit sportswriter Jon Paul Morosi. “I covered the Tigers in
the 2006 World Series, but Verlander’s no-hitter was more exciting.
Detroit Free Press — June 13, 2007 “Why? It was unexpected.
< MORE ON COVERING SPORTS ON PAGE 112 “When you’re covering the postseason, you have a pretty good idea that something dramatic is
going to happen. When you arrive at the ballpark for a Tuesday game in June against the Milwaukee
Brewers, it’s hard to know that your story is going to be played beneath a massive headline
(VER-RIFIC!) in the next morning’s sports section.
“Really, there’s no great secret to writing what journalists would consider a Big Story. We just need
to do what we always aspire to do: pay attention, take great notes and let our reporting do the work.”

J
MOROSI’S ustin Verlander stood at his locker — after the first inning. (Leftfielder Craig I tried to cover a lot
COMMENTARY: of ground here, by
Tuesday night, already soaked with Monroe never touched a ball.) giving some of the
I’ve always
remembered a piece some initial celebratory spray, a bottle Verlander set a career high for strikeouts essential details.
of advice I received I loved the fact that
of Dom Perignon in his hands. He fidg- — nine at that point — in the sixth inning Monroe never had
early in my career: If
you take the reader eted with the foil, untwisted the wire, then and finished with 12. to field the ball.
where they can’t Verlander was so
worked on the cork. And he ensured that Comerica Park’s good that no right-
go, it’s hard to go
wrong. So that’s He needed a few moments to yank off first no-hitter would end in the same over- handed hitter pulled
what I did here. the ball to leftfield.
the top and send a stream of champagne whelming way it had started: He reached For a baseball fan,
I figured that most
readers would into the happy air. 101 mph on the stadium radar gun in the that’s a telling detail.
want to know how And I tried not to
That marked the first time he had strug- ninth inning. slow down the pace
Verlander reacted in
the clubhouse after gled — in any way whatsoever — on a “I saw it,” Verlander said, smiling. of the story with
the game — not just long quotations
night for the ages. The ninth began with a standing ovation from anyone — even
what he said, but
what he did and how Verlander, the Tigers’ masterful young as Verlander jogged purposefully toward Verlander. I thought
the scene looked. the three-word
ace, became the fifth pitcher in franchise the mound. The top of the order — Craig quotation — “I saw
history to throw a no-hitter — the first Counsell, Tony Graffanino and J.J. Hardy it” — told the reader
more than if he had
since Jack Morris in 1984 — in a 4-0 vic- — was due up. said, “I felt great out
tory over the Milwaukee Brewers before If one had walked, Prince Fielder — son there tonight.” That
much was obvious.
33,555 at Comerica Park. of former Tigers slugger Cecil Fielder —
It was the first no-hitter by a Tiger at would bat. But it never got that far.
home since Virgil Trucks in 1952. Verlander missed with his first pitch of
With these para- The final scene — a happy, jumping mob the inning, but fired the next 10 for strikes.
graphs, I tried to put
the scene in context of players on the infield after Magglio Or- Counsell struck out on a curveball. Graf-
by referencing the doñez squeezed the final out — was remi- fanino did the same. Hardy put up a fight.
’06 World Series – an
event that was still niscent of the Tigers’ last big celebration He took a strike and fouled the next two
fresh in most every- here, after Ordoñez’s home run clinched pitches — the last too firm for Verlander’s
one’s mind at this
point. And I thought the American League pennant in October. liking.
it was important to There was no trophy this time, but the The 24-year-old stepped off the mound
include a Verlander
quotation very high moment seemed just as electric. to compose himself. The crowd was going
in the story, even “The most special moment of my life — berserk, but Verlander zeroed in on the
though I didn’t really
quote him at much being out there, having the fans support next pitch. He left a curveball up a little,
length throughout. me,” Verlander said, before his voice trailed and Hardy hit it solidly to rightfield.
I don’t know if I did
off. “Unbelievable.” Ordoñez stepped back and kept retreat- this consciously, but
It might be difficult to envision a more ing. Some fans might have gasped, but you can tell that I
kept my sentences
dominant no-hitter this side of a perfect catcher Pudge Rodriguez had the best view. short. I wanted to
game. He knew the ballpark would hold it. He provide detail but
keep the narrative
Verlander, who pitched a no-hitter in had run out to the mound and virtually moving.
middle school, started thinking about Tues- lifted Verlander into his arms by the time
day night’s gem by the fifth or sixth inning. the ball settled in Ordoñez’s glove.
By then, he was well on his way. He allowed “Awesome, man,” Rodriguez said. “It
two balls out of the infield — two fly balls was like winning a World Series, to be hon-
to Ordoñez, one a spectacular sliding catch est with you.”
 THE MORGUE 253

These paragraphs Curtis Granderson ran in from center- Gross smashed the next one up the middle
were a direct
result of something field and threw his glove into the air. Joel — a threat to the centerfield grass — until
I mentioned in the Zumaya, on the disabled list but apparently Neifi Perez ranged to his left, just in time.
introduction: I just
sat in the press box feeling a little like himself, was the first Perez, playing for the injured Carlos
and paid attention. to sprint in from the bullpen. (“I’ve been Guillen, turned his body to the side and
It would have been
easy for me to get working out,” Zumaya said afterward.) welcomed the ball into his glove. He made
excited and rush Manager Jim Leyland and his coaches a backhanded flip to second baseman Plac-
down to the locker
room right away. But waited beside the third-base line as the ido Polanco, who took a hard slide from
then I would have happy mob carried on. Leyland embraced Hall but snapped a sharp throw. Sean
missed a really cool
scene on the field, Verlander, and the two shared a quiet mo- Casey stretched at first. Gross was out.
one that provided ment. The crowd roared. Verlander pumped I wanted to capture
me with visual the prevailing emo-
details for the story. Emily Yuen, Verlander’s girlfriend, made his fist. In Virginia, Richard Verlander tion of the Tigers
Moral of the story: her way onto the field, too. The hero gave thought he had just seen the play of the prior to the ninth
When people are inning, and I figured
going crazy around her a kiss. game. that could best be
you, maybe it is Meanwhile, the celebration was on at his Together, they were three outs away. accomplished with
best, as a journalist, a series of short
to sit back and watch parents’ home in Virginia. Only the anxious ninth was left. quotations from dif-
them do it. Verlander’s father, Richard, had fol- “I was so nervous out there,” Casey said. ferent people. Back-
to-back quotations
lowed the first few innings on his cell “Not one word was said through the don’t always work,
This is where phone before arriving home. The moment entire game,” third baseman Brandon Inge but I thought they
preparation and were appropriate in
opportunity met.
he saw Bill Hall walk in the fifth, he took said. this instance.
I had talked with the dog for a walk. “I had goose bumps the whole ninth in-
Richard Verlander On a normal night,
several times since
Then he came back and stood in the ning, and I couldn’t get rid of them,” said the story probably
his son made the same spot — at the end of the sofa, within Jeff Jones, the bullpen coach. “It was pretty would have led with
Tigers’ roster in the fact that the
2006. I would
view of the TV — for the rest of the night. quiet out there.” Tigers tied the Indi-
occasionally see “I did my part,” he said with a proud Then, in the end, they all let loose. For ans for first place.
him at the ballpark, But Verlander’s
say hello, and talk
laugh, after watching one of his son’s one night, everything else about this season outing forced that to
baseball with him. I many interviews afterward. “I’m telling — Gary Sheffield’s presence, Ordoñez’s become an almost-
rarely quoted him. throwaway detail.
But I did have his
you, man. It was surreal. Incredible.” hitting, the bullpen, the rotation and the I chose to end with
phone number. And As with any no-hitter, Verlander ben- standings themselves — faded into the a simple sentence
if there was ever a that summarized the
time to call and ask
efited from expert defensive plays — none background, company for the game-time night in a historical
for a comment, this bigger than a 6-4-3 double play to end the temperature and defensive statistics, even context: Verlander,
was it. So I did. And I one of the fran-
got lucky with some
eighth. as the Tigers tied Cleveland for first place chise’s young faces,
details that helped Verlander had walked Hall with one out in the American League Central. had done something
paint a fuller picture truly exceptional.
of how significant
to bring up the No. 9 hitter, Gabe Gross. Verlander, in many ways the standard- And I was privileged
this really was. Verlander missed with his first pitch, but bearer of these New Tigers, had done it. to write about it.

SKOPJE, Macedonia –– She awakens

one more time, in a tent on a patch OPENERS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
this place by bringing her to his home
in France. To marry her.
of land that is surrounded by barbed And her father, whom she also
wire and guarded by armed police. Tent 37A, Stenkovic loves, and whom she has never disobeyed, is telling her
II Refugee Camp. That’s her address. To find it, look for she cannot go. That her place is with her family. Here.
the 23-year-old woman with the dark blue dress and Vjosa’s choice:
the bright blond hair who three weeks ago kissed a man “If I decide to go, I’m afraid I’ll lose my family,” she
for the first time in her life and now is sadder than even says.
she believed she could ever be. “If I don’t go, I’m afraid I’ll never meet him again.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Vjosa Maliqi is saying. The plane leaves tomorrow.
Because the man she kissed, and then kissed again, “Family or him.”
and then told she loves, has arranged to get her out of David Finkel, The Washington Post
254 THE MORGUE

GIVE ME THE SIGN Great quotes, great anecdotes . . . collect enough of those and your story writes itself.
Here’s a sports feature that’s as entertaining as it is educational, primarily because of the quotes
By Dave Scheiber
and anecdotes reporter Dave Scheiber assembled from a variety of sources: books, newspaper articles,
St. Petersburg Times — July 5, 2005 interviews with current ballplayers and phone calls to old-timers. The resulting feature is both an
< MORE ON COVERING SPORTS ON PAGE 112 insider’s guide to baseball strategy and an amusing collection of anecdotes any reader can enjoy.

F
rom his coaching box alongside third base, Tom Fo- Foley echoes the deception theme: “I may touch eight or
ley’s hands are a flurry of motion, as if he’s brushing 10 spots every pitch. And I may not put a sign on the whole
away a pesky fly. game.”
They touch the bill of his Devil Rays ballcap, his chest, his There’s a good reason to always touch every spot.
wrists, his legs, his ears, his belt in no discernible pattern. Or “If it’s late in the game and all of a sudden you might want
they don’t move at all. to put a hit-and-run on, and you go to that one spot you
It is the game within the game, the silent art of subterfuge never touched before, it’s a red flag to the opponent,” Foley
and secret communication that is an intrinsic element of said. “Because the other dugout is watching you. Somebody
baseball and has been throughout its history. is always watching.”
The chief practitioners of the craft are third-base coaches, It could be anyone from a wily coach or bench player to
who get busy with their sleight of hand when a batter reaches stars such as former Milwaukee teammates Paul Molitor
base. The hidden messages they send to batters and runners and Robin Yount, who prided themselves on winning some
— orders conveyed with equal stealth from the manager games for the Brewers in the ’80s by swiping signs, Dickson
in the dugout — often dictate the flow and strategy of any wrote. “If you are able to steal a bunt, a hit-and-run, get an
given game. out and win an inning, you can win a game that you other-
Miss a sign and you may botch an at-bat or cost your team wise might have lost,” Molitor told the author.
a win. Or maybe, as Foley once did while playing for Mon- So how do third-base coaches ply their sign craft? Natu-
treal, you dodge a bullet. rally, systems vary from team to team. But one common
“I was in New York playing the Mets and facing Ron Dar- element is the indicator: a sign or touch that means the real
ling,” he said. “Man on first and second, nobody out. The signal is coming right up.
bunt was on, but I missed the sign. Fortunately, I hit a three- Foley gave some examples, stressing that none was part
run homer. When I came in the dugout and the manager, of his top-secret repertoire. “You could have an indicator
Buck Rodgers, said to me, “You were supposed to bunt!’ I where you touch a spot, and then it’s not on unless you lock
said, “Well, I saw the pitch pretty good. I thought I could hit it in,” he said.
it.’ I was just joking around. But if you mess up and hit into And how do you lock in a sign?
a double play, well, man, that’s a big mistake.” “Well, let’s say the left wrist is the lock-in,” he said. “That
Given the importance of signs, it’s no surprise that teams means it’s on if I touch it. If I put a sign on and I don’t go to
routinely look for ways to decode the hand and body lan- that left wrist, then it’s not on. Then again, I could put no
guage of third-base coaches — and why other teams fre- sign on and end up touching my left wrist and nothing’s on.”
quently change signs to prevent them from being stolen. (Or, Or say that belt stands for bunt and Foley’s indicator is
as legendary manager Casey Stengel was quoted in “The Hid- touching his right ear. His hands get in gear, moving this
den Language of Baseball” by Paul Dickson: “I ain’t gonna way and that, and suddenly he touches his right ear. “Then
change our signs. I’m just gonna change what they mean.”) I go to my belt, and the bunt is on,” he said. Well, not quite.
But here’s one trade secret to consider next time you “I might still hit a couple of more signs after that,” he added,
watch Foley or one of his coaching counterparts with their “and then I lock it in with my left wrist.”
hands flying rapid-fire: Sometimes, third-base coaches designate certain touched
Much of it means nothing. areas as “hot spots.” You could have four hot spots, said
“In the course of a game, say there are 100 pitches thrown Foley, and the one that you don’t touch is the key to signal-
or better, and of those 100 pitches, you only give signs when ing a certain play.
somebody’s on base,” Seattle third-base coach Jeff Newman What if Foley messes up a sequence?
said. “So if I give 40 signs a night, I’m really only giving prob- “Then I’ve got a start-over sign,” he said. “And I’m sure
ably no more than five real signs. The rest are decoys. So the some clubs have a repeat sign. In other words, if they put
key is making your decoys look like good signs. the bunt on, and they want to put the bunt on again but not
“It’s a cat-and-mouse game,” he added. “And there are have to go through the same sign to do that, then there’s a
only so many places they’ll allow you to touch without it spot where it’s a repeat.”
being obscene.” The job would be tricky enough if it just required giving
 THE MORGUE 255

signs to the batter and runners. But Foley and his third-base pieces. Luis Tiant, the Boston pitcher, stepped off the rubber
coaching colleagues have to make sure they get the signals and yelled at Lucchesi, “Hey, Frank! Billy wants you to bunt!”’
correctly from the dugout, where they’re sent — usually via Mariners announcer and former Dodger first baseman
a different set of signals — from the manager or his bench Ron Fairly told the Seattle Times in 2003 about ex-first base-
coach. man Dick Stuart, who struggled to get signs from third-base
Rays senior adviser Don Zimmer was regarded as one of coach Preston Gomez. One day, with Stuart on first, the
the game’s great third-base coaches, but the job had its chal- frustrated coach moved his arms as if he were running and
lenges. pointed to second. “That was his steal sign,” Fairly said.
“I had a manager who would relay the signs to me and I’d Base-stealing great Rickey Henderson had the green light
relay them to the players,” Zimmer said. “So after we had just in Oakland to run whenever he wanted, former first-base
played this club for three days, he said to me, “You can keep coach Jackie Moore said. “He didn’t need any signs,” said
your signs to the players, but I think so-and-so has stolen my Moore, now manager of Houston’s Triple-A team in Round
signs to you. “’ Rock, Texas.
So Zimmer went into the clubhouse and got new signs Baseball abounds with many more signs than those from
from his boss (whom he declines to identify). In the next the third-base coach and manager. There are the endless ones
inning, after one of his runners reached first, the manager between pitcher and catcher, and the long tradition of steal-
signaled a hit-and-run. “But he gives me the old hit-and-run ing them to gain an edge — from spying in the scoreboard
sign,” Zimmer said. (a charge leveled against the ’51 Giants in their amazing pen-
“So I go through some signs and don’t put on any play. nant-winning comeback) to eagle-eyed players and coaches
Pitch is in the dirt, runner don’t run and the hitter don’t on the field and in the dugout today.
swing. My manager throws his arms up and is screaming and As a batter, you can sneak a peek at the catcher to see how
hollering at me. he’s setting up for a certain pitch, but the consequence might
“So all the players think I missed the sign from the act that be a mean brushback by the pitcher. Rays centerfielder Rocco
he put on. I come in and he says, “I put on the hit-and-run!’ Baldelli got an unintended lesson in the hazards of sign steal-
And I said, “You put on the old hit-and-run!’ And he says, ing shortly after being assigned to rookie ball in Princeton,
“Ohhh, I forgot.’ But in the meantime, I looked like the W.Va.
dummy.” “You know, I was so confused with what was going on in
Zimmer said he has seen plenty of costly gaffes result from general, I had no clue,” he said. “It was midway through the
missed signs, most often from batters who overlooked the season and I got a hit, which was rare. So I was on second
squeeze sign and left the runner trying to score from third base. And the umpire called time and the opposing man-
a goner at home plate. “I’ve seen that 20 times or more,” he ager came out and pointed his finger at me and said, “If you
said. keep doing that, you’re going to get hurt, son.’ Meaning, he
Picking up signs simply requires staying focused, says Rays thought I was looking in and giving the hitter the signs.
utilityman Eduardo Perez. But it can take some getting used “Now, I’m going to tell you — I still didn’t even know our
to. In his book, “New Thinking Fan’s Guide to Baseball,” signs, let alone trying to steal the other team’s signs. But I was
Leonard Koppett relates how former A’s owner Charley Fin- so nervous on base, freaking out a little from reaching base,
ley made his manager, Alvin Dark, break down all the team’s I looked suspicious.”
signs for him. Dark did so for an hour until Finley had them. To Dickson, signs define the game. Among the nuggets in
But when the owner asked Dark to give signs as they would his book: In Indians manager Lou Boudreau’s system, the
be relayed in a game, Finley missed each and every one. same signs meant different things in each third of the lineup.
There have been countless classic sign moments. And this Stengelism: “I have an ironclad system of signs. The
Former American League umpire and crew chief Jim other team can’t steal ’em, and my fellows don’t understand
Evans remembered how Billy Martin, when managing the them.”
Texas Rangers in the 1970s, tried a league-approved walkie- “In one major-league game there are probably a thousand
talkie system with third-base coach Frank Lucchesi. signs and signals,” Dickson said by phone from his home in
“With a runner on third, Martin told Lucchesi to put on the Maryland. “And that includes covert umpire signals, which
squeeze play,” Evans said from his home in Colorado. “Evi- there is a tradition of, besides the ones fans see. Sometimes
dently, Frank didn’t hear Billy the first, second or third time the third-base coach isn’t even giving the signs. There was a
he tried to communicate from the first-base dugout. Each time when Billy Martin used to use a trainer to give the signs
time he ordered the squeeze, Martin got louder and louder — the guy would use a tongue depressor.
as his temper boiled. So in disgust, Martin threw the walkie- “If you took signs and signals out of baseball, the game
talkie onto the dugout floor and it burst into a hundred would fall apart.”
256 THE MORGUE

VERMEIL SENSED Joe Posnanski, named America’s best sports columnist by the Associated Press Sports Editors, believes
that columns, especially sports columns, should hit an emotion. “If a column doesn’t make someone
IT WAS GO TIME feel something — make someone laugh or cry or angry or curious — then it probably wasn’t a very
By Joe Posnanski good column,” he says.
The Kansas City Star — Posnanski began writing columns at the Kansas City Star in 1996. Before that, he was a sports col-
Nov. 7, 2005 umnist in Cincinnati and Augusta. And for Posnanski, the column reprinted here exemplifies the dif-
ference between reporting and column-writing.
< MORE ON COVERING SPORTS ON PAGE 112 “When you write a story on an event or topic, you are trying mostly to inform,” he explains. “It’s all
about those questions: who, what, when, where, how. A column needs to find the places in between
those questions and give people a point of view that a game story cannot.”

C
POSNANSKI’S hiefs president/CEO/general man- tion table. If the Chiefs can move the Raid-
COMMENTARY:
I had a different lead
ager/disco king Carl Peterson stands ers backward, they win. If not, they lose.
on this originally, a up against the glass in his box at Ar- The ball is snapped. Shields turns his The form can be
more complicated overused, but I like
(i.e., confusing) one.
rowhead Stadium. He watches with some man. Dunn and Waters take out so many writing moments like
I would imagine blend of excitement and panic. Numbers Raiders, Tony Richardson does not have this in the present
at least once while tense. It can give
writing every column
swirl in the air. anyone left to block. Johnson leaps into the the writing a little
I remind myself Ball on the Oakland 1. end zone. urgency.
“Keep it simple.”
This is as simple
Chiefs down 3. The Chiefs beat the Raiders. The season
as it gets. Clock reads 0:05. is alive again.
Time for one play. And up in his box, Carl Peterson smashes Talk about lucky:
A crowd of 79,033 goes mad. his hands against the window. The glass Nobody knew about
Peterson smashing
A season teeters. This is one of those shatters and falls on him while the crowd the window. I just
sports moments that tells you what’s inside. happened to be
Kenny Chesney and flips out. The Chiefs rush the field; the riding up the eleva-
Renée Zellwegger What do you do? Go or no? In the press place is madness. While the Chiefs kick the tor with him, and I
had split up two noticed his face was
days before the box, opinions split like Kenny and Renée. cherry-on-top extra point, Peterson washes puffy. I asked him
column. I always Half in the box demand the field goal — get the glass out of his hair and face. He rushes what happened, and
look for ways to get he told the story. In
goofy things like this the tie and send the game into overtime. downstairs to hug everybody. the wild aftermath,
into my column. The safe play. “How about the guts of the head coach?” no one else had
Half in the box say go — win this game noticed.
I normally do not
he asks.
like referring to us with one bold play.
writers in the press * * *
box, but in this case
“I just figured,” Vermeil would say, “I’m
I figured our debate too old to wait.” What a call. It’s easy now to say that you Many people think a
—“Go or no” — was column, especially a
being played out
The Chiefs go for the win. They call their would have done the same thing. I was one sports column, must
by NFL fans across play 20-Z Blast, the simplest, straightest, of those people in the press box saying the be about an opinion.
America. I think a column
most violent run in the playbook. The play Chiefs should go for the win. Simple math- must present a point
begins with Will Shields, one of the great- ematics. If they had kicked a field goal, of view. In this case,
I thought the Chiefs
est offensive guards in the game’s history. the game would have gone into overtime. did the right thing
He is supposed to turn a defensive line- That means winning was just about a 50-50 by going for it. But
I didn’t think that
man. Then, Jason Dunn, Brian Waters and proposition. would make a par-
Tony Richardson slam into the gap next to I thought the Chiefs had a better than ticularly interesting
column. To me,
Shields. Altogether, that’s 1,150 pounds of 50-50 chance to score from the 1. my opinion on the
Sometimes you
get lucky. I went to blocking — the weight of an adult polar But coaching pro football is about more subject was worth
one or two lines.
Google and typed in bear. than math. There were no talk shows when
“1,150 pounds.” The
first or second entry At the same time, quarterback Trent Sir Isaac Newton invented calculus (if there
A reader pointed out
said: “Weight of an Green takes the snap, hands the ball to were, Louie from Louisville would have this had to be the
adult polar bear.” first sports column
running back Larry Johnson, 230 pounds called in to say, “Oh man, you know Leib-
to mention both
himself. He takes the ball, runs to where the niz invented calculus first!”). Newton and Leibniz.
defense bends. He leaps into the end zone. The truth is, Dick Vermeil faced the I hope so.
“I don’t like to leap,” Johnson would quintessential coaching decision. Go or
say. no? Take one bold shot at winning now or
That’s 20-Z Blast. Basic as the multiplica- tie the game, take a deep breath and try to
 THE MORGUE 257

win it later? Go by the book (the book says * * *

kick) or roll the dice? It is probably the happiest Chiefs locker
On another day, Vermeil admits, he room in 10 years.
might have kicked the field goal. Most “Did you block anyone on that last
coaches, I think, would have kicked there. play?” Tony Richardson asks Will Shields.
Coaches, in general, do not let their games “You have to ask me that?” Shields yells Short. Punchy.
Here’s what I mean come down to one round of showdown back. “Don’t you know me?” Sentences. We’re
about point of in the locker room
view. Even though I poker. Too much luck involved. No, most Laughter. Hugs. Insults. now, and I’m trying
thought it was right coaches I know would rather keep the “You have a smile on your face,” Rich- to pick up the pace,
to go for the touch- get the reader to
down, I understand game going as long as possible. They figure ardson says to tight end Tony Gonzalez. move a little quicker
that it’s a whole lot the longer their teams are alive, the better “You must have caught some passes.” the way a movie
different being on director might with
the field and making chance they have of winning. “You’re an instigator,” Gonzalez says quick cuts.
that decision. I want Vermeil is like that, too. He says he has back.
to take the reader
inside the decision never tried anything this bold in his coach- More hugs. High-fives. Congratulations.
and try to show, as ing life. He says if the ball had been at the “This was one of the great ones,” Chiefs I looked through my
best I can tell, what notebook after this
is really happening 2, he would have kicked. Gambling it all on founder Lamar Hunt says. game and saw a lot
on the field. one play goes against his nature. “I think we’re as good as any team in the of quotes and a lot
of thoughts I wanted
But he could feel that this play was dif- NFL,” Gonzalez says. to get into the
ferent. This game was different. This sea- “After this, there’s no telling how good column. So — and
this is a bit unusual
son was different. Go or no? The players we can be,” Waters says. — I simply placed
wanted to go. Players always want to go. “I’m going to have a glass of wine,” Pe- the quotes one after
another. I hope each
“If we had kicked there,” Waters would say terson says. quote tells a bigger
after the game, “then I would have won- There’s no telling what would have story.
dered if there was something wrong with happened had Dick Vermeil kicked the
us. I would have wondered if they had lost field goal at the end of the game. Maybe
faith in our offensive line.” the Chiefs would have won in overtime.
The fans wanted to go. Fans always want There’s no way to express all the things
to go, too. that could have gone wrong with 20-Z
But only Dick Vermeil would have en- Blast. Quarterback Trent Green might have I have had a con-
stant argument with
dured the wrath had Larry Johnson not fumbled the snap. Larry Johnson might friends in column
gotten into the end zone. He would have have slipped. Someone might have been writing about what
is more important, a
been skewered across the country. He called for holding. The Raiders may have good lead or a good
knew it, too. “If we had not made it,” he blown through the blocks. ending. I’ve always
been partial to the
told reporters, “you guys would have had a “Wow, I was scared,” Vermeil says. This ending. To me, a
lot of fun with that.” was some gamble. good column has to
have a payoff. When
More than anything, though, Vermeil But really, football, life — it’s all a Will Shields said, “I’m
knew that a loss would have more or less gamble, isn’t it? not paid to think,”
I often use short I knew instantly that
quotes like “It was
killed this season. The Chiefs would have “What did you think of the decision to was the ending. The
time” to punctuate been 4-4, in last place in the AFC West. He go for it?” someone asks Will Shields. rest of the column
a thought. Vermeil was just of a way to
said a lot of things
would have had a hard time regrouping his “I’m not paid to think,” he says. get there.
about his decision players. The Chiefs would have been in line
to go for the touch-
down. But to me,
for another forgettable season.
all of it could be Vermeil made the gutsy call. Vermeil
boiled down to
those three words.
said go.
“It ... was ... time.” “It was time,” he said.
258 THE MORGUE

GIRL’S LAST GIFTS Taped to Colleen Kenney’s computer are four words from William Zinsser’s “On Writing Well”:
CLARITY
BRING SMILES SIMPLICITY
TO KIDS’ FACES BREVITY
By Colleen Kenney HUMANITY
Lincoln Journal Star — June 10, 2005 “This is my mantra when I’m writing,” Kenney says. And those four qualities characterize the
touching feature story reprinted below.
< MORE ON FEATURE STYLE ON PAGE 120 “I look for little stories that say big things,” Kenney says. “A dying 8-year-old who’s thinking of
other kids’ happiness — to me that’s big news.
“Many reporters go into a story like this thinking they know what they’re going to write. Stories
like that turn out like clichés and have no heart.
“My best advice: Go into each story expecting it to be the best you’ve written. And see no story
assigned to you as ‘little.’ ”

S
KENNEY’S chuyler Peterson, 8 going on 9, any toys today. Maybe in a week, when
COMMENTARY:
My favorite phrase:
lies in her daddy’s bed. money comes in. Sorry, baby.
“8 going on 9.” Kids She likes to do this, curl up to him The lounge fills with kids and their
always say it this way,
don’t they? Even if their
and feel his breath on her head and his parents and mission workers, Malorie
birthday’s not for half a arms around her until she falls asleep. It and her siblings.
year. I wrote it this way
for poignancy, because,
makes her not so scared. “My little girl had cancer,” the nice
as readers soon find Daddy, she says, I still want to have a man begins.
out, Schuyler won’t
make it to 9.
birthday party. I still want you to invite He holds up a picture of a smiling girl, I didn’t want to inter-
my very best friends and have them bring view Mike Peterson at
says her name was Schuyler and she died the mission because
gifts. in February and she wanted kids here to I wanted to focus on the
But what should we do with all the kids’ reactions to the
have her toys. gifts and take it from
toys? He says her friends came to the birth- their point of view.

After another reporter Mike Peterson pauses now, recalling day party last week with gifts for girls and
had passed on this the conversation that night in January. boys, and they decorated cupcakes and
story, I phoned the
father, got the back- They both knew she’d never make it to let go of balloons at her grave.
ground on Schuyler and her June 3 birthday. He says this blond girl here is Morgan
her death and a good
sense of what a great “She said, ‘Daddy, I want the poor kids Bouwens, Schuyler’s very best friend,
child she was. to have them.’ ” and she’ll help pass out all these gifts
Schuyler wanted the poor kids to have.
* * * “She was an awesome little girl.” If it’s clear who the
speaker is, I leave off
She sure didn’t expect to get a toy The nice man stops talking, like he attribution. This makes
today. can’t anymore, and other adults hug him. it more real. You have
“The nice man with a my permission to argue
beard.” Schuyler’s “very Malorie Underwood figured Thursday Everyone says a prayer for Schuyler. And with your editors on
best friend.” “Littlest to would be just another day. him. this one. Some of the
biggest.” “Mommy.” best words of advice I
I chose words a kid She didn’t see this coming, this nice Mommy stands against a wall. She is ever got were from
would use rather than man with a beard and toys for her and wiping away tears. Joe Starita, a Pulitzer
words a reporter would finalist and a former
use. I’m telling this her four sisters and brothers and all the Malorie stands in line quietly as kids, Journal Star city editor
from a kid’s perspective other kids here. littlest to biggest, line up and the man who now is a journal-
because I’m trying to ism professor at the
put readers in Malorie’s For the past month, Malorie has lived returns to the toys and starts passing University of Nebraska-
little shoes, so the in Room 136 of the People’s City Mis- them out. Lincoln. “Remove the
payoff is greater. stink of journalism.”
sion, in the family shelter, with her mom A white fuzzy kitty stuffed animal . . . (See, you know Joe said
Finding Malorie was the and siblings and grandma. a yellow “Power Puff” doll . . . a fat baby this, don’t you? So why
key. Once I did, I dropped put in “he said”?)
everything and followed
She sleeps on a bunk bed. There are doll called “Lots of Love Babies.”
her around, focusing my two bunk beds in Room 136. Her 4-year- Malorie sees what she wants. She hopes
note-taking on details
that would advance her
old sister, Makenna, sleeps on the other it’ll be hers.
story. When I wrote this, bed, a single bed under the window, a Makenna chooses a baby doll with its
I ignored pages of good
details from other kids
Barbie sleeping bag covering it. own pink diaper bag and supplies and
and parents. Mommy told Malorie, don’t expect carrier.
 THE MORGUE 259

The little boy clutching A 5-year-old boy chooses a stuffed they couldn’t afford the $850 rent, so It was hard to ask her
Tigger was adorable. about finances. But the
A cute talker. I thought Tigger doll. He clutches it to his chest as that’s why they’re all here. key is just to be sincere.
he’d be my subject. he walks away. She tells someone how thankful she is If you’re uncomfortable
I was interviewing him asking about finances,
when I overheard Malorie A 6-year-old girl in front of Malorie her kids got toys today — especially Malo- just say it. “I feel like
tell another little girl, “It’s chooses an art supply kit. rie. What a blessing. The child support a jerk asking you this,
my birthday today.” but . . .” In this case, I
Malorie was standing Her turn now. check doesn’t come until next week, so was able to tell the mom
quite a ways away from She points to the Polly Pocket Spa Day she’d told Malorie not to expect anything that I grew up poor, so I
me when she said this. knew how happy the gift
But I’d programmed package. today. made Malorie and her.
myself going into this The nice man hands it to her. “This comes at a good time, huh,
to keep looking for the
best story, to keep my She and Makenna show their mom Malorie?” I see Malorie walk over
to Schuyler’s dad and
senses open (in this case, and then rush across the hall to No. 136 Malorie walks back into the lounge, the TV reporter, who’s
hearing), to keep seeing
the big picture but also to show Grandma. where kids are playing with their new putting away her cam-
era. I’m screaming, “No,
the little details. “I got a Polly Pocket!” toys. She walks up to the nice man, who no, no,” in my head.
I have this theory that
if you program yourself “Let me see it,” Grandma says, inspect- is talking to a TV reporter. I’m holding my breath,
acting like I’m not the
before each story, your ing the toys. “Pretty nice.” She stands there, waiting, Polly Pocket least bit interested in
subconscious will pick up
stuff like this. (Kind of “She’s a pretty nice girl to give away all Spa Day package in her hands. Malorie or the fact it’s
her birthday.
like how people can set her toys,” Malorie says. “Hi, what’s your name?” I didn’t even write
mental alarm clocks at
night and then wake up And her daddy is a pretty nice daddy “Malorie.” Her voice is soft. down the quote until
later, just in case the
when they want.) to bring them here, Grandma says. The nice man bends to her level. TV reporter caught on.
The minute I heard “Malorie? Hi, Malorie. What toy did But she didn’t. She just
Malorie say it, I changed * * * kept putting away her
gears and followed her you get?” camera and missed the
into Room 136 and met Mommy enters No. 136. She’s still She shows him Polly Pocket. best possible story from
her mom, grandma and this event. Any good re-
siblings. (I recognized crying. “I’m 7,” she says. “And guess what? porter will tell you the
Malorie’s mom as the She tells someone how thankful she is Today’s my birthday.” best stuff often comes
one I saw wiping away after you put away your
tears when the gifts were her own children are healthy and they “It is? Can she get an extra present? It’s notebook or think the
being passed out.) have this place here at the mission — her birthday.” interview is over.

The event was at 3 p.m. and I had this written by 5 or 6 p.m. I cried as I wrote. I walked over to
my editor and said, with tears in my eyes, “This is such a great story, if I don’t make it suck.”

One was taken out by accident. Another with fanfare. It’s still unclear why he was naked.
A third by chariot. But there’s no doubt it was Jody Lee Taylor, 1992
But the winner of the Savannah-Chatham County Virginia Lottery winner, who got high on crack
Spelling Bee stayed plucky with yucky, sunk her teeth into cocaine and Crown Royal blended whiskey one night
incisor, and was at ease with acclimatize. in June, drove his new Ford pickup the wrong way
The eighth-grader at Oglethorpe Academy, Carissa Pfeif- down U.S. 58 in Axton and then tried to run down a
fer, won the bee for the Henry County deputy.
third time in a row on Being a lottery winner didn’t cause Taylor’s prob-
OPENERS “double entendre.”
Mary Landers,
lems, his friends and family say, but it sure didn’t help.
Matt Chittum, The Roanoke Times
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
Savannah Morning News
No multimillion-dollar contracts. No Sharpie-
As Ron Borowiak tells it, Santa has the most fun with toting autograph seekers. No TV cameras or mouthy
the adults who approach him with an all-grown-up, in-on- commentators. No trash talk. No blingbling. No big-
the-joke, wink-wink attitude. They sidle up with a certain time corporate sponsors, although goodness knows,
chumminess and jovially assure him, “I still believe in you.” the folks who make Clorox might want to consider
And Santa pauses, peers into their eyes, then whispers the opportunity.
like a long-ago grandpa, “Good to see you again.” After all, this is croquet.
Makes the hair rise on the backs of their necks. Katy Muldoon, The Oregonian, using a blind lead
Kim Ode, Star Tribune (Minneapolis, Minn.) to lure you into a story about a successful croquet team
260 THE MORGUE

ALWAYS, ED For breaking news, an inverted pyramid structure usually works best. But some stories — actual
STORIES, with beginnings, middles and ends — need narratives that unfold chronologically.
By Kelley Benham Especially love stories.
St. Petersburg Times — Feb. 13, 2005 For “Always, Ed,” Kelley Benham begins and ends with the present-day Ed, sitting alone as he
< MORE ON FEATURE STORY STRUCTURES, PAGE 122 struggles to write a love letter. But in between those opening/closing bookends lies the heart of the
story: a long chronological flashback that conveys the significance of Ed’s letters.
Benham explains how the story came about:
“When I was a college junior, my boyfriend bought me one of those Valentine’s Day Love Lines
in the University of Florida student newspaper, the Alligator. I can’t remember what it said.
“I remember another letter on another page. ‘JUDY,’ it began, in 24-point type. At the end it
said, ‘Come closer, let me explain it another way.’
“Ed must be an English major, I thought. I hoped Judy wouldn’t dump him.
“Over the years — I stayed at UF six years, OK? — I pieced together a love story about these
two strangers. The letters became, as I said in the story, annual evidence of what is possible.
“My earnest boyfriend one year tracked down Ed. He found out it was the Alligator’s general
manager, Ed Barber. In Gainesville, everyone knows Ed Barber.
“Years later, all grown, I heard Judy died. I was in the newsroom, checking e-mail. I was on
deadline for a funny story about North Dakota and I felt wrecked.
“My very wise editor, Mike Wilson, told me I needed to write about them, but I wasn’t sure I
wanted to. What if their marriage was as screwed up as everyone else’s? I didn’t want to know.
What if I fumbled the story and ruined the legacy of their 48 years?
“I waited until January. Waited a while longer. Waited until Mike was teasing me about it.
Then I called Ed.”

H
e knows how the letter will end. pecking under the tall pine. The hum- This scene comes from
the last day of reporting
Every letter has ended the same ming of the air conditioner is the only I did. It took a long time
way since their letters were high- sound. to get this close to Ed,
to get inside his house
school locker notes. The antique Regulator on the wall has and inside his head.
Always, not ticked in almost a year. It is frozen at This was three trips to
Gainesville, which is a
Ed 9:45. Last March, Ed rewound the hands, three-hour drive, and
BENHAM’S What comes before that is just a fum- a reminder he does not need. spending the whole
COMMENTARY: day. Going to the news-
This is the feature story bling attempt. Ed Barber is 65, and he has He knows he can’t stop time, but he paper office, going to
version of a nut graf. loved Judy for 48 years. For more than wishes he could. If he could, maybe he lunch, visiting Judy’s
Tells what the story is grave, eating Ed’s tofu
about, but tries to do it three decades, he has written her a love could make it go back. meatballs, hanging out
while he wrote.
in a graceful way. letter for Valentine’s Day. In his mind, he From chaos you flew to me,
has never gotten one right. On beauty’s butterfly wings. (2004) To guide my reporting,
He’s a logical man, and he has tried, I kept reminding myself
that the story is about
in other years, to explain in these letters When he tells it, and he loves to tell the letters. Otherwise,
what can’t be explained. He has described it, he always lingers on the moment he it’s just another (yawn)
love story about old
love using science and mathematics, saw her. people who were
compared her to music, wind and water. She was barely 15, coming back from married a long time.
I went through every
I knew early on, maybe But this defies logic. He is just a man. majorette practice. She was carrying a letter, pulled out my
before I even picked up favorite parts and put
the phone to dial Ed’s
These are just words. pile of books, her baton and her crino- them into rough order
number, certain things JUDY, it begins. lines through the empty halls of Hialeah on my computer screen
about the shape of the and sort of filled in an
story. I knew it would
He plucks softly at the keys. He misses High School. He was a senior, almost 17. outline in between. To
have a JUDY at the top the clattering of manual typewriters. It He can’t say why she stunned him the start, I looked for one
and an Always at the that sounded like a
end, like all of the let-
is so quiet in the house. He stops every way she did, why he still remembers the beginning.
ters. I knew it would so often and puts his chin in his hands, way her curls stuck to her forehead, the
be filled and shaped by
Ed’s letters, somehow.
wipes his eyes. Any minute he imagines way her cheeks flushed pink. She wasn’t
I think I knew his words he might feel her hand on his shoulder. the girl every guy wanted, but after he
were as important as
mine. The work was half
But he is alone in his wingback chair by saw her, he never wanted anyone else.
done before I dialed. the big window. Outside the birds are He stole her baton to get her to walk
 THE MORGUE 261

with him. The next day he hung around their children finding them. “Let’s just
her locker and was late to class. She say there was a lot of wishful thinking in
wouldn’t give him her phone number, those letters,” he says.
I met Ed in his office at so his friend Jack spied on her in the He’d come home in his uniform and Ed kind of acted this
the student newspaper part out for me at lunch
a few weeks before
phone booth as she dialed her house, meet her at school. One night over din- at a Cuban place. I
Valentine’s Day. copied down the number and auctioned ner, he asked her to marry him, and, could’ve put the whole
I wanted to get the pitch in, but “Please”
background reporting
it on the spot. Ed’s bid was highest. He believing he did not deserve her, said, was the best part. Use
out of the way. asked her out that weekend. “Please.” your quotes sparingly.
Ed started off this way: He was her first real date. They saw Their daughter Janet was born 10
“I’ll talk. You take notes. Yes, they waited until
You may describe me “The Unguarded Moment” at the the- months after the wedding. they got married. Ed
crying.’’ OK, then. ater on Miracle Mile. It was a titillating They moved to Gainesville in 1962 so said it was OK if I put
that in, but he kind of
movie for its time, featuring degenerate he could attend the University of Flori- blushed when he said it.
youths and a teacher’s bra strap. da. He majored in journalism but spent I think all this chronology
is boring. I tried to move
Ed turned to Judy in the dark and most of his time at the student newspa- through it as quick
kissed her, a brazen move for a first date per, the Florida Alligator. He worked his as I could. When you
write about anybody
in 1956. way from reporter to executive editor. who lived a long time
“I can’t believe it to this day,” he says. He earned next to nothing and sold his or was married a long
time you’re going to
Just as surprising, she kissed him back. blood for extra money. Judy worked, but have this problem. I had
On their second date, in a back seat he couldn’t stand to see her go without, to keep telling myself
this story was not
at a drive-in, they kissed so much that so he quit school to work at the Alligator about their remarkable
the front-seat couple fled the car. When full time. marriage. It was about
Ed’s remarkable tribute
they were alone, he told her he loved The newspaper, which eventually to their marriage. Ask
her. “Because I felt it,” he says. Judy said moved off campus and became the Inde- about the letters, ask
about the letters.
nothing. Ed repeated himself. Still noth- pendent Florida Alligator, became his
Ed was pretty much ing. He tried not to worry. second great love. He has never left it.
on a roll and I didn’t
have to do much for On their third date, a chilly fall night, Now he is its general manager, with a
a few hours. she snuggled beside him and whispered cluttered little office upstairs. Students Yawn.
“I love you” into his ear. run the paper downstairs. He is also the
From then on they were Ed and Judy, publisher of the High Springs Herald, a
Judy and Ed. community paper 25 miles north.
In 1972, when he was assistant gen-
For me, it was love at first sight. Like
eral manager, the Alligator started a
a bolt of lightning! You didn’t believe
Valentine’s Day tradition called Love
me in the beginning. But I persisted,
Lines. They are mostly silly messages
and eventually you returned my love.
between infatuated classmates, loaded
Then, adults said we were too young to
with lust and sickening nicknames. Last
know what real love was. That angered
year, J-Dogg wrote to H-Money and a
us. Now I have to admit that in one
Mongolian Horse Princess wrote to her Wonder if those guys
sense they were right. Because our love are still together?
hairy barbarian. Finally, we’ve got a
has grown so tremendously through the
Somewhere in that first edition was letter coming up here.
years, swelling and bursting forth in ’Bout time.
the first of Ed’s public letters to Judy.
marvelous and complicated ways.
Just 21 words.
Our love then . . . as true and real as
“JUDY, my love and best friend. Our
it was . . . holds no measure to today’s
love is earth and air and FIRE . . . and
or tomorrow’s, or our thousands of
wonderfully crystal-caved. Your husband After Judy died, the
tomorrows. (1993)
. . . Always, Ed.” Alligator staff pulled
all the letters and put
After graduation he went into the They’d settled into a comfortable life them in a collection
Coast Guard. She wrote him every day by then. She worked for the school sys- for Ed. Sure saved me
some time.
for three years. He wrote her back almost tem. Janet was 10 and their son Chris
as often. He still has the letters, some- was 3. Ed still felt he didn’t deserve Judy,
where, and he’s a little nervous about but she built his confidence by being
262 THE MORGUE

steady, never complaining about the we have shared for more than three
things they could not afford. decades,” he wrote. “We enjoy the pas-
They had a little starter house in a sion and freshness of romance. But also
Ed’s writing is such an
shady neighborhood. He built a tree we have the rich comfort and wonderful important part of the
house in the live oak in the back yard. warmth of our true friendship.” story that it was critical
I interview him about it.
They liked to feed the birds out there. For 266 words, he described the I put every letter in front
They made dinners for friends and way their hands unconsciously slipped of him and asked what
he remembered about
worked on a screenplay together on together when they walked, how he writing it. I learned how
Sunday mornings. The Love Lines, just could read her mind in a glance, the his mind works. I saw
him wrestle with the
a couple of sentences each, became their bond they felt after 30 years of births and rational and irrational.
yearly gift to each other. deaths and joy and sorrow. And her: her With love and death.
That stuff appears near
In 1980, he appealed to her affection voice, her spirit, her laugh, on and on. the beginning and end
for Kermit the Frog: “You are my rain- He doesn’t remember how she react- of the story.
bow connection! I’m glad you love green ed, except that she thanked him, as
because I’m weird!” always. She usually called him from her
Judy wrote Ed every And she wrote back: “Ed, You put office and cooed with gratitude.
year, and you have flowers in my life just by being there.” He remembers that Trish Carey,
to mention that, but
it would have been a When the newspaper came out, he’d the Alligator’s assistant general man-
distracting mistake grab a copy, read her letter first, then ager, asked him about his love letter in
to quote her letters
too many times. check his for typos. He’d cut it out and advance the next year. She told him the
You have to make paste it on a piece of paper and try to people in production were asking for
choices and keep the
story line simple. tape it to her door at work when she it. He hadn’t busted deadline yet, as he
was out. was inclined to do. They just wanted to
Often Ed would come home and show read it.
the letters to Chris, who loved to read That year, he wrote more than 300
them but couldn’t do it in front of his words: “Over decades the fabric of
dad. He’d take them off somewhere by our lives has been woven one small
I had lots of material
himself. Even the embarrassing ones thread at a time. Those strands of shared
from Ed and Judy’s kids, made him happy. moments, anguished or ecstatic, quiet
but it would be a mis-
take to quote them talk-
He noticed the way his parents looked or electric, were interlaced in such a way
ing about their parents at each other. Their eyes would lock that nothing can cut, tear or rip apart.”
much. It would interrupt
the flow of the story.
across the room and his heart would By then they were grandparents. He’d
Picture a jarring quote jump. Then he’d feel a little sad, because grown out his beard, twisted and waxed
from Chris here.
he knew by then how rare that was. his mustache into curls. She had the
same laugh she had when they met. They
Upon reading this, the sophisticated looked a little like Santa and Mrs. Claus.
may chuckle, or even sneer, at what I Everywhere they went, they stood close
have said. But that’s okay. A thousand, and held hands, and people noticed
I noticed it about them,
because I met them one
thousand years from now when their something about them. time, at a wedding.
Yes, Ed’s writing is over cynicism is less than dust, our union The letters became legend at the little
I talked to Judy for
the top. “Joyously wing- about five minutes.
ing through the time and
will still be joyously winging through newspaper. Whoever had the job of I didn’t know it was an
space of endless love?” the time and space of endless love. guiding them to publication without
interview.
That’s what’s so great (1991)
about it. If he were a errors sweated over the task. It was Trish
polished, perfect writer,
it would just be a story
Something must have happened in Carey’s job for several years. “I was so
about a good writer, and 1991, but if so, no one can remember nervous,” she said. And she couldn’t
so what? Ed is self-
conscious about his writ-
what it was. help but think, as countless readers no
ing. I told him the story When Ed sat down at the computer to doubt did, that if her husband ever
was not about his talent
or lack of it, but about
write his annual Love Line, something wrote her something so beautiful she’d
an ordinary guy trying took hold of him. fall over dead.
to elevate himself for his
girl. He got that.
“Surely no others have ever known Janet wrote Love Lines to her husband
anything like the love and intimacy when they dated. Chris never had the
 THE MORGUE 263

nerve. He was waiting for a girl who your aroma is sunned roses. To hold
inspired him the way his mom inspired you is to meld with the passion of the
his dad. sun and the gentleness of the moon. . . .
Ed doesn’t know how many people Our love has viewed more than fifteen
noticed. But from time to time he’d hear thousand sunrises and one less sunset.
that, for people he didn’t even know, the You are the first flush of the new hori-
I would be one of
those people. letters had become annual evidence of zon and the dazzling of each day’s last
what is possible. flash. There will never be a setting of
our love. You are my fixed star. You I like the connection
I have heard your heart. For more than between her being his
guide my way. (1999)
40 years, its rhythm beneath my cheek fixed star and him
being lost.
has been soft, murmured comfort. . . . He is in that cave he imagined eight
Your heart surges with the strength of years ago.
virtue. It has thundered with our pas- “A hole in the universe,” he says.
sion. Your heart has soared with joy He reads, but his mind drifts. He lis-
and laughter, and has been shattered tens to music, but it doesn’t sound the
in sorrow. . . . Recently, my darling, same. He gets up and puts on a suit and
you have been ill and doctors say your goes to work at the newspaper, but even
heart is physically weak. I am greatly that is a duller joy.
Even before I afraid. But as I sat silently by your He is surrounded by her face in pho-
interviewed him, I knew
this section of the letter hospital bed, within mine your silken tographs, but he doesn’t have to look at
about her heart would hand pulsed its familiar, sweet whispers them. He doesn’t have to think of her to I asked him these
go with the scene that
follows. . . . forever . . . together . . . forever . . . see her. She’s just with him in a way he questions that first
day in his office. He
together . . . forever . . . together. (1997) can’t explain. was surrounded by her
She had heart trouble in 1997. He She’s nursing a child. She’s teasing him pictures. In one she
was 15, in another she
imagined losing her, and wrote that he after one of his smarty-pants jokes. She’s had gray hair. I asked
felt as if he were inside a dark cave, in leaning into him, and her scent is like how she looked when
he remembered her.
a darkness so intense his eyes strained the soft wrinkles of a baby’s neck. She’s Maybe the best question
until they hurt. in his arms in a dark school gym, they’re I asked.

