WEEK 11- Chapter 11 ‘Reporting for duty’

WEEK 11- Chapter 11 ‘Reporting for duty’

1. You are a police reporter for a major city newspaper. A young man who seems credible tells you that he has been bashed by an off-duty police officer. He has a witness and a medical report. A police officer tells you that no one will speak to you again if the newspaper runs anything, regardless who writes it. The chief-of-staff says that if you do not write the story you will be removed from the round. What do you do?

Write the story, serve and protect the publics’ interest. The issue of the police not speaking to me is one I will deal with later but the chances are there will always be someone who will leak vital information.

2. A distraught woman convicted of stealing a pair of stockings from a store approaches you after her court case and says that she will commit suicide if you publish anything. Your newspaper has a policy of publishing all such cases, but it will never know about this one unless you reveal it. You really believe the woman might be suicidal. What do you do? Why?

First of all I will notify a clinic or mental health facility about the woman’s situation. I will then publish the story and I would not reveal the woman’s identity to protect her from harm or harming herself. But I highly doubt a woman convicted of stealing a pair of stockings would be newsworthy or would it? I mean who steals a pair of stockings?

3. A very famous and very attractive personality gets hopelessly drunk at a party, causes chaos, and on the way home is picked up for drink-driving. You get a tip from a police contact and attend court where the personality is convicted of being three times over the limit, fined, and disqualified from driving. You are the only journalist in court. The personality later phones you and begs you not write the story because it will ruin their career. They are so desperate they offer everything from sex to money and a free holiday if you do not report on the case. What will you do? Why?

I can earn my own money, pay for my own holiday and sex would not be an issue. As a famous person they have to take on the burden of the fact that they will constantly be in the media and public arena. If the story is newsworthy and in the publics’ interest then I would publish it. I am a strong believer in that if a person is famous then they have to accept good press and bad press. ‘For example, Paris Hilton, Ben Cousins, Lindsy Lohan and Andrews Johns have all been culprits of similar situations.

4. Although it is against the law, a juror in a high profile murder trail approaches you and say there will be a hung jury in the case because two jury members have accepted bribes of $100, 000 each from two corrupt high-ranking police officers who have paid the money on condition that the jurors do not return a guilty verdict. What will you do? Why?

Report the story, it’s a similar situation as question number one. It is in the publics’ interest to know and be informed about corruption within the justice system. As a journalist I would deal with the legal ramifications, as it is more important to let the public know when justice is not being served.

Journalism Issue
There were a couple of issues that the chapter addressed that I found to be practical and useful. Being informed- this is just informing yourself daily with the news and current affairs throughout the day. A journalist has to be proactive with listening, reading and watching from different mediums. Contact Book- the contact book is a journalist’s bible, the reporter’s lifeline to the community. Contacts should not be underestimated. Skills that are ideal and would benefit a journalist are: computer skills, ability to touch type (120 words per min) and knowledge of the newspapers telephone system. The ideal file-includes past news clipping, media releases, these represent story ideas or an update for a previous story. Coping the stress and time management were the last two useful points. Stress and time management go hand in hand and does not matter what you do in life both will occur. But to excellent time management skills will minimise stress.