WEEK 9- Chapter 9 ‘Interviewing, a core skill’ & Chapter 14 ‘Computer Assisted Reporting’

WEEK 9- Chapter 9 ‘Interviewing, a core skill’ & Chapter 15 ‘Computer Assisted Reporting’

Chapter 9
1. Which would you choose: a direct quotation that is accurate but unclear and embarrassing to the speaker, or one that is clear but inexact and makes the speaker appear more eloquent than he or she really is?

I would choose the direct quotation that is accurate but unclear and embarrassing to the speaker. An accurate quote holds more value than an inexact quote. The speaker should generally be aware when speaking to a journalist in that everything they say can be used against them.

2. Is it ever justified for a journalist to intimidate a source with a threat of ‘public exposure’ to get important public information?

Intimidation is never justified unless the public is at threat. People in general may feel intimidated by a journalist. I would try and avoid intimidating a source at all costs because I could put my reputation on the line and it can take one incident to ruin a reputation.


3. Is it reasonable strategy for a journalist-male or female- to use ‘personal chemistry’ to get information from sources when there is public interest at stake?

‘Personal chemistry’, could be taken in many different contexts. As long as the journalist’s feels they have not crossed the boundary by acting unethically and the strategy of ‘personal chemistry’ is used in a tactful way. Personally I wouldn’t go and use this strategy, as I feel disrespectful to myself even if it is just flirting, you should never get personally involved with a source. It is similar to a doctor/patient relationship.

4. What potential dangers could come back to haunt a journalist who gets too close to a source?

There could be many outcomes; readers may feel the stories written in relation to the source could be biased. There could be legal, personal and career ramifications.

5. Who is the most inarticulate, word-mangling public figure regularly in the news at present? Should you feel sorry for them and clean up their direct quotes or let them stew in their own frying pan?

Public figures should always be clear and conscious as they are obviously always in the media. I would not feel sorry for them, as they need to learn to be clear and direct. Public figures that are usually in the media and targeted for appearing inarticulate are usually the politicians such as Bush and Howard. The chaser is dedicated to probing at public figures that make word-mangling remarks or speeches.



Chapter 15

1. You are about to graduate with a degree in journalism. You have taken web writing, digital photojournalism, and CAR courses as well as completing a newspaper internship. There are two job offers. One is form a small but finical stable weekly newspaper several hours from capital city. The other is from a new online publication based in your capital city. It offers almost twice the pay but will not give you more than a six-month contract. Which job will choose, and why?

I would choose the six-month job with the online publication. I think it would be beneficial to experience the new craze of the online sector. Twice the pay always sounds nicer and I would be able to build up contacts within my own capital city. Actually I am really sitting on the fence on this one. I would have to weigh up the pros and cons. If was going to work for the newspaper I would like the opportunity of reporting face to face with people and the fact that I would be less likely to sit at my desk all day, or would I?

2. Your newspaper does not have a policy on using quotations or paraphrasing from email interviews. A local politician tells you she will not consent to an interview with you on a crucial issue unless it is via email. You need both comments and factual information from her but suspect you won’t get the spontaneous, reactive comment and detail need by deadline with an email interview. What do you do?

I would first suggest to the politician would they be happy to conduct an interview via web cam, or microphone, or chat. If I email the questions to the politician the chances are they would not be as honest and open. If they decline to use the other interactive options then I would just use the email, as the newspaper does not have a policy on using quotations or paraphrasing.


3. While conducting a CAR search on the web you come across some information which clearly indicates that a story ‘written’ by a colleague was plagiarised from a website. What will you do?

I would approach my colleague and question them about it and I would also find out if this has happened more than once. If it has happened more than once I would report them to the editor, if it is there first offence I would warn them if this were to happen again I would report them, or any misconduct for that matter.

4. A person you know nothing about has sent you an email from a hotmail address saying they have information, which will bring the government down. The writer says they are on the run from the police, will only meet you at 2am on the bank of a river in an unpopulated area, and you must be alone. You reply to the email seeking more information and a telephone number. There is no reply. What will you do? Why?

Safety first. How connivent, they are on the run from the police, they want to meet at 2am in a secluded place. The fact there is also no reply has to make me wonder. I think I would show the email to who ever is in charge and ask them what they think but if it was up to me I would put my safety first I happen to value my life.

5. When searching the web for particular quotation attributed to Daniel Defoe and his book Robinson Cursoe you find six instances of the quote. Three of them say exactly the same thing, and the other three say exactly the same thing as each other but they are different from the first three. How will you decide which quotation, if either, is correct?

I would evaluate which source is more credible/reliable. I would also try and find the original source for the correct quotation.

Journalism Issue

Interviewing effectively is an essential skill for a journalist. A journalist needs to prepare thorough questions to ask their interviewee. Background research is important when interviewing a person, as you have to know what angle you want to take.' Dig deep for your questions so you get in depth answers, devise your angle, and build you interview around it.'Even ask your editor what they want so you can draft a set of questions. List the questions in a logical sequence; a good interview is structured well. It begins with straight forward questions, shifting to more in depth questions as the interview progresses. If the interview has a logical structure the simpler it is to follow. The preparation will give the journalist confidence and control over the interview.

I sourced tips from the following article.

http://www.concernedjournalists.org/node/237 ‘committee of concerned journalists’