But she recovered and he felt safe swaying to the Platters, he’s out of step
again. His heart was more troublesome and she’s whispering, “Slow down, slow
than hers. Sometimes he’d try to talk down.”
to her about what she would do after People tell him he’ll feel better. He
he died. She never wanted to discuss it. doesn’t believe that. He doesn’t even
In March 2004, driving back from the want it.
annual Alligator picnic, he brought up It has been almost a year. “It gets
the subject again. She brushed him off. harder,” he says. “The longer she’s gone
Look for ways to use
dialogue when you can.
“Babe,” she said, “we’re going to go . . . the longer she’s gone.”
It lets you hear Judy’s She had retired from her job as an
voice. Don’t you love together.”
that she calls him
The next morning, Sunday, she slept auditor for the school system so they
“babe?” could travel. They were finally going
late. He made her coffee as always – with
cream, two sugars – and took it to her in to sell their starter house. He won’t do
bed, but could not wake her. either without her. She deserves to be
He doesn’t know how long he stayed grieved.
I wanted the reader
to find out about her with her, but he knows he screamed. It He tends the flowers at her grave: pink I drove him to Judy’s
grave. We spent about
death the way Ed did.
was 9:45 a.m. roses, pansies, wild violets, creeping fig. an hour there. I asked
That’s why that moment
doesn’t come until now. He takes water there in his car when he’s what he’d be doing if I
Love through a mirror darkly, through weren’t there, and he
And when it does come, feeling well enough. Sometimes he sings. told me he sings to her.
I felt like the man ought
to have some privacy.
a crystal clearly, through a prism The song is called “Always.” He sang some of the
brightly. The brilliance that is your lyrics to “Always.”
The time ties back into People say he should move on, see
the beginning of the
story where we see the
beauty faints the sky’s silvered stepping Europe, publish his book, that she would
clock stopped on the wall. stones. Your hair is rippled light and want that. He believes she would.
264 THE MORGUE

But she was half of every plan he ever proud? Did he put her before God? I heard at a workshop
that the material you
I got this happy feeling made. He wonders, when people say He doesn’t believe those things. But use in a story usually
when he said this. Didn’t these things, didn’t they read the valen- he thinks them. He believes he lost her comes from the back
they read the valentines? of the notebook. That
It validated my concept tines? to a virus that weakened her heart, and was true here. When we
of the story. I thought,
I may feebly string words together as nothing more. arrived, Ed had already
OK, these letters meant started the letter. He
something. They an attempt to translate all that you The letter is too stiff. He has been finished it as Cherie
mattered and they still
are . . . and all that you mean to me. redundant. The words should be stron- Diez took photos and I
matter. This story was scribbled notes in the
not a stupid idea. But no matter what I write . . . you are ger. It should be lyrical and emotional corner. Periodically, I’d
the true author. It is only because of and magnificent and worthy of her. He’ll look over his shoulder to
see if he was struggling.
the wonder of your being that our love keep trying. All he has is time. I wouldn’t have done
exists. (1994) He fantasized once that he might write that if I thought it would
interrupt him, but he
the Great American Novel or win the was lost in the letter and
He is still at his keyboard, her letter Pulitzer Prize. seemed to have forgotten
He didn’t want me to
come to the house. But
before him. Writing it is harder than it But his greatest efforts have gone into
we were there. We
noticed the clock stopped
Ed’s in the newspaper has ever been. He types with her wed- these little tributes, paid for by the letter. on the wall – that’s in
business, so he knew
we wanted to see him
ding ring on his pinky, next to his. The She is his richest material. She is epic.
the top of the story. In
the letter he wrote that
really writing the letter, rings are inscribed “Always.” He keeps He is just a rational man, with a he felt like she might lay
not faking writing the
letter. And he knew we
lifting his glasses so he can wipe his eyes. patched heart, writing a letter about
her hand on his shoulder
any minute. That’s in
wanted to come when Maybe it’s not even logical for him to things that are not rational. the top of the story too.
he’d naturally be doing
it. We don’t ever fake
write it if she can’t read it. But it’s Valen- He gets to the bottom and he signs it
Ed talked a little — he
asked out loud if he lost
stuff or set up stuff. tine’s Day, so how can he not? He feels the usual way. her because he put her
compelled to remind people who she Always.
before God — but for the
most part the room was
was, what she meant. Sometimes he thinks it turned out uncomfortably quiet. I
“I just wish with all my heart I could not to be. In another way, it is the truest
noticed every sound. The
air conditioner, ticking
truly express it,” he says. “If I was able to
thing he ever wrote. clock, his fingers on the
write a whole book, I couldn’t do it.” keys.
He confronts the hole in the room in When I die, I don’t care what may
I wrote a lot of this story every line. He feels left behind. be carved on my tombstone. Or what
as if I was inside Ed’s
He is recovering from heart surgery. is said over me. Or even how I am
head. I felt confident
doing that because I was He can’t help but wonder why she died remembered. Except. Except I hope
It was thoughtful of Ed
constantly asking him
so unexpectedly while he and his rickety someone of those gathered may turn to to write me such a nice
what he was thinking, ending. But he’s been
and because everything heart keep living. Death is no more easily another and softly whisper something
working on this story for
I used came straight out
understood than love. like, “You know . . . Judy and Ed. Now 48 years, so he had time
of his mouth or went to get it right.
straight into his letter. Did he lose her because he was too that was a great love story!” (1993)

This was published Here is one of our favorite letters from Ed to Judy. It is from 1996.
with the story:
JUDY,
How is it our love lives so? It is the fragile murmur of memories, the delicate whisper of
just now. So to abbreviate our love to words of explanation, even most tender, would seem-
ingly shred it by that fashion. If we split its nucleus, or magnified it through a lens, could it
bring us closer to an answer? God forbid that it could.
Yes, it is true our love could stand the dissection. For the paradox is, that for all its sweet
tenderness, our love has the strength of the winds of stars! But to reduce it to the sym-
metry of a mere explanation, to bring it down to the level of reason, would be a manner
of its corrupting. Our love is far beyond explanation. It is not reasonable that you are the
embodiment of all that is good and sweet and beautiful. Yet you are. It is not reasonable
that you should love me. Yet you do. The human comedy is much better for the wise use of
rationality. But our love? Although it encompasses reason, it has evolved to a much higher
plane beyond logic, to that of faith and tender passion. Come closer, my darling, and let
me explain in another way.
Always,
Ed
 THE MORGUE 265

There’s no rule that requires every story to be structured in a linear sequence of paragraphs.
Sometimes form drives content. The design of a page — like this Valentine’s Day layout — can
determine how the story is presented. Free-form, illustration-intense pages are often designed first,
before the text is written. The reporter then writes to fit, often squeezing in words line by line.
266 THE MORGUE

ALL THIS ICE, AND Reporter Judd Slivka spent two weeks aboard a Coast Guard icebreaker, filing a story a day
THE CAPTAIN IS HOT as part of a series titled “From the End of the Earth.”
“Looking back,” he recalls, “I remember not really wanting to write this story at first. We
By Judd Slivka were so caught up in the day-to-day of the other stories we were doing that writing a short
Seattle Post-Intelligencer — Jan. 4, 2000 profile didn’t appeal to me. At the time, I was worried that either we’d be seen as pandering or
the captain was going to be so pissed at me that he’d leave me on an ice floe. The photographer
< MORE ON WRITING PROFILES ON PAGE 124 convinced me to do it by saying, ‘I’ve got 50 really good pictures of him. Write something.’ ”

SLIVKA’S ABOARD USCGC POLAR STAR — So on construction paper that should look like Here, I’m basically
COMMENTARY: drawing a not-so-
I lucked out standing
here is the captain on the bridge. His a house, a car, a cow, a bunny, a daddy, but subtle contrast
on the bridge talking bridge, and he is angry. Not screaming- looks more like a bunch of colored lines. between “icy com-
to Julich one day in mander” and “family
late December. We
angry. He is blue-eye-glaring, jaw-tighten- He loves them. He loves the collage, guy.” The details are
were just chatting ing, prominent-cheekbones angry. with pictures of him and his wife and his what stood out after
and he was the nicest several conversa-
guy in the world and
But he is the captain, he sets the tone, and children at different ages. He loves the vid- tions in his cabin. I
then he sensed some- this day as the Polar Star crunches through eotapes his wife gave him of his children’s don’t think I opened
thing wrong and it my notebook for
was like talking to a
a field of ice that it shouldn’t be in, the birthday parties, and he pops them into his this part.
different guy. captain is doing what test pilots aim for in VCR at night when the ship’s movie selec-
emergencies, “maintaining an even strain.” tion offers no joy. This story lacks
So Capt. Terry Julich politely excuses He laughs – alone – in his stateroom. quotes. It’s by
This is one of my design. I didn’t
favorite grafs that
himself from the conversation he’s in after His wife and children hung the artwork want Julich talking
I wrote from that a few minutes of the icebreaker’s hull grind- themselves while the ship was still in Seat- about himself or
trip. It’s probably his officers talking
the best-reported
ing against the ice. And with the easy walk tle. They came into his cabin and chose the about him. The
83 words I’ve ever of someone at sea the better part of the past wall space, the tape, the whole bit. story was strictly an
written. There’s a observational sketch.
lot of depth here
20 years, goes over to the center control He has three children – Jake, 4, Juliana, Besides, the quotes I
that came from console, picks up the phone and begins to 7, and Jenna, 8 – and a wife who, when she had sucked.
spending time with
the captain over the
talk to the officers driving the ship from far went on vacation in Vermont, went to the I love the detail
previous few weeks. above in the aloft conn, officers who have local public library so she could still e-mail about his wife. It
put the ship into the ice it shouldn’t be in. her husband at sea. speaks to love, and
I’m a big fan of love.
I love cause-and- But he speaks in low and quiet tones, so He has been on this ship before, two Julich’s voice soft-
effect pairings. This that no one else will hear him. The problem tours, and knows it well. He has been in ened whenever he
was one. And it gives talked about his wife,
me the chance to should not happen again. the ice before — this trip makes four times but that’s the sort
transition into the That much is clear. He is the captain. he has sailed through Antarctica’s Ross Sea. of detail that you
nut graf. can’t demonstrate
This is his ship. But this is his first cruise commanding the very well in print.
The captain of any military ship has Polar Star, and it’s an adjustment for every So I chose to write
it from his wife’s
plenty of roles: Father. Warden. Manager. one, captain and crew. perspective.
Figurehead. Safety observer. The man who But the ship still sails, and Julich has been
eats alone. on the bridge during most of the heavy I love present tense.
Commander. icebreaking, observing what his officers are I think it moves
the story along a
This graf and the The captain sets the tone for the ship and doing in the aloft conn, because when it lot faster; it makes
previous two are my its company. There is nothing more like comes down to it, the officer who sets the readers feel like
nut grafs, but there’s they’re there.
really two sentences God on Earth than a captain at sea, and tone is the officer who is responsible if the
that matter. The one Julich knows this, which is why he speaks ship sinks into a freezing sea.
that defines his roles
and the “nothing in low tones when the news is bad. Life goes on. He finishes his instructive Back to the original
more like God” line. scene. I call it a “tie-
I could have just
He does not always speak in low tones; phone call to the officer in aloft conn, back,” and at times
used those two lines the news is usually not bad. the blue eyes stop glaring, the jaw loosens I’ve done them so
and been fine. much they’re clichéd.
In his at-sea office, he laughs out loud, up, the cheekbones retreat. He walks back But in a profile, I like
deliriously and deliciously, when talking to his chair on the starboard side of the the idea of taking
Now we’re leaving the reader back to
the moment, back to about his three children back on Mercer bridge, sits back and politely resumes the where we started.
an earlier incident.
The scene on the Island, and he points out the artwork conversation. I’m showing how
bridge is your they’ve given him, the photo collages He was telling a story, wasn’t he? It was Terry Julich talks. I
introduction to Terry wanted to end on
Julich. Now here’s they’ve made. about his kids, God bless them. something that was
the background. The artwork is standard-kid, something Would you like to see the video? totally his personality.
 THE MORGUE 267

THE GOOD DOCTOR “Dr. James Andrews is the most compelling figure I’ve ever covered,” recalls Manish Mehta, sports
enterprise reporter for the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger. “His name is everywhere, popping up in news-
Orthopedist James Andrews papers across the country nearly every day. In fact, a simple Google search of ‘Dr. James Andrews’
circulates among the stars yields 4.39 million hits.
but he always keeps his feet “Yet few people knew much about the man beyond the fact he was the most respected sports doctor
on the ground in the country. Whenever a star pitcher or quarterback was injured, he would visit Dr. Andrews.
“I was intrigued by the man, and fortunate enough to have a close friend who had a fellowship
By Manish Mehta with Dr. Andrews at his office in Birmingham, Ala. I pitched the story idea to my editor, who
The Star-Ledger — Feb. 29, 2004 immediately loved it. We were interested in extracting every bit of detail about this man. How did
he become this almost mythical figure in the world of sports medicine, this guru that every athlete
< MORE ON WRITING PROFILES ON PAGE 124 NEEDED to see if he were injured?
“After my friend put in a good word for me and I was granted permission by Dr. Andrews’
personal public relations guy, I flew to Birmingham for a few days. Before I knew it, I was chatting
with Andrews for hours about everything under the sun. I witnessed a few surgeries and was invited
to see his home. I was fortunate enough to fly to Auburn with the doctor, where I got more insight
into his colorful and charming personality, and even shared a burger with him.
“It was the most memorable three days of my career.”

MEHTA’S BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The old man ished off cantaloupe-sized mounds of beef.
COMMENTARY:
It was a no-brainer
behind the wheel was raving about a burger There is no such snapshot of Andrews.
to open the story joint down the road when he nearly col- Still, coeds at a nearby table gawked for
with this amusing
anecdote. It’s fun.
lided with a car in the parking lot. several minutes at the sparkling champion-
It’s different. It “Lord have mercy!” he whooped, raking ship ring wrapped around his finger.
grabs your attention
and draws you into
his fingers through a forest of silver hair. “Who is that guy?” a girl whispered. “I This girl was sitting
at the adjacent table
the story. Thank “That was a close one!” think he played in the Super Bowl or some- with friends. She
goodness all of us
were wearing our
He pushed down on the gas, jolting the thing . . . didn’t he?” was only a few feet
away, but Andrews
seat belts! passenger in the back seat, as a downpour Andrews was too busy lifting his burg- was so hungry and
suddenly broke over them. The old man, er from a wicker basket to notice. He focused on scarfing
down his food that
starving now, raced around the bend and reached for the community pool of fries he didn’t hear her!
pulled up in front of the neon lights. and drained a Coke bottle before unravel-
“Y’all jump out . . . and I’ll park.” ing his 61-year-old body.
I included the exact
Three men piled out and skipped over “Let’s go, men,” he announced after the amount of the tip
puddles before entering the restaurant. last bite, dropping a folded $20 bill on the to foreshadow his
generosity in his
Moments later James Andrews pulled up table for the server. professional life.
a chair, his lavender sports coat and silk
tie sprinkled by raindrops, ready to scarf TIME FOR EVERYONE
down dinner. TJD (Top Jock Doc) to some, Sawbones
The nut graf. Explain Dr. Andrews has treated nearly every to others, this paunchy man with sleepy
who Andrews is and I transitioned away
why we’re writing marquee athlete of this generation and the eyes has repaired the admired, the adored from the opening
about him before procedures he has perfected have forever and the ignored. He has crossed paths with scene because I
getting back to the thought it was
dinner story. changed professional sports. bonus babies, movie stars and foreign dig- necessary to blend
None of that mattered now. nitaries. in some of Andrews’
Andrews’ belly was screaming for food. He has mended injured elbows, shoul- credentials at this
point. I wanted to
I squeezed plenty of “We used to go to Burger King,” he said ders, hips, knees and fractured spirits. And give the reader a
detail into this attri- shortly after treating athletes, senior citi- never once has he promised a miracle. “In better idea of just
bution to highlight who this man was.
how Andrews treats zens and teachers at the new sports med- all the years I’ve gone to Dr. Andrews, he’s Although I don’t
all members of the icine rehabilitation complex at Auburn never lied to me,” said Charles Barkley, have a universal set
community, not of guidelines I fol-
just athletes. I also University, some 110 miles from his base of whose relationship with the doctor started low, I usually make a
needed to clarify that operation in Birmingham. “But I like this during the former basketball star’s days at rough outline before
the opening scene I write to give me
took place at Auburn, place a lot more.” Auburn. “He always gave me confidence to direction as I piece
not his home base of Cheeburger Cheeburger lives by the come back stronger than before.” together the details
Birmingham. of the story.
motto Big Is Better. Its walls are plastered Michael Jordan, Jack Nicklaus, Derek
with Polaroids of customers who have pol- Jeter and Bo Jackson were patients. So were
268 THE MORGUE

the San Diego Chicken, Jane Fonda, Hulk Opelika Airport at 8:16 p.m. after din- Choosing to go
back to the scene
Hogan and members of the Saudi royal ner at Cheeburger Cheeburger. Four men after dinner just
family. hopped out and cut across the open field. made sense to me.
Andrews’ colorful
Twenty years after hobbling into And- “It’s as cold as a devil tonight,” Andrews personality shines
rews’ office, Nicklaus still vividly recalls the said in a soft Southern drawl, boarding the through on the
plane ride home.
Reaching these high- morning Andrews changed his life. cramped, six-seat company plane. Again, we see the
profile athletes took “It was Election Day,” the golf legend His private jet — a refurbished Falcon incredible amount
a few days, but it was of responsibility he
well worth the effort. said. “Jim operated on my knee. And I 10 with two TVs, DVD player and coffee carries each day.
I contacted Barkley came home and voted that afternoon.” maker — was on the fritz. He sunk into the
through his employer
(TNT). Andrews’ To become one of the most important seat, flipped on the light switch, and pulled
personal PR contact men in all of sports and medicine, Andrews out his cell phone.
put me in touch with
Nicklaus. I reached worked under Jack Hughston, widely “It’s a constant battle trying to keep up
Roger Clemens considered the father of sports medicine, with all the calls,” said Andrews, who per-
through his team’s
media relations in Columbus, Ga., for 13 years. From manently keeps his phone on vibrate.
department. When I there, Andrews moved to Birmingham in Physicians and patients, some of whom
received a call from
Clemens, I could 1986, where he co-founded the Alabama he doesn’t even know, will ask for his opin- I try to be as unob-
barely hear him since Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center ion on everything from a bum shoulder to trusive as possible
so many people were when I’m reporting.
screaming in the (ASMOC) and the nonprofit American a trick knee. He returns every call. I was sitting on
background. Clemens Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI) at the “I’d say I get about 50 calls a day on this the plane having a
was sitting in the conversation with
bleachers at his HealthSouth Medical Center in Birming- cell phone. Well, maybe not 50 . . . but it Andrews. I’m never
son’s baseball game, ham. sure seems like 50.” He checked his mes- “interviewing” a
eager to talk about subject. I’m chatting
Andrews. For each of “I’m lucky our lives intersected,” said sages before reaching into a leather satchel with them, breaking
the conversations, Roger Clemens, who went to Andrews that serves as his roving office to scan some down the barriers,
I learned how making them feel
much of an impact for arthroscopic shoulder surgery in 1985. paperwork before takeoff. as comfortable with
Andrews truly had “Any time I see guys upset or worried “I get tired just watching him some- me as possible. I’ve
on their lives, not found that people
just their careers. about their future because of an injury, I times,” said Chuck Bowie, Andrews’ per- are much less likely
tell them that before you do a thing, you sonal pilot who spent nearly 150 hours to be themselves if
you’re constantly
need to go see this man.” in the air with him last year traveling to sticking a tape
Clemens’ ensuing Hall of Fame career college and pro football games. recorder in their face.
I carry a slender
enhanced Andrews’ reputation to the The flight back to Birmingham will take notepad and jot
point where he ultimately became the most 25 minutes — enough time for Andrews to things down here
and there. Very
sought-after surgeon in the sports world. unwind and leaf through the neatly folded informal. People
Today, Andrews sees about 60 patients copies of the Wall Street Journal and USA tend to say great
Not many people can stuff in settings like
keep such a hectic every Monday and Wednesday, bounding Today beside him. After a few minutes of cars or airplanes.
schedule, let alone from room to room, examining wounded silence, however, he again springs to life.
61-year-olds.
joints. He also travels to Auburn every “Did I tell you about that celebrity quail
other Wednesday night as part of an out- hunting trip I’m taking this weekend down
reach program for the townsfolk. in Texas?” he asked the man sitting across
Andrews gave me all
the specifics on his On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he slips from him. “It’s going to be a good time.
training in Georgia, into knee-high white rubber boots, blue You ever been quail hunting?”
the number of
surgeries he performs scrubs and a matching mask to perform Andrews passed the man a packet with
weekly, the trips to as many as 20 surgeries a day — includ- a list of items up for silent auction: A Bob
Tuscaloosa. I had
the good fortune of ing the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) Knight autographed basketball. A “Men of
watching him slip into reconstruction, or Tommy John surgery, Dallas” poster signed by Larry Hagman.
those rubber boots
and perform the for pitchers with ailing elbows. Four episodes of “SHAZAAM!” on VHS.
operations from the If that’s not enough, he also drives 60 “They got some pretty good stuff,”
viewing room at the
hospital. miles to Tuscaloosa to tend to athletes Andrews said.
at the Alabama rehab clinic on Tuesday The two-day trip would be a break from
nights. the wave of consultations and surgeries.
“The last time Dad took a vacation and
AT THEIR CALL I couldn’t resist this
tried to relax,” said Andrews’ daughter, bit of irony.
The red minivan rolled into Auburn Amber, “he got sick.”
 THE MORGUE 269

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN “I think he operated on his own hand. . .

somehow,” his oldest daughter, Amanda,
In a long piece like By the turn of the 20th century, Jim
this, it’s always a said. (Another physician set the cast, but
good idea to splash Nolen owned cotton fields and oil wells
Andrews removed the pins himself several
in the back story. throughout Northern Louisiana, even
Andrews’ child- weeks later when others were too scared
hood had never though his formal education ended with
to do so.)
been written about the first grade.
before in detail. There was also the day when Andrews’
Nolen, whose wife later taught him how
love for the open road landed his high-
to read and write, became a makeshift
priced Ferrari in a nearby ditch.
medicine man along the countryside. He
“My wife said I couldn’t drive any more
concocted homemade remedies — oils,
red or yellow cars,” Andrews said with a
potions, ointments — for anybody who
wink. “She wouldn’t put up with all that
needed care.
nonsense.”
When his daughter, Mozelle, gave birth
Andrews now drives a silver Aston Mar- Another example of
to a baby boy, he knew his grandson’s Andrews’ humor.
tin Vanquish.
career path: “You’re going to be my doctor
one day,” Nolen, known as Grandy to the PASSION FOR SPORTS
family, would say as he rocked the little
Jenelle Andrews still laughs at the
boy to sleep.
framed painting hanging in her husband’s The one thing that
Jimmy Andrews grew up with his grand- separates good
study. The doctor, outfitted in a navy-
parents on the outskirts of Homer, La., features from great
blue pinstriped suit, is sitting beside his ones is detail. The
50 miles northeast of Shreveport. When more detail you
grandson, Jamie. The young boy has a soft,
Andrews’ father, Rheuben, returned from can infuse into your
innocent smile on his lips. story, the livelier it
World War II, the family moved into a will be. I was struck
Both are gripping a tiny red race car.
three-bedroom brick house and opened by all the memora-
“I’m afraid Jamie’s got the curse too,” she bilia and photos at
a dry-cleaning store. Jimmy doubled as Andrews’ home.
said, shaking her head.
a delivery boy and steam presser in the I scribbled down
Andrews lives with his wife and two everything I saw as I
sweltering shop. got the grand tour.
youngest daughters, Amber and Abby, in
“That’s where I was encouraged to get a
an extravagant Italian villa set off a quiet
good education, working in that laundry,”
street a few minutes from downtown Bir-
he said with a smile.
mingham. Memorabilia that tell of the
Andrews, an Eagle Scout, spent hours
doctor’s life are sprinkled throughout the
Andrews building model airplanes and soapbox cars.
five-bedroom house.
volunteered these He also had a penchant for playing Tarzan,
childhood stories, A crisp, color photo of Andrews huddled
but I got wind of using a bamboo rod to leap over a fishing
with Jerry Pate, Emmitt Smith and Troy
his wild college pole nailed to two trees in the back yard.
days from his Aikman at a charity golf event rests under
daughters. He The lanky teenager played football, base-
a glass case.
confirmed all of it ball, basketball and track before accepting
with a hearty laugh The Abracadabra Room — devoted
when I asked him a scholarship to pole vault at Louisiana
to Andrews’ passion for yacht racing —
about it later. State University. Andrews, a Kappa Alpha
reveals his greatest conquest out at sea: a
man, always kept busy.
Blue Marlin that hangs over the doorway.
When he wasn’t winning the Southeast-
The area also commemorates his role as
ern Conference pole-vaulting champion-
The wild and crazy co-chair of a syndicate that raced in the
ship, he was riding a horse through the
side of Andrews 2000 America’s Cup in New Zealand.
that most people college library to deliver invitations to a Another one of
never knew he had. “All of his boats are named Abraca-
fraternity formal. Andrews’ quirks that
dabra,” Jenelle Andrews said. “He’s got makes him such a
“If you’re not having fun, you might compelling figure.
this thing for A’s if you hadn’t noticed.”
as well do something different,” Andrews His explanation as
Andrews has six children — three with his to why all his kids’
said. “Sometimes, I had too much fun.” names begin with
first wife and three with Jenelle — Andy,
One night, long after finishing medical ‘A’ is priceless.
Amanda, Archie, Ashley, Amber and Abby.
school, Andrews broke his hand at a local
He also has two grandchildren named Allie
watering hole.
and Jamie. Andrews, of course, calls his
270 THE MORGUE

grandson Ace. fellow training under Andrews. “I don’t Shifting to this final
scene at the office
“There are a lot of advantages to hav- think he does either. There’s not a lot of made perfect sense
ing your name start with “A’,” he said, his down time to hang out there.” to me. This is where
we see Andrews
face widening to a grin. “The kids get their Andrews’ clinic — six exam rooms dec- in action. In a long
names called first. And at graduation, they orated with framed autographed pictures piece, it’s beneficial
to break the story
go down the aisle first . . . so I can get up of former clients — is typically a whirlwind into sections to inject
and go home.” of activity, with nurses transporting charts new life into it.
Readers get bored
The doctor rarely lounges at home, and fellows chatting into mini-tape record- reading a 3,000-word
though. ers. Andrews, an advocate of research and story without a
break. This technique
When not treating patients, Andrews education in his field, has mentored nearly allows for vignettes,
likely can be found at a high school sport- 200 doctors through the ASMI Sports or mini-stories,
which gives readers
ing event, voicing his displeasure with Medicine Fellowship Program. a chance to view
referees. “That wasn’t traveling! . . . What But it’s deserted on surgery day. a subject through
different lenses.
are you looking at?” Instead, the clan gathers in an area Once again, splash
I can’t stress enough
how important it is “I just saw him at a basketball game last with views of all four operating rooms. as many details as
to leave no stone possible into these
week,” said Mountain Brook High School Andrews often sneaks away between sur- re-created scenes.
unturned. Of course,
we’re confined by athletic director Terry Cooper. “He comes geries to check up on his patients without It adds color to
deadlines, but I your story.
to different events all the time.” break-away speed or multimillion dollar
recommend calling
as many sources as Andrews, who paces the sideline at contracts.
possible. Old friends. Mountain Brook football games, has Professional athletes make up 15 percent
Family. Coaches.
Teachers. Anybody. become the unofficial doctor for the school of his clientele.
You never know that Amber and Abby attend. He even “I can’t say that I’m just going to take Few people realize
when you’re going this. Andrews’
to uncover that one operated twice on Amber to repair torn care of high-profile athletes,” said Andrews, national reputation
anecdote that’s anterior cruciate ligaments - battle wounds a member of the Alabama Sports Hall of as a doctor who
going to make your solely deals with pro
story sing. Having too from competitive cheerleading. Fame. “That’s skipping over a bunch of athletes couldn’t
much information Somehow, Andrews always has tried to people — the high school kids, the elderly be further from the
is a good problem truth.
to have. remain an integral part of his children’s — who are very important to me. I’ll never
lives. He once showed up in dress shoes let that happen.”
to work out with Amber, who was rehab- Jones, Andrews’ nurse for more than 20
bing her torn ACL, during a vacation in years, has seen countless teenagers from
Panama City. He even lived through the poor, rural towns limp through the doors
humiliation of flopping face-first during a with no health insurance.
family bowling excursion. Andrews never turned them away.
And his son, Archie, 32, still remembers “We have to take care of these kids,” A clear example
of Andrews’ selfless-
his father traveling across the Southeast for he would tell her. “The only way they’re ness and generosity.
his football games. going to make it in this life is if they go to
“Every Friday night, he’d find the near- college. And the only way they can do that
est airport, fly in, rent a car and drive is by getting an athletic scholarship. They
as long as it took to watch me play high may never play pro ball, but that doesn’t
school football,” Archie said. “That was matter. College will give them a chance to
real special for me.” lead productive lives.”
So Andrews routinely scribbled NO
EVERY MAN’S HERO CHARGE along the bottom of their
Mary Jane Robinson edged forward charts.
in her seat, slowly looked both ways, and “That’s just something he does,” Aman-
raised her palms to the sky. da Andrews said. “He doesn’t ever talk
“I don’t know where he could have about it.”
gone,” the nurse said. Now, Andrews was threading through
“You can try his office,” Pat Jones cut in, the halls once again en route to the physi-
“but I doubt he’s in there.” cal therapy center on the first floor. He
“I didn’t even know he had an office,” stopped short of the entrance, balled up
said Craig Rubenstein, a sports medicine his right fist, and gently tapped Mike Davis
 THE MORGUE 271

on the chest. me.’ So he said he’d do it only if I lost 40

“You know, this man’s a hero,” Andrews pounds and put up three pints of blood.
said, pointing to Davis. “Y’all should really So six weeks later, I lost the weight and
talk. I gotta check up on some people in donated the blood ... and he replaced both This is a fitting end
here. Be right back.” knees at the same time. How about that?” to the story. If you
noticed, I never
Davis, a 63-year-old engineer, entrusted A few minutes later, Andrews swept out quoted anybody
Andrews with his achy joints long ago. of the room. describing Andrews
as a “great dad” or
“He scoped my knees when I was 46, A stranger standing nearby looked up a “generous man” or
and said he’d replace them when I was 60,” at Davis and asked, “Is Dr. Andrews ever a “tireless worker.”
I simply gave
Davis said. “When I turned 60, I came to going to slow down?” examples that
replace my knees, and Dr. Andrews said, Davis casually wrapped his arm around allowed the reader
to come to his own
‘No.’ the young man and began to chuckle. conclusion about
“I said, ‘Wait a minute, you promised “What do you think?” the man.

This sidebar offered

a quick way for
readers to take a A WORKDAY IN THE LIFE Marsha, over the intercom system in the viewing
peek into Andrews’ room. The Iversons drove 120 miles from Meridian,
hectic schedule. OF JAMES ANDREWS Miss., to witness the surgery. John Iverson Sr. says
We cobbled the “Dr. Andrews has helped keep our son’s dream
details together for 6:32 a.m. – Rolls out of bed and hops into the
a typical day. shower for a quick rinse. “It’s like Superman in a alive.”
(It was indeed phone booth,” a friend says. “He’s in and out in a 12:25 p.m. – Blazes through the halls en route to
one day, not a flash.” the physical therapy center. He’s talking about a
composite of several recent charity golf event where he played along-
days.) When writing
6:39 – Slips into slacks, a collared shirt and sports
jacket. side Alice Cooper and Marshall Faulk.
longer pieces, it’s
great to have extra 6:41 – Pulls out of the circular driveway in his silver 12:36 – Heads back upstairs to the surgery room.
“furniture” — charts, Aston Martin Vanquish and heads to work. He 2:48 – The doctor is missing. “He’ll show up . . .
bio boxes, etc. — to eventually,” nurse Jones says.
enhance the overall
rolls into the parking lot 15 minutes later at the
presentation of Alabama Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center 2:49 – Andrews drowns his hamburger with ketchup
the package. on 13th street. in the doctors’ lounge.
7:01 – TJD (Top Jock Doc, as he’s known to his son 3:51 – Lounges on the diamond-shaped couch in the
Archie’s friends) ambles into the locker room of viewing room, legs crossed, returning messages
the doctors’ lounge. He changes into his uniform: and examining an MRI of an NFL Pro Bowl player.
blue scrubs, white rubber boots and a matching “He’s the king of multitasking,” says Craig Ruben-
mask and cap. stein, a fellow studying under Andrews.
7:05 – He grabs a cup of coffee and shovels down 4:35 – A day full of ACL, rotator cuff and elbow
bacon, eggs and toast. repairs winds down.
7:10 – Reviews his workload of 11 scheduled surger- 4:42 – Walks across the street in scrubs to the
ies. “This is a pretty light day for him,” nurse Pat American Sports Medicine Institute looking for new
Jones says. Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson. (The Mets were
7:20 – Starts seeing patients, hopping between four testing pitchers in the biomechanics lab.)
operating rooms. 4:46 – Talks baseball with reporters. “Let me show
8:14 – Downtime to return calls. Already there are you around this place,” he says.
three urgent messages pinned to a board in the 5:05 – Heads back to ASMOC and changes out of his
viewing room. scrubs.
9:21 – He readies for another wave of patients. 5:12 – Hops in a black suburban with Dr. Lyle Cain
10:07 – John Iverson Jr., a 19-year-old pitcher for to visit patients 60 miles away at the University of
Arkansas Tech, is about to have Tommy John sur- Alabama.
gery and “get fixed.” Andrews eases any concerns 6:05 – Arrives on campus and treats injured
with his Southern charm. Alabama athletes for the next hour or so before
10:46 – Repairs a torn rotator cuff on Steve Gardner, heading back to Birmingham.
a 39-year-old dentist from nearby Huntsville, 8:04 – Pulls up to his Italian-style villa in Mountain
Ala. Gardner’s father waits in the hallway. Jimmy Brook. He’s home.
Gardner visited Andrews 10 years ago after being 8:10 – Throws down steak and potatoes for dinner
kicked in the knee by a cow on his Mississippi farm. with his wife, Jenelle.
The doctor repaired his torn ACL. “Dr. Andrews 9:10 – Catches up with his daughters, Amber and
treated me like I was Roger Clemens,” he says. Abby.
11:48 – Speaks to Iverson’s parents, John and 10:24 – Heads upstairs to call it a day.
272 THE MORGUE

IF I DIE Diana Sugg’s medical reporting won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003. And “If I Die,” her poignant look at critically ill
By Diana K. Sugg children written in 2004, provides a dramatic example of “immersion” reporting — and journalistic perseverance.
“It took me two years to get the hospital to agree to let me in with a family,” Sugg recalls. “I started with just
The Sun, Baltimore, Md. permission for one conversation, and followed the family’s lead. The boy’s mother allowed me to stay, and I was
Dec. 21-24, 2004
in the room just about every day for 25 days, usually from about 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. or later. I watched, I took
< MORE ON WRITING ENTERPRISE notes, I asked questions, I listened, I absorbed.”
PROJECTS ON PAGE 126 Sugg’s efforts produced an achingly intimate profile of R.J. Voigt, a boy dying of a rare, aggressive cancer.
The story ran in four parts; Part Three is reprinted below.
“This was the hardest story of my career,” Sugg says. “I spent many nights and weekends of my own time
To read this entire series, view reporting and writing the story. I had to face down critics who thought I was a vulture, or that the story would
Monica Lopossay’s photographs
and hear detailed comments on
be too depressing for people to read. Emotionally, it was tough ground, particularly because so much time with
the project, visit www.poynter.org the family in one room made me close to them. For months, I was haunted with nightmares. But all along, I
and search for Angels and Ghosts. knew the story would help other children, and I was convinced the great cost was worth it. I still believe that.”

N
o one knew why the boy started shimmying, going preferred stuffed animals. Flowers, he said, were for girls.
for the corners of his hospital bed. R.J. Voigt was sud- He wondered what heaven was like, and whether his dogs,
denly restless, agitated. The 12-year-old kept calling Greedy and Muffin, who had both died, would be with him.
out for his mom. But he didn’t seem to know what he wanted. When the time had been right, in May, during his last short
She kept asking the doctors, “Is this a sign?” stay at home in Pocomoke City, he asked the one person he
His mother, Michele Voigt, grew afraid to leave his room knew would tell him.
or fall asleep for just a minute, for fear she would miss the “Grandmom,” he said, cuddling against her while watching
moment. She knew there were many ways R.J.’s life could end: The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas, “what do you think?”
stroke, cardiac arrest, even the tumors eating away at the arter- Carol Wisnom had sweated out a hard 61 years, but she’d
ies in his neck. Already, there had been a few false alarms. never seen anything like the cancer that had attacked her
After three years of high-tech medicine, R.J. was spiraling grandson. She told him what she thought, that animals and
into his last days. It was a time when the scariest questions people have different heavens, but that if he asked real nice,
had no answers, when every emotional detail would echo for God might let him bring the dogs.
a family’s lifetime. “OK, then,” R.J. said, leaning his head on her. “I think that’s
But as countless families have experienced, there are no what I’ll do. I’m tired.” That afternoon, he developed a high
guidelines for this final, often frantic stage. fever and was taken back by ambulance to Baltimore, never to
In Room 817 at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in go home again.
mid-July 2003, the questions were no longer about how to
treat the boy’s aggressive cancer. Instead, oncologists, nurses, A PROTOCOL FOR DYING
a priest and a bereavement coordinator were doing their best In a broader effort to change the culture around critically
to help R.J. and his family prepare for death. ill children, the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center and other
Michele Voigt was taking no chances. Tumors and treatment children’s hospitals have ventured into this difficult territory
had made it hard for him to talk, so she’d already set up two to craft a better ending for the children and everyone around
ways for him to get her attention in the hospital. One was a them.
rattle they called the “Mommy Clicker.” The other was a baby The Hopkins project, Harriet Lane Compassionate Care,
monitor for when she was down the hall. Now, she decided is working to make the death of children less frightening and
they needed another signal. She asked him to wave goodbye. mysterious. Led by a physician and a nurse, the palliative care
People want to believe that youth protects dying children, group aims to help doctors and families to acknowledge ear-
that they don’t grow anxious or have thoughts related to the lier on in a child’s illness that he might die — to try to make
end. But those who work closely with children say those ideas the family’s time together, and the child’s death, reflect their
are misconceptions. values and wishes.
Even as the adults around R.J. were trying to catch up, R.J. Voigt was among the few dying children to get attention
he had been quietly working out specifics of his death, and in this little-explored arena.
beyond. In the spring, he asked for his own autopsy, befud- In medicine, for all the scientific protocols that have been
dling his mother, who couldn’t believe that it would come to mapped — plans of treatment that doctors follow for heart
that. When he described the funeral he wanted, the level of attacks, even for strep throat — there is no plan for handling
detail surprised even his oncologist. He asked to be buried on the death of a child. Almost all the research and attention is
Deal Island, next to his Great-uncle Wayne. For his funeral, he poured into saving lives.
 THE MORGUE 273

Later, after their child dies, many parents say they didn’t courier with a copy of the comedy.
realize how close it was. For months, often years, they’d They would have the movie for one night. But by the time
pushed for treatments. They’d seen their children live longer the film arrived, R.J. was too sleepy. A nurse, not knowing the
than anyone once thought they could. Now, they were shocked plans, had given him an anti-nausea drug that sedated him.
that no one could tell them what would happen next. They tried Pepsi, Ritalin, a cold cloth, moving him to a chair.
“Has no child died before?” one mother asked. R.J. even slid his fingers under his glasses, trying to hold his
The children are uncertain, too, but it is often worse for eyelids open.
them. Because of their age, they often have incomplete or They rewound “Daddy Day Care” seven times. Seven times,
inaccurate ideas about death. Doctors say many believe they they restarted. But he never really got to see it. R.J., who rarely
did something to deserve it. Many want to know if it will hurt. cried, let out a few tears. “Just forget it, Mom,” he said, frus-
And just as anyone would, these children often feel anxious, trated. “I can’t watch it.”
angry and lonely. But, sensing these questions would upset Because they knew that one of the biggest fears of children
their parents and others, kids often won’t say anything. is being forgotten, Hopkins staff made sure R.J. got visits from
Just as their parents worry about them, the children are people important to him, like his second-grade teacher, Jamey
concerned about their parents. To protect them, the children Landon, who inspired him to be a physician, and a family
often do not talk to their parents directly about their fears and friend, Wayne Brisco.
doubts, said Myra Bluebond-Langner, a Rutgers University Other visitors seemed intrusive, but turned out not to be.
anthropologist who has studied chronically and terminally ill Among them were a former Mrs. Maryland and a troop of
children and their families for more than 30 years. Hopkins seventh- and eighth-grade girls.
staff members tell of a 9-year-old girl who, near death, called That day, R.J. was too ill and hurting to even watch his
her younger siblings into her hospital room to tell them to cartoons. His head was covered in heat packs and cold packs,
take care of their mother. and all that could be seen of his face was one blue eye. The girls
took turns getting close to him and giving him presents, but
WORRIES AND WISHES they weren’t sure how to talk with him.
In R.J.’s last weeks, nurse Laurie Rome noticed one day that Later, he wrote a secret note to his mother, one she would
he had been listening to his mother’s phone conversation as cherish as a glimpse of him as a teenager. “When are the girls
she was saying she didn’t know if she could go on if he died. coming back?”
After she left, Rome said, she gently asked him how he felt. In addition to making those memories, the staff helped the
R.J. answered in his hoarse voice, tears streaming down his children to create mementos.
swollen face. He said he was scared for his mother. During the last week of her life, one Howard County teen-
“You know, we’re not just taking care of you; we’re going ager, Kelly Petrlik, created a photo album of herself to leave
to take care of her, too,” Rome told him. It was one of the few behind for her family. She worked on it from her hospital bed
times he reached out to a nurse. He pulled her arm toward at Hopkins after getting her sisters to sneak in pictures from
him and held onto it. He cried. The nurse cried, too. home. The 16-year-old also left behind a journal for each of
They never knew which day would be his last. And even her parents, instructions for her gift for a sister’s far-off wed-
as R.J. was fading, the team and family around him were in a ding, and a request that at every family celebration they buy a
race. All along, the child life specialists, who provide psycho- special candle for her.
logical and emotional support to the children, had been trying Nurses have long made white plaster molds of the children’s
to give R.J. the chance to do what he wanted. hands as a keepsake for parents, but that used to be done
For one 14-year-old boy, that meant driving his grand- after the child had died. During R.J.’s time in the hospital,
mother’s red Mercedes-Benz. In another case, when it became with impetus from the palliative care staff, molds were made
known that all that a teenage boy wanted was to graduate from earlier. R.J. was able to help mix up the plaster from the kit
high school, they called his teachers, who rushed to the hos- and press his hand into it. He made one for his mother and
pital. Then, just before withdrawing life-sustaining treatment, signed the back. Later, Michele could put her hand in those
they held an impromptu ceremony, with cap and gown and cool spaces, and feel him.
“Pomp and Circumstance.” In his own way, R.J. was getting ready. He designated cer-
On R.J.’s list were things as simple as going to Ocean City tain belongings for his sister and cousins. Some children even
and bowling. Neither was possible, because he could barely write wills. Later, R.J. asked his mother for a pen and paper
walk or move around. Another, seeing a movie that was and laboriously scrawled out a thank-you note to his doctors,
only in theaters, first seemed out of the question. But that he nurses, his mother and family. It was the morning after he’d
wouldn’t be alive by the time “Daddy Day Care” came out first called out to his mother, “The angels are coming.”
on video helped Hopkins staff persuade the studio to send a
274 THE MORGUE

