Investigative Journalism: Why It Matters
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A conviction for lying under oath and most recently, for violating the terms of his probation, has kept ex-Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick in the spotlight. According to yesterday’s Washington Post, he was sentenced for up to five years in prison for failing to meet terms of his probation. A 2008 investigation of the then-mayor was led by Paul Anger of The Detroit Free Press and winner of NPF’s 2009 Editor of the Year Award. Kilpatrick was indicted and eventually convicted on an obstruction of justice charge. He was ordered to pay the city of Detroit one million dollars. The Benjamin…
Ban For Doctor Who Set-Off Autism Scare
The doctor whose false claims that childhood vaccines cause autism has been banned from practicing medicine in Britain. According to yesterday’s article published in The New York Times, Andrew Wakefield was sanctioned by Britain’s Medical Council after the longest investigation in its history. Over a decade ago, Dr. Wakefield made claims that a childhood vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella causes autism. His claims were published in The Lancet, which retracted the study after lengthy investigations made by the medical council in London. According to the NYT article, the medical council concluded that Dr. Wakefield “had been dishonest” and violated…
Teaching the New Cohort: Media Literacy & Citizen Journalists
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New technology and massive platforms for communication have brought out the journalist in everyone. The ability to report on stories when they happen, as they happen, has created a global cohort of ‘citizen journalists.’ Here’s a problem: With little to no formal journalism training, some ‘citizen journalists’ may not always be the ideal source for accurate reporting. “We face the ‘Balloon Boy’ stories of today,” as our 2010 Journalism Matters Essay Contest winner, Liz Medhin, WHAM (Rochester, NY) wrote. The “Balloon Boy” story was a tale made up by a man seeking publicity: he falsely said his young son was…
“The Status Symbol”
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This week in the Daily Beast, Peter Lauria writes about a sexy and trendy…newspaper? The Financial Times, with its signature salmon color, has become a status symbol in the world of global business and politics. The publication’s unique branding in a difficult climate for many media organizations is an impressive achievement. According to Lauria, the British publication has earned worldwide recognition among business professionals and based on my personal experience—recent college grads. The newspaper’s recent success in the US, says Lauria, where circulation has quadrupled in recent years, has much to do with new U.S. managing editor Gillian Tett. Lauria…
Recognizing Domestic Violence
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The recent beating death of Yeardley Love, a University of Virginia lacrosse standout, reminds us of the complexities and dangers of domestic abuse. No one ever told authorities about previous violent episodes she had experienced. Learning how to recognize the signs, and knowing what to do, is vital for all and especially vital for reporters. For tips on understanding domestic violence, view a recorded webinar hosted by NPF as part of October’s national domestic violence awareness month. Panelists were Kristin Schubert, a program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Sheryl Cates, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Photo…
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