The way journalists report crime news affects the public’s perceptions of the criminal justice system and their own safety. This is especially true of TV news, which has a more salient impact due to video imagery that’s often dramatic and repeated.
The “if it bleeds, it leads” coverage of local evening news has been popular for decades – but it has also been criticized for deepening racial stereotypes and exacerbating the threat of violence in communities. Recent years have shown how frayed the trust has grown between media organizations and the people they cover, especially in communities over-represented in crime coverage and under-represented elsewhere.
It is time for repair.
For the fourth year in a row, the National Press Foundation is offering a fellowship focused on criminal justice coverage, this time partnering with the Radio Television Digital News Association to serve TV news directors and producers.
Crime Coverage Summit 2023: Beyond “If It Bleeds, It Leads” will bring 100 news decision-makers to San Diego Jan. 12-14 to focus on producing nuanced, evidence-based criminal justice reporting in a time of tight newsroom budgets.
Attendees will hear from top experts in the field and be given the opportunity to brainstorm with fellow journalists from around the country on solutions-oriented approaches to coverage, journalism ethics and staff support, as well as growing police department restrictions on newsgathering.
Factual and balanced reporting is more important than ever. NPF and RTDNA are honored to work with local TV news directors in advancing excellence in criminal justice coverage.
AGENDA:
THURSDAY, JAN. 12
4:50 p.m. Welcome
5-6 p.m. Crime Trends Talk
Crime has been a major issue in U.S. electoral politics – and an especially partisan issue in 2022. Beyond the rhetoric, what are the real trends in American crime and punishment? This interactive session will explore recent trends in U.S. criminal justice and the biggest challenges to crime coverage in TV news.
6-7 p.m. Networking Reception
7-8 p.m. Dinner & Keynote on Mass Shooting Coverage
FRIDAY, JAN. 13
8-9 a.m. Breakfast
9-10 a.m. Crime: Fact vs. Fiction
What do we know about crime in the United States in 2022? More importantly, what do we think we know? This statistic-heavy session will focus on debunking myths about crime and better equip journalists to provide evidence-based reporting to TV audiences.
10-11 a.m. Police: Access, Confrontation & Competition
We’ll address the numerous challenges when working with police (or not) to bring independent news to TV screens. Trainers will cover access and restrictions on documents, police misinformation, FOIA issues, reporter arrests, and how to respond to police departments that are releasing their own videos and other “journalism” efforts.
11 a.m.-12 p.m. Police: Access, Confrontation & Competition: Group work
12-1:30 p.m. Lunch
1:30-2:30 p.m. Race: The Stats
The Pew Charitable Trusts will demonstrate the Jail Data Initiative, a new tool that allows reporters to gather real-time data on over a thousand jails across the country. An expert will also address how race factors into these data trends. Despite the millions of people going into jails every year, data on who is in jail, for how long and why is challenging to come by. There are over 10 million admissions to jail a year and no national data on the race or ethnicity of those admissions. And yet, we know that spending even a few days in jail can have a big impact on those locked up, including even losing their jobs or custody of their children. To address this deficit, the Pew Charitable Trusts partnered with John Jay College and NYU to create an online tool – the Jail Data Initiative – which allows the media, policymakers and other stakeholders to get detailed and current information on over a third of all jails in the nation. During this session, Tracy Velázquez, senior manager at Pew, will present findings on racial and ethnic disparities in jails drawn from both JDI and an in-depth three jail study, and will show participants how to navigate JDI to download information they can use in their own reporting. Participants are encouraged to bring their computers or other portable internet-connected devices to follow along. Ample time will be allotted to ask questions both on using JDI and accessing criminal justice data to identify points where racial and ethnic disparities may exist.
2:30-3:30 p.m. Race: The Stereotypes
This session examines the ways in which TV news crime coverage creates or debunks racial stereotypes in society. What improvements have newsrooms made in recent years? Where can the industry still improve? Together, we’ll take a hard look at disproportionate coverage given to sensational crime stories vs. white-collar crime, the use of unnecessary racial descriptions or depictions, the ethics of running police shots, and more.
3:30-4:30 p.m. Race: The Stereotypes: Group work
SATURDAY, JAN. 14
9-10 a.m. Supporting Front Line Journalists
News directors send reporters to cover traumatic situations almost daily, and those encounters have a human toll. How can we best support staff as they deal with trauma? What are the warning signs? This training for newsroom managers will help them support their journalists as they perform this important, but challenging, work.
10-11 a.m. Shared Solutions
It’s time to share. What is working well in your newsroom? How has your crime coverage made a difference in your community? News directors will share insights from their stations and answer questions from their peers about their practices.
11 a.m.- 12 p.m.Taking It Home
It’s time to take it home. We’ll wrap up everything we addressed at the Crime Coverage Summit and help to give you some actionable advice for when you return to your newsrooms.
This program is funded by Arnold Ventures. NPF and RTDNA are solely responsible for the content.