CHRISTMAS IN JULY Michele planned to celebrate Christmas on July 28, the day
Dr. Higman returned from a trip. But in the next few days,
He told her there were six of them. One angel stayed with
R.J.’s condition would worsen.
him all the time, sitting or lying in his bed. The other five came
That hot night, sitting side by side at the computer, would
and went. They were big, and fit in the room like a puzzle. Nei-
be their Christmas.
ther male nor female, he told his mother, they were “beyond
It ended with a dispute typical of any mother and her nearly
beautiful.”
adolescent son. He kept trying to click on one button on the
Not until he started talking often about the angels could
Web site, while she called him off. “That’s for 14-year-olds.”
Michele bring herself to do the hardest thing. For awhile, those
He persisted, and a moment later, she sighed. “OK,” she
working with the palliative care project had been encouraging
said, “we’ll go where you want to go.”
her to celebrate R.J.’s favorite holiday right away.
So one night, before bed, Michele told R.J. if he wanted, he THE BOTTOM BUNK
could have a Christmas in July, just in case he didn’t make it
In their final days, young patients like R.J. often know what
to December. If he did make it, he’d get two Christmases. “Are
they want. Disproving a common misconception, the children
we going to have a tree and everything?” he asked.
are aware they will soon die and have specific concerns about
Over the next few days, an assistant at the nursing station
how and where.
brought in a string of colored lights and a small artificial tree
Dr. Nancy Hutton, a Hopkins pediatrician and co-director
for the corner. Michele made snowmen for the door and cut
of the compassionate care program, was surprised when she
snowflakes and taped them on the room’s one big window.
interviewed children about what was important to them at the
The big, blue, inflatable alien, which R.J. had won at a festival
end of life. Delving into issues like resuscitation and treatment
his last time out of the hospital, got a Santa cap.
preferences, she discovered feelings that had been bottled up.
But Michele just couldn’t bear to sit down with R.J. to make
One adolescent patient specified that she wanted every
his wish list. Sitting in the hallway one night, she told R.J.’s ped-
aggressive treatment, including a ventilator, as long as there
iatric oncologist, Dr. Meghan A. Higman, “I just don’t feel like
was even a 1 percent chance she might recover. Others decide
I’m a good mom anymore. I couldn’t change anything for R.J.”
they’re done.
Sometimes, she couldn’t stand being in his room. So that
Kelly Petrlik wrote her parents a letter, saying she wanted to
night, after he had eaten, she left the baby monitor at the
stop antibiotic treatments for her cystic fibrosis. The Wood-
nurses’ station, went downstairs, bought a fried fish sandwich
bine teenager revealed that, for some time, she had only been
and charged out of the hospital.
going through them for her family. Her mother had noticed
Michele popped into a cab. As it pulled away, she rolled
how she pepped up for her father and grandparents, how she
the window down. It seemed like the first time she’d breathed
put on a good front. But she was tired. Her parents agreed with
all day. She ate some of her sandwich and stared bleary-eyed
her. Kelly died a few weeks later, in the summer of 2002, her
out at the muggy, gray Baltimore night. She let the wind
family gathered around her bed at Hopkins.
blow through her hair. It was a short trip over to the Ronald
R.J. had already helped set up limits on his care, paring back
McDonald House to check for mail, but enough time for her
to antibiotics, fluids and pain medicine. He had also said he
to gather her courage.
wanted to die in Pocomoke City, at home, in his bottom bunk.
Back in R.J.’s room, she set up the laptop on his bed. Usu-
That was something Michele wished she could have done
ally, she tapped out e-mails, sharing grief and advice with the
for her son. She discussed it with Dr. Higman and Elizabeth
makeshift sorority of mothers around the country who were
Reder, the Hopkins bereavement coordinator. But emotion-
sitting by the bedsides of their own dying children.
ally, like many other parents, Michele didn’t feel she could
But this night, July 10, was about presents.
handle her son dying at home.
“OK, R.J.,” she said, firing up the Toys “R” Us Web site.
There were practical reasons, too. To take R.J. home, Michele
He’d been dozing, but he pepped up. He pulled his legs up to
and her family would have to leave the place that had cared for
his chest, tapped his skinny finger on his forehead. His mother
her son for so long. It meant she would have to do much of the
started making a neat list on a clipboard.
medical care herself, in a house that wasn’t well-equipped.
“Oooh, what about this?” she said, her voice brightening, but
Many parents don’t accept hospice care because they equate
sounding as if it might break. “Finding Nemo for X Box?”
it with giving up. Insurance policies require a prognosis of
He seemed skeptical. He wasn’t feeling good. Every few
only six months to live. They also stipulate that the patient
minutes, his eyelids drooped closed, or she needed to suction
must stop any curative treatment for the illness. Yet for some
his mouth, and they had to stop. But he got into it, picking out
of these kids that kind of treatment, like a blood transfusion,
an alien-mission video game, hockey games and action figures.
can be palliative, bringing them a better quality of life.
Eventually, he took over the computer mouse.
Another problem is the difficulty of finding hospice care for
 THE MORGUE 275

children. With the number of children’s deaths relatively low hurt, he circled his whole body. They gave him more mor-
and many families opposed to the concept, there isn’t much of phine. His mother was growing frantic.
a market for it. Citing a lack of expertise, most adult hospices “Is it hurting really bad, Baby Bear?” she asked.
won’t take children as patients. Health care workers who are That night, July 20, his blood pressure was plunging, and he
willing to deal with dying adults also say that, emotionally, cried out in his hoarse voice, “Mom, help!”
they are reluctant to care for dying children. He was trembling. His eyes rolled back in his head. “Help
All told, only about 1 percent of dying children get hospice me. Help me.”
care. Usually, it is very late. One local hospice nurse described “Help what, honey?” Michele said, panicking. “I don’t know
going to a home to start a new case. She talked with the par- what to do.” She fiddled with his “trache,” the breathing tube
ents in the kitchen, and then they took her upstairs to meet the in his throat, with his suction tube. She put a hot pack on his
child. By the time they entered her bedroom, their daughter face. He shook his head no. He kept moving around in the
had died. bed, reaching out his long arm to her. “Mom! Mom!”
The red numbers on the monitor hanging near the door
ANGELS WITH NO WINGS started to flash. His oxygen level, tracked from the monitor
R.J. had been motioning and talking, as if conversing he wore on his finger, had fallen too low that night. She was
with someone at the end of his bed. When his mother asked afraid to hold him, just like when he was a newborn with a
what he was doing, sometimes he didn’t seem to hear her, or collarbone broken during delivery.
wouldn’t answer. But eventually he told her he was talking Michele was confused, her voice breaking. “I thought they
to the angels. It is something nurses and doctors say children were quiet and peaceful.”
often tell them.
In R.J.’s case, he said the angels had told him the cancer SLEEP, SLEEP AWAY
was all through him, something that would later be proved Somehow, when death comes, many parents think it will be
accurate on autopsy. And he said the angels were picking at calm. But like so much around a child’s dying, little has been
the tumors, trying to heal him. said about what the final moments would look or sound like.
Five days before R.J.’s death, when the family’s favorite hos- Some doctors call this stage the final crescendo. It is the pace
pital chaplain, the Rev. Salvatore Livigni, arrived, he hugged of death.
Michele and put his hand on R.J.’s head. Then he took out a Dr. Joanne Hilden, a pediatric oncologist at The Children’s
box, carefully unwrapping a porcelain statue. It was an angel, Hospital at The Cleveland Clinic, wrote a book to give parents
one of hundreds the priest has given to sick children at Hop- the basics, after she’d talked to several families about what
kins in his five years there. they wished they’d known. For example, one couple didn’t
Holding it up, Father Sal, 69, turned the statue side to side, realize that putting their child on a ventilator meant he would
so R.J. could get a good look. Then the priest leaned closer to not be able to talk with them.
him, inquiring earnestly. “Do the angels look like this?” he Hilden explains that near death, children may be restless,
asked R.J. agitated or have seizures. Others get the hiccups. Although
R.J. shook his head no. some colleagues chastised Hilden for being too blunt in the
“Do they have wings?” Again, R.J. shook his head no. 2003 book, “Shelter From the Storm,” she said many parents
“What do the angels look like?” R.J. didn’t answer. A few reported that it helped them.
moments later, the boy said something, but his speech was so Many parents either don’t or can’t grasp how close their
garbled that even after four tries, Father Sal couldn’t under- child is to death. In a 2000 study, Dr. Joanne Wolfe of the
stand him. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that parents’ awareness
Sighing, Father Sal said, “He’s an angel himself.” that the child probably wouldn’t be cured lagged behind the
In those last days, doctors were balancing R.J.’s medical physicians’ by three months. And often even the doctors don’t
problems with his looming death. Solving one problem would know, for as difficult as it is to forecast survival in adults,
create another. The cancer had grown so much in his mouth experts say it’s tougher in children, because there are fewer
and throat that he could barely open his mouth to chew, and studies about their often-rare illnesses, and their resilience
when he got even a little food in, it fed the tumors. Doctors makes for unpredictable courses.
couldn’t give him nutrition in fluid form because that would When her critically ill daughter was in the hospital, Diane
mean more swelling in his face. Sometimes that swelling got so Irwin always had the sense that death was a week away. Irwin,
bad around his cheeks and eyes that he couldn’t see. who lives in Parkville, said because of that false idea, she wast-
His pain was getting worse. He kept calling his mother, ed some of the last hours of her 4-year-old girl’s life washing
motioning to his abdomen, then his arm. When the resident her baby blanket and searching hospital vending machines for
sketched a quick picture of the body, asking him which part Casey’s favorite cereal. Now she wishes someone had alerted
276 THE MORGUE

her to keep vigil. gie Howser,” he said, referring to the television character.
Casey, who had cancer, died at Hopkins in 1998. Irwin said
she is still haunted by her daughter’s moaning in her last days. LAST ONE
“I wanted her to sleep, sleep away,” she said. The nurse gave him Benadryl to help him settle down, and
Now, she yearns for the chance she missed, to hold her he and his mother slept. When Michele awoke on her fold-out
daughter one last time. She dreamt once about how it might chair at 5:15 a.m., a resident was checking R.J. His body was
have been, that instead of being afraid to pick her up, she had twitching.
cradled Casey and whispered in her ear, “I love you.” “Ronald Joseph Frank Voigt,” his mother remembers say-
“The parents are crying out,” Irwin said. “This could be so ing, her voice rising, “answer me. You’re scaring me.” But
beautiful. This could be a gift.” that familiar call couldn’t reach him this time. He kept staring
Some of the children seem to sense when the end is near. straight ahead.
Ryan King had been sick with leukemia for two years, and in Michele had already assembled CDs she wanted him to
late 2000, he was expected to live several more months. But hear, and she put on “Amazing Grace.” She held him and sang
one night, just before bed in their Glen Arm home, he called to him. A young physician, on her first night supervising sev-
to his mother as she was about to leave his room. He thanked eral floors of children, found herself chiming in. R.J., she said,
her for taking care of him. Ryan died the next morning. was calm, comfortable. The room had a sense of serenity.
She said she now believes he must have known he was about “It seemed like everything was all right in the world, like it
to die. was the way it was supposed to be, and maybe it was, for that
brief moment in time, because a mother was loving her son,”
LET IT BE said Dr. Lola Stavroudis. “When you see something that pure
By Thursday, July 24, when Hopkins’ pediatric oncologists and beautiful, it gives you hope for the rest of us.”
presented R.J. with an honorary medical degree and a white His grandmother, his sister, Kimberly, and two close friends
coat, he couldn’t stand the square of summer sunlight coming arrived, and one by one, they told him how much they loved
from the window. Some children at this point can’t even bear him, that he could go.
to be touched, said Reder, the hospital’s bereavement coordi- “I told him I could not stand to see him suffer no more,”
nator. They’re cocooning, pulling inward. his grandmother said shortly afterward. Then it was up to his
“I am ti-red,” he sputtered. mother. She’d heard the tales of other dying children at Hop-
After the days of agitation and restlessness, R.J. had become kins, the ones who managed to stay alive for their parents. Dr.
quiet and still. His skin looked duskier. His jaw and face, so Higman had told her that R.J. was probably hanging on for
swollen and hard before, had shrunk down. It made his eyes her. Now, as Michele lay at her son’s side, crying, holding him,
look bigger, bluer. she looked into his face.
For R.J., there was a plan. Nurses had a list of people to call She said she could see he was holding on. “I knew it was for
when the end got near. Counselors were available for Michele me,” she said. And this last hour of R.J.’s last day, July 25, 2003,
and her family. she summoned the words. She told him to go with the angels.
It seemed that everything was falling into place. His mother A few minutes later, as his breathing became shallow, Dr.
was playing country gospel music, and some of his favorites, Stavroudis walked up to his bed. Part of her hoped she’d hear
like the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” The Catholic chaplain, Father Sal, a heartbeat; part of her didn’t. She listened. She bowed her
showed up to tease and pray with him, and that night, his head. For the first time in her career as a physician, she uttered
grandmother came bustling in the door. the words. “I’m sorry, he’s gone.”
“Grandmom’s here, love!” Carol Wisnom called out. She It was 7:37 a.m.
brought a container of homemade mashed potatoes and snap- Within an hour, the blinds were pulled up, the lights
shots of his dog, Muffin. R.J.’s swollen lips moved in and out. unplugged on the little tree. A nurse stood on either side of
It was his way, Michele said, to blow his grandmother kisses. R.J. One warmed his hand between her palms, so she could
If his grandmother and sister had known it was the last make one last hand mold. The other, Brigid Gilmore, his
night, they wouldn’t have gone back to the Ronald McDon- favorite, dipped a washcloth in warm water and rubbed it with
ald House. If his mother had known it was his last night, she Ivory soap. She gently wiped his cheeks and cleaned his arms,
would have stayed up and talked to him until morning. But his legs, every last finger.
she didn’t, and he became restless again. He kept talking about The machines had been turned off. It was quiet, so quiet,
his white coat and honorary medical degree. He wanted to except for the splashing of the water and Gilmore’s voice,
make sure his mother had told some of his favorite physicians as she worked with the other nurse to carefully pull out the
and nurses. needle in his chest, the one he hated.
“I’m the youngest doctor in history. I’m younger than Doo- “Last one, R.J.”
 THE MORGUE 277

WHY DO WE SPEED? This terrific enterprise project was written by Rick Hampson using statistical
research provided by Paul Overberg. Overberg recalls the story’s inception:
By Rick Hampson and Paul Overberg
“An editor noticed a story about how the California Highway Patrol was
USA Today — Feb. 23, 2004 writing lots more tickets for driving over 100 mph. He proposed a national look
< MORE ON ENTERPRISE PROJECTS at speeding, and whether and how it was increasing. His idea sparked lots of
ON PAGE 126 personal story-swapping among editors, a good sign that readers would be
interested, too. I knew that we had done just such a project in 1997, using
electronic files of speeding tickets from 1991 and 1996. We had archived
that data. When I told the editor we could use it with new data to track this
trend over a full decade, we got the green light.”
As you read the story, notice:
� The organization — an introductory overview frames the issue, then
five separate stories focus on different aspects of the problem.
� The writing style — Hampson writes with a clean, clear, accessible
voice. But notice, too, how he subtly adds a wry sense of humor to his
delivery, a balancing act that’s not always easy to pull off considering
how serious (grim, even) some of his material is.
� The masterful blend of statistics and anecdotes, which combine
to make the story authoritative and personable at the same time.

LANCASTER, Pa. — Barry Landis was doing 109 mph police, who all but ignore speeders 10 to 15 mph over the
when the radar detector on the dash of his ’97 Dodge limit.
Avenger started to beep and blink. That’s when he saw the Most striking is the rise in extreme speeding — driving
police cruiser. over 90 mph, or 15 mph above any speed limit. In 1991, just
Why was he driving so fast? Because he was in such a good 2% of ticketed drivers topped 90 mph; in 2002, 10% did.
mood. Even what police call “The Century Club” — those driving
Why was he in such a good mood? Because he was driving 100 mph or faster — is getting much less exclusive. In 1991,
so fast. just one driver in 300 was ticketed at or above 100; in 2002,
“It’s a cyclical kind of thing,” he says. the ratio was down to one in 100.
To Landis, who once pushed his little Dodge to 130 mph, In an attempt to slow traffic, judges in Sutter County,
it boils down to this: “I like to go fast on a snowboard. I like Calif., have tripled the fine for driving 100 mph to almost
to go fast on a bike. $1,000.
“I just like to go fast.” So many Sutter commuters use triple-digit speeds to
So do many other drivers — so many that the state police shorten their morning drives to Sacramento or the San
here have started releasing to the news media the names of Francisco Bay Area that the state police have added a 5 a.m.
speeders ticketed at 90 mph or more. The idea: shame them patrol. It’s the great paradox of the American road. Traffic
into slowing down. is getting heavier, there’s less open road, and gasoline costs
At another time in another land, it might work. But not more. That should slow us down.
today. Not in Lead Foot Nation, where drivers hit speeds that But we want to drive faster, and we do it every chance we
once seemed out of reach to everyone but race-car drivers, get.
stuntmen and moonshiners. Here, many drivers regard the So why do we speed?
posted limit as a minimum, not a maximum. Because we have a full bladder or an empty cooler. Because
USA Today analyzed 1.2 million speeding tickets issued in the cake is in the oven. Because class starts in five minutes.
2002 on interstate highways in 18 states — or about 40% of Because the day care center is closing, and it’s a dollar a min-
the interstate system. When compared with similar tickets ute after 6 o’clock.
from 1991 and 1996, they confirm what many suspect: We speed because we want to get away or because we want
� We’re speeding faster than ever — in some cases, much to win a race. Because we think we’re James Dean or James
faster. Bond. We speed because we believe F=ma: Fun equals mass
� Even though highway speed limits have been raised by times acceleration.
as much as a third over the past decade, we speed further We speed because our engines are bigger, our tires bet-
above these new limits than we did above the old ones. ter, our suspensions firmer, our cabins quieter, our roads
� Despite official promises that higher limits would be smoother.
more strictly enforced, we’re getting more leeway from the We speed because we don’t realize how fast we’re going —
278 THE MORGUE

at least, that’s what we tell the trooper.

Here in Lancaster County, where the Amish still travel
by horse and buggy, the state police say they get so many
complaints about speeding that they’ve borrowed an old vice
squad tactic: fight prostitution by embarrassing the johns.
But the strategy assumes people are ashamed to speed.
When friends of Barry Landis found his name in the local
newspaper, they cut out the story, presented it to him for his
scrapbook with their congratulations and offered their own
tales of high-speed brushes with the law. “It sorta made me a
celebrity,” Landis, 26, says sheepishly.
The trooper who stopped him, Phillip Matson, acknowl-
edges the limits of publicity: “People’s feelings aren’t hurt by
it. Some of ’em take pride in it.”

WHY DO WE SPEED?
Because everyone else does, especially our leaders
A decade ago, South Dakotans who had never met or
seen the governor knew Bill Janklow was a speeder. He had
received a dozen speeding tickets and had been involved in a
half-dozen accidents.
Part of it was functional. He had a lot of ground to cover
between church suppers and county fairs.
Part was political. Speed seemed to be Janklow’s trade-
mark; he even made light of it in his State of the State speech
in 1999. It was a populist calling card that helped make him
a man of the people, even after he went to Washington last
year to serve in the House of Representatives.
But in August, Janklow ran a stop sign while driving at
least 16 mph over the speed limit and hit and killed a motor-
cyclist. He was convicted in December of manslaughter and
sentenced last month to 100 days in jail and fined $5,750. He
resigned his House seat.
One of the surest measures of speeding’s social acceptance
is that politicians feel free to do it. An analysis of the driving THE JUMP PAGE — Page 4A of USA Today shows the layout of the
records of a million motorists done for insurance compa- speeding package: five sidebars, two information graphics and the
nies ranked the occupations of drivers most likely to speed. conclusion of the front-page story.
Politicians finished fourth. Only students, military personnel
and laborers beat them. ticket has roughly the same stigma as an overdue notice from
No surprise, then, that a proposal to reduce the speed limit the library. There’s no Mothers Against Fast Driving. But
on Interstate 80 in Nebraska probably will die in committee; there is the Speed Channel.
or that Texas legislators last year refused to increase fines for Speed kills, but it also sells: cars, beer, movies, songs.
driving more than 25 mph over the limit; or that in half the That’s how it is in Lead Foot Nation, home to Larry Ford
states drivers cannot block others in the left lane — even if of Franklin, Ind., who souped up his 1940 Ford Coupe with
they’re at or above the limit. a 396-cubic-inch engine that gets it up to 100 mph. And to
We all vote with our right foot, and that includes moms in C.J. “Pappy” Hart, who was 87 a few years ago when stopped
minivans and pops in pickups. for going 85 in a 55 mph zone. He wasn’t driving his motor
Comparing tickets issued in 1991 with those issued in home at the time, but he has done 85 in that, too.
2002, the percentage of highway speeders who were ticketed Most highway safety advocates focus on “belts and booze”
for driving over 75 mph rose from 52% to 83%. A speeding — seat belt laws and drunken driving — and ignore speed-
 THE MORGUE 279

ing. “Everybody sort of does it,” says Alan Williams of the “People in town didn’t want to talk about speeding,” she
Insurance Institute for Traffic Safety. “It’s a folk crime.” says. “They said the driver wasn’t drinking. They put them-
Marion Emslie made this discovery when her 15-year-old selves in the driver’s seat, not my daughter’s.”
daughter was killed six years ago. The driver was convicted and sentenced to 21 weekends
Talia was riding in a car driven by a high school classmate in jail. But Emslie says her condemnation of speed aroused
when it left Interstate 495 outside Boston and hit a tree. such hostility in town that she began to feel uncomfortable.
Police estimated that it was going about 85 mph. Finally, she moved.
Emslie says she demanded that criminal charges be filed Her conclusion: “ There is no stigma to speeding. Parents
against the 18-year-old driver, who allegedly had been don’t want to go there because they’d have to look at them-
switching lanes recklessly. The response: “People thought I selves and ask, ‘Do I obey the speed limit?’ ”
should forgive him.”

WHY DO WE SPEED? Because we’re sure we won’t crash — or get hurt

Speed is a cause of many crashes; the trouble starts when decapitated.
you try to determine whether it was the cause, or even a A motorist, Adam Swain, saw a Cadillac roll over Hanson.
primary one. “It’s one thing to see this stuff on TV,” he told The Orange
So whether higher speeds necessarily mean more accidents County Register. “But when you see something like this, it
is surprisingly hard to prove. Many other factors contribute makes you think differently.”
to crashes: weather, drinking, distractions . . . Four days later, a generally admiring story about Hanson’s
But when something does go wrong at high speed, the life appeared in the Register. It began: “Michael Allen Han-
result can be a catastrophe of cinematic proportions. Such son didn’t believe in boundaries.”
was the fate of Michael Hanson, 23, a mortgage banker. His We can change the speed limits, but we can’t change the
license, revoked because of a speeding ticket in 2002, had laws of physics. They dictate that the force of a crash does
been reinstated last June. not increase proportionately with its speed, but geometri-
On July 22, he had dinner at a restaurant with his business cally. The 25% increase in crash speed from 40 to 50 mph
partner. Afterward he pulled his silver Porsche — so new it increases the risk of a fatality by 100%.
didn’t have plates — onto California Highway 55, the Costa Assume, as USA Today’s ticket analysis suggests, that sig-
Mesa Freeway, southeast of Los Angeles. nificant enforcement of 65-mph limits now begins around
Witnesses say he quickly accelerated to 100 mph. And 80, instead of 75, the rough enforcement line a decade ago.
when a small black car passed him, he gave chase — even In a crash, that 5-mph difference translates into an increase
though at 10 p.m. there still was plenty of traffic. in impact force of 14%. And that means more broken bones,
Hanson reached an overpass when he suddenly veered punctured organs and severed arteries.
right to avoid hitting a vehicle. He lost control. His Porsche At very high speeds, the protective technology with which
smashed through a guardrail, left the freeway, soared through we have crammed our cars can’t save us; the collision is too
some trees and crashed 23 feet below, on the southbound violent, the vehicle too crumpled. A seat belt, for instance,
lanes of the San Diego Freeway. There, it clipped a Toyota can stop you from being thrown through the windshield, but
Corolla, crossed several lanes, smashed into the median and it won’t stop you from being crushed into the windshield.
exploded. At 100 mph, says Chuck Hurley of the National Safety
Even though his seat belt was buckled, Hanson was thrown Council, “you don’t need a seat belt. You need an ejection
into the northbound lanes, run over by several vehicles and seat.”

WHY DO WE SPEED? Because we think we have a good excuse

Two judges stand outside their chambers in Ellicott City, “I had to make a midnight curfew.”
Md., exchanging tales from traffic court. If you wonder why “I didn’t know how fast I was going because it wasn’t my
people speed — why they say they speed — listen to what car.”
Sue-Ellen Hantman and Louis Becker hear. “I was going downhill.”
“I was going 75 in a 55 zone because I thought the limit Judge Hantman has a soft spot for just one excuse: “I was
was 65, and the cops always give you 10 miles an hour.” going with the flow of traffic.” On highways in Howard
“I was picking up a sick child.” County, that often means 80 mph.
“I had a sick child in the back seat.” Speeding has become such a concern that the judges have
280 THE MORGUE

begun ordering some speeders

to attend an evening class at
the courthouse on its dangers.
There is no Speeders Anony-
mous (“My name is Bill, and
I drive 95 in 65 zones”) but if
there were, its meetings might
feel something like these class-
es in Ellicott City.
Here’s what one is like: It’s
a Monday evening; about 60
drivers are enrolled in the
class. Most are young men in
their 20s and early 30s — the
drivers most likely to speed.
Their average ticket: 22 mph
over the speed limit.
During the next three hours,
the reluctant students are sub-
jected to gory video of acci-
dents and amputations, graph-
ic explanations of what trauma
teams do to keep accident vic-
tims alive, and hair-raising tes-
timony from survivors. A crip-
pled, brain-damaged woman
tells them, “I’m the real thing,
folks; we don’t all die.”
The trauma nurses who lead the class have ice packs, car you can meet nice people, interesting people. You can be
blood-pressure cuffs and high-sugar drinks ready for the with the ‘in-crowd.’ ”
faint. They treat the students with resigned detachment, as if But it’s more than that. He recalls the time he “buried”
they are just so many future organ donors. his silver ’94 Mustang’s speedometer, which goes up to 150
Shane Williams, 20, a college student from Eldersburg, mph. “I went up on (Interstate) 70 with a few people in the
Md., was caught driving 95 in a 55-mph zone. He doesn’t car, and we just took off. It usually takes 10 minutes to get to
need this class to tell him speed is dangerous. Three days the next exit, and it took about two minutes.”
before, his cousin was killed when he smashed his Eagle Now he’s smiling, in spite of himself. He can’t fake it.
Talon into a utility pole while driving 100 mph. “When you’re going that fast, you’re flyin’. It feels good” —
Nevertheless, Williams has to admit it: He loves speed. As he pauses — “while you’re doin’ it.”
a young man in his 20s, he fits the profile of a fast driver. It’s While you’re doing it.
partly a social thing, he explains, especially when the weather Is he alluding to the danger of speed? Or lamenting the
gets nice. “When it’s the speedin’ season, if you have a nice transience of its delight?

WHY DO WE SPEED? Because we think we have a right to

The classic debate between state troopers and the speeders speeding as a civil right.
they stop has shifted. Once, drivers would deny they were One is Chad Dornsife, 57, who drives between San Diego
speeding; increasingly, they deny the state’s right to stop and Lake Tahoe. He has spent his life as a builder and trav-
them from speeding. eling salesman traversing the American West, where “you
“They tell you about the German autobahn,” says Capt. always have that 10-mile horizon,” he says. “Anything you
Steven McDaniel, the troop commander in Lancaster, Pa. can do to shorten it, you do.”
The German highway system, about two-thirds of which Dornsife feels safest going far above the speed limit in his
has no speed limit, is a beacon of freedom to those who view Subaru station wagon in the far left lane of a freeway. He’s a
 THE MORGUE 281

lane or two from merging traffic. intelligent cruise control. Cars will sense when other vehicles
Dornsife also claims an unusual distinction: For years now, get close and will automatically slow down.
he has hit 100 mph every day he has been on the highway. Leon James, a University of Hawaii psychologist, says that
It’s a matter of principle; he feels his right to speed is because children now grow up riding at such high speeds, by
infringed upon by government agencies, which need the the time they’re adults, extreme speeds won’t seem so fast.
ticket fees, and insurance companies, which use speeding Some of us already drive like there’s an American auto-
violations to increase rates. bahn. Jay Leno talked last year to Playboy about midnight
He and other speed-limit abolitionists believe that speeds cruises in his McLaren F1 sports car. “I constantly find
well over 100 mph are safe on many freeways. Eventually, myself going 100-110 on the freeway,” he said, “when the car
Dornsife predicts, drivers will cruise at 100 — thanks to feels like it’s going 50.”

WHY DO WE SPEED? Because no one’s gonna stop us

A ritual is played out whenever a state increases the speed gins. In 1996, 38% of interstate highway speeders were tick-
limit. eted at 15 mph or more above the speed limit. Seven years
Officials, having bowed to public pressure for higher lim- later, even though many of these limits had increased, those
its, acknowledge that the old ones were widely disregarded 15 mph or more over the limit had risen to 52%.
and promise to enforce the new ones rigorously. They sound At a minimum, North Dakota driver Klesch says, “if you
like a parent telling an incorrigible child, “This time I really set the limit at 75, people will go 80. If you set it at 80, they’ll
mean it.” go 85. I don’t see many police on the highways.”
Last August, North Dakota raised its speed limit on inter- The police are playing a game they can’t win. There are too
state highways to 75 mph, from 70. many of us, and too few of them.
Gov. John Hoeven vowed that troopers would “properly So they focus on the fastest speeders and leave the speed
enforce” the new limit, and the head of the state highway limit itself virtually unguarded.
patrol promised “enforcement action on any speeds over “If you stop a guy going 75,” Pennsylvania State Trooper
75.” That month, troopers wrote 1,881 speeding tickets, up A.B. White says, “you’re going to miss one going 90 or
from 1,549 in the same month a year earlier. 100.”
But since then, enforcement has eased. In the month after But extreme speeders are more dangerous to catch —
the initial anti-speeding effort, state police wrote 100 fewer especially on busy urban highways without wide shoulders.
tickets than in the same month the previous year. And more difficult. “It’s hard to catch a car going 90 if
Jason Klesch, 27, of Fargo predicted last summer that the you’re starting from zero,” says Lt. Armand Bilodeau of the
speed line could not be held at 75. “Cruisin’ at 80,” he told Rhode Island State Police
an Associated Press reporter at the time. The police try to play the game. They use airplanes and
These days, he puts his black ’97 Pontiac Grand Prix SE on unmarked sports cars. In Pennsylvania, troopers have started
cruise control and drives 80 — along with almost everyone hiding radar inside yellow state Department of Transpor-
else, he says. tation trucks.
The national speed limit of 55 mph was abolished in But we’re too smart for them. We have radar detectors —
1995 largely because Congress agreed that an artificially and legal almost everywhere — and we know to stay in our lanes,
unreasonably low limit was turning America into a “nation to accelerate only when we’re in the open, to watch how fast
of lawbreakers.” the truckers are going and to never, ever antagonize them, or
But higher limits haven’t ended the public’s Prohibition- they’ll call the Smokies and sic ’em on us.
scale disobedience. Americans still feel free to drive 10 to 15 The police understand. They don’t take it personally.
mph over the limit, even though the limit now usually is 65, Last May, the annual, unauthorized coast-to-coast spee-
70 or 75. dathon known as the Gumball Rally started in San Francisco
Take highways with a 65-mph limit. Significant ticketing of and tore through Reno and Las Vegas en route to Miami. But
speeders in such zones began around 75 mph a decade ago. the Nevada police didn’t get too excited about the Ferraris
Now, the USA Today ticket analysis suggests, it starts at 80. and Lamborghinis roaring by at 100 mph and up.
In 1991, a quarter of tickets written in those 65-mph zones “You have a fast car,” observed Angie Wolff, a spokeswom-
cited speeds up to 75. In 2002, only 7% of those ticketed were an for the Nevada Highway Patrol, “it’s hard to go slow.”
speeding within 10 mph of the limit.
In fact, we’re surpassing the new limits by even wider mar- Contributing: Bruce Rosenstein and Emma Schwartz
282 THE MORGUE

ONE HAPPY Mark Morford began creating cultural commentary for the online edition of
BIG-BOX WASTELAND the San Francisco Chronicle in 2000 — “via a strange cocktail of serendipity,
sheer nerve, good timing, oddball mentors and divine cataclysm,” as he explains.
Oh my yes, there is indeed one force that is After a few years and steadily increasing popularity, he moved into the print
eating away the American soul like a cancer edition of the paper, where his columns run twice a week.
“Boring writing makes my soul curdle,” says Morford, who describes his writ-
By Mark Morford
ing style as “wry and sexy and fun and incendiary and thoughtful and winking
San Francisco Chronicle — Aug. 17, 2005
and open-thighed and highly literate and well-informed and self-deprecating and
< MORE ON WRITING COLUMNS ON PAGE 135 well-lubricated and happy to buy you a drink.”

D
MORFORD’S o you want to feel like you might as a fish feels on Saturn. In the dark. In a
COMMENTARY:
Vibrant opinion writing
as well be in Tucson or Boise or hole. Dead.
is, to me, all about Modesto or Wichita or Muncie You have seen the plague. I have seen
getting to the damn I don’t recall planning it,
point ASAP, conveying
and it no longer freakin’ matters, because the plague. Anyone over 30 has seen the but “germ,” “plague” and
the tone and attitude we as a nation have lost all sense of com- plague evolve from a mere germ of disease “disease” all tie quite
at the outset, hooking nicely into the hospital
the reader right in. I like
munity and place? Why, just pull over, in the late ’80s to a full-blown pestilence punch line, above. Once
how this lead aims the baby. Take the next exit. Right here, this of big-box shopping hell. I was recently you take on an attitude,
reader toward a specific the appropriate language
action, adds a visual
very one. up in northern Idaho, where my family tends to flow around it.
(well, automotive) ele- Ah, there it is, yet another massive has owned a beautiful house on a lake Note the eyeblink shift
ment, as if you’re now into personal anecdote
on a verbal
big-box mega-strip mall, a giant beacon in a tiny burg near the Canadian border midway through this
road trip with me. of glorious community decay, a wilted for 40 years, and to get to this region you graf. Eternal Rule #2:
Which, in fact, you are. Personal anecdote
exclamation point of consumerism gone must pass through the explosively grown always trumps general
wild. This is America. You have arrived. resort town of Coeur d’Alene, and the impression. Adds reader
trust; they believe you
You are home. Eat it and smile. plague is there perhaps worse than any- know what you’re talk-
The litany. The list. There is the Target. There is the Wal- where within a 75-mile radius. ing about because you
More specific. It’s all were there, you saw it.
immediately familiar, Mart and there is the Home Depot and I am officially old enough to remember Be specific: name names,
all of a piece. Everyone the Kmart, the Borders and the Staples when passing through Coeur d’Alene years, roads, etc., as
knows these names, specifically as possible.
everyone has seen and the Sam’s Club and the Office Depot meant stopping at exactly one – one –
these stores, knows and the Costco and the Toys “R” Us and traffic light on Highway 95 on the way Again, lots of detail
their nasty aesthetics here. I didn’t have
and how they breed like of course the mandatory Container Store north, surrounded by roughly one mil-
enough of this in
bloated bunnies in the so you may buy more enormous plastic lion pine trees and breathtaking moun- the first draft; my
same corners of the na- editor suggested more
tion. Readers are a part tubs in which to dump all your new tain vistas and vast, calming open spaces,
descriptives for better
of the story now; we are sweatshop-made crap. farms and fields and sawmills and funky sensory effect. Hence,
standing side by side, the quick pastoral vista.
lookin’ around, and I’m What else do you need? Ah yes, food. roadside shops and gorgeous lakes for
It worked.
pointing at noteworthy Or something vaguely approximating it. miles.
stuff.
There is the Wendy’s and the Burg- There are now about 20 traffic lights I am just tremendously
fond of the well-crafted
er King and the Taco Bell/KFC hybrid added in as many years, scattered down breathless run-on
(ewww) and there is the Mickey D’s and a 10-mile stretch of highway and each sentence. This one, by my
Visceral language to get standards, is relatively
the attitude flowing a the Subway and the Starbucks and the and every one demarcates a turnoff into a petite. I call it a style,
little more powerfully. dozen other garbage-food fiends lined massive low-lying horribly designed strip voice. Others may call it
“Garbage,” “toxic,” annoying lack of punc-
“poison,” “hospitals” up down the road like toxic dominoes, mall, tacky and cheaply built and utterly tuation and unbearable
— can you tell how I all lying in wait to maul your arteries and heartless, and clearly zero planning went use of polysyndeton
feel about fast food? (the repetitious stacking
Obviously, we are fo- poison your heart and make you think into any of these megashops, except to of “and” conjunctions
cusing on the negative. about hospitals. space them so obnoxiously that you have for delirious effect).
Later, I give hints of the I do not care. If you
positive, And here’s the beautiful part: This to get back in your goddamn car to drive lack something like this
of what it used to be snapshot, it’s the same as it was 10 miles the eighth of a mile to get to the Target in your opinion/satire
like, for contrast. writing (a trademark
Eternal Rule #1: back, same as it will be 10 miles ahead, to the Best Buy to the Wal-Mart to the sense of wordplay, a
Rub opposing energies the exact same massive cluster of insidi- Super Foods and back to your freakin’ joy in the malleable
together, create sparks. sentence), something is
And don’t forget to ous development as you will find in sanity. deeply wrong and you
look for subtleties. roughly 10,000 noncommunities around Do you want to know what depresses might want to consider
They’re vital. stronger coffee, kinkier
the nation and each and every one mak- the American spirit? Do you want to sex or better scotch.
ing you feel about as connected to the know why it feels like the center can- Or med school.
town you’re in and the body you inhabit not hold and the tyranny of mediocrity
 THE MORGUE 283

Here it is. has been loosed upon our world? Do it’s good. We think it helps, brings jobs, Conclusions, ho. Winding
The essential shift from up for the big summary.
specific examples to you want to know what instills more tax money, affordable goods. We call it Note the language shift,
more universal, fervent thoughts of suicide and creates a desper- progress. We call it choice. It is the exact from specifics to more
observation. To get at broad ideas, a wrap-up
the meaning of things. ate, low-level rage the source of which we opposite. of all the consequences,
To ask the reader: cannot quite identify but which we know Result No. 1: Towns no longer have what we’re up against.
Do you see what all And here it comes . . .
this means? Have you is right under our noses and which we personality, individuality, heart. Com-
thought much about now inhale Prozac and Xanax and Paxil munity drags. Environment suffers. Our
this? No? If not, aren’t
you at least having a by the truckload to attempt to mollify? once diverse and quirky and idiosyn-
little bit of fun reading I have your answer. Here it is. Look. cratic landscape becomes ugly and bland
it anyway? Plus, any Three powerful points
day I can reference It is the appalling spread of big-box strip and vacuous and cheap. to crystallize it all (gotta
Yeats’ “The Second malls, tract homes like a cancer, meta- Result No. 2: a false sense of safety, of be open to messing with
Coming” and get away the format, by the way).
with it is a good day developments paving over the American comfort, wrought of empty sameness. We Incidentally, three is
indeed. landscape, all creating a bizarre sense of want all our goods to be antiseptic and always a magic number.
copious loss, empty excess, heartless glut, sanitized and brightly lit and clean. In a Three adjective clauses,
three rhythmic phrases,
forcing us to ask, once again, the Great nation that has lost all sense of direction three examples, etc.
All-American Question: How can we and all sense of pride and whose dollar is It’s a poetic pacing, the
trinity, the triad. Call it
Nothing like a Great have so damned much but still feel like a global joke and whose economy is run- Eternal Rule #3. I had a
Rhetorical Question we have almost nothing at all? ning on fumes and whose goods are all roommate at Berkeley
to tie it all together. who decided to write a
Hopefully, by this point, Oh and by the way, Coeur d’Alene made overseas and whose incompetent major paper on all the
has a distinct central portion of town, threes in Hamlet. Words,
readers are nodding, warmongering leader makes the world characters, phrases,
saying,“That’s so true!”
or “Right on!” or well off the toxic highway. It is calm gag, that toxic sameness is, paradoxically, symbols, relationships,
and tree lined and emptily pretty and everything. He quickly
“What the hell is this reassuring. became like Russell
nutball talking about?”
That is, they’re it is packed with, well, restaurants and Result No. 3: We are trained, once Crowe in “A Beautiful
art galleries. And real estate offices. For Mind,” scribbling madly,
thinking, reacting, again, to fear the different, the Other, highlighting, connecting,
processing, somehow.
And still reading. yuppies. Because, of course, there are That Which Does Not Conform. We underlining, unable to
no local shops left. No mom-and-pops, eat or sleep or bathe. He
learn to dislike the unique, the foreign, nearly went insane. He
few unique small businesses of any kind. foreigners. We lose any sense of personal never finished the paper.
No charm. No real community per se. connection to what we create and what
Just well-manicured food and mediocre we buy and I do not care how cheap that
art no true local can actually afford and jute rug from Ikea was: When they are
business parks where the heart used to mass-produced in 100,000 chunks in a
be. factory in Malaysia, it ain’t quirky.
I have little real clue as to what chil- Sameness is in. Sameness is the new
dren growing up in this sort of bizarre black. It is no different than preplanned
Getting pointed, even megaconsumerist dystopia will face as Disney World vacations or organized Mmm, run-ons. At last,
more fired up. Not the conclusion. The
merely pointing out the
they age, what sort of warped perspec- religion or preplanned cruises or themed kicker. Sometimes I get
problem, but getting tive and decimated sense of place and restaurants where all edges have been complaints that I don’t
at the consequences. offer enough positive
The reader is deeper
community and home. But if you think filed off and every experience has been suggestions. But that’s
into the piece now, and meth addiction and teen pregnancy and predigested and sanitized for your pro- not my job. I am here to
given how our national get you thinking, make
ADD affliction means
wicked religious homogeny and a fright- tection because God forbid you have an you laugh or cry or smile
you always risk losing ening addiction to blowing s--- up in authentic experience or nurture genu- or shrug or roll your eyes
reader interest on a or scream or turn you
whim, this is a direct,
violent video games isn’t a direct reac- ine individual perspective or dare to on or make you want to
yet casual assault on tion to it, you’re not paying close enough question the bland norm lest your poor hurl the paper against
their assumptions the wall. I am not here to
to keep the fire hot.
attention. addled soul shudder and recoil and the solve all global problems.
Saying “OK, you’ve This is the new America. Our crazed Powers That Be look at you as a serious They don’t pay me
been with me this far, enough for that.
now what do you think
sense of entitlement, our nearly rabid threat.
of this?” Little verbal desire for easy access to mountains of I have seen the plague and so have Ending with an open-
firecrackers; toss ’em ended question makes
in, see what happens.
bargain-basement junk has led to the you. Hell, you’re probably shopping in it. the reader ponder your
upsurge of soulless big-box shops which After all, what choice do you have? topic just a little bit more.
It’s a simple device, but
has, in turn, led to a deadly sense of pre- almost always effective.
fabricated, vacuous sameness wherever Don’t you agree?
we go. And here’s the kicker: We think
284 THE MORGUE

OLD MAN SAT, STARED Charles Kuralt (1934-1997) is best remembered as a CBS television correspondent and host
UNTIL A CHILD of “CBS Sunday Morning.” During his broadcast career, he won 10 Emmys and three Peabody
Awards for journalism.
HAPPENED TO PASS But Kuralt started out as a newspaper reporter and columnist in North Carolina, where he
By Charles Kuralt honed his distinctively pure, simple writing style. Kuralt loved human interest stories — sweet,
The Charlotte News — Oct. 11, 1956 quirky, touching slices of life that captured the dreams and dramas of ordinary folks. Some of
his best columns are charmingly old-fashioned narrative vignettes, like this one. Notice how
< MORE ON WRITING COLUMNS ON PAGE 135 Kuralt’s sparse style and short sentences create an effect that’s as much poetry as journalism.

I
t was five o’clock in the afternoon, that was part of the her place with the others, shifted the packages in her arms and
reason. The elegant lady in the fur cape, the four business- began waiting for the bus.
men and the two young housewives stood at the Tryon St. “Come here, Annie,” she said.
bus stop with the vacant look of people thinking about their The little girl walked over.
own affairs, tired of working, tired of shopping and eager to “He’s selling pencils,” her mother said.
get home. The man with the newspaper stared over at the little girl.
So they didn’t notice the old guy in the alley. The little girl walked back over to the alley and peered down
He wasn’t much to notice. He sprawled against a brick wall at the man.
and raised his stubble-covered face to the people who passed She didn’t say anything and neither did he.
by and lifted a shaking arm to offer them a pencil. She turned back to her mother and tugged at her arm.
Some stared at him curiously. Nobody stopped. “I want a pencil,” she said.
The people waiting for the bus didn’t even look his way. The Her mother smiled, took her pocketbook from her arm and
lady in fur stepped out to the curb impatiently and looked up reached into it awkwardly, without putting down the bulky
the street to see if the bus was coming. packages. She gave the little girl a nickel.
One of the four businessmen leaned against a plate glass The girl took it over to the alley and put it in the man’s hat.
window, took a newspaper from under his arm and turned to She looked at him once more, then walked quietly back to her
the sports page. mother’s side.
One of the housewives glanced uncomfortably at the old “God bless you,” the old man mumbled. She didn’t hear
man in the alley, and looked away. him.
They all waited. The bus arrived and its doors opened.
That was when the little girl walked up. She was a few steps Everybody got on.
ahead of her mother, whose arms were full of packages. The But before they did, two of the businessmen and the lady
little girl walked straight up to the old man in the alley and with the furs dropped coins in the old guy’s hat.
looked at him. He looked back. The little girl’s mother took A little child had led them.
 THE MORGUE 285

INVEST IN AMERICA In 2008, as American car companies faced bank-

ruptcy, auto executives journeyed to Washington,
By Stephen Henderson D.C., to beg Congress for help. And to sway skeptical
Detroit Free Press — Dec. 5, 2008 lawmakers, editors at the Detroit Free Press took an
< MORE ON WRITING EDITORIALS ON PAGE 134 extreme step: a bold, passionate front-page editorial.
“I know the editorial got the attention of nearly
everyone in Washington that day,” recalls Stephen Henderson, the primary writer. “It was hand-
delivered to Congressional offices, and I remember seeing at least one member of our delegation
(John Dingell) hold it up on the House floor while he was arguing for more auto aid.
“Obviously, we’d love to claim that this made the difference and was the reason the companies
got the cash. (Editorial writers can dream too, huh?) But sadly, we have no evidence that’s true.”
Free Press editor Paul Anger wrote this sidebar to accompany the front-page editorial:
WHY WE’RE SENDING THIS MESSAGE
The Free Press is sending copies of this edition to every member of Congress.
We have chronicled the U.S. auto industry since its birth, as Detroit became the world’s
Motor City, as cars and trucks changed the American culture and landscape, as assembly
line jobs gave rise to the American middle class. Our journalists have reported the auto-
makers’ triumphs and exposed their troubles. We know this industry better than anyone.
We also know that while a newspaper needs to inform, there are times when a newspa-
per needs to speak up for what’s right.
We know what automakers and autoworkers mean to this nation. We know what will
happen if one of the auto companies is allowed to collapse. We know because this industry
has been our story since it started. And we know that America needs this story to continue.

DEAR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS: more than dry statistics. Every job associated with the industry
You don’t want an economic disaster on your hands. Not is a family, a home, a college education, a cancer treatment or
when you could have prevented it. And not in times that are a secure retirement. Every one of those jobs is about someone
already the worst in a generation. making a living doing work that’s vital to the nation’s eco-
But that’s exactly what you’ll have — and more — if one nomic interests.
of the three Detroit automakers goes belly-up for lack of a No one knows more than the people of Michigan how pre-
government-backed loan. There will be economic hell to pay cious those jobs are, or how fragile they’ve become in a cut-
— not just in Detroit, but all across America, including in your throat global economy where so many countries prop up their
state, in your district. own auto industries.
The loss of jobs, the devastated retirements, the massive loss Know that the people of Michigan, and especially those who
of health care coverage, the sharp drop in local tax revenues, toil for the automakers, are as angry as anyone over the string
the closings of supplier and ancillary businesses — all would of misjudgments, failures and bad decisions that contributed
be calamitous in the best of times. And these are not that. Just to the industry’s woes. No one here is enthused about the idea
ask the people you represent. of extending government money to a private industry with so
More than 3 million jobs are at stake in the industry. Gen- many self-inflicted wounds. But the automakers deserve credit
eral Motors, Ford and Chrysler are threaded in the fabric of for real gains, including products on par with their world
businesses in every state across America. rivals and plants that operate among the best in the business.
A failure of one or more of the automakers would deepen Remember, too, that Detroit helped rescue America as the
the country’s worst recession in 27 years, and it could take Arsenal of Democracy in World War II and, through GM’s
decades to rebuild the nation’s industrial base, which will no-interest loans, helped jump-start the battered economy
atrophy like an unused limb without the muscle-flexing of after 9/11. Now, when our automakers and autoworkers need
Detroit’s automakers. a hand up, will America really turn its back?
Who will buy the rubber, plastics, copper and computer The Detroit automakers are hemorrhaging cash to stay in
chips that Americans make? Who will need all the tool and die business. Two of them are nearly drained, and the third is get-
shop workers, mold makers or software engineers who help ting by on a transfusion. They can get well. They have shown
drive the small-business economy in so many states? how. But first they have to survive. And their survival is in
You don’t want all this blood on your hands. No one America’s best interests.
could. You can help them. And if you don’t, make no mistake:
Because the losses from an auto industry failure are about There will be bleeding throughout the land.
286 THE MORGUE

SPEARS’ STRIPPER ACT Doug Elfman was the music columnist at the Las Vegas Review-Journal when he found
AN UNFOCUSED BORE himself reviewing his third Britney Spears concert — “the third time I skewered her on my
Bic,” as Elfman puts it.
By Doug Elfman
“What I like about this review is it’s fun and breezy and heartfelt,” he says. “The review is
Las Vegas Review-Journal — March 8, 2004 implicitly intellectual while also being conversational. That’s my voice, and not just in print.
< MORE ON WRITING REVIEWS ON PAGE 136 I really do speak like this. My theory about writing is it’s easy to do, as long as you learn how
to talk well — funny, interesting — and then just talk to people in the paper.
“As Dave Barry puts it: Write with your mouth open.”

O
ELFMAN’S n Friday night, the comedian Chris crowd looked nothing like the stereotype of
COMMENTARY:
I got the idea for
Rock stood on stage at the MGM her previous tours of preteens, Maxim sub-
my lead while I and said his only job in life is to scribers and gay men. It looked more like a
was watching B.S. keep his daughter “off the pole”: “They convention of women in their 20s, 30s and
pretend to perform
various acts of don’t grade fathers, but if your daughter is a 40s, wearing blond dye and short skirts.
onanism in front of stripper, you (messed) up.” Those fans whooped their biggest cheer
all these people.
I was thinking The very next night on the same stage, when B.S. seductively dropped her robe. If No one ever
something, like: Britney Spears slid down a stripper’s pole in you are a sociologist or some other -ologist, e-mailed me to
Oh my God, Chris explain why women
Rock would hate front of 13,300 people, then walked over to a please e-mail your theory of why at least love seeing Britney
Britney’s parents. bed and pretended to hump a dude. 8,000 adult women went manic to see this fake-naked.
Notice how my
editors let me des-
This came right after she sang a ballad woman naked.
cribe humping and called “Touch of My Hand,” during which I’m not even sure you can call her the You know, this may
masturbation and be my favorite
orgasm, plus a
she stripped off a white robe, revealing a woman she was meant to be. Look at those part of the review:
scattering of “B.S.” nude body suit, and rubbed both hands booby boobs. Her teeth are white like bleach. “booby boobs.” I’ve
references. We field- never used that term
ed a few complaints.
over herself while on her back in a motion And those hair extensions, and that weird before or since. But
But do they really simulating masturbation. tan: You’re kidding me, right? it makes me laugh
measure up against whenever I read it.
the hundreds of
There’s nothing wrong with that in my As for her singing, she told The New By the way, tons of
thousands of readers book, in theory. But in reality, B.S.’s new York Times she does not lip-sync, but one newspapers won’t
who didn’t complain? allow the word
No. The Review-
tour is an unfocused bore of false sexuality, of her managers told the Times her vocals “boobs.”
Journal understood horrible songs, trite choreography, unfo- are a mix of recorded and real-time sounds.
that I was writing
in the year 2004 for
cused themes and less ambition than a house Either way, those vocals were unfortunate.
human beings who cat that sits around licking itself all day. B.S. tried to croon cabaret versions of her
are quite familiar
with humping and
It’s not even so bad it’s good. It’s so bad pop hits, “ ...Baby, One More Time” and
I wish I’d used the
masturbation. it’s bad. “Oops ... I Did It Again.” But her style and word, “underpants,”
It’s so bad that B.S., who’s 22, signed up meter were troubled. Shaking your thing in instead of “panties.”
“It’s so bad it’s bad” “Panties” is pervy.
came to me while I to sing this masturbation song on tour, and a bustier and ruffled panties does not auto- “Underpants” is
was waiting for the she pretends to masturbate for something matically make anyone a cabaret singer. funny.
show to suck more
than it was presently like three minutes, and yet she has done To say her new songs — especially “Show-
sucking. I wanted it such a poor job of executing a catchy cho- down,” “Boom Boom, (I Got That)” and
to super-blow so it’d
entertain me, like rus/ orgasm that she hasn’t generated any “Outrageous”— are immediately forgettable I could have
described more of the
Britney’s previous marketable controversy. is giving them credit they don’t deserve. music in detail. I was
tours did. Alas. I try
to write reviews that You’d think there would be some contro- They were hardly “songs” to begin with. a partial-scholarship
violinist once, and
are better than what versial whining at least from Clear Channel, They were annoying, short, moronic key- a singer and a key-
I’m reviewing. This
time, it was easy. the friend-of-Bush entertainment company board loops, punctuated with tiny vocals boardist in a garage
band that never got
that is now endorsing governmental bans tricked out electronically. out of the garage. But
on forms of entertainment that are not B.S. talked twice. Once, she alluded to I prefer to write for a
general audience, so
Puritanical. tough personal times that were caused by I wasn’t about to
Clear Channel is such But, uh-oh, Clear Channel is B.S.’s tour her recent, 55-hour marriage in Vegas. But deconstruct B.S.’s
a hypocrite that “music” with words
this was the most
promoter, so don’t expect it to shut down her experiences “made me who I am right that would fall on
obvious observation her money-making tactics. Clear Channel now” and made her “realize how beautiful deaf ears — or is
to make. it blind eyes, since
is an example of what Chris Rock calls “the life can be,” she said. we’re talking about
hypocrisy of democracy.” The other time she talked to the crowd, readers?
In B.S.’s defense, few kids were there. The she goo-goo-gah-gahed, “Oh, my goodness,
 THE MORGUE 287

B.S. says the onyx is a lot of cute guys (are) in the audience stuff and they bought tickets on the day of
a gem that changes So here’s the line
colors when light
tonight. Are you guys feeling lucky? Who the show. everyone quoted the
hits it. But my sister, knows? ... Maybe, I’ll marry you!” But there was an abundance of serious most: B.S. “suckity-
who knows about suck sucked.” It’s like
voodoo stuff in
B.S. called this charade “The Onyx Hotel fans. A 21-year-old guy insisted I write that one of my legacies at
New Orleans, says Tour,” because she fancies herself as an onyx, B.S. is “gorgeous” and that he loves her vid- this point. And here’s
B.S. is thinking of a little secret. When
something totally
a gem that changes colors when light hits it. eos: “She pushes it to the edge.” I was editing the
different. And yet, So, a few stage props appeared hotel-ish. But after the show, nonfanatics who were story, I had to cut a
strangely, I do not half-inch for space,
care enough any-
And an emcee insulted audience members walking behind me griped how hideous and “suckity-suck
more to Google this. and farted. I’m still not sure why the Onyx she was. “She sucked,” one woman said. “I sucked” was the
first thing I sliced,
I love referring to
hotel wants this gassy guy as its concierge. really thought she would have more talent because I wasn’t
Britney as B.S. If I B.S. claimed a “portion” of her $48.50- than that.” sure people would
have one regret in get it, and I didn’t
journalism, it is that
$98.50 tickets was donated to her Britney I agree. B.S. didn’t just suck, she suckity- know how to spell it.
the B.S. nickname for Spears Foundation. I asked several tour peo- suck sucked. I’m grading her a “D-,” and But then I thought,
her royal stupidhead “Aw, screw it,” and
has not caught on
ple to comment on what that “portion” is not an “F,” because I think she has room put it back in. You
with the rest of the and how it gets spent. They did not respond. to degrade. If you think B.S. can’t get any should always trust
media. Come on, it’s your first instincts
natural. It’s fun.
A source told me attendance was as high worse, you’re selling her short. and question your
Give it a whirl. as it was because a huge number of tourists reservations.
were in town for a NASCAR event and other

“Journalists play an important From an article in Quill magazine by Michelle

QUOTED role in society, which is to take
real life, and somehow make it
Dally, a veteran newspaper reporter who spent
a semester teaching a college journalism class:
AN ASSORTMENT OF CYNICAL REMARKS
boring.”
Dave Barry When I wasn’t attempting to teach them
things they should have learned long before,
“Every journalist who is not too stupid or too full of himself to notice I was attempting to unteach things they
what is going on knows that what he does is morally indefensible. He actually had learned long before.
is a kind of confidence man, preying on people’s vanity, ignorance, or In one editing exercise, I discovered a
loneliness, gaining their trust and betraying them without remorse.” number of students deleting every “But”
Janet Malcolm
that began a sentence in a standard AP
“I don’t know why anyone would ever talk to the press. The press is article.
like a lamprey that latches on to a subject and just sucks and sucks and “You can’t just take these out,” I said.
sucks until your brain and your soul is as dry as a crouton. Because they “You need these for transition.”
need what you have inside you to make their story. And they don’t care I was greeted with perplexed stares.
anything about YOU, they care about their story. I’ve advised everyone “But what about my English teacher?”
in my family to never ever ever talk to the press, for any reason.” one senior asked. “She told me never to start
Stephen Colbert, satirist, The Colbert Report a sentence with But or And.”
“This isn’t English,” I heard myself saying.
“Managing a newsroom is like managing a daily disaster. Good “This is journalism.”
newspapers are put out by a collection of scruffy, recalcitrant characters Newsgathering wasn’t much better. For
that would make most normal business people shudder. News folks one assignment my students had done
don’t like to be managed. If we did, we’d all be doing something else. background research on legislators and
“We are great at gang-tackling a good old natural disaster. Give us a then went and interviewed them. One stu-
triple ax murder or a chain-saw dismemberment, and we love it. We’re dent — a particularly talented one — came
good at scandal; we love Watergates and Iranscams and public officials back and reported, “I read that this guy was
who fudge on their expense accounts. We love to go nuts.” an alcoholic, but I didn’t want to ask him
Deborah Howell, ombudsman, The Washington Post
about it.”
“If I were a father and had a daughter who was seduced, I would not “Why not?” I asked.
despair over her. But if I had a son who became a journalist and “I didn’t want to be a jerk.”
continued to remain one for five years, I would give him up.” “It’s your job to be a jerk,” I reminded
Soren Kierkegaard, philosopher him, and then bit my tongue.
288 THE MORGUE

MOVIE REVIEW: Claudia Puig began her reporting career on the police beat. She then spent a decade covering the
THE DARK KNIGHT entertainment industry at The Los Angeles Times. Now she reviews movies for USA Today.
“My critical approach is a populist one,” Puig explains. “Because USA Today is read across the
By Claudia Puig
nation (and internationally), I am always mindful that I am writing for a very large and diverse
USA Today — July 18, 2008 audience. Because our reviews are not lengthy, I try to cover a lot of ground in limited space.
< MORE ON WRITING REVIEWS ON PAGE 136 I want my critiques to have something for everyone, from the movie buff to the person who only
sees a couple movies a year.”

T
PUIG’S COMMENTARY: he Joker is more than wild. cious wit, this self-described “agent of
This lead came to me
while watching the movie. It’s a tribute to the power of chaos” also has dialogue that gives us a
Sometimes I sit and ponder Heath Ledger’s transcendent window into his diabolical soul.
how best to sum it up for a
while after seeing a movie. performance in “The Dark Knight” But, as much as this as Ledger’s
But that line stayed with me as ( out of 4) that we can watch movie, that should not diminish the
something simple and almost
headline-like. Obviously, it him transfixed and feel deeply unset- notable accomplishments of other key
plays off the wild card/joker tled by the character’s creepiness, laugh cast members. Just as he was in Bat-
reference and also makes a
point about the dimensionality at his comic menace and manage to man Begins, Christian Bale is a suavely
of Heath Ledger’s Joker, who block out thoughts of the actor’s tragic perfect Bruce Wayne and a consum- Saying Goldman “hits all the
is arguably the star of the film. right notes” is verging on
I wanted to make a quick and and untimely death. This is a career- mately heroic Caped Crusader. Gary cliché. It slipped by. I don’t
strong point — almost like making performance if ever there was Oldman hits all the right notes in his think I’d use this expression
shorthand — about Ledger’s again.
amazing performance as a one. It’s just such a shame that it was a returning role as police lieutenant Jim
bizarre and savagely clever career-ending one as well. Gordon. Michael Caine and Morgan It’s always tough to know
monster, who was also at just how much of the plot to
times tragic and funny. Actors are sometimes described as Freeman are excellent in their reprised reveal — hence the vague
“disappearing into a role.” Never was roles. Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over “who faces a personal
It was not easy to decide tragedy that transforms him.”
that term more fitting than in the case the part of Rachel Dawes from Katie Plenty of other publications
which performances to cite
here. I chose “Brokeback of Ledger. To go from the taciturn Holmes and improves upon it sub- referred to his name in that
Mountain,” since it was his transformed, monstrous
ranch hand in “Brokeback Mountain” stantially. Aaron Eckhart is superb as state (“Two Face”), but I try
most well-known and best
role before “Dark Knight.” to the randy philanderer in “Casa- Harvey Dent, the principled district to avoid spoilers at all costs.
The others I chose illustrated In terms of the overall plot
nova” to the midcareer Bob Dylan in attorney, dubbed “Gotham’s White description, I decided less is
how Ledger was essentially
a character actor, despite his “I’m Not There” to the embodiment Knight,” who faces a personal tragedy more here and just touched
movie star looks, who could lightly on the story itself and
of comic book evil is a stunning tra- that transforms him. cast of characters.
convincingly play a wide and
disparate array of parts. jectory. Accolades must also go to direc-
O.K., I could see this used as
With his cracked white pancake tor and co-screenwriter Christopher the pull-out quote in ads,
This paragraph is all about makeup, black rimmed eyes, smeared Nolan. “The Dark Knight” is a more and normally I try to avoid
a sentence that can be so
description. It’s an effort to lipstick and greasy, greenish-tinged thrilling, intelligent, morally complex easily adapted for hype and
explain what made his
performance impressive, hair, the Joker bears no resemblance and masterfully crafted film than any advertising. But I felt so
strongly about this film that
by showing specifically what to the strikingly handsome actor who summer blockbuster in recent years. my admiration trumped my
was unique in Ledger’s
portrayal of a character that played him. In fact, the character is like It’s probably the best superhero movie hype concerns.
has been played before by nothing we’ve seen or heard before. to date. Despite its comic book origins
actors including Jack Nicholson This was put here to induce
and Cesar Romero. Sure, there’s a whiff of Malcolm and fantasy setting, the story poses a broader audience to see it.
McDowell in “A Clockwork Orange” timely and compelling ethical dilem- I wanted to generate interest
among discerning moviego-
in the performance, but Ledger has mas, demonstrating that popcorn ers who might otherwise
made this anarchic maniac a singular thrillers need not be mindless or dis- be tempted to dismiss it
simply because they consider
and supremely unhinged villain. From posable. summer blockbusters empty-
the clumsily repellant way he flips his A scene involving hacking into the headed. I could also have said
something like: “This is not
tongue around to his sneering, nasal Gotham citizenry’s cell phones has just for Comicon aficionados.”
voice, he is a peerless eccentric. echoes of real life wiretapping con-
This section acknowledges
He has the movie’s best lines, of troversies. When a hospital is blown
the dialogue and what had course: “What doesn’t kill you makes to bits, the image looks frighteningly
already become oft-quoted you stranger.” And the much-quoted like a bombing in Iraq, rather than a
phrases. It also hints at a clever
line that is a highlight. I didn’t “Why so serious?” He even pays hom- remarkable feat of computer genera-
want to spoil the surprise by age to a classic movie line, in a truly tion.
quoting it, so I just alluded to it
to pique readers’ interest. twisted way. In addition to his mali- Though it clocks in at 2 1/2 hours,
 THE MORGUE 289

I knew there was much the film has a notable economy of When was the last time you saw
discussion of the length
and wanted to address this
storytelling and a taut, fast-paced edit- a blockbuster that was impeccably
point. In most cases, 2+ ing style. executed and simultaneously thought-
hours is simply too long.
But, fortunately, not here.
The thrill-ride action scenes can be provoking, audacious and unnerv-
jaw-dropping feats of technical virtu- ing while consistently being fun and
I saw the movie twice — in osity, especially when seen on IMAX. entertaining? “Dark Knight” has all
one day! Ah, the life of a
film critic. One of those Nolan shot six major action sequences the requisite breathtaking explosive- Writing this review was
screenings was on IMAX. both easy and tough. Easy
For films offered in both
with IMAX cameras and the movie is ness and suspenseful jolts. because it was a superb
formats, I usually choose even more compelling in this format, But it surprises the audience in more film and I was eager to sing
one or the other. But in this its praises. It was tough
case, I made it a point to
though it is still an amazing spectacle profound ways by busting up the genre because the movie’s very
see it both ways. And it did in 35 mm. and giving us a terrifying and humor- gifted star — Ledger — died
enhance the experience. suddenly before it came out.
Unlike other movies in this genre, ous villain that will remain indelibly My job was not to write
the violence is not cartoonish, but etched in our collective memories. an elegy, but I wanted to
I felt very strongly about honor his performance and
this. I take my role as a film bone-crunchingly visceral. Parents (Running time: 2 hours, 32 minutes. also mention his substantial
critic for a populist-oriented should be cautioned to take the PG-13 Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of previous accomplishments
and very widely read news- and talent.
paper seriously and feel a rating seriously. (An R-rating might violence and some menace. Opens Still, I didn’t want Ledger’s
sense of responsibility to have been more appropriate given Thursday in select theaters and Friday untimely death to cast
its readers. This is a movie too strong a shadow on
that could be disturbing the level of mayhem, darkness and nationwide.) the overall review. While I
to young, impressionable destruction.) wanted to give him his due,
viewers. I think the MPAA I also didn’t want the piece
was wrong giving it a PG-13 to be all to be about Ledger.
rating. Knowing that people I wanted to make sure that
often take 8- to 13-year- people realized this was a
olds to PG-13 movies, I felt smart, well-made movie
it was incumbent on me to based on a comic-book
discourage parents from series.
letting children and even In retrospect I might
pre-teens see such have called it “the thinking
intense violence. person’s action blockbuster.”

“Right-wing partisans . . . have always “I think it’s the demonstrable presence of

attacked aggressive reporting as liberal.
We were biased, all right — in favor of QUOTED so many liberals in the big-city news media
— and their coverage of anti-war activities
uncovering the news that powerful people ON LIBERAL BIAS IN THE MEDIA and the civil rights, feminist, gay rights,
wanted to keep hidden: conflicts of inter- consumer and environmental movements —
est at the Department of Interior, secret that has enabled the conservatives to make
meetings between Vice President Cheney and the oil industry, their case for liberal bias.
backdoor shenanigans by lobbyists at the FCC, corruption in “To many conservatives, the very fact that the media
Congress, neglect of wounded veterans returning from Iraq, covered these movements means the media were sympathetic
Pentagon cost overruns, the manipulation of intelligence to them and the coverage was tainted by a liberal bias.
leading to the invasion of Iraq. . . . “Moreover, journalists are skeptical, confrontational and
“If reporting on what’s happening to ordinary people thrown iconoclastic, which means they challenge the establishment,
overboard by circumstances beyond their control and betrayed while conservatives want to conserve it.
by Washington officials is liberalism, I stand convicted.” “So the better journalists do their job, the more likely
Bill Moyers, former PBS journalist/commentator conservatives are to see them as liberal.”
David Shaw, Los Angeles Times
“Are media liberal? Maybe media were liberal in some ways
in the days of family newspaper ownership in some places. “Conservatives also know that if the press is effectively
Not anymore. These are big media conglomerates, for the intimidated, either by the accusation of liberal bias or by
most part. Primarily, they care about performance and a reporter’s own mistaken belief in the charge’s validity,
returns, not about politics. the institutions that conservatives revere — the military,
“Abandon the illusion that there’s a socialist behind the corporate America, organized religion and the powerful
curtain manipulating the media levers. That clanking sound conservative groups themselves — will be able to escape
is just a cash register.” scrutiny and increase their influence. Working the refs works.”
Charlie Madigan, columnist, Chicago Tribune Eric Alterman, from his book, What Liberal Media?
290 THE MORGUE

SUSTAINING David Sarasohn is a nationally syndicated political columnist at The Oregonian, and one of several
SUSHI critics who write restaurant reviews for the paper’s weekly entertainment guide.
“I have been writing about restaurants – now this is scary – for 25 years, or approximately
By David Sarasohn 4,239,872,975 calories,” Sarasohn says. “I got into it when I got a job at a magazine and the reviewer
The Oregonian — Jan. 23, 2009 had just quit, and I suggested I do it. At the time, my major qualification was liking to eat; after doing
< MORE ON WRITING REVIEWS ON PAGE 136 it for about 10 years, I figured I could claim to be as pompous as anyone about it. (Although when I
remind my wife, as I am occasionally obliged to, that I am a food professional, she makes a rude and
unpleasant noise.)
“Generally, it’s two visits with four people for each restaurant, both to sample enough of the menu
and because restaurants have good and bad nights.”
About the following review for Bamboo Sushi, Sarasohn explains:
“These days there’s a sushi bar in every strip mall. So picking one to write about means looking for
something that will make the reader want to read it, before getting to the question of why go there when
there’s a sushi bar just down his block. (You can’t just keep saying, “Good tuna.”) For Bamboo Sushi,
the claim of being the first sustainable sushi bar rolled it past all the other California rolls.”

M
SARASOHN’S
COMMENTARY:
ost restaurants don’t even have
When I noticed this
slogans, and when they do, it’s RESTAURANT REVIEW
on the sign outside, something like “World’s Greatest
I knew what the lead
Stuffed Eggplant” or “Half Off Tuesdays.” Bamboo Sushi
was.You don’t see A sidebar box,
that every day. So it’s striking to see a restaurant that pro- Grade: A- running alongside
Cuisine and scene: The nation’s first certified the review, conveys
claims “Sustainable. Delectable. Possible.” information important
sustainable sushi bar sustains an impressively
Three adjectives It’s even more striking when the first is creative menu and a lively, sake-scented bar
to the reader that
like that are like a would slow down
fastball right over backed up on the menu and the second is scene. the review. There’s
the plate. And frequently true. As for the third . . . at how Recommended: Sushi rolls, notably Salmon always an unease
since burgers are Nation, Highway 35 and Chasing the Dragon; about the short rat-
supposed to be the many sushi places can you strongly recom- ing, whether a grade
black cod with smoked soy and roasted garlic;
opposite of sushi, mend the burger? Kobe beef burger; flourless chocolate cake.
or stars or a one-word
get its presence on assessment, because
the menu here as All kinds of things are possible at Bamboo Vegetarian friendly? Several salads, vegetable it over-simplifies
high up as you can. Sushi, the inspiration of 26-year-old Kristo- sushi rolls and, of course, tofu. everything and en-
Sound level: As with everything else here, courages some read-
for Lofgren. Bamboo Sushi promotes itself ers to skip reading
as the first independent restaurant certified sustainable. the review itself. But
Saying the place is Beverages: Extensive sake list, with seasonal readers want it — and
sustainable is one by the Marine Stewardship Council, and options and three-sample flights; intriguing that’s the key issue of
thing. Expressing it
in small, vivid details
its menu is speckled with little MSC marks cocktail list, limited wines and beers. a service feature like
a review.
— like the marks on of approval. (You also get a Monterey Bay Price range: Sushi rolls, $4-$17; specialty plates,
the menu and the
Aquarium pamphlet with your check, which $9-$25; hot dishes, $6-$13; desserts, $3-$9.
handout at the finish Extras: Reservations for seven or more only;
— pops it out at the may be a little late in the deal.) major credit cards; street parking; disabled
reader.
But the restaurant’s own sustainability access.
ultimately may rest on its creativity and skill. Serving: Dinner nightly; happy hour 5-6:30 p.m.
Going the distance with things like seasonal Monday-Friday (five sushi rolls, five hot dishes
discounted).
sakes and occasional crab flights doesn’t
Info: 310 S.E. 28th Ave., 503-232-5255,
hurt, either. www.bamboosushipdx.com
Under the sushi supervision of Brandon
When you’re offered
something as Hill, the house signature rolls are intricate
Describing food as
unusual as salmon arrangements of vividly fresh fish and artful Chasing the Dragon produces a similarly “good” or “tasty”
skin salsa, it’s worth won’t get you too
finding a linguistic layerings of textures. Salmon Nation Roll sensation-crowded experience, with shrimp
far. You need to talk
way to set it off. And — some sake helps you feel comfortable tempura, spicy tuna and red crab rolled about the feeling of
around now, you the food, how the
need to remind the saying the names — has a core of smoked in tempura bits that provide a convoy of
tastes contrast with
reader about the ivory salmon and asparagus, with crispness crunch. Highway 35 also flashes Bamboo each other, the impact
sustainability theme, of the texture. It’s
if you want it to still from cucumber and richness from avocado, Sushi’s taste for unexpected minglings: a
partly what goes on
be at the front of with salmon and – yes! – salmon skin salsa core of red crab with spicy sesame aioli is in the restaurant; it
his brain when you also has to be about
get back to it at the over the top. It’s a mouth-filling, not to say topped with sake-poached pears — sweet
what goes on in
finish. sustainable, arrangement. against spice and richness. your mouth.
 THE MORGUE 291

Again, anything Sushi basics are just as good, matching ing is a sweet potato-lime sorbet, which Chocolate egg rolls
unique about the aren’t the best or
restaurant is vital
quality of fish with the sustainability ethos. could redefine Thanksgiving.) It also has a
most successful
— especially when High demand has made tuna an embattled lovely, intense, flourless chocolate cake and dessert here - but
you can put it into a from the time you
larger context, which
(not to say ranched) fish these days, but chocolate egg rolls — deep-fried egg roll
mention it, it’s the
also makes your Bamboo Sushi has been offering line-caught skins filled with melted dark chocolate — one the reader will
voice seem more want to hear about.
authoritative.
albacore from the Philippines, cleanly and which fall into the category of Should Try
meltingly fresh. Its core crab is Eastern red, Once.
but it also offers, when available, Canadian The restaurant is attractive, making the How do four diners
snow crab, Dungeness and Florida stone. most of the standard Japanese restaurant decide what to order?
Simple. I tell them.
(Lofgren says he works with crabbers who blond-wood motif, especially in its wood- I might ask politely
catch crab for Bamboo Sushi, then FedEx it and-mirror bar area, where people seem if there’s anything
they’d particularly
to the restaurant the next day.) happy to wait and sample sake in ranges of like, but I know what
You’ll also find hot dishes that even unsus- fruitiness and dryness, and sweetish milky I need to try, and
besides, we’ll share
This paragraph’s tainable sushi bars can’t manage. Tempura versions. Beyond that, like so many new everything anyway.
last sentence packs is impressively crisp and greaseless. Seared restaurants, it offers its own cocktail list, You need to get a
about six vivid food range of dishes – not
words. People who scallops with ponzu brown butter may not notably a must-be-nourishing pear gimlet. just fish, not just red
read the review astonish, but they’re silky and sweet. Best is Few dishes on the menu top $15, although meat – and be careful
were interested in to hit whatever looks
the sushi, but really the gently grilled black cod in smoked soy with sushi, of course, things can add up like a specialty, or
wanted to go eat with sweet grilled garlic bits — a delicate quickly. Still, two people should stay hap- something so bizarre
the cod. you’ve never seen it
fish strikingly surrounded by pungency. pily under $100, and the engaging servers anyplace else.
Then there is the splendid burger: Ameri- can help.
Way back at the
beginning we can Kobe beef on a homemade brioche With its triple objectives, Bamboo Sushi
promised the burger; bun. Like the sushi rolls, it is also carefully sets itself a daunting goal, and generally
time to deliver, with That could be the
a spotlight. topped, with onions that the menu calls reaches it. Its menu sustains not only the finish by itself.
Instead, it’s one
“caramelized” but look more like tempura. oceans but an evening and a mood, and of three strong
The cross-cultural ambition proceeds repeatedly injects a layer of surprise between finishing sentences.
There’s no such
with grilled flank steak and brisket with the fish and the rice. thing as a too-strong
black bean barbecue sauce, but neither is For a sushi bar, it cooks. finish.
quite so mind-opening as other dishes. Could Bamboo Sushi be one of the most
We’re nailing it back
Bamboo’s beyond-sushi ambitions extend intriguing restaurants to open in Portland to the lead. Some
to dessert and making its own perfectly in a while? readers may have
seen this coming.
respectable ice creams. (The most interest- It’s definitely possible. So what.

Researchers are studying a pervasive

psychological phenomenon in which OPENERS
AN ANTHOLOGY OF LEADS
She directed trips to the grocery
store and even called AAA to jump-
oh man we’ve got to finish doing the start the dead battery of her car. She
taxes this weekend. . . . C’mon, admit it. Your train double-checked delivery of food platters. There would
of thought has derailed like that many times. It’s just be pink roses on the dining table and a boom box in
mind-wandering. We all do it, and surprisingly often, the corner to play the polka tunes she loved.
whether we’re struggling to avoid it or not. Lovelle made one last trip to a wooden footbridge
Mainstream psychology hasn’t paid much attention in a nearby park where she had found quiet sanctuary
to this common mental habit. But a spate of new stud- recently as cancer spread from her lungs through her
ies is chipping away at its mysteries . . . . chest and throat.
Malcolm Ritter, The Associated Press The consummate planner, she had choreographed the
Lovelle Svart woke up Friday knowing it was the day day. She wanted to leave time — five or so hours — for
she would die. storytelling, polka dancing and private goodbyes. And
There was much to do. Her family and closest friends at 4 p.m., she intended to drink a fatal dose of medica-
would be gathering at 11 a.m. in the Portland assisted- tion, allowed by Oregon law, that would end her life.
living center where she lived with her mother. Don Colburn, The Oregonian
292 THE MORGUE

IN BALTIMORE, NO ONE’S David Simon worked as a police reporter at the Baltimore Sun for 12 years but,
LEFT TO PRESS THE POLICE as he later explained,“I got out of journalism because some sons of bitches bought
my newspaper and it stopped being fun.”
By David Simon Simon went on to write a novel that was adapted into the TV series “Homicide:
The Washington Post — March 1, 2009 Life on the Street.” His most acclaimed work, the HBO series “The Wire,” is
considered by many TV critics to be the best drama ever produced on television.
Simon wrote this piece for the Washington Post’s Sunday Outlook section.

I
n the halcyon days when American newspapers were The late Judge Sweeney, who’d been named to his post in
feared rather than pitied, I had the pleasure of reporting the early 1970s, when newspapers were challenging the Nixo-
on crime in the prodigiously criminal environs of nian model of imperial governance, kept this up until 1996,
Baltimore. The city was a wonderland of chaos, dirt when he retired. I have few heroes left, but he still qualifies.
and miscalculation, and loyal adversaries were many. Among To be a police reporter in such a climate was to be a prince
them, I could count police commanders who felt it was their of the city, and to be a citizen of such a city was to know that
duty to demonstrate that crime never occurred in their pre- you were not residing in a police state. But no longer – not
cincts, desk sergeants who believed that they had a right to in Baltimore and, I am guessing, not in any city where print
arrest and detain citizens without reporting it and, of course, journalism spent the 1980s and ’90s taking profits and then,
homicide detectives and patrolmen who, when it suited them, in the decade that followed, impaling itself on the Internet.
argued convincingly that to provide the basic details of any In January, a new Baltimore police spokesman – a refugee
incident might lead to the escape of some heinous felon. from the Bush administration – came to the incredible con-
Everyone had very good reasons for why nearly every fact clusion that the city department could decide not to iden-
about a crime should go unreported. tify those police officers who shot or even killed someone.
In response to such flummery, I had in my wallet, next to (Similar policies have been established by several other police
my Baltimore Sun press pass, a business card for Chief Judge departments in the United States as well as by the FBI.)
Robert F. Sweeney of the Maryland District Court, with his Anthony Guglielmi, the department’s director of public
home phone number on the back. When confronted with a affairs, informed Baltimoreans that, henceforth, Police
desk sergeant or police spokesman convinced that the public Commissioner Frederick Bealefeld would decide unilaterally
had no right to know who had shot whom in the 1400 block whether citizens would know the names of those who had
of North Bentalou Street, I would dial the judge. used their weapons on civilians. If they did something illegal
And then I would stand, secretly delighted, as yet another or unwarranted – in the commissioner’s judgment – they
police officer learned not only the fundamentals of Mary- would be named. Otherwise, the Baltimore department would
land’s public information law, but the fact that as custodian no longer regard the decision to shoot someone as the sort of
of public records, he needed to kick out the face sheet of any responsibility for which officers might be required to stand
incident report and open his arrest log to immediate inspec- before the public.
tion. There are civil penalties for refusing to do so, the judge As justification for this change, Bealefeld cited 23 threats
would assure him. And as chief judge of the District Court, in 2008 against his officers. Police union officials further
he would declare, I may well invoke said penalties if you go wheeled out the example of the only Baltimore police officer
further down this path. killed as an act of revenge for a police-involved shooting: a
Delays of even 24 hours? Nope, not acceptable. Requiring 2001 case in which the officer was seen by happenstance in a
written notification from the newspaper? No, the judge would Dundalk bar, then stalked and murdered.
explain. Even ordinary citizens have a right to those reports. Bealefeld didn’t mention that not one of the 23 threats
And woe to any fool who tried to suggest to His Honor that against officers came in response to any use of lethal force.
he would need a 30-day state Public Information Act request Nor did he acknowledge that 23 threats against a 3,000-officer
for something as basic as a face sheet or an arrest log. force in a year is an entirely routine number; that the number
“What do you need the thirty days for?” the judge once of such threats hasn’t grown over the past several years.
asked a police spokesman on speakerphone. And union officials were comfortable raising the 2001 case
“We may need to redact sensitive information,” the spokes- without being forced to acknowledge that the officer in that
man offered. instance most probably would have been killed had no news-
“You can’t redact anything. Do you hear me? Everything in paper ever printed his name; he had testified in open court
an initial incident report is public. If the report has been filed against the relatives of those who later encountered him at
by the officer, then give it to the reporter tonight or face con- the bar and killed him. So the case has scant relevance to the
tempt charges tomorrow.” change in policy.
 THE MORGUE 293

The commissioner was allowed to stand on half-truths. ruled justified.”

Why? Because the Baltimore Sun’s cadre of police reporters That’s the sanitized take that Guglielmi, the police spokes-
– the crime beat used to carry four and five different bylines man, offered on the 2005 incident. When I asked him for the
– has been thinned to the point where no one was checking date of that event, with paperwork in front of him, he missed
Bealefeld’s statements or those of his surrogates. it by exactly six months. An honest mistake? Or did he just
On Feb. 17, when a 29-year-old officer responded to a want to prevent a reporter from looking up public docu-
domestic dispute in East Baltimore, ended up fighting for her ments at the courthouse? (Attempts to reach McKissick, who
gun and ultimately shot an unarmed 61-year-old man named remains on administrative leave, were unsuccessful.)
Joseph Alfonso Forrest, the Sun reported the incident, during Half-truths, obfuscations and apparent deceit – these
which Forrest died, as a brief item. It did not name the offi- are the wages of a world in which newspapers, their staffs
cer, Traci McKissick, or a police sergeant who later arrived at eviscerated, no longer battle at the frontiers of public
the scene to aid her and who also shot the man. information. And in a city where officials routinely plead
It didn’t identify the pair the next day, either, because the with citizens to trust the police, where witnesses have for
Sun ran no full story on the shooting, as if officers battling years been vulnerable to retaliatory violence, we now have a
for their weapons and unarmed 61-year-old citizens dying by once-proud department’s officers hiding behind anonymity
police gunfire are no longer the grist of city journalism. At that is not only arguably illegal under existing public infor-
which point, one old police reporter lost his mind and began mation laws, but hypocritical as well.
making calls. There is a lot of talk nowadays about what will replace the
No, the police spokesman would not identify the officers, dinosaur that is the daily newspaper. So-called citizen
and for more than 24 hours he would provide no informa- journalists and bloggers and media pundits have lined up to
tion on whether either one of them had ever been involved tell us that newspapers are dying but that the news business
in similar incidents. And that’s the rub, of course. Without will endure, that this moment is less tragic than it is transfor-
a name, there’s no way for anyone to evaluate an officer’s mational.
performance independently, to gauge his or her effectiveness Well, sorry, but I didn’t trip over any blogger trying to find
and competence, to know whether he or she has shot one out McKissick’s identity and performance history. Nor were
person or 10. any citizen journalists at the City Council hearing in January
It turns out that McKissick – who is described as physically when police officials inflated the nature and severity of the
diminutive – had had her gun taken from her once before. threats against officers. And there wasn’t anyone working
In 2005, police sources said, she was in the passenger seat sources in the police department to counterbalance all of the
of a suspect’s car as the suspect, who had not been prop- spin or omission.
erly secured, began driving away from the scene. McKissick I didn’t trip over a herd of hungry Sun reporters either, but
pulled her gun, the suspect grabbed for it and a shot was that’s the point. In an American city, a police officer with the
fired into the rear seat. Eventually, the suspect got the weap- authority to take human life can now do so in the shadows,
on and threw it out of the car; it was never recovered. Charg- while his higher-ups can claim that this is necessary not to
es were dropped on the suspect, according to his defense avoid public accountability, but to mitigate against a
attorney, Warren Brown, after Brown alleged in court that nonexistent wave of threats. And the last remaining daily
McKissick’s supervisors had rewritten reports, tailoring and newspaper in town no longer has the manpower, the
sanitizing her performance. expertise or the institutional memory to challenge any of it.
And so on Feb. 17, the same officer may have again drawn At one point last week, after the department spokesman
her weapon only to find herself again at risk of losing the denied me the face sheet of the shooting report, I tried doing
gun. The shooting may be good and legally justified, and what I used to do: I went to the Southeastern District and
perhaps McKissick has sufficient training and is a capable demanded the copy on file there.
street officer. But in the new world of Baltimore, where When the desk officer refused to give it to me, I tried
officers who take life are no longer named or subject to calling the chief judge of the District Court. But Sweeney’s
public scrutiny, who can know? replacement no longer handles such business. It’s been a
In this instance, the Sun caught up on the story somewhat; while since any reporter asked, apparently. So I tried to
I called the editor and vented everything I’d learned about explain the Maryland statutes to the shift commander, but
the earlier incident. But had it relied on the unilateral utter- so long had it been since a reporter had demanded a public
ances of Baltimore’s police officials, the Sun would have been document that he stared at me as if I were an emissary from
told that McKissick had been involved “in one earlier shoot- some lost and utterly alien world.
ing. She was dragged behind a car by a suspect and she fired Which is, sadly enough, exactly true.
one shot, which did not strike anyone. The shooting was
294 THE MORGUE

JOURNALISM’S STRANGE SECRET: THE OCCULT HAND SOCIETY

I
magine there’s a secret society of journalists — a society (it was as if an occult hand. . .) into their stories. Before long,
so secret, only a few readers, reporters or newsroom their inside joke spread to newsrooms across the country.
bosses even know it exists. A quick Web search reveals “occult hand” references pop-
No meetings, no dues, no club officers, no funny hats. ping up everywhere, from a bowling feature in The Wash-
Want to join? All you have to do is sneak an oddball seven- ington Post (“it was as if an occult hand had guided the black
word phrase into one of your stories, and you’re a member. sphere down the narrow lane and into the triangle of pins”) to
Welcome to the Occult Hand Society. a story in the Los Angeles Times about the Oscars (“it was as
The origins of the OHS are shrouded in secrecy. Some if an occult hand had hurled a raspberry at Hollywood”).
say it was founded back in the 1930s by legendary journalist It’s always been a forbidden thrill for reporters to hide
Heywood Broun and his boozy pals. Others claim it began in secret messages in their stories. Some troublemakers have
1965, when Charlotte News reporter Joseph Flanders buried succeeded in spelling out vulgarities using, say, the first letter
this sentence deep in a crime story: in each line of type. By reading vertically, you’d see the words
“It was as if an occult hand had reached down from above and “eat my shorts,” or something even nastier.
moved the players like pawns upon some giant chessboard.” But gaining entry into the Occult Hand Society, at least,
Flanders’ drinking buddies were impressed. “Now that,” won’t get anybody fired . . . we hope. In uptight newsrooms,
said one, “is what I call prose.” it’s just a harmless prank that lets repressed reporters take
As the story goes, Flanders’ friends vowed that they, too, revenge on their fuddy-dud copy editors.
would find a way to slip that pretentious, pulp-fiction phrase A few classic moments from the OHS archives:

AN OCCULT HAND READER Don Stoneman, on a stinky substance used to Ed Culhane strikes again (2001):
keep coyotes away from sheep, in Canada’s It was as if an occult hand struck
Dan Shaughnessy in The Boston Globe (2008): Farm & Country (1998): Jerry Lee Lewis down with strep throat
The ancient house of horrors came Martin knows from looking at tracks just before he was to take the stage
back to bite the Red Sox in the butt that coyotes “sit and look at it and then in front of 2,000 expectant fans on a
one last time. . . . It was as if an occult try to find a way around it.” It is as if recent rainy night in Green Bay.
hand had reached into the wretched an occult hand prevented them from
past and served one final bowl of gruel crossing an invisible line. Marty Levine, on a brewhouse clock that came
to visitors from Boston. to life after being stuck for years at 6:30, from
Douglas LeBlanc in Christianity Today (2004): the In Pittsburgh newsweekly (1998):
Andrew D. Smith on new wheelchair techno- For nearly a decade, J.K. Rowling’s A few weeks ago, the clock changed
logy, in the Dallas Morning News (2007): Harry Potter series has been a litmus to 6:35 overnight — as if an occult
The slight, blond man sat on a test of evangelicals’ commitment to hand had reanimated its innards.
motorized wheelchair, facing away defying popular culture. Some
from the hundreds of people in the churches have consigned Potter novels Tony Russomanno on CBS5.com (2004):
audience. The chair, as if guided by an to bonfires because of the series’ If the mosquito-born virus continues
occult hand, rotated 90 degrees and portrayal of magic spells and wizardry. to spread as expected, the Bay Area
carried its motionless occupant toward For some Christians, it was as if an may see a massive death of crows,
center stage. The man was guiding the occult hand had nudged unknowing hawks, owls, sparrows and finches. It’s
device not by speech by by imagined children toward pop witchcraft. already happened around Los Angeles,
speech. where it was as if an occult hand had
Ed Culhane, from an ice-fishing story in the swept crows from the air.
Jason Harris, Burlington County Times (2004): Appleton, Wis., Post-Crescent (2003):
Stetson took an unconventional Pottner said he was heading back to Joann Loviglio of The Associated Press (2006):
stance over the tee, reared back with his sack and had just turned for the After venturing through museum
his driver and hit the ball with a sat- door when this great, huge sturgeon catacombs and rooms that held every-
isfying thwack. For a second, the ball simply materialized in the back left thing from whale eyeballs to flesh-eat-
looped into the sky. Then, as though corner of my hole, no more than 16 ing beetles feasting on animal carcasses,
swatted down by some occult hand, it inches under the surface. it was as if an occult hand led them to
dropped back into the grass about 100 I thought, “Shark!” Then, “No, stur- the hall of Cretaceous dinosaurs.
yards short of the pin.* geon.” It seemed impossible. It was as “Linc turned to me and said, ‘My
if an occult hand had simply reached God, this is the most terrifying building
* Occult Hand purists might argue that entries in the world! We’ve got to set a book
such as those last two are unacceptable because
through from some invisible dimen-
sion and placed it there. For a millisec- here,’ ” Preston recalled.
they fail to respect the proper wording: i.e.,
“it was as if an occult hand . . .” ond, I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move. — Special thanks to Charles Stough
 THE MORGUE 295

THE BOOK J. Taylor Buckley — veteran reporter, sports columnist and writing coach at USA Today — has compiled
OF ALWAYS a definitive list of journalistic clichés, which he calls his ALWAYS list. “It’s the only guide you’ll ever need to
keep your newspaper copy enriched with the clichés of authenticity,” Buckley boasts.
By J. Taylor Buckley Here’s a sampling from Buckley’s vast collection:

� Economies, particularly local ones, � Disaster victims are always taken to � Suicide victims are always
always sag, even though money is makeshift morgues. despondent.
always pumped into them. Investigators always sift through
� � Death is always sudden,
� Government budgets are always wreckage. unexpected or premature.
unveiled. � Buses always plunge off the � Failing newspapers always die,
� Funds are always earmarked. roadway. just as failing businesses always close
� Votes in Congress are always crucial. � Takeoffs by malfunctioning their doors. No enterprise just closes
aircraft are always aborted. or shuts.
� Committee chairmen and
chairwomen in Congress are always � Plane crashes, especially those � The family farm always goes on the
powerful. involving celebrities, are always auction block.
fiery. � The shots one must get after being
� Battle lines are always drawn.
� The deck of an aircraft carrier is bitten by an animal suspected of
� Negotiators are always cautiously always measured in football fields. carrying rabies always come in a
optimistic. painful series.
� Lawns are always well manicured.
� Deadlines are always around the � Cigars are always chomped —
corner. � Prep schools are always
rarely, if ever, smoked.
prestigious.
� Races are always tight. � Contract talks that stagnate or drag
� Machine guns are always toted.
� Reality is always harsh. on always go into marathon sessions
They are never wielded or
that end in 11th-hour settlements.
� Truces and labor agreements are brandished. It’s knives that are
always hammered out. always wielded or brandished. � Crisis-induced press conferences
are always hastily called.
� A wait-and-see attitude is always � SWAT teams always carry high-
adopted. powered rifles, never pistols, � A newsmaker caught fending off
� Debates are always spirited; low-powered rifles or just rifles. obnoxious reporters and ridiculous
arguments are heated. questions is always said to be
� Neighbors of crime victims
keeping the media at bay.
� Details are always sketchy. are always shocked and saddened,
while neighbors of mass � Among the performers in any
� Security is always beefed up. murderers are always shocked media circus are always the ever-
� Power lines never fall; they’re and appalled. present hordes of photographers.
always downed. � The bodies of teenage women � Running backs always find day-
� Fires always rage; smoke always sexually victimized or murdered light after blockers create a hole big
billows. are always found scantily clad, enough to drive a truck through.
� Rain always fails to dampen the while older women in similar � Errors made by baseball players are
spirits of parade-goers. circumstances are always found always costly.
partially nude.
� Thunderstorms always travel in � Teams that win in tournaments,
bands, as do rioting teenagers. � Denials of wrongdoing are especially high school teams, always
always vehement. came to play.
� Tornadoes always hopscotch
through counties. Storms in the � Mistaken identity, like beer, always � Rookies always come in only one
plains always rumble. Hurricanes comes in cases. color: green.
are always brewing. � Felons who receive subpoenas or
� People always dig out after snow- errant motorists who get tickets are
storms, thaw out after ice storms. always slapped with them.
296 THE MORGUE

THE 12-STEP PROGRAM Michael Gartner is a journalism legend. He’s been president of NBC News, Page One
editor of The Wall Street Journal, editor of The Des Moines Register, general news executive
TO GOOD WRITING of USA Today — and in 1997 Gartner won the Pulitzer Prize for editorials he wrote in the
A speech by Michael Gartner Ames (Iowa) Tribune, of which he was editor and co-owner.
In this speech, delivered at a writer’s workshop a few years ago, Gartner summarizes what
it takes to be a good writer. It’s advice every new reporter would be wise to heed.

I
’m told I am talking about The Fun of Writing. But writ- Step 3: Listen.
ing isn’t always fun. Sometimes, it’s painful. Sometimes,
You cannot be a good writer if you don’t listen.
it’s frustrating. Sometimes, it’s embarrassing. The fun of
I used to work at NBC News, and there was a wonderful
writing? That, sometimes, is like the fun of a headache. Or
woman there. She was smart and personable and telegenic,
the fun of cavities. Or the fun of divorce.
and I always thought she was going to be a zillion-dollar star.
I have been associated, off and on, with USA Today, so
But she had a fatal flaw. She didn’t listen.
I tend to make lists and charts and graphs. This morning,
She might be interviewing you, and she’d say, “Now tell
let me give you a list. I’ll call it, with a bow to Alcoholics
me, Mr. Gartner, I understand your second rule of good
Anonymous, the 12-Step Program to Good Writing.
writing is to read. Is that right?” and you’d say, “Yes, but
Step 1: Report. before I get to that, I should tell you that on the way up to
the show this afternoon I saw 18 masked men come into the
Words alone aren’t enough. Good writing needs facts.
lobby of this building, and they grabbed Tom Brokaw and
You cannot be a good writer if you are not a good reporter.
Bryant Gumbel and have kidnapped them, and they killed
You need facts and details, quotes and descriptions.
four guards as they left the building.” And she’d say, “Yes,
Even if you’re writing fiction, you need facts. Think about
and what is your third rule of good writing?”
the mystery novels you read. They all have good plots, of
She didn’t listen. And I should add, she is no longer at a
course, but they have something else, too: they all teach
network.
you something. John Grisham will teach you about the law,
The good writer must listen for the nuance, the emotion,
or about the death penalty, or about New Orleans. Elmore
the detail, the odd fact. The good writer must listen for the
Leonard will teach you about Florida or racing. Tom Clancy
great quote — a quote, after all, is just the print version of a
loads his books with fact.
sound bite — must listen for the evasive answer, must listen
Writing is just the pie crust; facts are the pie. So report,
for the heartfelt reply. The good writer must listen so care-
report, report. Then throw away the meaningless, the redun-
fully that he, or she, can follow through on a dropped hint, a
dant, the unnecessary. (Don’t do the opposite. Adlai Steven-
fumbled answer, a punted reply. So, third, listen.
son said journalists are people who separate the wheat from
the chaff — then print the chaff.) Step 4: Simplify.
Keep the good stuff. Then sit down to write. So, first,
The best piece of newspaper advice I ever got in my life
report.
I got, fortunately, when I was just 21 years old. I was just
Step 2: Read. out of college, a newly hired copy editor at The Wall Street
Journal. I was working nights and late one evening I looked
You cannot be a good writer if you don’t read. Read great
up and this big, gentle man was standing there watching me.
stuff. Read awful stuff. Read classics. Read trash. And think
He introduced himself as Barney Kilgore.
about the writing that you’re reading. Why did he say it that
Barney Kilgore was the man who invented the modern-
way? Why did she put it this way? Why is that so awful? Why
day Wall Street Journal. He was a genius. He had been a
is this so good?
reporter and editor, but by this time he was president of the
Do you want to read some beautiful writing? Read the
company — though, like all good managers, he spent a lot of
essays of Dr. Lewis Thomas, read the editorials of Vermont
time walking around the place.
Royster, read the columns and essays of Calvin Trillin. Read
“What are you doing?” he asked me. I explained that I was
Sports Illustrated. Read “Winnie the Pooh.” Read — and
trying to rewrite a story I’d been given, because it was murky.
reread and reread and reread — anything by E.B. White.
“Good,” he said, and then he added: “Remember, the easiest
Read the Page One articles in The Wall Street Journal, the
thing for the reader to do is quit reading.”
science articles in The New York Times, the sports articles in
Oh, what wonderful advice to a newspaperman. I pasted it
The Boston Globe. So, second, read.
on my typewriter, and I’ve kept it written on my computers
 THE MORGUE 297

and notebooks — and etched in my brain — ever since. on our face.”

“The easiest thing for the reader to do is quit reading.” So “No,” he said. “If we don’t, we could end up with egg on
you have to keep the reader interested. You must not bore our face.”
him. You must not confuse him. You must not alienate him. And he added, “And the thing you’ve got to realize is this:
Or her. it’s your egg, but it’s my face.”
You must cut the complex to the simple, you must turn And that’s the way it is in newspapers, too — sometimes
the simple into the eloquent. You cannot be lazy, and you it’s the editor’s egg, sometimes the reporter’s; sometimes it’s
cannot be careless. Or you will lose the reader. And if you the editor’s face, sometimes the reporter’s. But if you don’t
lose the reader often enough, you will lose your job. So, trust one another — respect one another — one of you is
fourth, simplify. going to end up with egg on your face, and it might not be
your egg.
Step 5: Collaborate. Trust means honesty and respect, openness and courtesy.
You cannot be a good newspaper writer if you don’t have You simply cannot work with someone you don’t trust. So,
a good working relationship with your editor. Talk about sixth, trust.
ideas. Talk about structure. Talk about sources. Talk about
length. Talk about everything. Step 7: Experiment.
You cannot have an adversarial relationship with your There is, in London, a borough called Hackney. Centuries
editor. In the first place, that wastes too much of your ago, it was known for the horses that were bred there. A
energy, thinking constantly of her as a bitch or him as a son Hackney horse was often hired out, so eventually the word
of a bitch. In the second place, that deprives you of a great “hackney” came to describe any horse kept for hire. Horses
sounding board. In the third place, it gets you lousy play for that are hired out are often used for dull, plodding work, and
your stories. that’s why today we say anything — a phrase, a practice, a
Everyone needs an editor. But just as good lawyers go style — that’s dull, overworked or worn out is hackneyed.
forum shopping for good judges, good reporters should go That’s why a writer whose assignments are boring or
forum shopping for good editors. (You know what Lord whose writing is stale is called a hack. And the way you keep
Keynes said of lawyers and writing: They turn poetry into from being boring or dull or stale is to experiment.
prose, and prose into jargon.) Look around your newsroom, Don’t let your writing get in a rut. I realize that this is
find an editor you admire and attach yourself to him or her. especially hard at newspapers and magazines that have
For a bad editor can turn poetry into prose, can ruin good unbreakable formulas for writing articles and features. But
writing. fight the system.
Once, when I was a young editor on the Page One desk at Peter Kann was probably the best writer in the history of
the Journal, my boss wandered over to the fellow at the next The Wall Street Journal. (And, as his editor, I should add,
desk and tossed back a piece he had been working on for a “and the worst speller.”) He was always experimenting,
day or two. “Redo it,” he said. “What’s wrong?” the writer always forcing me to break the mold of those Page One sto-
asked. The reply was simple: “You’ve got all the words but ries. He’d go to far-off corners of the world, gather wonder-
none of the music.” ful detail, telling anecdotes and pithy quotes, then assemble
Find an editor who can recognize the music, fine-tune it, them into something beautiful that looked not at all like the
even add it. A good writer must have a good editor. So, fifth, formula Page-One stories of then or now. They were just
collaborate. Which brings me to … too beautiful to touch, so beautiful and delicate that I feared
if I even breathed heavily on just one paragraph the whole
Step 6: Trust. arrangement would crumble. So I’d run them as Peter wrote
You cannot be a good writer, a good reporter or a good them — except, of course, for the spelling — and the readers
editor if you don’t work in an atmosphere of trust. were thrilled.
Let me explain it with another story from my days — it Try new techniques, new arrangements, new gimmicks,
seemed like a lifetime, but it was only five years — at NBC. though that’s a lousy word to use. So, to avoid being a hack,
One afternoon, Tom Brokaw and I were arguing. I can’t seventh, experiment.
remember what it was about, but I remember we were sitting
in my office, and we had strong views — strong and oppos-
ing. He thought something should be on the air, and I thought Step 8: Talk.
it shouldn’t, but maybe it was the other way around. Talk to others, but talk to yourself. Chip Scanlan of the
“Look,” I said, “if we do this, we could end up with egg Poynter Institute once asked me how many times I write a
298 THE MORGUE

lead for an editorial before I find the right one. Just once, confusingly. The quote, as I said earlier, is just newspaper-
I said. But then I admitted I write 50 in my head, on the dom’s sound bite — a device to move the piece along, to get
35-mile drive to work in the morning or home in the eve- the reader from here to there — by adding a dollop of fact
ning. I compose as I drive, and then I say the leads out or a dash of amusement. The good writer always uses quotes
loud, listening for the rhythm and cadence, hunting for the and always uses them sparingly. But it takes a good ear to get
lyric — much the same way, I suspect, a songwriter taps out a good quote. So, ninth, pounce.
different notes on his piano in search of just the right tune.
Sometimes, I make up whole editorials — 400 or 500 or 600 Step 10: Love.
words — as I drive, and I talk them to myself, often out loud. You cannot be a good writer if you do not love writing
I work, especially, on the leads and the endings. For I think and love reporting. It’s simply impossible. If you do not love
the biggest flaw in newspaper writing is a lack of endings. what you are doing, quit now and find another job, another
In television, I constantly heard producers talking about line of work. For you’ll never be happy — and you’ll never
how a story had to have a beginning, a middle and an end. be good.
So do newspaper stories — even the briefest, most mundane. I have this rule about work. No job is perfect, I believe.
A story has to have an end, a closing. The reader can’t feel Every job has some tasks that are disagreeable or distasteful
she has been left hanging. You have to have a graceful way to or dismaying. But no one should stay in a job where more
say, as Porky Pig used to say, “That’s all, folks.” In editorial than 20 percent of the duties are unpleasant and unsatisfy-
writing, the ending has to make the point one final time, add ing. When the bad-part index hits 20, quit. Every job should
the final punctuation. In news stories, it has to be the final be at least 80 percent fun. You can’t love a job that’s no
ribbon wrapping up the package of information. fun, and you can’t succeed in a job you don’t love. That’s
Remember how, a while ago — it might seem like hours especially true if the job is writing. To be a good writer, you
to you — I said Step No. 3 was “listen.” Well, listen to your- just absolutely have to love writing — you have to love the
self, too. The good writer develops his own voice. You just meanings and sounds of words, you have to love the rhythms
can’t do that if you don’t listen to yourself. And the best way of phrases, the cadence of sentences. You have to love, even,
to listen to yourself is to read to yourself — out loud. Listen the look of paragraphs as they sit atop one another.
for the cadence — or the discordance. Listen for the beat — You have to love facts, too. You simply cannot be a good
and the offbeat. Listen for the rhyme and the reason. Some- newspaper person if you are not curious. I remember, once,
times, you’ll hear the jarring word, the awkward phrase — when my daughter, who now is 26, was in kindergarten,
the word that looked just fine but sounded junky, the phrase and the teacher called us in. “I’m worried about Missy,”
that typed nice but sounded clunky. So, eighth, talk. the teacher said. “She seems so immature.” “Well, what the
hell,” I responded, “she’s only 5 years old.” My wife, more
Step 9: Pounce. rational as always, asked the teacher what she meant. “Well,”
My partner at the Ames newspaper, the guy I own the the teacher said, “she just walks around all the time and asks
paper with, had a party when I won the Pulitzer Prize. He everyone else what they are doing.”
had the whole staff in, of course, and some townfolk, and he “I hate to tell you this,” I said to the teacher, “but that’s
invited my father, a retired newspaperman who turned 95 what I do all day, too.”
that very day. You cannot be a good writer if you do not love facts. You
Everyone was having a good time, and I saw, out of the cannot get facts if you are not curious. Therefore, as your
corner of my eye, a Des Moines Register reporter talking to logic teacher would tell you, you cannot be a good writer if
my father. They talked for several minutes. The next day, you are not curious. So, tenth, love.
in the Register story, there was one paragraph about my
father. After noting that the youngest person at the recep- Step 11: Care.
tion was a 5-year old, the reporter wrote: “The oldest was You cannot be a good writer — or reporter — if you do
Gartner’s father, Carl, whose 95th birthday coincided with not care what you are writing about. You have to have a
the announcement that his son had won the most presti- genuine interest.
gious prize in journalism. ‘I taught him to dangle his first I’m not saying you should have an agenda — indeed, if
participle,’ Carl Gartner said.” you have an agenda you should not be in the newspaper
That was a great quote, and the reporter pounced on it. business. And let me stop here, for a minute, and explain. If
The good writer knows how to use quotes. He knows to use you want to change the world, you are in the wrong business.
them as punctuation, as transition, as reinforcement. He If you want to change the world, become a teacher or a poli-
knows never to use them redundantly, long-windedly, or tician or a sociologist or a mom. Do not be a reporter.
 THE MORGUE 299

I have a friend who 40 years ago was a summer intern shots. And I know that is hard to do. Cheap shots are just
on the Baltimore News-American, which doesn’t exist any so much fun. Sometimes, they just roll out of the computer
more. Soon after my friend got there, a wise and wizened old like Fords off an assembly line. They are sharp and snappy
city editor called him over. and pretty and appealing. But they’re also deadly — for the
“Son,” he said, “there are two million people in this town, writer.
and every one of them has a story to tell.” My friend thought All I can tell you is what I do — keep writing them,
he knew what was coming, and he sort of rolled his eyes. But because they’re so much fun to write — but then take them
the old editor continued: “And the thing for you to remem- out. I have a drawer full of the greatest cheap shots in Iowa,
ber, son, is that most of those stories are crappy.” words and phrases that I savor, that I chuckle over, that I
Well, anything can be made interesting, but it’s a whole lot read to my friends. But they’ve never made it to print —
harder to write interestingly about people with boring stories well, most never have — because I, or sometimes one of my
than people with charming ones. So pick your stories care- editors, decided they just weren’t fair. And good newspaper
fully, for it’s hard to care about something crappy. And you writing, as I said, demands fairness. So, twelfth, balance.
cannot be a good writer if you do not care about what you
are writing about. So, eleventh, care. Today, for you to get into the brains of my children — and
of me and my father — you must report more thoroughly
Step 12: Balance. than ever and write more gracefully than ever. You must
You can be a good writer and write terribly unfair stories, report. Read. Listen. Simplify. Collaborate. Trust. Experi-
but you can’t be a good newspaper writer and do that. Not, ment. Talk. Pounce. Care. And balance.
at least, for a mainstream newspaper. Fairness is vital for It is an enormous challenge — and it can be enormous
every story and every newspaper, for the unfair story hurts fun. Who else in the world is paid just to ask questions, to
the credibility of the reporter and the editor and the news- think and to write?
paper. There simply is nothing more satisfying, nothing more
What this means is that the good writer avoids cheap fun.

“I have long been persuaded that the news “Thanks to cable television, talk radio and
media collectively will be sent to hell not
for our sins of commission, but our sins of QUOTED the Internet, it’s easier than ever for people
to have their opinions validated around
omission. The real scandal in the media ON BIAS IN THE MEDIA the clock. As the media audiences segregate
is not bias, it is laziness. Laziness and bad themselves ideologically, they become more
news judgment. Our failure is what we extreme in their views — and more con-
miss, what we fail to cover, what we let slip by, what we don’t vinced than ever that they represent the sensible middle.
give enough attention to. . . .” When conservatives have their views reinforced daily on talk
Molly Ivins, columnist and gadfly radio and Sundays at their churches, they start to believe the
‘mainstream media’ is a bunch of wacko traitors. When
“A very bad (and all too common) way to misread a liberals spend their days reading lefty blogs, or working on
newspaper: to see whatever supports your point of view as campuses surrounded by ideological soul mates, they start
fact, and anything that contradicts your point of view as convincing themselves that most ‘corporate media’ are right
bias.” wing, and that Fox News is pure propaganda.”
Daniel Okrent, first ombudsman of The New York Times John Tierney, columnist, The New York Times

“I’m an activist, and I’ll tell you why. If every citizen had to
“It is a common mistake of 21st-century journalism to assume
go through what we went through as reporters, covering poor
that ‘fairness’ entails hitting everyone equally hard. That is
people, black people, murders, strikes, all that Dickensian
not fairness. Fairness means applying the same standards to
underside of American life, they would become biased toward
everyone and hitting whoever violates those standards.”
Keith Olbermann, MSNBC news anchor
activism.”
John Chancellor, NBC news anchor and reporter
300 EXERCISE ANSWERS

1) Frank Zappa. anchored some newscasts years before).

2) Perry White, editor of The Daily 10) The launch of USA Today.
Planet (where Clark Kent and Lois Lane
11) Japan (a paper called Yomiuri
worked).
Shimbun).
3) DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN (see photo
12) 30.
at right). As it turned out, it was Truman
who defeated Dewey in the 1948 13) According to the Pew News Interest
presidential election. Index, disaster news — “reports about
catastrophes, man-made or natural”—
4) Weather.
8) “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” draw the most interest, followed by
Answers to the journalism 5) Walter Cronkite. money news: employment, inflation,
fact-and-folklore quiz 9) In 1974, Barbara Walters was hired
6) Fox News. gasoline prices, etc.
by ABC as its first permanent news
on page 7. 14) Sex columnist.
7) Yahoo! News anchor (though Marlene Sanders had

The Results from the survey on page 16, based on responses received
STUDENT JOURNALISTS’ in 2009 from 403 students enrolled in a variety of journalism
courses at 8 U.S. colleges ranging in size from small
NEWS ATTITUDE SURVEY (Amarillo College in Texas) to large (Michigan State University).

1) I think news stories usually: 4) The president is assassinated. What would you be
most likely to do? (You can choose more than one):
Turn on the TV, then leave it on
constantly to monitor the situation
60%
Contain
Get the facts inaccuracies Turn on the TV, see what’s
straight, and happening, then get on with my life 14%
66% distortions, Track developments online by
40%
34% monitoring news Web sites
Buy a newspaper as soon as I saw
one with a big assassination headline 19%
Listen to radio news
and talk shows 19%
Avoid the news as much as possible
to escape the hype and overkill 3%
2) I prefer to get my news:
By watching
pictures or
video footage, 5) Which of these people do you consider to be journalists?
Through a with audio
combination narration, Bill O’Reilly 36%
of text and 18%
images, Bob Woodward 38%
76% By reading
printed text, Oprah Winfrey 10%
6%
Rush Limbaugh 23%
Katie Couric 60%
3) Generally, I think the government:
Jon Stewart 21%
Should do more
Should do as to restrict what
< THIS QUESTION WAS BASED ON A POLL DISCUSSED ON PAGE 134
little as possible the news media
to restrict what publish, 6) In general, the news is biased in favor of:
the news media 10%
publish,
90%
Conservatives, Liberals, Neither,
18% 27% 55%
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 301

7) If you heard conflicting versions of a news story, CONFIDENTIAL SOURCES

which version would you be most likely to believe? What would you do if a judge ordered you to reveal the name of a
confidential source — if refusal meant you’d be sent to jail for contempt?
The local newspaper 11%
As a reporter, As a citizen, I’m
The local TV news 7% I’m obligated obligated to honor
to protect my and obey the
sources, even legal system and
The national TV news 64% if it means comply with the
going to jail, judge’s request,
Radio news 11%
16% 10%
Independent Web site 7%
It would depend on the circumstances of the case,
74%
8) Which of these adjectives would you generally use to describe
most news today? (You can select more than one): WHICH OF THESE STATEMENTS
DO YOU MOST AGREE WITH?
Boring 15% (Those answering “neither” are represented by the thin white pie slice.)

Useful 45% I prefer news that’s I prefer news that is as

presented with an neutral and objective
Depressing 50% attitude because it as possible. I resent it
makes the topics when journalists inject
Entertaining 44% more interesting, opinions into stories,
24% 72%
Sensationalized 32%
Negative 36% I could easily go I couldn’t go a day
for days without without reading
reading any news, any news,
9) How often do you generally watch TV news? 36% 59%

Daily, Several times Occasionally, Never, Journalists are Journalists don’t do

19% a week, 21% 54% 6% too critical of enough to challenge
public figures and public figures and
government expose governmental
10) How often do you generally read newspapers? policy, problems.
26% 70%
Daily, Several times Occasionally, Never,
14% a week, 33% 48% 5% I can usually I generally feel that
relate to most news most news stories
11) How often do you generally read news online? stories I read, have little relevance
see and hear, to my life,
65% 28%
Daily, Several times Occasionally, Never,
40% a week, 32% 25% 3% I frequently take I usually just browse
the time to read a few paragraphs at
long stories that a time. I hardly ever
12) A news reporting career seems like analyze issues read stories in depth.
it would be (check all that apply): in depth, 60%
35%
Fun 69%
Frustrating 69% Generally, I prefer to Generally, I prefer to
read news about read celebrity news
Frightening 34% serious issues and and lighter,
major events, offbeat stuff,
Important 64% 61% 33%
302 EXERCISE ANSWERS

WHICH STORY IS 2) Rhoda Rooter, a local botanist, stunned the state

MORE NEWSWORTHY? flower show last weekend by unveiling Sapphire
Serenity, the first naturally hybridized blue rose.
1) An earthquake struck San Diego today, killing A: Yes. This would make a terrific photo story
at least 50.
and profile. With the right photo, it might
Both events would be tragic, but because even be played as the lead item on Trib.com’s
San Diego has greater proximity to most home page.
Answers to
Americans, the story would have a much the questions B: No — unless Rhoda has some connection
stronger emotional connection. on page 34 to the botany department at the university,
2) The office of Oprah Winfrey was evacuated in which case her achievement deserves
today after a clerk opened a letter believed to coverage.
contain anthrax. C: Yes. Again, a terrific local photo story.
Readers crave celebrity news, and such a D: No. Too dull and ordinary for our readers.
dramatic death threat to a popular public figure would
3) A Springfield College professor resigned Tuesday after winning
warrant media attention. Foreign diplomats don’t have quite $5 million in the state lottery.
the prominence (in America) that Oprah does, although any
incident involving bioterrorism is still newsworthy. A: Yes. This could make an interesting profile.
B: Yes. On campus, this is a story that students and faculty
3) Police arrested 20 suspected terrorists in downtown Toronto today can easily relate to.
after a three-hour gun battle. C: Only if the daily paper didn’t cover the story — or if the
The more violent the conflict, the more newsworthy it reporter discovers another angle that makes the story
becomes. And any violent terrorist activity in the heart of a interesting. Ordinarily, weekly papers won’t waste time
major city has powerful impact. and energy reworking stories that have already been fully
4) An ebola victim is being treated at a local hospital.
covered by competing publications.
D: No. Too bland and ordinary for our readers.
The governor’s son has a small amount of celebrity buzz,
but the ebola virus is a rare and fatal disease with terrifying 4) A man claims that a prostitute he hired in a Springfield hotel turned
implications for everyone in the community. out to be an alien who tried to suck his brain.
5) A local policeman died last weekend after he tried to rescue a young A: No. Too idiotic and unverifiable. You can’t print every
boy from drowning. bizarre fantasy that nut-jobs dream up or you won’t have
A plane crash in the wilderness is tragic, but remote. A fatal room for real news.
battle to save a child’s life in the line of duty is a gripping B: No. Too idiotic and unverifiable.
story that demands to be told. C: No. Too idiotic and unverifiable.
D: Yes! This is just the kind of material we’re looking for.
6) A drunk driver was killed after his car hit a tree on the way to his
100th birthday party. 5) A new fad on Canadian college campuses: “pumping,” where students
The story becomes much more compelling once we grasp the stick bicycle pump nozzles up their sphincters to give themselves a rush
cruel irony of a 100-year-old man dying that way. of air.
7) Convicted double murderer Arthur Itis escaped from prison last night. A: Possibly, depending on the editors’ tastes. Some will argue
that this fad is too vulgar to publicize — although if deaths
A murderer on the loose now gives this story urgency. If he
result, it’ll become a fatal health-fad story worth covering.
escaped a year ago, we assume he’s probably long gone and B: Yes. Our own students love hearing about crazy students
no longer a threat. on other campuses.
8) A new local pooper-scooper law takes effect at midnight tonight. C: No. Too distant, too tasteless.
A legislative pay hike affects our pocketbooks, but the D: Yes. Possible cover story? With photos?
consequences are abstract and distant. A new pooper-scooper
law, on the other hand, has an immediate impact on the daily 6) A typhoon struck Borneo this morning, killing more than 400 and
leaving thousands homeless.
activities of pet owners throughout the community.
A: Yes. Breaking international news; deserves a story.
B: Yes. Breaking international news; deserves at least a
WOULD YOU RUN THESE STORIES? mention in a news-headline roundup.
C: No. Too distant, too timely for a weekly publishing
schedule.
1) Former Yankee legend and baseball Hall-of-Famer Bo Linball died last D: No. Our readers want escape, not depressing reality.
night in a Brooklyn nursing home at age 103.
A: Yes, this would run in the sports section, probably as a 7) The Springfield County commissioners approved permits for a new
news brief or short wire story. waste-disposal site yesterday.
B: No. Not relevant to campus listeners. A: Yes. This is dull-but-important news for local readers.
C: No. No connection to the community. B: Probably not. Too bureaucratically disconnected from
D: No. Wrong kind of celebrity; not an odd-enough death. campus life.
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 303

C: Yes. This is dull-but-important news for local readers.

WHAT’S IT CALLED?
D: No. Never.

8) A doctoral psychology student at Springfield College believes that 1. Cutline (or caption) 6. News
tattoos lower your IQ. 2. Attribution 7. Lead
A: No. Without scientific evidence, this is just a flaky student’s 3. Beat 8. Liftout quote
crackpot theory. Conduct legitimate research and produce 4. Headline 9. Dateline
reliable data — then we’ll talk. 5. Byline 10. Jump
B: No. We don’t consider unprovable opinions to be news.
C: No. We don’t consider unprovable opinions to be news.
D: Yes. And let’s illustrate the story by showing some dumb-
looking guy with lots of tattoos.

One other problem: Example c spoils the

CHOOSE THE BEST LEAD
punch line. The guy’s name looks like it could
be Robbin Banks Friday.
1) The best lead is b. It’s simple and straight-
forward, putting the basic facts in the right 5) The best lead is c. It’s short. Simple. It sets
order. up the story without clutter. The details — his
Example a: You shouldn’t lead with the name, the pneumonia, the all-time record —
where (Lyman Airport). Answers to
the questions will follow in paragraphs two and three.
Example c: The word “tragic” is unneces- on pages 64-66 Neither a nor b is bad, however. But a
sary. Most editors would remove it. delayed-identification lead is preferable if the
name isn’t recognizable (or humorous, as in
2) The best lead is c. Example a uses a weak question 4).
topic lead, and starts by telling readers that Other problems: Example a begins with
the city council met. Big deal. The phrasing is awkward, too: the word pneumonia, which simply isn’t a crucial element of the
to improve a plan to increase. story. And there’s no when in that sentence.
Example b offers more detail, although that 5-2 vote tally isn’t Example b uses the word prison twice in the same awkward
really worth including in the lead. And the wording makes it phrase (the oldest prisoner ever to serve in a Florida prison).
seem as though the water rates go up on Tuesday.
But c uses the most effective, reader-friendly approach. If you
live in Oakdale will immediately grab your attention — if you live TOO MUCH OPINION?
in Oakdale, that is. (If you don’t, you may tune out the story, but
that’s expected.) The lead then explains why this matters to you: 1) Moe Mentum’s futile campaign came to a disappointing end last night
Your water bill is increasing. And to Oakdale citizens, that’s the as the candidate conceded defeat before 200 loyal supporters.
ultimate meaning of this story. In subsequent paragraphs, the There’s too much opinion in this sentence, making it more
story will explain why the council took this action. commentary than newswriting. Three adjectives are to blame:
Some editors and instructors will balk at using a direct- Futile: His campaign was pointess? Doomed? That’s an
address lead in a news story. But as we’ll see in Chapter 5 (on opinion, and a negative one.
covering meetings), it’s an effective way to alert readers that this Disappointing: To whom? Obviously, the majority of the
news affects you. voters in this election aren’t depressed.
Loyal: If you can’t look into the hearts of all of his supporters,
3) The best lead is c. Example a begins clumsily with the date, you can’t judge if they’re all truly loyal, can you? (Some of them
including the unnecessary June 3. Example b leads with the girls’ might be spies from his opponent’s campaign staff.)
names, but since most readers won’t recognize them, it’s better
to use a delayed-identification lead, as c does. And the phrase 2) Moe Mentum’s grass-roots campaign came to an end last night as the
twirled to victory is vague and possibly condescending: If you’d exhausted candidate conceded defeat before 200 cheering supporters.
spent hundreds of hours honing your dancing skills, would you This sentence is more accurate. Three adjectives provide
want them described as twirling? description, but in an acceptably neutral way:
Grass-roots: This isn’t meant as an insult; it describes a cam-
4) The best lead is b. Why? You can’t legally prove that Robbin
paign that relies on citizen involvement instead of major politi-
Banks is guilty of any crime, so it’s wrong to say he was arrested
cal-party support.
after robbing a bank or that his crime was robbing banks. Both of
Exhausted: If it’s clear that the candidate is acting fatigued — or
those phrases brand him as guilty; if he’s actually innocent, he
better yet, if he admits it — it’s appropriate to note it here.
could sue you for libel. To be safe, as we’ll explore in Chapter 5
Cheering: If you observe that everyone in the room is, in fact,
(on covering crime), the best wording is found in example b.
clapping and yelling, this observation is accurate.
304 EXERCISE ANSWERS

3) Logging continued in Conifer National Forest yesterday, despite Playing with the dog’s name gives the story greater appeal than
howls of protest from liberal legislators and environmental radicals who simply saying a dog.
assailed timber workers as “rapists.” Or to take a different approach:
This lead unfairly sides with the loggers. Its wording creates While his family ate breakfast Saturday, Victor the dog went for a swim —
the kind of negative spin that talk-show radio hosts do best: It over Niagara Falls.
discredits the opposition by unfairly labeling them all as either Notice how using a dash forces the reader to pause a moment
liberals or radicals, trivializing complex arguments to howls of before reading that final phrase. The lead is set up like a joke,
protest. We’re not told who called timber workers rapists, but where a slight delay gives the punch line greater pizazz.
emphasizing such a sensational-yet-unsourced quote seems
deliberately inflammatory. One ugly word hurled by an angry 3) A Dayton woman decided her husband spent too much time clowning
protester does not fairly characterize the attitude of the entire around with his friends, so she glued a clown mask to his face while he
group. was sleeping.
It would be just as biased — and unfair — to word that lead in We left the where, the when and the woman’s name for later
a way that favors the environmentalists. For example: paragraphs. The most important thing is to emphasize the clown
Hundreds of tearful schoolchildren gathered in Riley Plaza yesterday to angle as effectively as possible.
protest the timber industry’s relentless destruction of giant redwoods in
Conifer National Forest. 4) A local minister was bitten in the leg Sunday after leaping into the
lions’ den at the Dayton Zoo.
4) Legendary geezers the Rolling Stones will rock Memorial Coliseum Rev. Faith Christian, a minister at the Dayton Zealotic Church, said she
tonight as they kick off the first of three highly anticipated weekend was trying to convert the lion to Christianity by shouting “Jesus loves you.”
concerts. Conveying all that information in one sentence is extremely
In feature writing, especially in stories about pop culture, you difficult; you run the risk of writing a “suitcase lead,” one that
can usually adopt a more playful tone than straight news stories bulges like an overstuffed bag. The solution above saves the why
allow — but it’s a fine line, hard to define. Overt bias or nega- for the second paragraph while using a delayed-identification
tivity is inappropriate, but it’s OK to reflect prevailing cultural lead.
attitudes. To write a slightly longer one-sentence lead, you could try this:
For instance, virtually everyone agrees that the Stones are A local evangelist who leapt into the Dayton Zoo lions’ den and shouted
rock legends. And their age is often a factor in news coverage “Jesus will save you” was lucky to escape with just a bite in the leg when she
about the band: it’s ironic and amusing to see sixtysomethings tried converting the king of beasts to Christianity.
continuing to act like teenagers. Here, the word geezer is used But many editors would argue that this long lead is so saturated
with affection toward major celebrities; it would have an entirely with information that it bogs down.
different, crueler meaning if you called an aging school superin-
tendent a geezer.
In subsequent paragraphs, this story will quote fans who are BOIL DOWN THESE LONG-WINDED LEADS
excited about the concert — so describing the show as highly
anticipated accurately reflects the content of the story. 1) The editor of the Catholic magazine America was forced by the Vatican
to resign Wednesday after publishing articles critical of church positions.
5) This is a parody of a traditional news report, something “The 2) Student drinking may be to blame for damage to campus windows,
Daily Show” and Stephen Colbert have mastered brilliantly over lights and doors last weekend, a school official said.
the years. It’s satire, as biased as humanly possible (but notice
Or, if you want to lead with the damage:
how terrific those descriptions are).
Damage to campus windows, lights and doors last weekend may have
been the result of student drinking, a school official said.
UNSCRAMBLE THE FIVE W’S
Here are the most logical ways to combine those five W’s, and SUPPLY THE MISSING NUT GRAF
the leads that result:
When Tad Pole left the Lawton Library last Tuesday afternoon, he couldn’t
1) At midnight tonight, Abner Hoobler will become the first Nebraskan to
believe his eyes.
reach the age of 115.
“My bike was gone,” he said. “That’s the third bike I’ve had stolen this
Notice that we led with the when — which is a bit unusual — year. I had a huge honkin’ lock on it, too.”
because this story is based on time and timing. We’ve also identi- Pole isn’t alone. Campus bicycle thefts have hit an all-time high this
fied Abner by name in our lead (instead of calling him a Dayton year. On average, 50 bikes are reported stolen annually, but so far this
man) because Abner is a local celebrity, and it makes this neigh- year, that number is 230.
borly news story more folksy and friendly. “I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Seymour Butts, campus security
Notice, too, that we’re saving the local where for the second or chief. “Whether it’s one thief or a whole gang, we can’t be sure. But it’s an
epidemic.”
third paragraph. The big where (Nebraska) is more significant
Lynn O’Leum had an expensive mountain bike stolen from outside Hoobler
than the nursing-home where. Hall last week. “I know at least three other people whose bikes have been
boosted this year,” she says. “That’s it. From now on, I’m walking.”
2) A dog named Victor plunged over Niagara Falls Saturday — and
Even Helmut Laws, president of the campus cycling club, had his bike
emerged victorious.
stolen during a club meeting last month. . . .
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 305

2) Correct answer: b. Military titles are abbreviated before proper

WRITE THIS NEWS BRIEF
names, so it’s Gen., not spelled out as General. Numerals 10 and
Some people would just take the money and run. above use figures; below 10, they’re spelled out. And vice president
But when Laura Lynn Hardy found $300,000 lying on the street, she is a formal title that’s capitalized (but not abbreviated) before
bicycled 20 miles through a Christmas Eve snowstorm to return the cash someone’s name.
to its rightful owner. 3) Correct answer: b. Compass directions (east, west) are gener-
After lunching in Lincoln last Friday, Hardy spotted a thick manila ally lowercase; they’re capitalized when they indicate regions (the
envelope on the sidewalk in front of Lincoln Federal Savings. The 19-year-
South). Long state names are capitalized and set off by commas
old yoga instructor tossed it in her backpack and pedaled home to Locust
when they follow city names; short state names (Ohio, Idaho, etc.)
Valley.
When she opened the envelope, Hardy discovered $300,000 in cash and aren’t capitalized.
checks payable to Fenster Ford, the area’s largest car dealer. 4) Correct answer: a. FBI uses no periods. Numbered streets use
Hardy alerted the bank, hopped back on her bike and raced to Lincoln words (First, Third) if they’re lower than 10; higher-numbered
just as snow was starting to fall. She was greeted at the bank by its streets use numerals (12th, 42nd). Street addresses use no com-
president, Xavier Mooney, and by Fred Fenster, owner of Fenster Ford. mas. And avenue is abbreviated when it’s part of a street address.
The trio posed for photos, shook hands and exchanged holiday wishes.
As darkness fell, Hardy hopped back on her bike and rode home. 5) Correct answer: b. Decades are abbreviated with apostrophes
Her reward for being so honest? A handshake. before the numeral, not after (’90s, not 90’s). Single letters are
“It’s enough just to do the right thing,” Hardy said. made plural by adding apostrophe s (A’s), although multiple-letter
combinations don’t add apostrophes (ABCs). And speaking of
There are other ways to begin this story. You could try a direct- apostrophes: it’s written as rock ’n’ roll.
address lead:
6) Correct answer: a. When the abbreviation for junior follows
What would you do if you found $300,000? If you’re Laura Lynn
a complete name, it’s written Jr. but not set off by a comma.
Hardy, you’d give the money right back.
Who, not that, is the pronoun used for people (and animals with
Though question leads are often lazy and obvious (which is names). And mayor is a formal title that’s capitalized only when it
why editors warn against them), they can hook readers into precedes a name.
stories if they’re skillfully worded.
You could also adopt the point of view of the men whose 7) Correct answer: b. When a number begins a sentence, it’s gen-
money was lost: erally spelled out. Use from and to together, as a pair, rather than
adding a hyphen. It’s redundant to say 10 a.m. in the morning.
Two Lincoln businessmen were relieved to receive a last-minute
Use figures and dollar signs ($5) in most references to money.
gift from a good Samaritan on Christmas Eve.
The gift? A missing envelope worth $300,000. 8) Correct answer: b. Over usually refers to spatial relation-
But the most logical focus for the lead is Laura Lynn Hardy. ships (the bird flew over the lake); for numerals, use more than.
She’s the star of the story — and once your lead sets up the Capitalize World Series. When plural proper nouns end in s, just
situation, no matter what approach you take, most of your story add an apostrophe to make them possessive. And sports scores
will become a chronological narrative that describes her actions. use hyphens (5-2), not the word to.
Now, many readers might feel that this story is really about 9) Correct answer: a. Spell out the word percent (one word, not
something that’s not explicitly stated in the facts: Laura Lynn per cent). And it’s Alzheimer’s disease.
Hardy got gypped. After all she went through — bicycling 20
miles in the snow as darkness fell — on Christmas Eve, yet — 10) Correct answer: b. Use numerals for all ages. After age 18,
the two wealthiest men in town didn’t even insist on some kind refer to boys and girls as men and women. Abbreviate September
of reward? A hundred dollars? A car? Free checking? Anything? when it’s used in a date.
After finding $300,000 on the street, Laura Lynn Hardy bicycled
CRAFTING CLEVER LEADS FOR BRITES
20 miles through a Christmas Eve snowstorm to return the money
to two of the wealthiest men in town. Here are the leads that originally began those four brites. There are
The reward for her honesty? A warm handshake. other possibilities, of course — and yours may be more clever than these.
Yes, many readers will agree that those two rich men should 1) Linc and Helena Moore may have finally learned the answer to that
have insisted on rewarding Hardy. And many journalists will be age-old question: Why did the chicken cross the road?
offended by the sexism in Fenster’s condescending quote. Still, Because chickens don’t know jaywalking is illegal.
some editors will say this lead is too judgmental, crossing the line
between news reporting and commentary. To learn more about 2) Computer programmer Steve Relles has the poop on what to do when
the difference between the two, see page 134. your job is outsourced to India.
3) Rick O’Shea was listed in serious condition Sunday at Park West
CHOOSE THE CORRECT GRAMMAR, Hospital — but he’s in better shape than earlier, when he was declared
PUNCTUATION AND STYLE dead.
1) Correct answer: a. The AP stylebook says that it’s OK, not okay 4) At the London Zoo, you can talk to the animals — and now some of
or o.k. People wear T-shirts. And coach is a job description, not a them talk back.
formal title, so it does not need to be capitalized. —Stories 1, 3 and 4 reprinted from The Associated Press; story 2 reprinted from Reuters
306 EXERCISE ANSWERS

REWRITING THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION LEAD

We sent this exercise to dozens of professional reporters at newspapers
across the country, giving them the same instructions that you received.
After reviewing their results, we selected the eight leads shown below. We
sent these eight finalists back to the reporters, asking them to critique each
one and vote for their favorite.
We’ve reprinted those eight finalists below. As you read them, ask yourself:
� How do these leads compare to YOUR solution?
� What do you like or dislike about each entry?
� Which one would you choose as the best of the batch?

1 2
President Abraham Lincoln made a stand against slavery President Abraham Lincoln signed an order Monday aimed
today, ordering freedom for more than 4 million people held in at ending the 145-year-old institution of slavery in 10 secession
bondage in the secessionist states. states, affecting the fates of at least 4 million slaves and redefin-
With Union forces making gains in the South, Lincoln’s ing the purpose of the nation’s Civil War.
“Emancipation Proclamation” will take effect Jan. 1, 1863. His The executive order takes effect in three months, on Jan. 1.
statement emphasized that a goal of the war under way was the It does not address slaves living in Union states, border states or
“immediate or gradual abolishment of slavery.” states that join the Union before the new year deadline.
The proclamation does not affect the status of slaves in border Lincoln’s move comes one week after the Union army’s
states loyal to the Union. And a seceding state may avoid the bloody victory in Antietam, Md., and 11/2 years into the war
freedom measure if it rejoins the Union before Jan. 1. between the North and South.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Ho-hum. None of the big picture, all of the JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Nice and straightforward, though affecting the
details too soon.” fates of is imprecise – how? Also, readers at the time probably didn’t
� “I don’t like the imprecise made a stand. And as I understand it, it need the 1 1/2 years into the war part, not on such a huge story.”
does affect slaves in other areas if they escape there from the South.” � “Brisk, good rhythm and reflects a grand sense of history. It
� “I would have used took rather than made, and I’m not sure what includes most major points and puts Antietam in better perspective.”
the connection is between Union forces making gains in the South and � “This is the longest lead (37 words, including three numbers). A
the date the proclamation takes effect.” classic “suitcase” lead. (Was this from a New York Times reporter?)”
� “Tells the story. Wouldn’t mind seeing this on the desk as a first � “It’s clear, direct and seems to be the shortest. I also think it is the
take from AP.” best blueprint to guide a writer organizing a complex story.”

3 4
President Lincoln declared four million U.S. slaves free as of Slaves will be “forever, free” and slavery abolished in states
Jan. 1, but his order carries little legal authority and probably will still rebelling against the United States on Jan. 1, according to
do little for those held in bondage in the 13 rebellious states. an order signed yesterday by President Abraham Lincoln.
Nonetheless, his Emancipation Proclamation, which goes into Owning slaves is not yet outlawed in states that are loyal to
effect Jan. 1, marks the first serious American effort to limit the the Union. But the “emancipation proclamation,” which also
practice of slavery, which started on this continent in 1619 and frees slaves who escape from or are captured from rebel states,
was one of the root causes of the bloody rebellion, which now makes clear the president’s determination to keep fighting the
enters its 17th month. war to reunite a nation where all people are free.

JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “It’s good, but not good enough. Repeated use JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Kind of clunky.”
of the word little in the lead grates on me. Not sure if it’s accurate to � “Wordy and tortured.”
say this was the first serious American effort to end slavery.” � “This one made me dizzy and nauseous.”
� “A little too much editorializing for me. I can almost live with � “It’s too narrow, concentrating only on the issue of slavery and not
carries little legal authority, but probably will do little for those held in what slavery means. And it errs in stating that slavery was not
bondage is a bit much on the opinion front.” outlawed in states loyal to the Union. Only in the border states was it
� “I like the idea, but the words get muddled. It’s not as tight as it legal.”
needs to be (words like nonetheless and on this continent detract � “That comma in the quote is grammatically weird, but it was part
from the central meaning). of the quote, so . . . ”
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 307

5 6
In a gesture likely to inflame both sides in the year-long war President Lincoln freed the slaves yesterday.
of secession, President Abraham Lincoln Monday enlisted a new Lincoln signed an executive order yesterday that will free
army four million strong. about 4 million slaves living in the Confederacy on Jan. 1, but
In an Emancipation Proclamation, the president announced will have the practical effect of freeing them now.
that all slaves held in the secessionist states will be free, as of The proclamation is largely symbolic, however – slaves in the
New Year’s Day, 1863. border states were not freed, and any Confederate state that re-
“Hereafter, the war will be prosecuted for the immediate or enters the Union will be able to retain slavery there, as well.
gradual abolishment of slavery,” Lincoln declared. How this can So while Lincoln hailed the emancipation – “(A)ll persons
be accomplished, and how the slaves might even hear of this held as slaves . . . are, and henceforward shall be free” – his own
declaration is unclear, but the President is clearly buoyed by last Secretary of State, William Seward, belittled the executive order
week’s victory at Antietam and anxious to narrow the focus of as symbolic and hypocritical.
the conflict. “We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves
The Declaration is also riddled with loopholes: Slaves held where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage
in the five border states of Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, where we can set them free,” said Seward, who was a noted New
Missouri and West Virginia are not included, and any state that York abolitionist before joining Lincoln’s cabinet.
rejoins the Union before the measure takes effect may continue Lincoln’s action, however, has confirmed to many, both in the
slavery for the present. Critics were swift to note this. North and the South, what they’ve long suspected: the war is
“We show our sympathy with slavery by emancipating slaves being fought to end slavery, not over states’ rights.
where we cannot reach them and holding them in bondage where
we can set them free,” said Secretary of State William Seward.
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “If you’re going to be historic, be historic.
President Lincoln freed the slaves yesterday has all the flash of
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “I like the enlisted a new army four million Mary went to the store to buy milk. If the grand and glorious idea
strong in the lead. Nice image.” is what constitutes your first sentence, be grand and glorious.”
� “This one just does not work; it starts out with an odd declaration � “Best of the bunch. Short, to the point, with proper context.
of a new army. In fact, several hundred thousand freed slaves did I especially liked the last graf, which puts the entire issue into its
serve in the Union army, but not 4 million.” broad context.”
� “The reporter saying the president is clearly buoyed and anxious � “I like the start, but didn’t need the two yesterdays so close.
seems to be going out on a limb.” The lead see-saws with largely symbolic – which is it? And the last
� “This one starts with a dependent clause and rambles for 25 words, graph is a good idea, but might need more precise wording: They
none of which is free or slaves, which might tell readers what the more than suspected – they debated, etc. The proclamation didn’t
story is about.” just come out of left field.”

7 8
President Abraham Lincoln today pledged to free millions of After more than a year of war sparked by a state’s right to
slaves in the rebellious states of the South by Jan. 1, a decision allow slavery or the nation’s power to abolish it, President
that changes the very argument for the war. The Emancipation Lincoln freed the slaves Monday. Sort of.
Proclamation is certain to elate abolitionists and ensure fierce Lincoln signed a proclamation ending slavery “then . . . and
debate in next year’s presidential election. forever” on New Year’s Day in the states of the rebel confederacy.
Perhaps most critically, by changing the war’s goal from Left untouched by his so-called Emancipation Proclamation are
preservation of the union to the abolition of slavery, the slaves in five states that have not seceded from the Union and
Emancipation Proclamation ends any chance of European inter- those in any state that rejoins the Union before the war ends.
vention in favor of the cotton states. All of Europe outlawed Even Secretary of State William Seward acknowledged the
slavery decades ago. inconsistency of Lincoln’s move: “We show our sympathy with
slavery by emancipating slaves where we cannot reach them and
holding them in bondage where we can set them free.”
JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Too intellectual for a daily newspaper.”
� “I like the content, but the language is a little bookish. That’s not
necessarily a bad thing, but it’s something to be aware of.” JUDGES’ COMMENTS: “Too flip.”
� “Clean. Summarizes the historical context succinctly and accurately.” � “This sounds like something I’d read in sports: The Patriots are a
� “This sounds more like analysis than straight news, especially to put dynasty. Sort of. To the guy with the whip marks on his back, I bet he
the expected effects on next year’s presidential race and Europe so high wouldn’t find it very amusing.”
up. Just the news of the proclamation itself would have been huge.” � “First sentence starts in a way that delays the big news.”

THE WINNER: The lead that received the most votes from our judges was entry number 2, submitted by Todd Frankel of the
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (If it’s any consolation, many veteran reporters realized that this was not an easy lead to write.)
THE FINALISTS: 1) Steve Paul. 2) Todd Frankel. 3) Don Hamilton. 4) Bob Batz. 5) Paul Duchene. 6) Judd Slivka. 7) Peter Sleeth. 8) Jim Camden
308 EXERCISE ANSWERS

HOW MUCH the verb refers to execution. Saying 12 midnight (the puppy chased them), not passive (they
is redundant. Some editors would also consider were chased by the puppy). A good editor

EDITTING DO YOU NEED?

the word condemned to be redundant, too.
The correct answer is “a.”
would have you rework this sentence for clarity.
By the way, who is correct. And Dalmatian is
capitalized.
4 Which would you print? The correct answer is “c” — neither one.
Answers to the quiz on page 55. a) By the time Lincoln became President,
8 Which would you print?
seven states had succeeded from the union:
1 Which would you print? South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, a) The boys’ golf team won their first
a) Police arrested the rapist, Levon Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia. play-off.
Coates, who sheriff Smith described as a Capitalize president when it’s used before
b) The boys golf team won its first
ADVICE ON REPORTING & WRITING
homeless drug
FROM addict. JOURNALISTS
VETERAN Lincoln’s name (to form the title President playoff.
This sentence uses the word who incorrectly; Lincoln) but not elsewhere in the sentence. The correct answer is “b.” Boys doesn’t take an
it should say whom, instead. And the title of Capitalize Union. It’s seceded, not succeeded. apostrophe. The singular subject of the sentence
sheriff should be capitalized. But worse: You’re And in addition: (team) uses the pronoun its (no apostrophe).
calling Leavon Coates a rapist when he hasn’t b) By the time Lincoln became president, And playoff isn’t hyphenated.
been convicted. That invites a libel lawsuit. seven states had seceded from the Union:
And speaking of lawsuits: 9 Which would you print?
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida,
b) Police arrested the alleged rapist, Levon Alabama, Louisiana and Georgia. a) 20,000 helpless villagers died in the
Coates, whom Sheriff Smith described as tragic volcano eruption.
Though this sentence is written correctly, it lists
a homeless drug addict. Don’t begin sentences with numbers. But more
only six states, not seven. (The seventh state,
importantly:
Calling Coates an alleged rapist is considered for those keeping score, was Texas.)
sloppy and potentially defamatory by libel The correct answer is “c” — neither one. b) Twenty thousand helpless villagers
experts. Better rework the sentence to say that died tragically in the volcano eruption.
Coates was arrested and charged with rape. 5 Which would you print? Give us facts, not emotions and opinions. Were
The big problem? Both sentences include the a) Melman is the candidate that is very all 20,000 villagers truly helpless? Did they all
sheriff’s statement that Coates is a drug addict. heavily favored. die tragically? In whose opinion?
That is the sheriff’s opinion, and it’s a danger- c) The volcano killed 20,000 helpless
It should be who, not that: Melman is the
ous, unprofessional remark. Print it, and Coates villagers.
candidate who is most heavily favored.
can sue both the sheriff AND YOU for defama-
And most editors will urge you to avoid A volcano will not kill you unless it erupts;
tion of character unless you can prove he’s a
using the bland adverb very. it’s the eruption that kills, not the volcano.
drug addict. Which you probably can’t.
b) Melman is the heavily-favored One other note: A “village” is a small town
The correct answer is “c” — neither one.
candidate. with a small population. When 20,000 people
2 Which would you print? die, that’s a lot of victims — and editors might
No hyphen is needed after heavily. You should quibble about using the term “villagers.”
a) The $4,400,000 grant is allocated write: Melman is the heavily favored candidate. The correct answer is “d”— none of the above.
into three areas: $1,700,000 for research, The correct answer is “c” — neither one.
$1,900,000 for new oscilators, and 10 Which would you print?
$1,800,000 for salaries. 6 Which is correct?
a) More than 50 anti-war churchgoers
Oscilators is misspelled. There’s no comma a) Between you and me, she is a better carried handmade signs.
needed before the word and. And when it reporter than I.
b) Over 50 antiwar church-goers carried
comes to printing numerals in the millions, b) Between you and I, she is a better
most publications abbreviate with decimal
hand-made signs.
reporter than me.
points and spell out the word million, as The correctly hyphenated and nonhyphenated
The correct answer is “a.” If you need to know words are in “a.” And when modifying numbers,
example “b” does. But wait — there’s more:
why, consult a good grammar guide. more than is usually preferred.
b) The $4.4 million grant is allocated into
three areas: $1.7 million for research, 7 Which would you print? 11 Which would you print?
$1.9 million for new oscillators and $1.8 a) Jim and his friend, Jack, were chased by a) Prof. Anne Benson said, “Dr. Wormer is
million for salaries. his dalmatian puppy, Rex, which bit him. a blackmailing faggot, like my ex-husband.”
This example is correctly written and punc- b) Jim and his friend Jack were chased by b) Professor Anne Benson alleged that Dr.
tuated. But the problem with both “a” and “b” his Dalmatian puppy Rex, who bit him. Wormer was “a blackmailing faggot” like
is that the numbers add up to $5.4 million, not her ex-husband.
To understand this one, look in The AP stylebook
$4.4 million.
under “essential phrases.” In a nutshell: If Jack Please say you answered “c.” Never mind that
The correct answer is “c” — neither one.
is Jim’s only friend in the world, you can call “a” abbreviates professor, which you shouldn’t
3 Which would you print? him Jim’s friend, Jack. But if Jim has more than do. The big problem here is that Professor
one friend, use no comma: Jim’s friend Jack. Benson is using you to call both her ex-husband
a) The terrorist will be hanged at mid-
The same applies to the puppy: Is Rex his only and Dr. Wormer blackmailers and faggots. Not
night. puppy, or one of many? We don’t know. But only is that language highly offensive, but it
b) The condemned terrorist will be hung because of all the pronouns in this sentence, we exposes you to two defamation lawsuits. This
at 12 midnight. don’t know whose dog it is or who got bit. ugly quote could cause you a world of pain.
Hanged is the correct past tense of hang when What’s more, the sentence should be active The correct answer is “c” — neither one.
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 309

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR BEST how these cases have been resolved in the
SOURCES FOR THESE STORIES? past. Consult reliable sources about tigers for
a quick crash course on their diet, lifestyle
a) Best sources for the Cara Mehl story: and personality. Then talk to:
� Cara’s parents, to talk about Cara’s
� Hugh Jass, so he can explain the situation.
condition and plans for the trip.
� His neighbors, to see what kind of prob-
� Cara, to get her reaction to the gift and to
Answers to lems Jass and his tiger have created.
talk about her illness. the questions � The police. The public information officer
� The church minister, to talk about Cara’s on page 92 can tell you about the charges, but the
family and the fund-raising drive. He can arresting officer will probably have a better
also put you in touch with: first-person story to tell you.
� The coordinator of the fund-raising drive,
� A tiger expert (a zookeeper, a director
to explain how and why this came about. of a wildlife sanctuary, a veterinarian who
specializes in big cats) to comment on tigers confined in these
b) Best sources for the story about teacher layoffs: living conditions.
� The school superintendent, to explain why the layoffs were
� Other government officials who may be involved in the case,
necessary. whether from the county health department or the USDA.
� Book, Kuehl and Matrix, to get their reactions and learn their
� Hugh Jass’ landlord, to see if Hugh’s lease allows him to have
future plans. pets.
� A representative from the teachers’ union, to comment on
the layoffs. e) Best sources for the logging story:
� Students taking classes from Book, Kuehl and Matrix, to
� First, do some background research. Read past news stories
provide reactions to their teachers’ layoffs. on the Web to gain perspective and study the history of this
� Other teachers and staffers at the high school, to provide controversial issue. As you begin filtering through the facts
reactions to their colleagues’ layoffs. and opinions, you’ll get a better sense of which sources are
most relevant, including:
c) Best sources for the campus crime story: � Forest service representatives, to comment on the new
� Statistics. The key to reporting this story isn’t finding good decision.
quotes, it’s uncovering data that accurately details the amount � Forestry experts, to explain both sides of the issue.
and type of campus crime. For that, you’d begin by tracking � Environmentalists, to respond to the government’s policy.
down documents that provide statistics, both at your local � Homeowners near the national forest whose homes may be
college and at other relevant colleges. Keep in mind: endangered by wildfires.
— Avoid comparing apples to oranges. For example, if you’re a � Local/state legislators with a stake in the outcome.
suburban community college, you should analyze crime rates
at other similarly-sized suburban community colleges. If you
f) Best sources for the Claire Annette story:
want to compare rates at larger or smaller schools, crunch the
data to determine the per capita incidence of crimes. � First, do some research. Visit Claire’s Web site. Study her
biography. Read previous interviews she’s given, keeping an
— Sort crimes appropriately. Compare thefts to thefts, rapes to
eye out for any references to her childhood or teen years.
rapes; don’t just lump everything into a pile called “crime.”
Check all her lyrics to see if she reminisces in any of her songs.
— Some school officials are reluctant to release crime data. If Listen to as much of her music as you can. Then contact:
you encounter obstacles, try other sources: city police depart-
� The concert promoter, who can give you details about the
ments, the FBI — even the U.S. Department of Education
concert — prices, dates, expectations of ticket sales — as well
tracks campus crime data.
as contact information for Claire. If the promoter can’t help
You’ll also want to speak to: you, contact Claire’s record company or manager.
� Campus police officials for their data, opinions and anecdotes. � Claire, to talk about her music, her life since leaving town, her
� School administrators and spokespeople for their observa- memories of living here, her feelings about returning.
tions and opinions. � Claire’s family, if any relatives still live here, to see how they
� Students, ideally those affected by crime, to provide personal feel about her career. Will they lend you some old photos to
opinions and anecdotes. print with the story? You can also ask them for the names of:
� Criminologists and other experts who focus on campus � Friends Claire had while growing up, to share old memories
crime or work for watchdog groups. (For instance, a Web (and photos).
search would turn up a nonprofit organization called Security � Local fans buying concert tickets, to talk about Claire’s music.
on Campus, a clearinghouse for campus crime statistics and � An old high school yearbook, which might provide an old
resources.) photo or details on Claire’s student activities.
Important hint: In question #2, we transcribe a brief interview
d) Best sources for the tiger story:
with Claire Annette. In it, she reveals a source that could turn
� First, do some background research: Read past news stories
this into a terrific story.
on the Web to see how common this situation is and to learn
310 EXERCISE ANSWERS

WHAT QUOTES WOULD YOU USE ANITA BATH, a devoted local fan:
FROM THESE THREE INTERVIEWS? “Are you excited about finally
On this page, we’ve reprinted each of those three getting to see Claire in concert?” Best to start the
quote after the word
interviews, adding comments and highlighting A bit of a cliché, but an “Oh, come on. I mean, Jesus, this “Jesus,” to avoid
the remarks we’d quote directly. honest reflection of her is like a dream come true for all of offending readers
joy. Well worth quoting. unnecessarily.
us here. I can’t, you know, afford
CLAIRE ANNETTE Fly to Japan? to fly to Japan or some big stadium
Interesting idea, but concert someplace else.”
Preliminary “Hi. This is Claire. I’ve not worth quoting.
chitchat. Not gotta catch a plane in, like, “What is it you like about her?”
newsworthy. “Gosh, her songs are so beautiful. This summarizes the
two minutes, so talk fast.” appeal Claire has for
“OK. Thanks. How does it Her lyrics are like poetry. And com- many local fans. It’s
feel to come back home after ing from the same place, geograph- a good quote, but
all these years?” ically, it’s like we speak the same it should end at the
word “language.”
She’s stating an “Home? Oh, yeah. We’re language, you know what I mean?”
obvious fact. No playing two shows at Adler “Will you get to sit up close for the
need to quote her. On second thought,
Auditorium. God, it’s gonna concert?” the fact that their
This isn’t worth
You’re babbling, be . . . uh . . . I don’t know. I repeating. No one “No. We’re in the nosebleed seats “totally suck”
Claire. mean, I lived there til I was, cares. Sorry. seats. Our tickets totally suck.” might be a colorful
what? Eighteen? But even aside, tossed in as a
This is her best quote “Any chance you’ll get to meet her partial quote.
about leaving home.
though I really needed to get face to face while she’s in town?”
Begin with the word away — to start over, to find “I’ve got a friend whose uncle
“even” and end with my true voice — I’ve always This “uncle” thing may used to live next door to her. But
the word “heart.” or may not be true.
kept that little town in my no, Claire’s too important, and
Everybody says stuff A nice sentence, and
heart, I guess, even though like this, but it means too busy. We’ll go to the airport, it encapsulates the
it sounds corny to say it. nothing. though. We’ll wave hello when loyalty some of her
A nice thought here,
And you know, it’s true that she lands, and we’ll wave goodbye fans will express
but it’s just too everybody sort of fantasizes, when she leaves.”
when Claire is here.
inarticulate to use. you know, about fame and
Eliminate the word hitting it big. Well, hell, I
“hell” unless you may be famous, but I’m still
want it to add color. basically the same lonely RAMONA WASHBURN,
This reveals how she Claire’s childhood piano teacher :
feels about herself,
nerd I was back in high
then and now. school. So, coming home. Good background “I taught Claire for seven years.
It’s sad. Well, maybe not. information to She studied classical piano, along
Too much fumbling include in the story,
to quote directly. See, all my family has sort of with a little jazz and ragtime.
but too basic and
Best to paraphrase, moved away, or died, so it’s bland to use as a I had a studio in my living room,
though the phrase really just sort of a painful direct quote. and she’d come once a week.
“painful reminder”
might come in handy reminder of, you know, life She was a very . . . a very . . . oh, I
as a partial quote. goes on, things change. “Clean”? Probably don’t know . . . a very clean girl. I
best not to quote
“I’ll tell you, though: I’d Ramona here, since mean, the way she played. I recall
Here it is: the love to see Mrs. Washburn she seems to be she had a very precise way of Here’s the memory
best quote of the again. She was my piano fumbling for the fingering the notes — she hated you’re waiting for:
interview, and it right word. Wait
tips you off to a teacher for seven years. I still until she starts mak- to make mistakes — and I used where Ramona
reveals the young
great source who catch myself, in the middle ing sense. to tell her, Claire, dear, it’s not girl that eventually
might otherwise of a concert, thinking, Boy, enough just to hit the notes. You’ve flowered into an
have been left out
the story. if only Mrs. Washburn could got to put joy, and pain, and love artist. Great stuff.
see me now. Yeah, I suppose Again, it’s probably into everything you play. Now, I
I should really try to get best not to quote guess, she’s really, you know, gone
Best to end the quote Ramona using the
before Claire starts ahold of her. I mean, if I a little — well, I was going to say
word “overboard”
babbling again. have time. We’ll see. — or calling herself overboard, but maybe it’s just me.
“Anyway, I gotta go catch A lovely sentiment,
“old.” Wait until she I’m old, and I think perhaps some and it answers an
a plane. Talk to you in a few hits her stride with of her songs are a little too loud important question
the word “some.”
weeks, OK? Bye.” and vulgar for my taste. But when readers will have:
What does the
she plays soft and slow — oh, it’s a teacher think of the
sweet thing to hear, isn’t it?” student’s music?
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 311

QUOTES: PUNCTUATION AND ATTRIBUTION Thus, the correct attribution here would be:
“Assaults on campus increased from 20 in 2004 to 33 in 2005,” said Ben Z.
a) Gov. Lew Swires said he’ll support a tax increase on Tuesday. “It’s Dreen, Penn State University deputy director of university police.
long overdue,” said Gov. Swires. � However, there’s a bigger problem: Dreen’s math is wrong.
What’s wrong: An increase from 20 to 33 is a 65 percent increase. Either his data
� The placement of the word Tuesday makes this quote is incorrect or his method of calculating percentage increases
confusing. Did Swires say this on Tuesday? Or will he support is faulty. Don’t publish this information until you ask Dreen to
the tax increase next Tuesday? Or — most peculiarly — will he double-check his math.
support tax increases that occur on Tuesdays? � This is a dull, dry statement that shouldn’t even be a direct
As a general rule, try to place the when of an event as close as quote. Avoid using quotes to present statistics or simple facts.
possible to the sentence’s verb. In other words: It’s your job as a journalist to find the cleanest, clearest way to
A giant asteroid destroyed Mars on Friday. OR: convey that information. Use quotes to add color, emotion or
Coach Smith announced Sunday that he was retiring. OR: insight to the facts you gather.
Gov. Lew Swires said Tuesday he’ll support a tax increase.
Some readers might still find that last sentence confusing and d) The mayor complained, off the record, that Smith was “a rat” for
interpret it this way: The governor said that next Tuesday he’ll betraying him, he said.
support a tax increase. In this case, then, maybe the best solution What’s wrong:
is to begin the sentence with a prepositional phrase: � You generally need only one verb of attribution per sentence.
On Tuesday, Gov. Lew Swires said he’ll support a tax increase. Here, the mayor complained that Smith was “a rat.” It’s redun-
� The attribution for that direct quote is incorrect. Once we’ve dant to add the phrase he said at the end of the sentence.
identified Gov. Swires, we need only use his last name in all � There’s a much bigger problem here, however: If the mayor
subsequent attributions. And the preferred form is Swires said, told you this off the record, why are you quoting him at all?
not said Swires: You’re violating his confidence. This is called burning your
“It’s long overdue,” Swires said. source. The mayor will soon be calling your editor, demanding
that you be fired. How will you defend yourself?
b) “I adore Elizabeth Taylor,” gushed student actor Art Major. “Did you
ever see her classic performance in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” e) Ray Cleaves said, “When I was a boy, I saw Muhammad Ali battle George
What’s wrong: Foreman on Wide World of Sports. He was always my favorite boxer.”
� Most editors will consider the verb gushed a little too flowery. What’s wrong:
Better to let the quotation do the gushing and simply use the � “Wide World of Sports” was the title of a TV show. It should
word said in the attribution. appear in single quotes.
� You must enclose the title of the movie, Who’s Afraid of � Generally, you should avoid beginning a quote with the
Virginia Woolf?, in single quotation marks, since it appears as a attribution. Instead, look for a logical pause — either at the end
title inside a direct quote. of a clause or the end of a sentence — and insert the attribution
� Notice, too, that Art Major’s quote is actually a question, so
there:
the quote needs to end in a question mark. Thus, to correctly “When I was a boy,” Ray Cleaves said, “I saw Muhammad Ali battle George
punctuate the end of the quote, you’ll need to run, in order: Foreman on ‘Wide World of Sports.’ He was always my favorite boxer.”
1) the question mark that ends the movie title; OR: “When I was a boy, I saw Muhammad Ali battle George Foreman on ‘Wide
2) the single end-quotation mark that encloses the movie title; World of Sports,’ ” Ray Cleaves said. “He was always my favorite boxer.”
3) the question mark that punctuates Art’s quote; and � But which boxer is Cleaves’ favorite: Ali or Foreman? That
4) the double end-quotation mark that encloses Art’s quote. pronoun (he) could apply to either man. You need to ask Cleaves
The corrected quote: to clarify his quote, then insert the proper name in parentheses
to avoid confusing readers. Like so:
“I adore Elizabeth Taylor,” said student actor Art Major. “Did you ever see her
classic performance in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ ?” “When I was a boy, I saw Muhammad Ali battle George Foreman on ‘Wide
World of Sports,’ ” Ray Cleaves said. “He (Ali) was always my favorite boxer.”

c) “Assaults on campus increased from 20 in 2004 to 33 in 2005,” Penn

f) “I hate rap music,” April Schauer says, “most of the time. It’s repetitive
State University deputy director of university police Ben Z. Dreen said. and annoying.”
“That’s an increase of 75 percent.” “It’s the poetry of the street. It can be hypnotic and imaginative,” Mike
What’s wrong: Raffone says.
� To avoid confusingly complex attributions, long job
descriptions should follow the speaker’s name, not precede it. What’s wrong:
The preferred order, in such cases, is this: � That first attribution is awkwardly positioned. It needs to
1) the word said; move to the end of the first quoted sentence:
2) the speaker’s name; “I hate rap music most of the time,” April Schauer says. “It’s repetitive and
3) the long, wordy job title. annoying.”
312 EXERCISE ANSWERS

It’s also possible that her original quote might actually have said “All too often, a story free of any taint of personal opinion is a story with all
this: the juice sucked out. Keeping opinion out of the story too often means being a
fancy stenographer.”
“I hate rap music,” April Schauer says. “Most of the time, it’s repetitive and
— Geneva Overholser, journalism professor at the University of Missouri
annoying.”
� To use these remarks as a direct quote:
You would need to check your notes — or listen to your record- “All too often, a story free of any taint of personal opinion is a story with
ing of the interview — or, as a last resort, call April and read the all the juice sucked out,” said Geneva Overholser, a journalism professor at
quote to her — to be sure of her meaning. the University of Missouri. “Keeping opinion out of the story too often means
� Notice how that second quote appears to be a continuation of being a fancy stenographer.”
April speaking. We don’t realize it’s a new speaker (Mike) until � As a paraphrase:
we reach the end of the paragraph. To avoid colliding quotes, it’s Stories stripped of reporters’ opinions often become lifeless, said Geneva
best to introduce the second speaker’s quote by using its attribu- Overholser, a journalism professor at the University of Missouri. According to
tion as a buffer. Like this: Overholser, by keeping personal opinions out of their stories, reporters often
“I hate rap music most of the time,” April Schauer says. “It’s repetitive and become mere stenographers.
annoying.” � As partial quotes:
Mike Raffone disagrees. “It’s the poetry of the street,” he says. “It can be The two best sound bites from Overholser’s complete quote are
hypnotic and imaginative.” the colorful phrases juice sucked out and fancy stenographer.
� Notice how we added an attribution (he says) to show that (Notice how she uses those phrases as the punch lines to her
Mike uttered that quote; the word disagrees is not an adequate sentences.) To use them as partial quotes, you might write:
synonym for says. (And yes, present-tense attributions are Stories stripped of reporters’ opinions often become stories “with the juice
perfectly acceptable in feature stories like this.) sucked out,” said Geneva Overholser, a journalism professor at the University
of Missouri. By keeping stories free of opinions, a reporter often becomes “a
fancy stenographer,” Overholser said.

Why not tell us which day the game is,

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS LEAD?
instead of vaguely saying this weekend?
1) That the jury reached a verdict is not the 6) To say police were called is a passive sen-
news; the verdict itself is the news. What was tence structure. Better to say police responded.
the verdict? Don’t make readers wait. But having said that: Police responding to
To say the verdict is shocking may only be a serious accident is not newsworthy; police
true for some; for others, the trial may not Answers to respond to all serious accidents. What’s
have been dramatic at all. Avoid tired clichés. the questions newsworthy is that the accident was a hit-
If you must add adjectives, make sure they’re on page 114 and-run. What happened to that victim?
based on facts. That’s your lead.
2) Half a dozen spectators isn’t a crowd. It The exact time is not necessary in accident
probably isn’t even a story. Why are you even stories unless, for some reason, it’s a factor in
writing about this? You call this news? the events. And nobody can keep track of dates, so use the day of
Was his vacation last year? Or was the slide show last year? This the week, unless the accident occurred more than a week ago.
sentence construction is confusing. 7) In the lead for most obituaries, you should emphasize some
3) When reporting traffic accidents, general vehicle descriptions noteworthy accomplishment by the deceased. Suffering from dia-
usually suffice (a truck, a station wagon, a motorcycle). Don’t bog betes is not an accomplishment. And though the cause of death is
readers down in unnecessary model details unless they somehow worth mentioning, try not to use negative, subjective words like
factor into the accident. suffering or crippling.
The injury to the motorcycle driver should lead the story, not Don’t say passed away. Simply say died.
the fact that a collision occurred. 8) You could say that this man was arrested and charged with
4) That opening dependent clause is just too rambling and murder. Or you could say he was arrested in connection with a
wordy. This lead takes too long to get to the point. string of murders. But to say he was arrested for a string of murders
And when that clause finally ends, we fail to learn whether the makes him appear guilty — which is both unfair and potentially
libelous. Even though he isn’t specifically named, he could easily
commissioners even passed a new tax ordinance — or, if they
be identified by anyone connected with Madison High.
did, what it means to us, the citizens. The meeting is not the
Notice, too, the awkward syntax: Were the murders based on
story; the new tax is.
tips, or was the arrest based on tips?
5) Beginning a lead with a quote is rarely the best solution, and Finally, if the tips were confidential, why are we identifying
this quote uses two worn-out clichés that probably don’t belong their source? Aren’t we putting his ex-wife in danger by exposing
anywhere in the story. Later in the sentence, we recycle yet anoth- something that she might need to keep secret? Check with the
er cliché: it’s do or die. police before you publish this information.
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 313

COVER THIS JOURNALIST’S SPEECH WRITE THIS CRIME STORY LEAD

Here’s one solution. Yours may be different, of course, but ask 1) Let’s start with the most basic possible solution:
yourself: Are your details complete? Is your summary accurate? Stormy Snowe has been murdered.
Have you added enough quotes to capture Gartner’s personality? That’s simple. Urgent. Attention-getting. But it’s incomplete.
Distinguished journalist Michael Gartner insists you can’t be a And it assumes you’ve watched enough local TV to recognize
writer if you don’t love writing. Stormy by her name alone. To be safe, we could add a modifier:
“It’s simply impossible,” he said. “If you do not love what you Weathercaster Stormy Snowe has been murdered.
are doing, quit now and find another job, another line of work. To make it even clearer, we could say —
For you’ll never be happy — and you’ll never be good.” WUGH meteorologist Stormy Snowe has been murdered.
Gartner spoke Tuesday morning to a responsive crowd of near- — but some of us don’t recognize TV-station call letters. For
ly 200 in the Memorial Union ballroom as part of a lecture series many readers, too, meteorologist is just a fancy name for weather
sponsored by the school of journalism. forecaster. So it might be best to simply say:
Gartner’s speech — “The 12-Step Program to Good Writing” Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was murdered last night.
— combined anecdotes and advice from his long career as Page
One editor of The Wall Street Journal, editor of The Des Moines Adding the time element is smart. You don’t need to name the
Register and Pulitzer Prize-winning editor of the Ames (Iowa) day of the week since online readers will view this story only on
Tribune. Thursday morning. Later updates will revise the lead.
But we should add more details about the crime. For instance,
Gartner admitted that, as a former executive at USA Today, “I
you should find a more appropriate word to replace murdered:
tend to make lists and charts and graphs.” As a result, his speech
became a Top-12 list that urged writers to: Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was bludgeoned to
� Report. “Writing is just the pie crust,” Gartner said. “Facts
death last night.
are the pie. So report, report, report. Then throw away the mean- Too sensational? Maybe. But it’s more accurate. The AP style-
ingless, the redundant, the unnecessary.” book warns that “murder” is premeditated homicide; thus, you
� Read. “You cannot be a good writer if you don’t read,” should avoid the word until someone is convicted in court.
Gartner said. “Read great stuff. Read awful stuff. Read classics. Another way to word the same information is to deliberately
Read trash. And think about the writing that you’re reading.” use a passive construction. Ordinarily, of course, you should
� Simplify. Gartner recalled working late one night in the
avoid passive sentences. But sometimes they can be effective:
Wall Street Journal newsroom. He unexpectedly encountered the The body of Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was found
president of the company, Barney Kilgore, and explained that he beaten to death in a downtown alley this morning.
was rewriting a story because it was murky. “Good,” Kilgore said. That’s a good lead. And if you wanted to, you could stop right
“Remember, the easiest thing for the reader to do is quit read- there, let the horrific news sink in, then answer the why ques-
ing.” tions (about how it happened) in the second paragraph.
That advice, Gartner says, has been printed on his notebooks But readers will want more juicy details as soon as possible.
and pasted on his computer ever since. Since this murder was committed by Stormy’s jealous ex-boy-
Other suggestions from Gartner’s 12-step list: Listen. friend, we could try squeezing him into the lead:
Collaborate. Trust. Experiment. Talk. Pounce. Love. Care. And Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was bludgeoned to death
balance. by a jealous ex-boyfriend last night.
“It is an enormous challenge,” Gartner concluded, “and it can Warning: We don’t know the circumstances of the boyfriend’s
be enormous fun. Who else in the world is paid just to ask ques- confession. Maybe police beat it out of him. Maybe he’s inno-
tions, to think and to write?” cent but just seeking publicity. We only know he confessed
Αfter his speech, Gartner was awarded the William Henry Fox because the cops told us he did. So to be safe, we should attri-
Prize by Eaton X. Benedict, dean of the journalism school. The bute our facts to the police:
Fox Prize is given annually by the university to honor a distin- Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was bludgeoned to
guished journalist. death by a jealous ex-boyfriend last night, police said.
“Gartner is a national treasure,” Benedict said. “His speech That “police said” attribution gets the job done, but it seems a
really hit a nerve.” bit awkward. We could reconstruct that sentence to read:
Journalism major Forrest Ranger agreed: “This is the kind of
Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was bludgeoned to death
stuff you never read in textbooks,” he said. “But it’s valuable to
last night by her ex-lover, who police said stalked the popular TV
hear it.”
personality before attacking her in a jealous rage.
Next month, the lecture series will sponsor a speech by former
NBC anchor Tom Brokaw. That’s acceptable, though it’s wordy and complex. To smooth
things out, we could recast the lead in two sentences:
Channel 2 weathercaster Stormy Snowe was found dead in a
downtown alley this morning. Police say her ex-lover confessed to
beating her with a crowbar after seeing her kiss another man.
Lead-writing is subjective; different reporters would try differ-
ent approaches. Did your solution match any of those above?
314 EXERCISE ANSWERS

2) When stories like this get big play in competing media, you
can assume that readers soon become familiar with the who and
WRITE THIS ACCIDENT STORY
the what: Here’s one suggested solution. Yours may be different, of course,
Stormy Snowe has been murdered. but are your details complete? Is your wording as tight as possible?
So for later updates, you look for intriguing new information
to emphasize in your lead. Ideally, it would be something like — Two teenagers died and a third was injured Saturday after their
Just hours after she secretly married her high-school sweetheart, all-terrain vehicles slid on ice in a mountainous area five miles
Stormy Snowe’s dream of a new life ended in tragedy. west of Butteville.
Cooper Black, 16, and Gill Sans, 13, were killed after their
— but often, you’ll have very little new information. In that
vehicle skidded off an icy bridge on U.S. Highway 111, the
case, you could try dramatizing the story you’ve already told:
Benson County Sheriff’s Office reported. The vehicle plunged
A night of stalking. A final kiss. A fit of rage. over a cliff and crashed into a tree, and the two boys were hurled
It all led to the bludgeoning death of Channel 2 meteorologist onto a rocky creek bed about 100 feet below the road. Both were
Stormy Snowe in a downtown alley early Thursday morning. wearing helmets.
Or you could work up a different story angle, such as: A second ATV carrying two teenage girls slipped off the road-
Fans of Stormy Snowe are coping with their shock and grief way but didn’t go over the cliff. The driver, Geneva Franklin, 16,
after the weathercaster’s brutal murder last night. ran about a mile to a house to summon help. Meanwhile, her
passenger, Arial Bookman, 14, tried to reach the teenagers in the
When police release the name of the murder suspect, you can
creek bed but slipped and fell onto the rocks, fracturing her leg.
shift your focus to the murderer instead of the victim:
All four teens were from Green Lake in Benson County.
Police say it was Jacklin Hyde, Stormy Snowe’s ex-lover, who Rescue crews spent four hours removing the teenagers from
stalked the popular TV weathercaster early Thursday morning the creek bed, the sheriff’s office said. Bookman was flown by
and — after watching her kiss another man — used a crowbar to helicopter to Providence Hospital in Dawson, where she was
bludgeon her to death in a downtown alley. listed in satisfactory condition.
— Adapted from a story originally published in The Oregonian

GENERATING IDEAS Church today. When the cathedral was built,

FOR FEATURE STORIES most residents were Catholic; the church
had tremendous cultural and political
PERSONALITY PROFILE influence. But today, the collapse of the
� Profile the mysterious billionaire Elvis
old cathedral is almost a metaphor for the
Trump. Score an exclusive interview to tour declining status of the church. What lies
his mansion, examine his exotic lifestyle, ahead?
explore his colorful past, learn his reasons Answers to
the questions TREND STORY
for rebuilding the cathedral, etc. on page 138
� Profile Barney “Boom-Boom” Rubble. � Goodbye, wrecking ball: Big-city stadi-

Learn about his past triumphs, failures, risks, ums, hotels and apartment buildings are no
rewards, etc. longer knocked down. They’re blown up. A
look at cost/labor/time-saving advantages
HUMAN-INTEREST STORY that support this trend.
� Talk to the old priest who’s lived in the cathedral for 40 years
� Trends in religious architecture: What do 21st-century church-
(or some other colorful church-related figure), and see what es look like? Have churches changed to suit their congregations’
emotional impact the demolition will have. lifestyles? Discuss new megachurches, attendance trends, etc.
� Find out who or what will be disrupted by the demolition of
� Souvenirs: Will vendors or church charity groups sell posters,
the church — the homeless who are fed there, the faithful parish- T-shirts or other memorabilia? Will church fixtures (candle-
ioners who attend Mass every day, the old caretaker who feeds holders, stained-glass windows) be sold or auctioned?
cats in the alley. Even more dramatically, find out what will be
lost or destroyed forever. REACTION PIECE
� Attend the last wedding that takes place in the cathedral. Or � Death of the old cathedral: Talk to neighbors, church officials,
the last funeral. The last baptism. The last church service. local business owners, priests, nuns and parishioners to see how
they’re reacting to the news, and what effect it will have on their
COLOR STORY
lives or careers.
� As the cathedral is imploded, describe the crowd that’s
� The new cathedral: Show architectural plans for the new,
gathered to watch it collapse. Get reactions from onlookers,
ultramodern church. Get reactions from architects, city planners,
neighbors, cops, priests and nuns.
priests, nuns and parishioners. Poll your own readers and ask
BACKGROUNDER them to comment on the new design.
� Urban renewal in the heart of downtown. Is the rebirth of the
cathedral part of a larger pattern? FLASHBACK
� Recap, through quotes, anecdotes and photos, the colorful
� This is a good opportunity to analyze the state of the Catholic
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 315

history of the cathedral. (This could be packaged as a detailed, � Personal data/career highlights of Elvis Trump
illustrated timeline.)
A CHECKLIST
HOW-TO � What to take along if you’re viewing the implosion
� How to implode a building. Create a diagram of the church (binoculars, folding chairs, a face mask to filter out dust from
showing where the explosives will be planted and how they’ll be the implosion, and so on).
detonated. � Barney Rubble’s official pre-implosion checklist: all the
CONSUMER GUIDE safety/technical issues he needs to resolve before pushing the
� Where to watch the implosion: the best viewing locations, button.
when to arrive, what to bring (binoculars, folding chairs, a face A QUOTE COLLECTION
mask to filter out dust from the implosion, and so on). � Are you sorry to see the old cathedral die?
PERSONAL NARRATIVE � What do you think of the new cathedral design?
� Get a job on Barney Rubble’s crew, so you can view the final � Reactions from those witnessing the implosion.
setup and countdown from the inside.
� Conduct an extensive interview with Barney for a minute-by-
minute, first-person narrative after the implosion. HARD NEWS VS. SOFT NEWS
5) The Burger King slaying is the hardest of these stories, a
GENERATING IDEAS FOR SIDEBARS AND INFOGRAPHICS breaking news story involving a serious crime: murder.
A FAST-FACTS BOX
4) Though it may seem frivolous at first glance, the bikini-bar
� For stories previewing the implosion, create a box detailing story has the makings of a news controversy. It could grow
the time, place, links to Web sites — even any TV stations that into one of those continuing dramas that stirs up community
might telecast the event. reaction.
� For stories on the church building, create a box describing 3) Giving $2 million to the Humane Society will have an effect
the cathedral’s size, date of construction, initial cost, repairs that on both humans and pets in the community. Barbie dolls may
have been done, historical highlights, etc. seem like childish toys, but that amount of money is significant.
A TIMELINE 2) Fans lining up for cult movies always provide an amusing
� The year-by-year illustrated history of the cathedral. pop-culture diversion. The story is soft, but timely — though it
� A chronology of highlights from the career of Elvis Trump. doesn’t have much actual impact on the lives of ordinary folks.
� A timeline of historic downtown buildings (and what became 1) Recipes are helpful, but there’s nothing about turkeyburgers
of those that are now gone). that’s urgent or crucial to the public interest.
A DIAGRAM
� A cross-section of the cathedral showing architectural high- WHAT’S WRONG WITH THESE REVIEWS?
lights (stained glass windows, statues, etc.).
� A cross-section of the cathedral showing structural problems. 1) When it comes to food, everyone has likes and dislikes. But
� A cross-section of the cathedral showing the placement of the to call the most popular dish at a restaurant “unpalatable” just
explosives — and a diagram of a typical “bomb.” because you don’t like asparagus? That makes you look petty and
� A cross-section of the new, modern cathedral. close-minded, and it calls your other judgments into question,
too. Good critics rise above their prejudices. In this case, get a
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
second opinion from a reliable colleague whose taste for
� How to implode a cathedral, from site preparation to the final
asparagus is more objective than yours.
cleanup of the rubble.
2) Unless you’re targeting readers of a specialty publication,
A MAP
avoid obscure references to trivia that nobody will get (or even
� Show where to best view the implosion — and areas where care about). You may think you’re impressing us with your vast
trespassing will be forbidden. historical expertise, but to most readers, you sound like a guitar
A LIST geek who needs to get a life. If you must reference past works, at
� Oldest churches in the city least ensure that they mean something to most readers.
� Biggest churches in the city 3) Panning a children’s play? At Christmas? That’s cold, Scrooge.
� Oldest buildings in the city Pick on someone your own size. Smart journalists try to build
� Other city structures facing major renovation or destruction rapport with readers, not shred every ounce of goodwill.
AN OPINION POLL 4) There’s no need to add phrases like I think or in my opinion.
� Are you sad to see the old cathedral die? It’s a review. We’ll recognize your opinions without being alerted.
� What do you think of the new cathedral design?
5) Thanks. Now that you’ve given away the plot twists and
A BIO BOX spoiled the ending, we don’t need to see the movie. Next time,
� Personal data/career highlights of Barney “Boom-Boom” keep plot details to a minimum. And beware of “spoilers” that
Rubble ruin the story line’s surprises.
316 EXERCISE ANSWERS

2 PRINT IT. Professor Jones’ remark a suspect, and has not been named in
refers to the theory — not the author. a warrant or indictment, alleged will
As Bender observed, “Smith is a public provide no protection.”
figure by virtue of entering a continuing Zelezny offered another way to consider
public debate, and the response is pro- the problem: “If police arrested the guy
tected as part of a vigorous debate on because they suspect he’s connected with
matters of public interest.” a homicide, but they’re not yet sure how
YOU MAKE THE CALL Besides, the term “racist” is so overused, he’s connected, then it would be legally
it has lost its literal meaning, Tidwell said. risky to label him either a murderer or an
“Today, such a claim would be consid- alleged murderer.
ered figurative language that couldn’t be “On the other hand, if they obtained an
ADVICE ONtoREPORTING
Answers the quiz on &page
WRITING
145. proved true or false.” arrest warrant specifically on suspicion
that he committed murder, then I think
Our panel of experts: 3 PRINT IT. You can’t libel the dead, it’s accurate to say alleged murderer, and
Jay Bender, an attorney in Columbia, S.C., teaches our experts all agreed — but they also I would be fine with that.”
in both the journalism school and law school at expressed some concerns about the ethics
the University of South Carolina, specializing in of running that quote. 5 PULL IT, our experts all agreed. “I
media law and First Amendment issues. He has “What good would derive from printing didn’t know we were training students to
written two books on South Carolina media law. such comments?” Tidwell asked. report rumors,” Bender wryly observed.
Barbara Mack is a media law attorney who More importantly, Bender said, “you “Unless there were a factual basis for
teaches journalism at Iowa State University. would need to know if the musician left publishing the allegation, don’t print it.”
James Tidwell is an attorney, professor of a husband because publishing that state-
journalism at Eastern Illinois University and author ment would damage his reputation.” 6 Our experts were divided on this one.
of “Media Law in Illinois: A Reporter’s Handbook.” Which means that, conceivably, he Zelezny said PULL IT: “Allegations of
John D. Zelezny is a communications lawyer, could sue. professional incompetence and code
lecturer and author of “Communications Law: Most editors would be wary of printing violations are defamatory,” he said.
Liberties, Restraints and the Modern Media.” such extreme comments about anyone, “More facts, please,” said Mack. “If
living or dead, without more factual she’s making a report to the school board,
support. Taking the word of just one it’s one story. If she’s bitching at a cocktail
1 Our experts unanimously agreed that opinionated source is a dangerous risk. party, it’s another. I’d pull it unless she is
you’d need to PULL at least part of that some kind of ‘expert’ who has knowledge
quote. 4 PRINT IT — but only if Lickt has of the food and is commenting on it for
“The ‘lazy and stupid’ and ‘partying’ actually been charged with the crime. some purpose.”
comments would be considered loose, There’s some gray area here, so pay For Tidwell, this was a close call, but
figurative language that can’t be proved close attention: Until people are convicted he voted to PRINT IT: “I would argue
true or false,” Tidwell said. “But the of crimes, in court proceedings, you can- that the claim in this context is loose,
‘getting laid’ comment can be proved true not call them criminals; you can’t refer figurative language that can’t be proved
or false, and could be construed as claim- to them as rapists or murderers or car true or false,” he said. “This claim is
ing the quarterback has loose morals. thieves. If you do, and if they’re acquitted similar to stating the cooks’ food isn’t fit
So unless you can independently verify (or charges are dropped), they can turn to eat. It’s fair comment and criticism.”
the accuracy of the statement, I’d pull it.” around and sue you for defaming them.
Zelezny agreed. “Though ‘lazy’ is Make sense? Well, many attorneys also 7 Three of our experts said PRINT IT.
protected opinion,” he said, “the factual insist that simply adding an adjective such “If the story is true, run it,” Mack said.
implication of reckless sexual behavior is as alleged offers no legal protection. Call- “You didn’t insinuate anything.”
defamatory.” ing someone an alleged rapist, they say, “No, I do think we’re insinuating that
Trying a different angle, Mack pointed is similar to calling him a young rapist he’s likely gay,” Zelezny argued. “But I
out that “the weenie way to approach this or a potential rapist. Either way, you’re think we’re safe here because we’re accu-
is to say the coach is an ‘official source’ still calling him some kind of rapist. rately reporting his behavior, and readers
(a public employee who is paid, in part, But not all attorneys see it as a problem. have the opportunity to draw their own
to speak to the press) and as such, report- “Ah, the old ‘alleged’ trick,” Mack said. conclusions — as long as we’re correct
ing his comments doesn’t rise to ‘actual “I’ve never seen a winning lawsuit on this about calling it a gay club.”
malice.’ ” Thus, she reasoned, you could issue. Print it.” Tidwell advised pulling the story to
get away with printing the whole quote. Others argue that, until a person has avoid “a clear insinuation that the
“This is a great example,” she added, been formally charged with a crime, you quarterback is gay.”
“where what is legal (get-away-withable) should avoid the risk of using alleged. And finally, as Bender noted: “I don’t
isn’t ethical.” As Bender explained: “If the allegation think there would be any liability, but
Good point. Is the quote really that is taken from a public record, such as an that’s not to say there would be no suit.
essential and newsworthy, given the ill arrest warrant or indictment, I believe You might be concerned that the quarter-
will, hurt feelings and litigation that could publication is protected under the privi- back would demonstrate his macho cred
result? After all, it’s just a football game. lege of fair report. If the person is merely by bopping the columnist on the nose.”
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 317

LIBEL, COPYRIGHT, PRIVACY: erase the damaging facts in your original

SOME HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS story, but it does indicate your remorse over
a) That remark is not libelous. Calling your mistake. Most likely, she couldn’t win
someone “crazy,” “nuts” or “a lunatic” is an this libel suit.
opinion, uttered as an emotional outburst i) If you had learned about this abortion
— not as a statement of fact. Calling some- from reading her confidential medical
one a “menace” is a generic insult, too. It Answers to records, you’d be guilty of violating her
can’t be either proved or disproved. the questions privacy. But you obtained the information
But why print that quote in your story? on page 156
from police reports. Reporting on public
We all constantly hurl curses and insults documents is not an invasion of privacy.
at real and imaginary wrongdoers. So
unless that “lunatic” driver is dramatically j) It doesn’t matter where you obtain libel-
blameworthy, treat this quote as predictable background noise, ous misinformation. If it’s truly defamatory, both you and your
not news. Repeating it in your story may just stir up unnecessary Facebook source are liable for publishing it.
hostility.
b) Yes, you could actually lose this libel suit. Business at the LEGAL CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS
store could suffer because of your story. The owner could
a) False. A damaging statement becomes libelous only if the facts
rightly claim that he’s losing customers, especially other devout
are untrue.
Christians who — because of your story — mistakenly assume
the store sells pornography and now refuse to shop there. b) False. If they’re in a public place and involved in a legitimate
news story, you don’t need their permission to shoot their
c) No, she couldn’t win a libel suit. The quote is defamatory, photo, and they cannot claim a right to privacy.
but it doesn’t specifically identify Paine by name. If you say
“Acupuncturists are all quacks,” you’re talking about thousands c) False. There are no federal libel laws. What wins a case in one
of them in a general way. If, instead, the quote had called all state may lose in another.
local acupuncturists quacks, it would target Paine more d) False. This is one of the rare exceptions to what’s considered
specifically, thus becoming more dangerously defamatory. plagiarism. Some news outlets run news releases verbatim, while
others copy a sentence here, a paragraph there.
d) No. The mistake was made by the police, not you. As long
For example, in a story announcing an award given to an out-
as you accurately convey what’s in the police report — a public
standing teacher, you might lift a few sentences of background
record — the “fair report” privilege protects your story.
biography from the news release. In a story about an upcoming
e) Everybody criticizes referees and umpires. It’s an accepted concert, you might lift a paragraph on ticket information.
part of the job. In a way, game officials are public performers; Generally, recycling press-release material is allowed for short,
they do their job in front of hundreds, thousands, sometimes generic news stories. For longer stories, especially any story that
even millions of loud, opinionated fans, players and coaches. uses your byline, make every sentence original, citing a news
Like athletes, their performance is subject to harshly negative release as your source if you paraphrase or quote from it.
reviews. As long as that coach doesn’t utter false statements of e) True.
fact about the ref, it’s OK (though the league may fine him for
f) True.
publicly criticizing the officials). Saying “he’s blind” is a vague
generalization, like saying “he’s crazy.” g) False. “Actual malice” is when you deliberately lie or disregard
the truth.
f) You could lose an intrusion invasion of privacy claim. The h) False. A shield law protects journalists from being forced to
professor, working in his office with the door closed, had a reveal the identities of their sources.
reasonable right to expect privacy — to conduct a private
conversation without a reporter eavesdropping and printing his i) True.
remarks without his permission. The substance of his remarks j) False. A libel plaintiff needs only to prove that he or she is
makes no difference; you intruded on his privacy. identifiable by description, occupation, street address — even
after being recognized in a photo.
g) Print the jokes. They’re not just jokes — they’ve become
k) False. To safely reprint copyrighted material, you need per-
news, and your readers have a right to know what’s said over the
mission from the owner of the copyright. Simply crediting your
public airwaves about their community. You’re not reprinting
source isn’t enough. (Besides, many Web sites illegally copy
those jokes to sell on T-shirts; you’re quoting a public figure
images from other sources, so crediting them may be meaning-
who said something newsworthy. That’s fair use.
less and incorrect.)
h) According to the Supreme Court, outspoken social activists l) False. You can express whatever opinions you want in a review
become public figures when they “thrust themselves to the fore- — but you could lose a libel suit if you introduce false state-
front of particular public controversies in order to influence the ments of fact (Ann Thrax is convincing playing a drug addict
resolution of the issues involved.” For a public figure to win a because she spent years snorting coke), or if you make defamatory
libel suit, she would have to prove that you deliberately twisted allegations you can’t support (Thanks to steroids, Harry Rump
the facts about that court case. That correction you ran doesn’t has become Hollywood’s hottest hunk).
318 EXERCISE ANSWERS

WRITE THE LEADS FOR THESE recovering in the hospital — that’s what
TELEVISION NEWS STORIES patients in hospitals do. (Obviously, they had
a) This actually happened to Joe Donlon, to be taken there, too.)
� Spell out Saint. Avoid abbreviations.
anchor at KGW-TV in Portland, Ore. He
� The sentence is now in the present tense.
describes how he wrote his lead-in to that
story:
“While I was working in Tucson, Ariz., Answers to c) The thieves stole $17,900,500, bank officials reported.
we had a deadly police shooting. A man the questions The improved version:
had a gun and wouldn’t put it down, so the on page 188
The bank says the thieves stole nearly 18-million dollars.
officer on the scene shot and killed him.
What we fixed:
It was the second time it had happened in
� We rounded off the number and expressed
two weeks.
“There are a number of ways this story could be written for it properly.
� We placed the attribution first and streamlined the phrasing.
broadcast. Chances are, you would hear something like this:
� The sentence is now in the present tense.
A SHERIFF’S DEPUTY SHOT AND KILLED A MAN TODAY. THAT MAN HAD A GUN,
AND REFUSED TO PUT IT DOWN. (REPORTER’S NAME) IS LIVE WITH OUR
d) Library officials announced that patrons under the age of 18 will no longer
REPORT TONIGHT.
be permitted to check out any of the library’s movie videotapes or DVDs.
“I took a step back and tried to insert myself into that scene.
The improved version:
Here’s the introduction I went with:
IT HAS TO BE ONE OF THE TOUGHEST SITUATIONS AN OFFICER WILL EVER The library says — if you’re under 18, you can’t check out videos.
FACE . . . SOMEONE HAS A GUN, AND THEY’RE POINTING IT -- RIGHT AT YOU. What we fixed:
IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, YOU HAVE A DECISION TO MAKE . . . DO YOU SHOOT � The original phrasing was too formal and wordy. We
-- OR TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING SHOT? WELL, FOR THE SECOND TIME IN compressed the meaning as much as possible (“videos” conveys
TWO WEEKS, A LOCAL OFFICER . . . DECIDED TO SHOOT. the same idea as “movie videotapes or DVDs”).
“That seemed like a much more effective and compelling way � It’s written in the second person. It’s now about you.
to communicate the story and draw viewers in.” � The sentence is now in the present tense.

b) POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A SMALLVILLE MAN ACCUSED OF STABBING HIS WIFE
AND TRYING TO SET HER ON FIRE. e) A 10-year-old skateboarder was struck and killed by a truck at 1120 Baker St.
this morning. Police haven’t yet identified the driver of the truck.
c) WANT TO MAKE YOUR FEET MORE SWEET? THEN EAT MORE BEETS.
The improved version:
Police are looking for a truck driver who struck and killed a 10-year-old
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS skateboarder on Baker Street this morning.
BROADCAST NEWSWRITING?
What we fixed:
a) “I’ve got a really painful cramp in my groin,” said OSU halfback Bud � We’ve streamlined the phrasing.
Weiser, explaining why he will sit out tonight’s game. � That first sentence was originally written in passive voice and
The improved version: past tense. The new version is in present tense, active voice.
O-S-U halfback Bud Weiser (WHY-zer) says he’s sitting out tonight’s game � Street should not be abbreviated.
because of a painful cramp in his groin.
What we fixed: f) The earthquake, which struck at 7:01 a.m., caused no reported damage,
� Remember that broadcasting axiom: Attribution before just rattling windows and setting off car alarms throughout the city.
assertion. First, tell us who has the medical problem. Otherwise, The improved version:
listeners or viewers will be startled to hear the newscaster exclaim The earthquake struck just after 7 this morning. It rattled windows and set off
out of the blue, “I’ve got a really painful cramp in my groin.” The car alarms, but no damage has been reported.
attribution must precede that information. What we fixed:
� O-S-U should be hyphenated to make sure no one pronounces
� The time of the quake is now phrased more conversationally.
it “Oh-sue.” Weiser’s name may need a pronouncer, too, to � One long, complex sentence has become two shorter ones.
make sure nobody says “WEE-zer.”
� We’ve paraphrased Weiser rather than trying to quote him.
g) President Barack Obama has announced a new plan to cut estate taxes
� We’ve eliminated the word said. The sentence is now in the
by 9%.
present tense.
The improved version:
President Obama is promoting a new plan to cut estate taxes by nine percent.
b) The victims were taken to St. Vincent Hospital, where they are now
recovering. The hospital lists them in critical condition. What we fixed:
� We’ve replaced the verb to make it sound more current.
The improved version:
� It should be written nine percent in words, not 9%.
The victims are in critical condition at Saint Vincent Hospital. � In broadcast newswriting, you don’t need to say the entire
What we fixed: name of well-known public figures. It’s enough to say simply
� That first version was too wordy. We assume the victims are President Obama.
 EXERCISE ANSWERS 319

TURN THIS NEWSPAPER STORY INTO A WHAT’S IT CALLED?

RADIO BRIEF AND A TELEVISION PACKAGE
An example of a 45-second radio story: a) Radio: cut or c) reader
actuality. d) natural sound
Every dog has his day — but on Bilford’s campus, those days may soon be TV: sound on tape
over. A petition drive by Students Against Dogs has asked the administration (SOT) e) toss
to outlaw dogs on campus. Ferris Wheeler is the group’s president. f) tease
b) out-cue
Wheeler: “This stinks. I mean, this school smells like dog doo. Irresponsible
pet owners are letting their dogs chase cyclists, bark and crap all over
campus.” (:12)
Not all students agree, however. Dog owner Juliet Sims says a dog ban
would be unfair.
Sims: “I admit there’s too much poop on the sidewalks, but it’s wrong to let
a few bad apples ruin it for everybody.” (:07)
The Board of Trustees will debate the issue at their Thursday meeting.
Answers to
the questions
on page 200
An example of a 90-second television package:
(Anchor)
Lead-in DOGS — AND DOG DROPPINGS — ARE RAISING A
(:10) STINK ON BILFORD’S CAMPUS THESE DAYS. WUGH’S
GENERATE A NEWS RELEASE
(REPORTER’S NAME) HAS DUG UP THIS REPORT.
Here’s one suggested option for that news release:
(Reporter v/o)
Video cover of dogs SOME SAY THAT BILFORD COLLEGE IS GOING TO THE DOGS.
roaming around YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE -- RUNNING. FETCHING. ZOO MOURNS THE LOSS OF HOMER, THE POLAR BEAR
(:10) BARKING. AND YES -- POOPING. The Midland Zoo’s oldest polar bear was found dead in
its exhibit this morning. The zoo is investigating the cause
(Reporter on-cam) of death.
Stand-up showing UNTIL NOW, DOGS HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ROAM FREELY “We will do everything in our power to determine how
reporter on campus with AROUND THE CAMPUS, EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE SUPPOSED this bear died,” zoo director Chris P. Bacon said. “Animal
dogs in the background TO BE KEPT ON A LEASH. SOME STUDENTS, LIKE FERRIS
welfare and the preservation of species are our primary
(:12) WHEELER, HAVE HAD ENOUGH.
goals here at the zoo.”
(Wheeler) The zoo will perform a necropsy to try to determine the
SOT, with name line: “This stinks. I mean, this school smells like dog doo. cause of death, zoo veterinarian Dr. Shanda Lear said. The
FERRIS WHEELER, Irresponsible pet owners are letting their dogs chase results will not be available for several weeks.
President, Students cyclists, bark and crap all over campus.” Zookeeper Sara N. Getty found the dead bear, a 16-year
Against Dogs (:12) old male named Homer, floating in the exhibit pool.
(Reporter v/o) “Homer was a very curious and playful polar bear and
More video cover of IN RESPONSE TO A PETITION FILED BY STUDENTS AGAINST we will miss him terribly,” Getty said.
dogs roaming around DOGS, SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS HAVE POSTED SIGNS THAT Zoo staff responded immediately to the incident. The
and sniffing at the signs SAY “NO DOGS ALLOWED.” AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES
remaining polar bears, a 9-year-old male named Yukon
(:18) IS CONSIDERING BANNING DOGS FROM THE CAMPUS.
and a 10-year old female named McKenzie, were removed
SOME DOG OWNERS, LIKE JULIET SIMS, OPPOSE THE IDEA. from the exhibit and are being monitored by veterinary
staff.
(Sims) Polar bears have thrived at the zoo since 1985. This
SOT, with name line: “This proposal is ugly and unfair to responsible dog unique exhibit allows the bears to engage in natural
JULIET SIMS, owners like me. I admit there’s too much poop on the behaviors, playing in manufactured snow, digging in
Bilford junior sidewalks, but it’s wrong to let a few bad apples ruin it gravel and hunting trout in the chilled pool. The bears
(:13) for everybody.” are ambassadors for their wild relatives, educating zoo
visitors about these threatened animals.
(Reporter on-cam)
Reporter stand-up EVERY DOG HAS HIS DAY — AND FOR DOGS HERE AT
Notice how:
(:15) BILFORD, THAT DAY IS THURSDAY, WHEN THE BOARD OF
TRUSTEES WILL ASK, WHO LET THE DOGS OUT? AND � The goal of the press release is to make the zoo look
SHOULD WE LET THEM STAY OUT? as caring, responsive and responsible as possible. We
reinforce that message in a positive way throughout the
THIS IS (REPORTER’S NAME) REPORTING. story, from the second sentence of the lead to the
320 EXERCISE ANSWERS

statement that “zoo staff responded immediately.”

� We put the zoo’s main message in a quote from the zoo direc- WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS NEWS RELEASE?
tor, a credible authority figure. 1) The quote lead is a bad idea for either news stories or news
� We put a human face on the loss of the bear by quoting the releases — especially a quote that makes your client look like an
zookeeper. We also put Homer’s name in the headline to appeal idiot.
to your emotions. (Did it work?) 2) The boastful, self-serving language continues in paragraphs
� The lead of the release suggests that the polar bear might have two and four. Using your release as shameless advertising is a
died of old age. That may not be true, but it deflects suspicion sure way to turn off journalists reading it.
that carelessness or mistreatment may have contributed to 3) In paragraph three, there’s an improper lack of objective
Homer’s death or the deaths of those other two animals. newswriting style: “you can’t miss our concert.”
� We did not include information about the previous deaths at 4) The time of the concert has been omitted.
the zoo because we don’t want to suggest that they were related. 5) There’s no name or contact information.
� The closing paragraph recycles details about the zoo’s educa-
tional mission to reinforce the message that the zoo is respon-
sive and dedicated to the welfare of the animals in its care. PLAN A MEDIA KIT

NOW TURN THAT RELEASE INTO A NEWS STORY Remember, the more items you include and the more media
kits you produce, the more expensive this project becomes. So
One possible solution: your first question should be: What’s our budget?
For the third time in two weeks, an animal has died at the Once you know how much money you can spend, you’ll be
Midland Zoo. able to decide what to include. A list of options to choose from:
A 16-year-old polar bear named Homer was found floating in � News release announcing the new product and the tasting

the exhibit pool an hour after his morning feeding Friday. The event.
cause of death is unknown. � Backgrounder and/or fact sheet on your company.

The zoo will perform a necropsy to try to determine the cause � Byliner on the health and environmental benefits of organic

of death, zoo veterinarian Dr. Shanda Lear said. The results will chocolate.
not be available for several weeks. � Previously published reviews of the company’s established line

The zoo’s remaining polar bears, a 9-year-old male named of chocolates.

Yukon and a 10-year old female named McKenzie, were removed � Brochure promoting the new chocolates.

from the exhibit and are being monitored by veterinary staff. � Fact sheet on organic chocolate.

Two other animals have recently died at the zoo. Last week, � Timeline or calendar listing dates and locations of upcoming

a 10-year-old bobcat named Regina died of renal failure. Two chocolate-tasting events.
weeks ago, a 6-year-old giraffe named Kenya died from a broken � Invitation to the press for a behind-the-scenes chocolate tasting

neck when her horns got caught in her stall. and factory tour.
Zoo officials said the deaths are unrelated. � Photos of the new chocolates.
� Samples of the new chocolates.

Notice how: Where to send the media kit: Of course, you’ll send it to local
� The lead reveals our story angle — not just the death of this media outlets and interested businesses, but you want to make
bear, but the fact that it’s the third death this month. The polar sure it lands on the right desk. Your list could include:
bear’s death is not an isolated incident. � Feature editor and business editor of the city newspaper. (At
� We chose not to use those quotes from the zoo director and
big papers, send one to the food writer and any business re-
the zookeeper. Neither quote supplies any solid information. porter who writes stories about new local products.)
Reporters should be wary of appeals to emotion and authority. � Feature editor of any local monthly magazines, weekly com-
It’s best to let the facts speak and let readers draw their own munity newspapers or campus papers.
conclusions. � Editor of any local/regional business journal or blog.
� We chose not to add that boilerplate information about the
� National food magazines (Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Gourmet
zoo’s educational mission. It seems too self-promotional. magazine, etc.).
� Bottom line: A typical editor might read this story and say,
� National trade journals (Chocolatier, Candy Industry, Confec-
“You’re playing up the serial-death angle. And I can see where tioner, Art Culinaire, Tea & Coffee Trade Journal).
there’s a possibility that something is amiss over at the zoo. � Any local/regional TV and radio stations that report soft news
Three animals dead in two weeks? Is that normal? Is there like this.
neglect or abuse? How often do animals die at the zoo? How � Candy buyers for local grocery store chains.
long should animals live when they’re in captivity? � Local merchants who sell upscale candy, including candy stores,
“Do you have time to research this further right now? coffee shops, gift and card shops, luxury hotels, day spas, wine
If not — if you can’t flesh out this story with more interviews shops, bakeries and florists (who often deliver both flowers and
and statistics — then you should do a follow-up as soon as you candy).
can. Crunch some numbers, talk to some more experts and find � Local culinary schools.
out if there’s a bigger story worth chasing here.”
 GLOSSARY 321

GLOSSARY

absolute privilege The right of B copy A section of a story that’s written broadsheet A full-size newspaper,
legislators, judges and other public ahead of time for an event that will occur measuring roughly 14 by 23 inches.
officials to speak without threat of libel close to deadline. Most dailies (The New York Times, USA
when carrying out their duties. B-roll (or cover) Video images shot at a Today) are broadsheets. If you fold a
actuality (also called a cut, sound bite or news scene that are later used to illustrate broadsheet in half, it becomes a tabloid.
bite) The recorded voice of someone in (or cover) a sound bite or reporter’s track budget A roundup of stories by each
the news, or sound from a news event. that was recorded separately. department of a newsroom (news, sports,
Actualities include statements from pub- background Information gathered by business, etc.), which is then discussed at
lic officials, interviews with eyewitnesses, reporters to help them understand a news meetings as editors plan coverage.
comments from experts — even the story’s history, meaning, context, etc. browser A software program (such as
shouts of an angry mob. Also refers to quotes or facts that can be Internet Explorer, Safari or Firefox) that
actual malice Reckless disregard of the used in a story without disclosing the enables you to view Web pages.
truth; printing something you know to source’s name. bullet A type of dingbat, usually a big
be false. This is a condition that must be backgrounder A story that explains the dot (�), used to highlight items listed in
proved in libel cases filed by public basics of an issue or event. Also refers to the text.
figures or public officials. an interview in which a source provides bump To delay or relocate a story.
ad An advertisement. information, though not necessarily for
publication. bureau A newsgathering office separate
advance A story explaining an upcoming from the main newsroom. A major
meeting or event. beat The area or subject that a reporter newspaper, for instance, might
advertorial Part advertising, part is responsible for covering. A beat can have bureaus at the state capital, in
editorial; an advertisement section in be a topic (crime), an institution (the Washington, D.C., and in foreign
a publication that contains stories and state legislature) or a location (Lincoln countries.
photos. County).
byline The reporter’s name, usually
advocacy journalism A type of reporting beatblog A blog written by a reporter or printed at the beginning of a story.
in which journalists take sides in a con- team of reporters that focuses on a spe-
cialized topic such as local crime, sports caption A sentence or block of type
troversial issue, promoting a particular providing descriptive information about a
point of view. or politics.
photo; used interchangeably with cutline.
agate Small type used for sports statis- bias Unfairly favoring one side over
another when writing a story. change of venue Transferring a court
tics, stock tables, classified ads, etc. proceeding to another jurisdiction after
anchor The person who reads the news blog A Web log; an online journal the prosecution or defense claims that
during a newscast and provides transi- providing commentary, news dispatches potential jurors have been prejudiced by
tions between stories. and/or links to related Web sites. local media coverage.
anecdotal lead A humorous, dramatic blogger Someone who writes a blog. citizen journalist Someone who posts
or revealing incident that’s used to begin blogosphere The interconnected news online without having been trained
a story. community of blogs and bloggers who as a reporter or affiliated with any news
anecdote A recounting of an entertaining post comments and link to each other’s organization.
or informative incident within a story. blogs. clip A story clipped from a newspaper.
angle The focus, emphasis or “slant” of blotter Newsroom slang for the crime closed-ended question A direct question
a story; a distinctive way of viewing and reports that summarize facts about local intended to elicit a yes-or-no answer
writing about a topic. arrests. (“Should the president be impeached?”)
AP The Associated Press, a worldwide break To publish an important or — as opposed to an open-ended question
news-gathering cooperative. dramatic story for the first time. To cover intended to encourage a lengthy answer.
breaking news is to report on an event still color Giving a story color means adding
assignment Designation by an editor for in progress.
a reporter or photographer to cover an description or human interest; coloring a
event. brief A short news story. story means slanting it unfairly by adding
brite (or bright) A short, amusing news bias.
attribute To identify the source of a fact,
opinion or quote. story. column Advice or commentary by a
broadcast Sending information to many columnist writing in a distinctive style on
attribution The written phrase that a consistent topic (sports, music, current
identifies the source of a fact, opinion or destinations simultaneously via radio,
television or computer network. events).
quote in a story.
322 GLOSSARY

column inch A way to measure the depth that’s organized by journalists into a news outlet; a scoop.
of a story; it’s text that, when printed, is searchable format. fact sheet A page distributed by public
1 inch long and one column wide. dateline Words appearing at the start of relations practitioners highlighting key
column logo A graphic device that labels the first paragraph of a story that identify data about a product, project or event.
regularly appearing material by packag- where the story was filed. fair comment and criticism The right
ing the writer’s name, the column’s name deadline The time by which a reporter of journalists to print their opinions on
and a small mug or drawing of the writer. must finish a story. the performance of public figures or
conflict of interest A situation where a deck A small headline running below the entertainers. Such criticism is legally
journalist’s personal interests (family, main headline; also called a drop head. protected as long as writers do not falsify
friends, finances, etc.) affect the coverage facts.
of a story. deep background Information that may
be used in a story but which cannot be feature A non-breaking-news story on
convergence Combining a variety of attributed in any way, in order to protect people, trends or issues. A feature story
media (text, images, audio, video) to the source’s identity. isn’t necessarily related to a current event;
cover a story. it appeals to readers because of its topic,
delayed identification lead A type of angle or writing style.
copy The text of a story. news lead that withholds a significant
copy desk The newsroom department piece of information — usually a person’s flag The name of a newspaper as it’s
responsible for editing stories, writing name — until the second paragraph. displayed on Page One; also called a
headlines and designing pages. nameplate.
developing story A story in progress;
copy editor A newsroom staffer who an event or situation that will require Flash Software (by Adobe) used to
edits stories and writes headlines. additional time to unfold. produce animated graphics.
copyright The legal protection given to dialogue The use of quotes to re-create follow or follow-up A story supplying
authors preventing others from copying a conversation between two or more additional details about an event that’s
or selling their work. people. been previously covered.
correspondent A reporter who files dig To question or investigate in depth. font A typeface.
stories from outside the newsroom — dingbats Decorative type characters Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
usually someone assigned to cover events (������) used for lists or graphic A 1966 law requiring federal agencies to
in another city, state or country. emphasis. make most of their records available to
cover To gather news about an event. the public upon request.
draft An early version of a story,
cq A phrase inserted into a story (but before it’s rewritten and polished for freelancer A self-employed writer who
not printed), usually following a phone publication. sells stories to publications.
number or a peculiar spelling, to advise dummy A small, detailed page diagram futures file A collection of clips, press
copy editors that “this information has showing where all elements (text, photos, releases, notes and story ideas, arranged
been checked.” Example: Police arrested headlines, etc.) go. by date, to remind editors of upcoming
a construction worker named Vladimir stories to assign.
Schroughmfk (cq). editor A person who assigns, approves
or corrects stories for publication or general assignment Where a reporter
credibility The public’s perception of the broadcast. covers a wide range of stories rather than
reliability of a reporter or news outlet. focusing on a specific beat.
editorial Commentary that expresses
crowdsourcing Gathering information opinion about a current event or issue grabber An attention-getting lead.
for a news story from a group of online (usually the opinion of an editor, graf Short for “paragraph.”
readers. publisher or owner); the department of gutter The space running vertically
crusade A campaign by a news outlet the newspaper that gathers, writes, edits between two columns.
to bring about reform or encourage and publishes news.
government action. handout See news release.
editorialize To inject the reporter’s
cub A rookie or trainee reporter. opinion inappropriately into a news story hard news Factual coverage of serious
or headline. events (crime, accidents, speeches, gov-
cut To delete part of a story. ernment action). Soft news, on the other
cutline A sentence or block of type embargo A restriction placed on a news hand, refers to lighter, less urgent feature
providing descriptive information about story or press release that specifies when stories.
a photo; also called a caption. the information can be made public.
header A special label for any regularly
daily A newspaper that prints a new enterprise story An article or project appearing section, page or story; also
edition every day. that’s more creative, original and called a standing head.
ambitious than typical news stories.
database A collection of facts and data headline Large type running above or
exclusive A story reported by only one
 GLOSSARY 323

beside a story to summarize its content; italic Type that slants to the right, like its connection to local people, issues or
also called a head, for short. Headlines this. events.
are usually written by copy editors, but jargon Specialized technical or logo A word or name that’s stylized in
occasionally by reporters. bureaucratic language that’s often a graphic way; used to refer to standing
hit The term used for counting the confusing or meaningless to ordinary heads and column labels in a newspaper.
number of visitors to a Web page. readers. maestro A staffer who works with
(Technically, it refers to the number of journalese Tired clichés that are recycled reporters, editors, photographers and
elements on each Web page; accessing a by lazy reporters (solons hammered out designers to plan and create special
page with text and three images would a last-minute agreement in a marathon treatments for stories.
count as four hits.) 11th–hour session). masthead A block of information,
home page The main page of a Web site, journalism The business and craft of including staff names and publication
providing links to the rest of the site. producing content for the news media. data, often printed on the editorial page.
hole An unanswered question in a story; jump To continue a story on another media kit A package of information
a significant missing fact that’s identified page; text that’s been continued on about a product, group or event, often
when a story is edited. another page is called the jump. containing background information,
human-interest story A feature that justification Aligning lines of text so photos, news releases and so on.
provides drama or emotional impact for they’re even along both the right and left median The middle number or halfway
readers. margins. point in a series of numbers arranged
home page The main page of a Web site, kicker An ending that concludes a story by size; it’s used whenever calculating
providing links to the rest of the site. in a clever way: a surprise, a punch line or an average would be confusing or
HTML HyperText Markup Language, the a memorable quote. misleading. In the series 1, 2, 4, 11, 13,
coding used to format and display Web the median — the middle number in the
kill To delete (or refuse to run) a story, series — is 4.
pages. or something within a story.
microblogging: A type of blogging where
hyperlocal Journalism that focuses layout The placement of art and text on
tightly on community activities (Little bloggers post extremely brief updates, up
a page; to lay out a page is to design it. to 140 characters long. Twitter is a popu-
League games and Scout troop meetings,
for example). lead The first sentence or paragraph lar microblogging tool that delivers short
of a story. It’s pronounced lede (and posts, or tweets, over the Web or via cell
immediate identification lead A lead in journalists sometimes spell it that way, phone.
which the “who” is identified by name, too). morgue A news library, where published
usually because the person is recognizable
to most readers (as opposed to a delayed lead-in Words that introduce some stories and photos are stored for refer-
identification lead). element in a broadcast news story. ence.
leading questions Questions intended mug shot A small photo showing a
in-cue The first words of a cut or wrap.
to steer an interviewee in a particular person’s face.
information graphic Any map, chart or direction. multimedia Presenting information using
diagram used to analyze an event, object
or place. (Called an “infographic” for lead story The story deserving the biggest more than one medium, combining text,
short). headline and best display on Page One, or graphics, audio and video.
at the start of a newscast. narrative A storytelling style where
intro (or anchor intro) The lead to a
reporter’s wrap, read by an anchor. libel Publishing or broadcasting a false events unfold chronologically.
statement that maliciously or carelessly narrative lead A lead that begins a story
invasion of privacy Violating the right of damages someone’s reputation.
an ordinary person to be left alone — to by placing readers in the middle of the
stay out of the news. liftout quote A graphic treatment of a action.
quotation taken from a story, often using natural sound (or ambient sound) In
inverted pyramid A news story structure bold or italic type and a photo. Also
that presents the most important facts radio or TV new stories, sounds recorded
called a pull quote. to capture the flavor of a news scene —
first; the rest of the information is
organized in descending order of link A clickable word or image on a Web birds singing, crowds cheering, planes
importance. page that directs you to another page or landing.
site. news conference An interview session
investigative journalism Reporting
that requires extensive research to live Not prerecorded; usually refers to where someone fields questions from
uncover information on misconduct or stories filed from a news scene. a group of reporters; also called a press
corruption that has been concealed from conference.
localizing Providing a community
the public. angle on a national story by discussing news director The top news executive in
a television newsroom, responsible for
324 GLOSSARY

news content, budget decisions, hiring once sang, is “blowin’ in the wind.” product, event or organization.
and firing staff, etc. plagiarism Passing off someone else’s publisher The top-ranking executive of a
news release Information sent out by a words or ideas as your own. newspaper, who oversees all departments
group or individual seeking publicity; play The emphasis given to a story or (editorial, advertising, circulation, etc.).
also called a press release or handout. an element within a story. News can be puff piece A flattering story written to
nut graph (or nut graf) An explanatory “played up” (emphasized) or “played provide gratuitous publicity.
paragraph near the top of the story that down” (de-emphasized). Pulitzer Prize The most prestigious award
summarizes what the story is about — podcast An audio version of a news story in journalism, established by publisher
or tells readers why they should care. made available for downloading on a Joseph Pulitzer at Columbia University.
obit Short for obituary, a story about Web site. Q and A An interview printed in
someone who has died. pool A group of reporters and question-and-answer form.
off the record An agreement by a photographers selected to cover a story quote (n.) The exact words spoken by
reporter and a source specifying that where access is limited; their reports and a source; (v.) to print a source’s exact
information revealed in an interview photographs are then shared with other words inside quotation marks.
cannot be printed in any form. media outlets.
readership The estimated number
op-ed page The page opposite a post An entry on a blog. of readers who view a publication (as
newspaper’s editorial page, usually press box The section of a sports arena opposed to circulation, which is the
reserved for columns and letters to the or stadium reserved for reporters number of copies distributed).
editor. covering the event. refer A line or paragraph that alerts
open-ended question A question phrased press conference An interview session readers to a related story elsewhere in the
in a way that encourages a source to where someone answers questions from paper or on the Web site.
give a lengthy, in-depth answer (“Why a group of reporters; also called a news
do you think the president should be reporter A person who gathers and
conference. writes news stories for publication or
impeached?”) — as opposed to a closed-
ended question designed to elicit a yes-or- press release Information sent out by a broadcast.
no answer. group or individual seeking publicity; RSS: Short for “Really Simple
also called a news release or handout. Syndication,” a format that lets Web users
open-meeting laws State and federal laws
that guarantee public (and press) access privilege A journalistic defense against subscribe to feeds from blogs or Web
to meetings of government bodies. libel that allows reporters to print what’s sites. Every time you add a new post to
said in legislative or judicial proceedings your blog, RSS delivers it automatically to
open-record laws State and federal laws (fair report privilege), to express opinions your subscribers.
guaranteeing public (and press) access to (opinion privilege) or to review public
most government records. running story A story that is continuing
performances (fair comment and to unfold, necessitating follow-up stories
out-cue (OQ) The final words of a cut or criticism). as events develop.
wrap. profile A feature story that uses scoop (n.) An exclusive story no other
package A story that uses multiple interviews and observations to paint a news outlet has; (v.) to beat the
points of entry (text, sidebars, graphics, picture of someone newsworthy. competition to a juicy story.
photos, etc.) to make complex topics prompter A device that projects a news
more accessible to readers; also, a story script The written version of a radio
script in front of the camera lens for an news story.
that’s prepared by a TV news reporter, anchor to read. (TelePrompTer is a well-
usually taped, featuring the reporter’s known brand name.) second-day story A “follow-up” story
narration, one or more sound bites and that provides additional details about an
often a stand-up. public figure In libel cases, a person event that was previously covered.
who has acquired fame or notoriety (a
pad To lengthen a story by adding performer or athlete, for example) or has sedition Activities or writings that
unnecessary material, usually so it fits a participated in some public controversy incite resistance or hostility toward the
predetermined length. (a protester or social activist). government.
paginate To design a page on a public official In libel cases, someone series Two or more stories on the same
computer. who exercises power or influence in topic, usually published in a scheduled
paraphrase An indirect quote that governmental affairs (a police officer, sequence.
summarizes, in your own words, what mayor or school superintendent, for shield laws Statutes that give journalists
someone else said. example). the right to protect the identity of sources
partial quotation A section or fragment public relations The skills and tactics when questioned during judicial
of a longer quote that you insert into used to convey information and maintain proceedings.
another sentence: The answer, as Dylan a positive public image about a person, sidebar A small story or chart accompa-
 GLOSSARY 325

nying a bigger story on the same topic. stringer A part-time correspondent who target audience A particular
slander Defamation by the spoken word. is not a regular newsroom employee but demographic (a segment of the public)
(Defamation by the printed word is libel.) gets paid by the story. at which media producers or advertisers
style A writer’s unique blend of syntax, aim their message.
slide show A series of photos and
captions — often incorporating audio vocabulary and perspective that gives tease A brief headline or promo for a
commentary — that illustrates a topic or his or her writing its characteristic coming radio or TV news story.
event on a Web site. personality; also, a news organization’s transition A word or phrase used by a
rules for punctuation, capitalization, writer to move a story from one point
slug The name given to a story for abbreviation, etc.
newsroom use. (or topic, or idea) to another. Common
stylebook A compilation of newsroom transitions include however, meanwhile,
social networking Use of online sites rules for punctuation, capitalization, on a related issue, nevertheless, etc.
such as Facebook and MySpace to build abbreviation, etc., with guidelines on
relationships with colleagues and sources. trend story A feature story on the
everything from handling profanity to culture’s latest fads, fashions and ideas —
soft news Stories that are lighter and less recording sports scores. from fashions and technological gizmos
urgent than serious breaking news events. subhead Lines of type, often bold, used to social customs and lifestyles.
SOT, sound-on-tape A recorded sound to divide text into smaller sections. typo A typesetting mistake.
bite (usually audio and video) played suitcase lead An excessively long lead
during a TV news story. user-generated content Material for
that’s overstuffed with facts, like a news sites that’s provided by the public
sound bite A recorded comment from a bulging suitcase. rather than news organizations or jour-
news source (usually audio and video). summary lead A news lead that summa- nalists.
sources Records or people providing rizes the most significant of the five W’s Video news release A press release,
journalists with information. (The term (who, what, when, where, why). complete with images and sound, ready
usually refers to people.) syndicated columnist A writer whose to be used in a televised newscast.
spike To kill or withhold a story from commentary is sold and distributed by a VO or voice-over: When the anchor speaks
publication. news organization for reprinting in other over video, or when a reporter narrates
publications. over video cover.
spin The slanting of information by a
source, usually in an attempt to make tabloid A newspaper format that’s voicer A news story by a reporter that
someone look good. roughly half the size of a standard doesn’t use actualities; when it’s delivered
(broadsheet) page; also, a derogatory by an anchor reading a script, it’s called
stand-up A shot of a reporter at a news
term for a type of sleazy, sensational a reader.
scene reporting a story.
journalism (made infamous by tabloid-
spot news A timely event covered by sized newspapers back in the early 20th wiki A Web site where ordinary users can
journalists as it happens. century). write and edit content collaboratively.
spread A story layout designed across tag (or sign-off, sig-out, lockout, standard wire service An organization (such as
two facing pages. out-cue) The closing line where The Associated Press) that compiles news,
reporters say their names and station call features and photos and distributes them,
staffer Someone who works for a news
letters (“Ella Funt, Newsradio 920”). for a fee, to subscribing publications.
organization: a reporter, editor,
photographer, etc. takeout A longer analysis piece that wrap A radio news story that begins and
attempts to put a complex issue into ends with a reporter’s voice “wrapped”
stet A proofreading comment that means
perspective. around one or more sound bites. (TV
“leave it – ignore any editing notations.”
reporters call this a package.)
story The word journalists use to refer to talent Reporters, anchors, disc jockeys
— those paid to appear on the air (as yellow journalism News reporting that’s
a published article.
opposed to engineers or office staff). sleazy or sensational.
326 WEBLIOGRAPHY

THE REPORTER’S
WEBLIOGRAPHY Here’s our list of recommended Web sites, arranged alphabetically.
For a more up-to-date list (with links), visit www.mhhe.com/harrower2e.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION WorldWatch Institute JOURNALISM ORGANIZATIONS

www.worldwatch.org
Biographical Dictionary News and features on environmental issues and American Association of Sunday and
www.s9.com problems from around the world. Feature Editors
A good site for a quick (but brief) biographical www.aasfe.org
check on almost any famous person. EXPERT SOURCES American Copy Editors Society (ACES)
Biography www.copydesk.org
ProfNet Experts
www.biography.com profnet3.prnewswire.com/enter/index.jsp American Press Institute
The Biography Channel Web site. Provides data www.americanpressinstitute.org
on public figures and (especially) celebrities. National Press Club
npc.press.org/library/resources. American Society of Journalists and Authors
cfm?s=e#section1 www.asja.org
BLOGS
Both sites connect journalists with experts and American Society of Newspaper Editors
Romenesko information officers around the world. www.asne.org
www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=45 Asian American Journalism Association
The best Web roundup of media industry news GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS www.aaja.org
and gossip. Associated Press Sports Editors
Boingboing Fed World apse.dallasnews.com
www.boingboing.net www.fedworld.gov/govlinks.html Association for Education in Journalism and
Looking for feature story ideas? Tracking trends? Links to a vast array of federal government sites. Mass Communication
Or just hoping for oddball, interesting reading?
Voter Information Sevices www.aejmc.org
These two respected sites demonstrate how the
www.vis.org Association for Women in Communications
best blogs monitor what’s new and cool.
Offers analysis of Congressional voting records. www.womcom.org
Talking Points Memo
Campaign Finance Information Center Association of Health Care Journalists
www.talkingpointsmemo.com
www.campaignfinance.org www.healthjournalism.org
An impressive example of how a team of skilled
Part of the Investigative Reporters and Editors
reporters can compile a steady stream of blog Black Journalism Review
(IRE) Web site, to help you follow the money.
posts into influential political news coverage. www.blackjournalism.com
Federal Election Commision
www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml Center for Media and Public Affairs
CRIME AND COURTS www.cmpa.com
Official campaign finance reports and statistics.
Covering Crime and Justice U.S. Government Statistics Columbia Scholastic Press Association
www.justicejournalism.org/crimeguide/ www.fedstats.gov www.columbia.edu/cu/cspa
toc.html
U.S. Bureau of Census Committee to Protect Journalists
Helpful articles on covering the crime and
www.census.gov www.cpj.org
justice beat compiled by Criminal Justice
Journalists. Committee of Concerned Journalists
U.S. Federal Government Directory
www.concernedjournalists.org
FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports www.searchbeat.com/fed-usa.htm
www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm A collection of links to federal and state Web Criminal Justice Journalists
Statistics on all types of crime occurring sites, agencies, news, weather, businesses, etc. www.reporters.net/cjj/index.html
throughout the United States. State and Local Government on the Net DART Center for Journalism & Trauma
www.statelocalgov.net www.dartcenter.org
Bureau of Justice Statistics
www.albany.edu/sourcebook A directory of Web sites for state, county and Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting
Criminal justice statistics from over 100 sources. local governments across the country. www.fair.org
U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Government Printing Office Access First Amendment Center
www.usdoj.gov www.gpoaccess.gov www.firstamendmentcenter.org
The Web site to view or order documents Freedom Forum
U.S. Courts printed by the U.S. government. www.freedomforum.org
www.uscourts.gov/allinks.html
Offers links to all courts throughout the U.S. International Center for Journalists
HISTORY www.icfj.org
ENVIRONMENT Best of History Web sites Investigative Reporters and Editors
www.besthistorysites.net www.ire.org
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Links to more than 1,000 history Web sites. Journalism Education Association
www.epa.gov www.jea.org
Includes the EPA Newsroom, regulations and The History Channel
educational resources for the public. www.historychannel.com National Association of Black Journalists
Speeches, videos, timelines and maps. www.nabj.org
National Oceanic & Atmospheric
Administration The Library of Congress National Association of Hispanic Journalists
www.noaa.gov www.loc.gov/index.html www.nahj.org
Data on oceans, the atmosphere, ecosystems, A massive clearinghouse of maps, documents, National Association of Science Writers
climate change and weather forecasts. photos, video and more. www.nasw.org
 WEBLIOGRAPHY 327

National Conference of Editorial Writers NEWS AND NEWS SITES Journalist Express
www.ncew.org www.journalistexpress.com
National Federation of Press Women Want an interesting alternative to Yahoo! News? Another all-purpose home page with links to
www.nfpw.org Try one of these three news aggregators: reference material, publications, headlines, etc.
mahalo The Journalist’s Toolbox
National Institute for Computer-Assisted mahalo.com www.journaliststoolbox.org
Reporting A surprisingly clever way to arrange headlines. Hundreds of helpful links from the American
data.nicar.org
newser Press Institute.
National Lesbian & Gay Journalists newser.com Power Reporting
Association An unusually visual way to sort today’s stories. powerreporting.com
www.nlgja.org 10 X 10 A Web site listing “thousands of free research
National Scholastic Press Association tenbyten.org/10X10.html tools for journalists.”
studentpress.journ.umn.edu An innovatively designed news site that ranks
Reporter’s Desktop
the day’s top stories visually and numerically.
National Society of Newspaper Columnists www.reporter.org/desktop
www.columnists.com Another one-stop collection of links to reference
Mondo Times materials, Web sites, maps and search engines.
Native American Journalists Association www.mondotimes.com
www.naja.com Cool calculators
Newslink
Newseum — Interactive Museum of News www.madison.com/library/LEE/calculators.html
newslink.org
www.newseum.org A broad assortment of tools to help you calculate
NewsVoyager percentages, money, speed, temperature, etc.
Online News Association www.newspaperlinks.com/voyager.cfm
www.journalists.org Need a link to a newspaper, magazine, TV or Fagan Finder Quotations and Proverbs Search
radio station? If it exists, one of these three sites www.faganfinder.com/quotes
Quill & Scroll Need to track down a quote or proverb?
www.uiowa.edu/~quill-sc will get you there.
This is usually the best place to start.
Poynter Institute for Media Studies Newspaper Archives
www.newspaperarchive.com Search Systems
www.poynter.org www.searchsystems.net
Need to track down an old story? This site
Project for Excellence in Journalism boasts access to millions of back issues. A free directory that allows you to search public
www.journalism.org record databases of all kinds.
U.S. News Archives on the Web
The Pulitzer Prizes www.ibiblio.org/slanews/internet/archives.html The Smoking Gun
www.pulitzer.org A clearinghouse of links to the archives of many www.thesmokinggun.com
Radio-Television News Directors Association U.S. newspapers. Want to see how entertaining public records and
www.rtnda.org legal documents can be? This stuff is priceless.
Interactive Narratives
Religion Newswriters Association www.interactivenarratives.org Internet Movie Database
www.rna.org The Online News Association’s impressive www.imdb.com
Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the collection of multimedia storytelling projects. The best source for information about movies,
Press videos — even television shows.
www.rcfp.org PUBLIC RELATIONS CIA — The World Fact Book
Society of American Business Editors and www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook
All About Public Relations Information on every country on the planet,
Writers aboutpublicrelations.net/toolkit.htm
www.sabew.org from illicit drug use to number of telephones,
A toolkit of helpful columns and articles courtesy of U.S. intelligence agencies.
Society for Environmental Journalists compiled by Steven R. Van Hook.
www.sej.org
PR News Wire TELEPHONE AND ADDRESS SERVICES
Society for News Design prnewswire.com
www.snd.org International clearinghouse of news releases. Anywho Online Directory
Society of Professional Journalists www.anywho.com
Public Relations Society of America
www.spj.org Switchboard
www.prsa.org
South Asian Journalists Association www.switchboard.com
www.saja.org RADIO AND TELEVISION The Global Yellow Pages
Unity: Journalists of Color www.superpages.com/global
www.unityjournalists.org Television Newswriting Workshop
www.mervinblock.com Zip Codes
LAW AND ETHICS Articles, tips and columns by the outspoken and zip4.usps.com/zip4/welcome.jsp
entertaining Mervin Block.
Freedom of Information Act URBAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS
www.usdoj.gov/oip/index.html Broadcast Education Association
www.beaweb.org Urban Legends Reference Pages
The Reporter’s Privilege
National Association of Broadcasters www.snopes.com
www.rcfp.org/privilege www.nab.org
Shield laws by state, from the Reporters Urban Legends and Folklore
Committee for Freedom of the Press. urbanlegends.about.com/library/blhoax.htm
RESEARCH SITES FOR JOURNALISTS These two sites help separate fact from folklore.
Student Press Law Center
www.splc.org Refdesk.com
Journalism codes of ethics www.refdesk.com
www.asne.org/ideas/codes/codes.htm A comprehensive one-stop information source.
For a reporter, this makes a good home page.
328 SOURCES AND CREDITS

SOURCES AND CREDITS

THE STORY OF JOURNALISM News in the 20th century (pages � Americans’ emotional reactions to the news:
12-13) from Thomas E. Patterson’s 2000 study con-
Newsroom heroes, ducted by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the
Text credits: Press, Politics and Public Policy.
legends and folklore (pages 6-7) Cronkite quote from “A Reporter’s Life” by
� Political story percentage: The Readership
Image credits: Walter Cronkite, Alfred A. Knopf. 305.
Institute, 2004.
Photos of Twain, Bly, Mencken, Hemingway Pulitzer quote from “The College of
� Under-30 readers: from a poll by the Project
and Truman from the Library of Congress Journalism” in The North American Review,
Prints and Photographs Division. 1904. for Excellence in Journalism.
� Media being out of touch: CNN/Gallup
Thompson photo by Rick Giase of the Rocky Murrow quote from “In Search of Light: The
Mountain News. Broadcasts of Edward R. Murrow, 1938-1961.” Poll. Feb. 4-8, 1999.
Woodward and Bernstein photo © Bettmann/ Alfred A. Knopf, 1967. 37. Man Bites Dog, The Associated Press, June
Corbis. CNN quote from CNN. com. 4, 2004. Copyright © 2004 Associated Press.
All rights reserved. Distributed by Valeo IP.
Image credits: Reprinted by permission.
The birth of journalism (pages 8-9) Photo of Pulitzer © Bettmann/Corbis.
Text credits: Antique radio and TV from PhotoDisc/Getty What readers read (pages 20-21)
Stone excerpt reprinted from “History of Images. Text credits:
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News avoiders, grazers and online news con- American Newspaper: What Do Readers
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Bride Printing Library, London. Woman reading newspaper © The McGraw-
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 SOURCES AND CREDITS 329

Both page examples adapted from “The The Repository (Canton, Ohio). Star Tribune quotes from a compilation of tips
Newspaper Designer’s Handbook, Sixth Thanks to Ken Fuson for allowing yet another by Laurie Hertzel at www.notrain-nogain.org/
Edition” by Tim Harrower, © McGraw-Hill, author to resurrect his classic springtime lead. Train/Res/Write/conq.asp
pp. 18 and 38. Image credits:
66 newswriting tips (pages 60-61)
Poe illustration by Joe Spooner.
Tools, talent and temperament Image credits:
(pages 30-31) After the lead . . . what next? Reporter illustration from photos.com.
Thanks to John M. Baer for a few of the ideas (pages 48-49)
expressed in the introduction. Text credits: REPORTING BASICS
Image credits: Robbery story reprinted from The Oregonian.
Reporter illustration and photos of cameras, Where stories come from
Milk-squirting brite adapted from a story by
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The Associated Press, Sept. 1, 2004.
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Interview” by Lawrence Grobel, copyright
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“Citizen Kane” review excerpt from David Linda Robertson photo by Patrick Farrell.
 SOURCES AND CREDITS 331

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332 SOURCES AND CREDITS

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 SOURCES AND CREDITS 333

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“A passion for raising rabbits” by Alana ible” by Martin Kasindorf from USA Today, Reprinted by permission of USA Today.
Baranick from The Plain Dealer, Nov. 22, June 14, 2005. Reprinted with permission. “One happy big-box wasteland” by Mark
2004. Copyright ©2004 The Plain Dealer. All Michael Jackson story as appeared in the Daily Morford from the San Francisco Chronicle,
rights reserved. Reprinted with permission. Mail (London), June 13, 2005. Aug. 17, 2005. Copyright © 2005 San Fran-
“BGSU professor a talented sculptor” Michael Jackson stories by Linda Deutsch, cisco Chronicle. Reprinted by permission.
Obituary from the Toledo Blade, Aug. 8, 2002. June 13, 2005. Used with permission of The “Old man sat, stared until a child happened
Reprinted with permission of the Blade. Associated Press. Copyright © 2005. All to pass” by Charles Kuralt from “Charles
“Church bus crash on turnpike kills 3” by rights reserved. Kuralt’s People.” Reprinted by permission of
Mike Clary, Neil Santaniello and Patty Pensa “City makes a U-turn: speed zone set for Kenilworth Media.
from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Aug. Country Club” by Alandra Johnson. Used by “Invest in America” by Stephen Henderson,
8, 2004. Reprinted by permission of South permission of the Lake Oswego Review. Detroit Free Press, Dec. 5, 2008, page 1.
Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Putnam commissioners get an earful over “The Onyx Tour: Spears’ stripper act an
“For those cut off, a life primeval: A few abandoned house” by Heather Svokos from unfocused bore” by Doug Elfman from the
solitary souls pass the days watching nature the Charleston Gazette, Sept. 10, 1996. Las Vegas Review-Journal, March 8, 2004.
reclaim sections of New Orleans” by Vanessa Reprinted by permission of the Charleston Copyright © 2004. Reprinted by permission
Gezari from St. Petersburg Times, Sept. Gazette. of Las Vegas Review-Journal.
12, 2005. Reprinted by permission of St. “The city has $548-million: What do “Dark Knight” by Claudia Puig from USA
Petersburg Times. you want?” by Bryan Gilmer from the St. Today, July 18, 2008. Reprinted by permis-
“This one’s for real! Fire kills 3 in Seton Petersburg Times, Aug. 21, 2002. Copyright sion.
Hall dorm prone to false alarms” by Mary Jo © 2002 St. Petersburg Times. Reprinted by “Sustaining sushi” by David Sarasohn from
Patterson from The Star-Ledger, Jan. 28, 2000. permission. The Oregonian, Jan. 23, 2009. Reprinted by
Copyright ©2000 The Star-Ledger. All rights “Amazing finish in relay wins gold, saves permission.
reserved. Reprinted with permission. Phelps” by Mark Zeigler from The San Diego “In Baltimore, no one’s left to press the police”
“Family loses all in house fire” by Sanne Union-Tribune, Aug. 11, 2008. Reprinted by by David Simon, reprinted by permission.
Specht from Medford Mail Tribune, June 1, permission of The San Diego Union-Tribune. “The Book of Always” by J. Taylor Buckley
2005. Reprinted by permission of Medford Excerpt from “Running for his life” by reprinted with permission.
Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore. Michael Hall reprinted with permission from “The 12-Step Program to Good Writing” by
“Into the flames” by Stuart Tomlinson from the August 2003 issue of Texas Monthly. Michael Gartner, reprinted with permission.
334

INDEX

Aamidor, Abraham, 117 Astroturfing, 197 Bettey, Emily Verdery, 11

Abrams, Stephanie, 186 Atlantic, The, 21 “BGSU professor a talented sculptor,” 225
access to documents, 141 attributions, 28, 71, 84-87 bias, 36-37, 143, 150, 196, 197, 289, 299
access to judicial proceedings, 141 in broadcast writing, 180-81 Bienvenu, Lionel, 186
access to public business, 141 audio, 107, 168, 169, 173, 174, 175, 176, 178- Bill of Rights, 9, 140
accident and disaster coverage, 98-99, 226-35 83 bio boxes, 132
actual malice, 145 Austin, David, 117 bites. See sound bites
actuality, 179, 182 Awtry, Josh, 174 Blair, Jayson, 151
Adams, John, 36 blind leads, 47, 259
advance stories, 68 backgrounders, 78, 117 blogs, 73, 161, 162-63, 176
advertising department, 25, 26 backpack journalism, 172 Blood, Rebecca, 162
Ager, Susan, 125 bad taste, 143 “Bloody Massacre Near Carson, A,” 204
Akin, David, 163 Bahari, Sarah, 55 Blundell, Bill, 75
Albom, Mitch, 44 Ballard, Larry, 236 Bly, Nellie, 6, 128, 150, 206-08
Alterman, Eric, 289 Baltimore Sun, The, 126, 127, 210-11, 272-76 Boardman, David, 128
Aldoory, Linda, 199 bar charts, 87 Bockoven, Michael, 63, 90, 91, 142
Aleccia, JoNel, 62, 63 Baranick, Alana, 224-25 Bohm, Layla, 241
“All The President’s Men,” 6, 7 Barnett, Erin, 33, 51, 91, 95 “Book of Always, The,” 295
“All This Ice, and the Captain Is Hot,” 266 Barrall, Jill, 33, 95 Boorstin, Daniel J., 68, 191
allegations, 102 Barry, Dave, 221 Born, Roscoe C., 85
“Always, Ed,” 260-67 Barry, Tracy, 178, 185 Boston News-Letter, 9
Amarillo Globe-News, 97 “Barry Trotter and the Unauthorized Parody,” Bowman, Bobbi, 89
“Amazing finish in relay wins gold, saves 147 Bracker, Milton, 74
Phelps,” 250 Barstow, David, 128 Bragg, Rick, 239
American Association Sunday and Feature Bartley, Robert L., 128 brainstorming, 118
Editors, 94 Bastian, George C., 18 Branch, Alex, 62, 63
American Society of Newspaper Editors, 224 Battiata, Mary, 120 breach of contract, 143,
anchor intro Batz, Bob, 33, 39, 58, 62, 90, 91, 235 breaking news, 68
in radio, 182, 183 beat blogs, 162 Breslin, Jimmy, 30
in television, 184 beat coverage, 26, 31, 94-114 bridging, 197
anchors accidents and disasters, 98-99, 226 briefs, 48, 65, 69, 102, 236
in radio, 182 courts, 104-05, 242-43 Brisbane, Arthur, 44
in television, 184 crimes, 102-03, 236 brites, 48, 66, 236
anecdotal leads, 46, 122, 251, 267 fires, 100-01, 230-35 “Broadcast News,” 7
Angelou, Maya, 89 general guidelines, 95 broadcast newswriting, 178-88
anonymous sources, 71, 81, 111, 248 meetings, 108-09, 244, 245, 246-47 pros and cons of, 178
definition of, 71 news, 94-95 scripts for, 179
legal issues with, 143 politics, 110-11 style and tone, 180-81
on vs. off the record, 81 in public relations, 192 tense in, 180
pros and cons of, 111 speeches, 106-07 vs. print journalism, 180-81
Anthony, Ted, 215 sports, 112-13 broadsheet, 28
AP. See Associated Press, The, Beaumarchais, Pierre, 148 Broder, David S., 33, 249
AP style. See “Associated Press Stylebook” Becker, Michael, 32, 33, 55 B-roll, 184
AP v. Walker, 145 Becklund, Laurie, 125 Brown, Ivor, 137
appropriation, 146 Beethoven, Ludwig van, 52 Bryant, Kobe, 112
Arcata Eye, 102 Belkin, Lisa, 215 Buchanan, Edna, 6, 33, 44, 58, 102
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 233 Bell, Bret, 62 Buchanan, Patrick, 248
Asbury Park Press, 168 Bella, Rick, 33, 51, 63, 83, 111 Buchholz, Steve, 199
assignment desk, 178 Belt, Mike, 107 Buckley, J. Taylor, 295
Associated Press (AP), The, 9, 18, 46, 56, 123, Benham, Kelley, 240-41, 260-64 bulleted items, 51
149, 215, 241, 243, 291 Bennett, Amanda, 118 Burdock, Aileen, 199
“Associated Press Guide to Newswriting, The,” Bennett, James Gordon, 11, 37 Burmeister, Caren, 221
44 Berger, Guy, 73 burning sources, 151
Associated Press Sports Editors, 94 Berman, Laura, 32, 90 Burrous, Chris, 187
“Associated Press Stylebook, The,” 56-57, 72, Bernays, Edward L., 190 burying the lead, 42
141, 147 Bernheimer, Martin, 137 Bush, George H.W., 82
Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Bernstein, Carl, 6, 7, 13, 248-49 Bush, George W., 111, 197
94 Berston, Hyman Maxwell, 191 Butterworth, Craig, 186
Association of Health Care Journalists, 94 Bettinger, James, 248 Buttry, Steve, 62, 125, 126, 127
 INDEX 335

Byers, Scott, 27 “City Has $548-Million: What Do You Want?” crime coverage, 102-03, 236-41
byline, 28 246-47 criminal court procedures, 105
byliners, 193 “City Makes a U-Turn,” 244 Criminal Justice Journalists, 94
civil court procedures, 105 criticism, 136-37
Cabral, Melissa, 186, 187 Civil War, 11, 40 Cronkite, Walter, 12
Camden, Jim, 33, 90, 91, 95 Clark, Bill, 186 crowdsourcing, 171
cameras, 30 Clark, Roy Peter, 109, 246, 247 Cruise, Tom, 144
campaign and election coverage, 110 Clinton, William, 197 Cruz, Stefanie A., 186, 187
Campbell, Julia, 142 clichés, 53 Cullinane, Bob 70, 90
“Can We Tape?” 141 closer, 51 Curley, Rob, 172, 173
Canby, Peter, 36 CNN, 13, 184, 248-49 Curtis Publishing v. Butts, 145
capitalization, 57 code of ethics,153 Curtis, Richard, 21
Cappon, Rene, 44, 85 Cohen, Jodi S., 222-23 Curtis, Susan Mango, 132
captions, 29 Cohen, Richard, 152 cutlines, 29
Carberry, Maegan, 222 Colapinto, John, 229
Carey, Drew, 41 Colbert, Stephen, 64 Daily Mail (London), 243
Carlew, Vicki, 198, 199 Colburn, Don, 54, 291 Daily Show, The, 134
Carpenter, Francis Bicknell, 66 Cole, Carol, 55, 63, Dallas Morning News, 13
Carr, Nicholas, 21 Coleman, Toni, 33, 83, 111 Dana, Charles, 18
Carroll, Lewis, 84 collaboration “Dark Knight, The” 288-89
cartoons, 9, 12, 134 in online journalism, 174-75 datelines, 28
Case, Leland D., 18 with photographers, 124 Davidson, Justin, 75
Casey Journalism Center on Children and and story development, 119 Day, Benjamin, 10
Families, 94 in story package planning, 127, 130-31 deadlines, 58-59
Castellano, Shawna, 187 in TV news reporting, 184 Dean, Bryan, 91
Catledge, Turner, 18 Collins, Tracy, 62, 165 death notices, 96
Catron, Louis E., 85 Colon, Wilma, 172 “Death of George Washington, The,” 202
CBS, 12, 13 color stories, 117 decency, 148
CBS News, 150 Colorado Springs Gazette, 69 deception, 150
celebrity trials, coverage of, 104 Colson, Charles, 249 deck, 29
censorship, 8, 148 columns, 112, 134-35, 282-84 Declaration of Independence, 9
Chancellor, John, 299 commentary, 37, 112, 134-35, 282-84 Deep Throat, 111, 248-249
Charleston Gazette, The, 245 “Common Sense” (Paine), 9 defamation of character. See libel
Charlotte News, The, 284 “Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Magazine DeFord, William A., 144
checklists, 45, 59, 87, 98, 100, 103, 105, 106, 108, Articles, The,” 118 delayed identification leads, 46
112, 132, 167 computers, 13, 14, 30 DeLoach, Melissa, 236
“Check-writer sets off clerk’s internal alarm,” 237 conflict of interest, 150, 154 Denton, Frank, 21
Cheney, Dick, 149 Conley, Paul, 164 Des Moines Register, 44, 236
Cheriel, Sally, 54 Conner, Nancy, 198 DeSilva, Bruce, 41, 237
Cherry Sisters, The, 145 Conrad, William, 7 Desmond, Michael, 183
cherry-picking, 197 “Constitution, The” (Mencken), 210-11 Detroit Free Press, 116, 124, 125, 128, 252-53,
Cherryh, C. J., 52 Constitution, U.S., 140 285
Cheverton, Richard, 117 contempt of court, 104, 143 Deutsch, Linda, 243
Chicago Sun-Times, 103, 155 convergence, 26, 172-75 DeVigal, Andrew, 62, 174
Chicago Tribune, 69 Cooke, Janet, 7, 151 diagrams, 133
Chicago Tribune, 40, 69, 222-23 Cooper, Anderson, 184 dialogue, 82, 125
Chittum, Matt, 62, 259 copy editors, 25, 26, 29, 54 Dickens, Charles, 42
chronological narratives, 122 copyright law, 147 direct address leads, 46, 221
in crime stories, 102 Corbett, Gerard, 198, 199 direct quotes, 82
examples of, 234-35, 260 “Corpse Had a Familiar Face, The,” 6 disaster coverage, 99
in feature stories, 121, 122 Coulter, Ann, 107 dispatches, 161
vs. inverted pyramid, 40 court procedures, 104, 105 diversity, 88-89
in news stories, 40 courts coverage, 104-05, 242-43 Dolnick, Benjamin, 170
chunking, 165 Couric, Katie, 16, 300 Donahue, Pat, 121
“Church bus crash on turnpike kills 3,” 226 Cousins, Norman, 125 Donovan, Hedley, 197
Churchill, Winston, 53 Cowley, Malcolm, 52 Dooley, Emily, 111
Cincinnati Enquirer, 151 Craig, Jim, 186 doublespeak, 197
circulation department, 25, 26 Creamer, Anita, 81 Douglass, Frederick, 10
citizen journalism, 162, 163, 170, 171 crediting sources. See attributions dramatic-action lead, 233
“Citizen Kane,” 7 Cregg, C.J., 197 Dressler, Dawn, 21
city editor, 26 crime briefs, 102, 236 Duchschere, Kevin, 58
336 INDEX

Duin, Steve, 77 Fettig, Kim, 186 “Good Doctor, The,” 267-71

Dunne, Finley Peter, 128 Filippi, Chris, 186 “Good Night, and Good Luck,” 7
Dupras, Michael, 174 Filkins, Dexter, 221 Goodman, Howard, 249
Dvorkin, Jeffrey, 187 Finkel, David, 120, 253 Google, 21, 168, 176
Finley, Denis, 18 Google News, 15, 72
e-mail, 73, 78, 171 fire coverage, 100-01, 230-35 Gorney, Cynthia, 117
Ebert, Roger, 136 First Amendment, 140, 149 Graham, Phillip, 18
editing, 54-55, 308 Fishel, Elizabeth, 76 grammar rules, 60
editorials, 134, 285 five W’s (who, what, where, when, why), 38-39, Grant, Lou, 7
editors, 18, 24, 26, 54, 55 43, 64 Greeley, Horace, 11
Eickmeyer, Cameron, 149 flag, 29, 159 Greene, Bob, 46, 75
“Elements of Journalism, The” (Rimm), 117 Flash software, 168, 174, 176 Griffith, Thomas, 30
“Elements of Style, The,” 6 flashback stories, 117 Grobel, Lawrence, 80
Elfman, Doug, 286-287 Fleischer, Ari, 197 Grundmeier, Lucas, 142
Emancipation Proclamation, 37, 66, 306-07 Fleury, Sara, 198 Grunig, Larissa A. 198
endings, 51 focus groups, 20 Grunwald, Michael, 229
enterprise projects, 126-29, 272-81 Fog Index, 53 Gunning, Robert, 53
Esierly, Glenn, 221 FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 141 Gunther, Max, 81
Esposito, Greg, 80 “For those cut off, a life primeval,” 227-29 Gutenberg, Johann, 8
Esteve, Harry, 47, 111 Force, Randy, 198 Guterman, Jimmy, 15
ethics, 140-56, Forney, Terrell, 187
lapses of, 143, 153 Foyston, John, 47, 63 Haas, Ealasaid A., 137
in public relations, 197 Frank, Reuven, 21 Haggin, B.H., 137
survey, 154-55 Frankel, Todd, 63 Hamilton, Andrew, 9
euphemisms, 197 Franklin, Benjamin, 8, 9, 144, 148 Hamilton, Don, 33, 51, 69, 77, 142, 216, 219-21
Everett, Arthur, 104 Franklin, Jon, 6 Hammond, Betsy, 94-95
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 141 Hampson, Rick, 126, 277-81
fabrication, 143, 151 freedom of the press, 9, 140 Hampton, Christopher, 137
facts, 36, 37, 140, 144, 145 Freeman, Mark, 55, 63, 90 Hansen, Julie, 198
arrangement of, 36 French, Ron, 63, 90, 239 hard news, 117
drawing conclusions from, 36 French, Tom, 229 Harden, Kevin, 33, 95
five W’s and H, 38 Frost, Clay, 174 Harlan, Chico, 241
groups of, 38 Fry, Don, 77 Harper’s Index, 133
how to organize, 49 Fuson, Ken, 33, 44, 62, 63, 91, 95, 241 Harrigan, Jane, 122
selection of, 36 Harrington, Alan, 191
vs. opinion, 36 Gaarder, Nancy, 62, 63 Harris, Benjamin, 8
Fagan, Mark, 32 Gallagher, Michael, 151 Harris, Leon, 13
fair comment and criticism, 140, 145 game (sports) stories, 112, 250-53 Hart, Jack, 125
fair report privilege, 140, 144 Gangelhoff, Bonnie, 47 Hartford Courant, The, 150
fair use, 147 Garlikov, Andy, 199 Hayden, Steve, 152
false light claim, 146 Gartner, Michael, 114, 150, 296-99 Hayden, Troy, 186
“Family loses all in house fire,” 232-33 Gates, Bill, 191 Haythorn, Russell, 187
Fanciulli, Jesse, 55, 58, 83 Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), 217-18 Hazelwood School District v. Kulhmeier, 149
fast fact boxes, 87, 132 general assignment reporters, 26 headlines, 28, 194
Fauquier Citizen, 132 Gertz v. Welch, 145 Hearst, William Randolph, 11, 18, 142
FBI, 196 Getler, Michael, 149, 249 Hedges, Chris, 37
feature obituaries, 97 Gezari, Vanessa, 227-29 Hemingway, Ernest, 6, 74, 81, 83, 209
feature stories, 112, 116-39 Gibbs, Robert, 197 Henderson, Stephen, 285
best angles for, 118 Gibson, Mel, 80 Henley, Kyle, 32
common topics for, 116-17 Gillers, Heather, 129 Herrera, Ken, 187
definition of, 117 Gilmer, Bryan, 109, 246 Hersey, John, 151
examples of, 258-71 “Girl’s last gifts bring smiles to kids’ faces,” 258- Hersh, Seymour M., 33
formats for, 116-17 59 Hewitt, Don, 37
and short-form alternatives, 132-33 Gitner, Seth, 169, 174 Hiler, John, 163
story ideas, 69, 118-19, 138, “Give me the sign,” 254-55 Hill, Patti D., 198
story structures, 122-23 Glass, Stephen, 151 Hinch, Robin, 97
style, 120-21 glittering generalities, 197 Hindenburg, 12
types of, 117 glossary, 321 “His Girl Friday,” 7
vs. news, 116 “Glove story,” 219-221 Hoagland, Doug, 91
feature writers, 26 “Going Down the Crooked Road,” 169 hoaxes, 73
Felt, Mark, 248-49 gonzo journalism, 6 Hogan, Dave, 111
 INDEX 337

Hohl, Tim, 183 tools for, 30 in print newspapers, 29, 123

Holland, Deb, 63, 77 Journalist Express, 72 in online newspapers, 159
Holmes, Paul, 191 journalistic ethics, 152 lead-in
Holyfield, Evander, 78 journalists, 18 for radio, 182
Hon, Linda, 199 definition of, 134 for television, 184
hourglass structure. See martini glass structure legal protections for, 140 leads (or ledes), 28, 37, 42-49, 60
“How to Use the Federal FOI Act,” 141 legal risks of, 142-43 examples of, 45, 215, 221, 229, 233, 235,
“How to Write Television News” (Kant), 184 secret society of, 294 239, 241, 251, 253, 259, 287, 291
how-to stories, 117 talent and temperament for, 30-31 exercises for, 64, 65, 66, 114
human-interest stories, 117 as teachers and story tellers, 51 in meeting stories, 109
Hutchinson v. Proxmire, 145 jump line, 29 in news, 123
hyperlinks, 166, 167 in news features, 123
kabob structure, 50, 122 in news releases, 195
idea map, 118 Kansas City Star, 6, 112, 256-57 in sports stories, 112
“If I Die,” 272-76 Kant, Garth, 184 types of, 46
immersion reporting, 272 Karimkhany, Kourosh, 15 types to avoid, 47
“In Baltimore no one’s left to press the police,” Kealing, Bob, 186 Legal Defense Hotline, 141
292-93 Keener, J. Kyle, 124 legal protection for journalists, 140
indexes, 29, 159 Keizer, Mervyn, 36 legal risks for journalists, 142-43
Indianapolis Star, 14, 129 Keller, Julia, 120, 121 Leonard, Christina, 76
indirect quotes, 82 Kennedy assassination, 12, 13 Levine, Michael, 191
infographics, 29, 168, 169, 171 Kennedy, John F., 110, 151 Lexington (Ky.) Herald-Leader, 238-39
interactivity, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168, 169, 170, Kennedy, Lesley, 33 libel, 9, 143, 144-45, 156, 316-17
171 Kennedy, William, 140 liberal bias, 289, 299
interior monologue, 121 Kenney, Colleen, 258-59 Liebling, A.J., 8
Internet, 13, 57, 71, 72-73, 158-76. See also Kent, Clark, 7 liftout quotes, 28, 83
online reporting “Kentucky Derby is Decadent and Depraved, Lilleston, Randy, 160-61
interviewing, 78-81, 99, 184 The”, 212-15 Lim, Victoria, 172
“Into the flames,” 234-35 Kershner, Jim, 77, 142 Limbaugh, Rush, 16, 135
invasion of privacy, 143, 146 KEX (Portland, Ore.), 183 Lincoln Journal Star, 258-59
inverted pyramid, 11, 21, 40-41, 50, 123, 180 KGW (Portland, Ore.), 178, 185 Lincoln, Abraham, 10, 37, 66
pros and cons of, 41, 123 Kidman, Nicole, 144 line charts, 87
history of, 11, 13, 40 Kiefer, Gary, 174 links, 159, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166-67, 169, 174
organization of facts in, 50, 51 Kilen, Mike, 63 Lipinski, Ann Marie, 69
vs. chronological story, 40 Kilgannon, Corey, 75 Lippincott, Sara, 36
“Invest in America,” 285 Kilian, Crawford, 165 Lippmann, Walter, 140
intrusion claim, 146 King, Larry, 248 lists, 132
Investigative Reporters and Editors, Inc. (IRE), Kinsey, Alfred C., 36 Liu, Cara, 184
128, 129 Knickerbocker, H.R., 68 live chats, 171
investigative reporting, 128-29 Koppel, Ted, 78, 197 LJWorld, 107, 173
iPhone, 14 KPAM (Portland, Ore.), 183 Loew, Morgan, 186, 187
Ivins, Molly, 135, 299 Kroft, Steve, 78 logos, 29, 135
Ivone, Sal, 80 Krums, Janis, 170 Loh, Jules, 117
Kuralt, Charles, 135, 284 Lopez, Tyler, 186, 187
Jackson, Joseph Henry, 148 Kurschner, Tracy, 198 Lopossay, Monica, 126
Jackson, Michael, 242-43 Kurtz, Howard, 248 Lord Northcliffe, 18, 117
jargon, 53, 195 KXL (Portland, Ore.), 178, 182, 183 Los Angeles Times, 101
Jefferson, Thomas, 9, 140 Lowell, James Russell, 137
Jeffrey, Karen, 63, 91, 142 La Voz, 38 Luce, Henry R., 12
Jenny Deadline, 22-23 Lackmeyer, Steve, 99 Ludlow, Randy, 62, 77
Jimmy, 7, 151 Laermer, Richard, 195 Lyman, David, 62, 91
Jochnowitz, Jay, 247 Lake Oswego Review, 68, 244
Johnson, Alandra, 244 Lakin, Williesha, 247 Ma, Ken, 78
Johnson, Linda J., 238-39 Landers, Mary, 259 MacKnight, Rachel, 192
Johnson, Samuel, 9 Lane, Lois, 7 MacNeil, Neil, 81
journalese, 53 LaRocque, Paula, 85 Macy, Beth, 55, 63
journalism “Larry King Live,” 248-49 Madigan, Charlie, 289
books about, 6 Las Vegas Review-Journal, 39, 286-87 Maestro Concept, 119, 130
history of, 6-13 law, 140-47 “Mail species,” 217-18
movies about, 7 Lawrence (Kan.)Journal-World, 107, 173 Mail Tribune (Medford, Ore.), 38, 232-33
talent and temperament for, 30-31 lead story, 123 Main, Frank, 103
338 INDEX

Malcolm, Janet, 152 Murrow, Edward R., 7, 13, 182 obituaries, 96-97, 224-25
Manning Meter, 14 Oboyski, David, 198, 199
Mapes, Jeff, 33, 91, 111, 163 Nader, Ralph, 77 obscenity, 148
Marconi, Guglielmo, 12 narrative leads, 46 observation, 74-75
Marion Chronicle-Tribune, 39 National Association of Science Writers, 94 Occult Hand Society, 6, 294
Marken, Andy, 199 National Education Writers Association, 94 Ochs, Adolph, 148
Marsh, Robert C., 137 natural sound, 182 Ode, Kim, 63, 259
Marshall, Joshua Micah, 163 Nava, Yvonne, 187 off-the-record sources, 81. See anonymous
martini glass structure, 50, 102, 236 NBC, 12, 13 sources
Massachusetts Centinel, 40 Nel, Louis, 148 Okrent, Daniel, 299
Massachusetts Spy, 9 Nelson, Tim, 63, 95 Olbermann, Keith, 150, 299
math for journalists, 86-87 Nelson, William Rockhill, 148 “Old Constan,” 209
Maxton, Charlie, 183 Nesbitt, Mary, 21 “Old man sat, stared until a child happened to
May, Patrick, 215 Neuharth, Al, 249 pass,” 284
McAllister, Keli, 187 Neves, Randy 185 “On Writing Well” (Zinsser), 44, 52, 258
McClung, Liz, 199 New England Courant, 9 “One happy big-box wasteland,” 282-83
McGrath, Kris, 21 “New Journalism, The” (Wolfe), 6 online planning, 26, 174-75
McIntosh, Steve, 186 New York Herald, 11, 40 online reporting, 14, 158-76
McIntyre, Tim, 198, 199 New York Journal, 10, 11 blogging, 162-63
McKean, William, 153 New York Sun, 10, 151 example of, 107, 173
McLellan, Michele, 21 New York Times v. Sullivan, 145 incorporating links, 166-67
McLuhan, Marshall, 21 New York Times, 11, 13, 14, 19, 37, 73, 96, incorporating multimedia, 168-69
McNulty, Henry, 150 150, 151, 242 package planning guide for, 174-75
mean and median, 86 “New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, storytelling options in, 158-59
media kits, 193, 200 The,” 56 updating stories, 160, 164
media, public distrust of, 153 New Yorker, The, 14 vs. traditional, 158-59
meetings coverage, 108-09, 244-47 news writing techniques, 164-65
Mehta, Manish, 267-71 definition of, 18, 19 online technology, 13, 168
Melville, Herman, 48 future of, 15 op-ed page, 134, 193
Mencken, H. L., 6, 30, 133, 210-11 News & Observer (Raleigh), 151 open courtrooms, 104, 141
Mendoza, Monica, 77 news briefs. See briefs open meetings, 108, 141
Mendte, Larry, 187 News Center (Lawrence, Kan.) 173 open records, 141
Mesaros, Melanie, 182 News Center (Tampa, Fla.), 172 opinion, 36, 37, 64, 134-35
Meyer, Josh, 99 news conferences, 81, 110, 190, 193 opinion privilege, 140
Miami Herald, 113 news consumption, 15 Oregon Health & Science University, 192, 194
Mickle, Tripp, 32 news directors, 178 “Oregon pays tribute to its Vietnam vets,” 216
Miklya, Liz, 199 News Journal, 89 Oregonian, The, 39, 69, 85, 95, 97, 117, 183,
Miller, Gene, 97 news judgment, 18 216, 219-21, 234-35, 237, 290-91
Miller, Patrica, 55 news releases, 69, 110, 193-95, 196 organization. See story structure
Milton, John, 8 news values, 19 Orlando Sentinel, 172
misrepresentation, 146 News-Press, The (Fort Myers, Fla.), 236 Orlean, Susan, 75
Missouri Gazette, 10 newscasts, 19, 178-85 Orwell, George, 197
Mitchell, Kay, 54 newsgroups, 73 Out-cue (OQ), 182
Mitchell, Sharon, 178 newsrooms, 18-34 Outing, Steve, 170
Mohan, Geoff, 101 daily activity in, 24-25 Overberg, Paul, 126, 277-81
Montgomery Advertiser, 39 lines of authority in, 26 Overholser, Geneva, 92, 312
Moore, Angela, 101 teams in, 24, 26 O’Neil, Paul, 44
Morava, Kimberly, 32, 95 Neznanski, Matt, 111 O’Reilly, Bill, 16, 134
Morford, Mark, 170, 282-83 Nielsen, Jakob, 165
Morosi, Jon Paul, 252-53 “Night Stalker, The,” 33 package planning, 130-31, 175-75
movie reviews, 37, 136, 288 Niles, Robert, 37 packages in broadcast, 185
Moyers, Bill, 289 Nixon, Richard M., 6, 13, 181, 248-49 Page, Susan, 27
Moynihan, Daniel Patrick, 36 nonapology apology, 197 Paine, Thomas, 9
MSNBC, 172, 242 nondenial denial, 197 Pang, Kevin, 33, 58, 83
muckrakers, 12 Nooky’s Bakery, 148 paragraphs, 50
mug shot, 29 note-taking, 30, 76 paraphrases, 82
Muldoon, Katy, 32, 62, 91, 121, 259 notebooks, 30, 76 Parker, Dorothy, 74, 137
multimedia, 107, 165, 186, 169, 173, 174, 175 nut grafs, 21, 48, 49, 65, 260 parking-pass abuse story, 129
“Murderer caught in Texas 15 years after N’West Iowa Review, 27 parodies and copyright law, 147
escape,” 238-39 partial quotes, 82, 83, 84
Murray, Jim, 125 Obama, Barack, 106, 160-61 “Passion for Raising Rabbits, A,” 224-25
 INDEX 339

passive verbs, 53 Domestick, 8 radio, 182

Patterson, Mary Jo, 230-31 Puig, Claudia, 288-289 responsibilities of, 18
Pavlik, John, 15 Pulitzer, Joseph, 11, 12, 38, 128 slang terms for, 6
Pearl Harbor, 12 Pulitzer prizes, 12 sports, 112
Pearson, Kim, 88 punctuation, 61, 83 television, 184
Pennsylvania Evening Post, 9 “Putnam commissioners get an earful over test yourself, 31
Pennsylvania Gazette, 8, 9 abandoned house,” 245 See also journalists
penny press, 10 Reporters Committee for Freedom of the
percentages, 86 Q-and-A format, 80 Press, The, 141
“Perfect Kiss, The,” 265 question leads, 47 reporting basics, 67-92
Peterson, Larry, 111 Quindlen, Anna, 135 reporting, investigative, 128-29
Pew Research Center for People & the Press, Quinn, Sally, 52 Reuters, 37
15 quizzes, 133, 171, 175 reviews, 37, 136-37, 286-91
Philipps, Dave, 69, 217-218 quotations, 82-85 rewriting, 52-53
phone interviews,78 quote collections, 133 Rhode, David, 75
photo credits, 28 quote leads, 47 Rice, Grantland, 229
photo galleries, 168, 173 quotes, 28, 82-83 Richmond Times-Dispatch, 89
photographers, 26, 28, 124 attribution of, 84-85 right to attend meetings, 141
photographs, 28, 124, 168, 169, 170 in broadcast writing, 181 right to cover trials, 141
pie charts, 87 editing of, 82-83 right to examine documents, 141
Pikrone, Mary Anne, 125 in profiles, 125 right to know, 141
Pina, Phillip, 77 in press releases, 194 right to privacy, 146
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 236 punctuation with, 83 Rimm, Mary J.J., 117
plagiarism, 72, 143, 147, 151 types of, 82 Ritter, Malcolm, 291
Plain Dealer (Cleveland), 123, 224-25, 265 Rivers, William L., 125
planning feature stories, 119 radio news reporting, 178-83, 186-88 Roanoke Times, The, 80, 169
Playboy Interview, 78 history of, 12, 13 Roberts, Michelle, 125
podcasts, 168, 169, 175, 176, scripts for, 179 Robertson, Linda, 113
Poe, Edgar Allan, 44 story development for, 178 Rogers, Dick, 89
police logs, 102 terms, 182 Roig-Franzia, Manuel, 229
political coverage, 27, 110-11, 248-49 vs. printed story, 183 Romanoff, Harry, 150
polls and surveys, 20, 27, 86, 123, 159, 171 “Rampaging Rooster Attacks Girl,” 240-41 Romney, Mitt, 110
Pond, Steve, 80 Ratcliffe, Heather, 32, 90, 95 Roosevelt, Franklin D., 140
Portland Tribune, 123 Rather, Dan, 128 Roosevelt, Theodore, 128
Posnanski, Joe, 112, 125, 256-57 Raymond, Henry, 11 Rosenthal, A.M., 152
PR. See public relations reaction pieces, 117 roundup leads, 47
Prejean-Motanky, Renée A., 190 reader comments, 162, 163, 170, 171 RSS, 162, 163
“Presidential Candidate, A,” 205 readers Ryan, Buck, 130
press releases. See news releases and attention span, 21, 132
press rights, 140-41 participation in stories, 170-71 Saam, Kelli, 187
Press Room poll, 27 preferences, 19, 20, 21, 94 San Diego Union-Tribune, 250-51
Price, Rita, 91 story ideas from, 68-69 San Francisco Chronicle, 282-83
Pringle, Paul, 233 Readership Institute, 21 San Jose Mercury News, 38
print stories vs. Web stories, 158 Reagan, Ronald, 36 Sandstrom, Karen, 265
print vs. broadcast journalism, 178 recorders, 30, 77 Sarasohn, David, 135, 290-91
prior review policy, and student papers, 149 Redden, Jim, 142 Scanlan, Chip, 82, 87
Privacy Protection Act, 140 redundancy, 53 Scanlan’s Monthly, 212-15
privacy rights, 146 redundancy, 53 scene-setter leads, 46
privilege, for journalists, 140, 144 redundancy, 53 Schefter, Adam, 81
Prodis, Julia, 241 refer, 29 Scheiber, Dave, 254-55
production department, 25, 26 reference materials, 71 Schidlovsky, John, 30
profanity and decency, 148 Reger, Max, 136 Schieffer, Bob, 80
profiles, 112, 117, 124, 266-71 Reinan, John, 32, 47, 62, 91 Schofield, Matthew, 47
Proxmire, William, 145 Religion Newswriters Association, 94 Schulberg, Pete, 199
pseudo-events, 68 reporters, 24, 26 Schwartz, Jerry, 32, 55, 83
public disclosure of private facts, 146 advice for, 62-63 Schwarzenegger, Arnold, 41
public figures, 145, 146 beat, 26 scripts, 179-181
public officials, 145,146 converged, 172 Scully, Sean, 30
public relations, 11, 190-200 fictional, 7 search tips, 73
public relations plans, 192-94 general assignment, 26, 94 searchable databases, 171, 176
Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and myths about, 6 Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 266
340 INDEX

Seattle Times, 39, 151 246-47, 254-55, 260-64 teaser, 29

second-day stories, 68 Stamp Act, 9 telegraph, 10, 11, 40
sedition, 9, 143 stand-ups, 178, 184 telephone, 11, 30
Segal, Viv, 197 Stanton, Sam, 51 television, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 178-81, 184-88
series. See enterprise projects Stapleton, Jeff, 187 television newswriting, 178-81, 184-188
Severson, Kim, 32 Star-Ledger (Newark, N.J.), 230-31, 267-71 “Ten Days in a Mad-House,” 206-08
sexist language, 61 Starke, Amy Martinez, 97 tense
Sexton, Connie, 33 Starr, Brenda, 7 in broadcast writing, 180-81
Shaw, David, 36, 289 startling statement leads, 47, 215 in feature style, 120
Shawn, William, 152 Stasiowski, Jim, 127 Terkel, Studs, 80
Shelton, Deborah L., 32, 62 Stassen-Berger, Rachel, 32, 63 “Testing Your Ideas: Ten Pre-Proposal
shield laws, 140, 143 State Press (Arizona State University), 149 Checks,” 118
short-form alternatives, 51, 132-33 Staunton Spectator, 37 Thien, Dick, 82
shovelware, 165 Stephanopoulos, George, 197 “This one’s for real,” 230-31
sidebars, 51, 130-33 Stein, Robert, 118 Thomas, Helen, 110
Siegel, Joel, 78 step-by-step guides, 133 Thomas, Isaiah, 9
Silver, Jonathan D., 236 Stephens, Bret, 37 Thompson, Hunter S., 6, 212-15
Silverberg, Miriam, 198 Stewart, Joan, 198 Thurber, James, 44
Silvester, Ron, 32 Stewart, Jon, 64, 134 Tierney, John, 299
Simon, David, 292-93 Stone, Martha, 172 Time magazine, 12
Simon, Paul, 30 Stone, Melville E., 9 timelines, 8-13, 133
Simons, Dolph Jr., 173 story ideas, 69, 118-119, 217-23 Tinker v. Des Moines School District, 149
Sine, Richard, 241 story length, 48 Tizon, Alex, 120, 121
6News Lawrence, 173 story planning, 130-31, 164, 174-75 Toledo Blade, 225
slander, 145 story structure, 48-49, 50-51 Tomalin, Nicholas, 30
Sleeth, Peter, 33, 55, 58, 62 storytelling techniques for new media, 160-75 Tomlinson, Stuart, 234-35, 237
slide shows, 168, 176 Strunk, William, 6 topic leads, 47
Slivka, Judd, 32, 33, 91, 233, 266 student journalists’ news attitude survey, 14, Toronto Daily Star, 38, 209
Slothower, Chuck, 85 300-301 trademarks, 147
Smith, Red, 52, 94 Student Press Law Center, 141, 149 Travolta, John, 78
Society of American Business Editors and student press law, 149 trend stories, 117
Writers, 94 Sturgeon, Jeff, 142 trial stories, 104-05
Society of Environmental Journalists, 94 style, 56-57, 60, 113 trespassing, 143, 146
Society of Professional Journalists code of in broadcast, 180-81 Truman, Harry S. 7
ethics, 153 in features, 120-21 Turnquist, Kristi, 46
Society of Professional Obituary Writers, 94 in sportswriting, 113 Twain, Mark, 6
soft news, 117 stylebooks, 56-57 Twain, Mark, 6, 74
Sosbe, Kathryn, 103 Suarez, Ray, 78 Twain, Mark, 6, 74, 148
SOT (sound-on-tape), 179, 184, 185 subheads, 51 Twain, Mark, 6, 74, 148, 204, 205
Souhan, Jim, 58 Sugg, Diana, 126, 127, 272-76 “12-Step Program to Good Writing,” 296-99
sound bites, 182-84 Sullivan, Chris, 187 Twitter, 163, 164, 170
sources, 70-71, 81 Sulzberger, Arthur, 141 typewriter, 11
on background, 81 summary leads, 44, 46 typing notes, pros and cons of, 77
betraying, 151 sunshine laws, 141
on vs. off the record, 81 Surowiecki, James, 14 Uhrhammer, Jerry, 128
See also anonymous sources surveys and polls, 86, 171 Ulster County Gazette, 202-03
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 226 “Sustaining sushi, “ 290-91 unnamed sources. See anonymous sources
Spalding, Tom, 129 Svokos, Heather, 47, 109, 245 updating online stories, 160-161, 164
Spanish-American War, 11 Swingley, Sheryl, 60-61 Urban, Christine, 21
“Spears’ stripper act an unfocused bore,” 286- Sylvester, Ron, 32 USA Today, 13, 27, 38, 126, 137, 160-61, 167,
87 242, 277-81, 288-89
Specht, Sanne, 232-33 tabloid, 28 user participation, 165, 170-71
speech coverage, 106-07, 114 tagline, 28
spin, 197 taking notes, 76 Vader, Darth, 132
SPLC Virtual Lawyer, 141 talking head, 184 Vanderwerf, Linda, 247
split-page TV script, 179 Talking Heads, 36 “Vermeil sensed it was go time,” 256-57
spokespersons, 71, 190 tape recorders, 30, 77 “Verr-ific!” 252-53
sports coverage, 26, 27, 112-13, 250-57 “Tapping Officials’ Secrets,” 141 Verrengia, Joe, 91, 215
sports reporters, 26, 112 taste, 143, 148 Verzemnieks, Inara, 46
Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, 236 TBO.com, 172 victims, interviewing, 99
St. Petersburg Times, 122, 227-29, 240-41, teamwork. See collaboration video news release, 193
 INDEX 341

video, shooting and editing, 30, 168, 169, 173, Wendland, Mike, 163 World Wide Web, 13, 14, 72-73
174, 175, 176 Wenzl, Roy, 32, 91 World, The (New York), 11, 12, 206-08
Virginia Tech shootings, 161 West, Paige, 174 writing
Virginian-Pilot, 18 WFLA-TV (Tampa), 172 for online media, 164-65
VO (voice-over), 184, 185 whistleblowers, 16, 248-49. for radio, 179, 182-83
White, E.B., 6 for television, 179, 184-85
Wall Street Journal formula. See kabob struc- “Why do we speed?” 277-81 “Writing for Story” (Franklin), 6
ture Wikipedia, 166 “Writing for the Web” (Kilian), 165
Wallace, Charles, 74 Willamette Week (Portland, Ore.), 37 Wycliff, Don, 44, 148
Wallace, Mike, 81 Williams, Armstrong, 150
Walters, Barbara, 81 Williams, Bob, 152 Yahoo, 15, 72
Ward, Leah Beth, 32, 33, 62 Wilson, Steve, 46 Yarnold, David, 89
Washington Post, 13, 39, 149, 253, 292-93 Winfrey, Oprah, 16 yellow journalism, 10, 11, 152
Watergate scandal, 6, 7, 13, 128. See also Winn, Steven, 249 Yellow Kid, 11
Nixon, Richard M. wire story, 29 Yelvington, Steve, 15
Waterhouse, Keith, 135 Wittekind, Don, 174 “You wore flip-flops to the White House?!”
Wave (Wellington High School), 149 Wolfe, Tom, 6, 74, 75, 120 222
Wayne, Alex, 247 Wolff, Frank, 110
Web, 158-176. See also online reporting Woods, Tiger, 18 Zeigler, Mark, 250-251
webliography, 72, 326 Woodward, Bob, 6, 7, 13, 165, 248 Zekman, Pam, 181
“Weblog Handbook, The” (Blood), 162 wordiness, 53 Zenger, John Peter, 9
Welch, Robert, 145 word choices, 61 Zinsser, William, 44, 52, 78
Wellington High School, 149 wordplay leads, 47