December 2006
An Appreciation of Donald Murray: The Things He Gave (Dec. 31, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Don Murray, reporter, writer, teacher, coach, died Saturday at 82.
Weekend Update: Coverage of the Execution and Its Aftermath (Dec. 29, 2006)
By Pat Walters, Bill Mitchell, Howard Finberg, Bob Steele, Al Tompkins, Chip Scanlan, David Shedden, Kenny Irby, Roy Peter Clark, Jill Geisler, Amy Gahran, Keith Woods, Kelly McBride, Aly Colón, Scott Libin, Jeremy Gilbert, Leann Frola
Poynter faculty pose some questions and answers aimed at helping journalists shape coverage and presentation decisions. PLUS: “Displaying Death with Dignity” by Kenny Irby and “Dealing with Shocking Images” by David Shedden
Gerald Ford and James Brown: Brothers in Funk (Dec. 28, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
When great men die, how do we craft our coverage? Perhaps, we think not
of answers, but of questions. What is greatness, and how does a man
achieve it?
Gerald Ford Resources (Dec. 27, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
A collection of resources to help you cover the former president’s
death Tuesday. Also: former Poynter President Jim Naughton’s discovery
of “The Real Jerry Ford.”
Reporter Pads and Book Galleys: Documenting Woodstein (Dec. 25, 2006)
By Alicia C. Shepard
In this excerpt from her recently-published “Woodward and Bernstein,”
author and journalist Alicia Shepard recounts the tale of the 75 boxes
of papers documenting their story.
Holiday Book-Buying: Some Suggestions from Poynter (Dec. 21, 2006)
By Pat Walters, Bob Steele, Jill Geisler, Robert Haiman, Scott Libin, Meg Martin, Leann Frola, Bill Mitchell, David Shedden
Heading out for some last minute shopping? Stopping by the bookstore? Consider bringing a list.
Front Page as a Public Service Announcement (Dec. 20, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
The Seattle Times runs a safety warning on its front page in six languages. Poynter’s Al Tompkins asks why. And Poynter’s Jeremy Gilbert asks how.
Holiday Coverage with a Difference (Dec. 18, 2006)
By Aly Colón
Holiday coverage doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Or boring. Here are some ways to put a twist on it.
Willing and Not Quite Ready: Lessons for a Young Reporter (Dec. 16, 2006)
By Pat Walters
I’m young, but I’m ready to go. What does it take to get to Iraq? Maybe, staying home.
Note to Bosses: Let’s Talk. Clearly. (Dec. 15, 2006)
By Butch Ward
How to help your staff members stop looking over their shoulders.
The Dreaded “H-Word”: Navigating HIPAA (Dec. 13, 2006)
By Leann Frola
Three reporters on patients’ privacy, respecting the law and getting the story.
Letter From the Wall Street Meetings: Content Comes Center Stage (Dec. 10, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Newspaper companies tout online innovations at meetings with investors and analysts.
Drink Largely and Learn Lots: An Argument for Training the Well-Trained (Dec. 8, 2006)
By Scott Libin
The smartest leaders never stop learning.
Get Your Free Book Here: An Experiment in Online Marketing (Dec. 6, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Can giving away an online book boost print sales?
Public Newspaper Companies: A Vanishing Breed? (Dec. 4, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Poynter’s Rick Edmonds previews this week’s Media and Telecom Week
conference, and he wonders about the disappearance of the
publicly-owned newspaper company.
Following the Return to Guatemala (Dec. 1, 2006)
By Aly Colón
A Q&A with Esmeralda Bermudez, who, with photojournalist Stephanie
Yao, told the story of the deportation of a mother and her two
children, while their father and little sister stayed behind.
November 2006
Civil War and Civil Language: Word Choice and the Newsroom (Nov. 29, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
The role of journalists is to find language that describes the world accurately and efficiently. But using “civil war” to describe the war in Iraq does neither.
Good News in Ads: Online Brightens for Newspapers (Nov. 26, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
9 to 5 is prime time for online newspaper advertising.
Working the Holiday: Thanksgiving Story Ideas from Al’s Morning Meeting (Nov. 23, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Thanksgiving travel… Real-time flight delays… Cooking grease stops
sewer lines… Overeaters and Thanksgiving… Earning and burning the
calories… 185-degree turkeys… Online chefs… The freshman 15…
Turkey shortages in schools… Plumbers hard to find… ERs on
Thanksgiving… and more.
Nieman Narrative: Tips and Tales from Some of the Best in the Business (Nov. 21, 2006)
By Bill Kirtz
Some 900 journalists attended the [Nov. 17-19] Boston sessions, co-sponsored by Harvard’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism, The Poynter Institute, The Boston Globe and The Oregonian. They got tips on how to sidestep surly editors, burnish routine stories and launch careers on a shoestring.
The Yahoo Partnership: Big Deal or No Big Deal? (Nov. 20, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
What a partnership with the Internet giant and the companies of 176 daily newspapers could mean
New Rules for the Ad Game (Nov. 13, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Advertising faces its own life-threatening disruptions.
Offshoring: Coming Trend for Copy Desks? (Nov. 10, 2006)
By Joe Grimm
A newsroom, bedeviled by missed deadlines, a short-handed copy
desk and a lack of editing candidates, gets creative. It finds a company that offers editing services. The company
is overseas, perhaps in India or Singapore.
Ed Bradley: A Journalist’s Legacy (Nov. 10, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Journalism has suffered a great loss. Ed Bradley died of
complications from leukemia this morning at Mount Sinai Hospital in
Manhattan. PLEASE ALSO SEE: Byron Pitts on Ed Bradley and “Ed Bradley Remembered, by Keith Woods.
Election Night Innovation: Our List and Yours (Nov. 7, 2006)
By Meg Martin, Jeremy Gilbert, Bill Mitchell, Al Tompkins, Jill Geisler, Scott LIbin, Candace Clarke, Pat Walters, Leann Frola, Andrew Tran
Tuesday’s mid-term elections presented the nation’s newsrooms with all
the traditional challenges of complex news unfolding fast on deadline.
But this time, more and more journalists and their citizen colleagues
took advantage of emerging media tools — from blogs to vlogs to
customized databases — to get the story told.
Presenting Tuesday’s News: Lessons from ’94 (Nov. 6, 2006)
By Jeremy Gilbert
As newsrooms huddle to consider their Election Night design options, a
look back at the 1994 mid-term elections can help. PLUS: “Exit Polls: Handle with Care,” by Rick Edmonds
From Hearsay to Headline: Tracking the Larry Craig Coverage (Nov. 3, 2006)
By Pat Walters
How different editors made different decisions in the still-unfolding story of an online outing attempt. Here’s how Poynter decided to handle issues raised by the story.
Finding Ourselves as They Walk Out the Door (Nov. 2, 2006)
By Tom Huang
An editor faced with losing staff after buyouts confronts a newsroom’s crisis of identity and realizes it’s all about soul.
October 2006
Testing School Security: Anatomy of Two Decisions (Oct. 31, 2001)
By Bill Mitchell
Tom Marquardt describes The Capital‘s decision to proceed with a test, and Alan D. Miller describes The Columbus Dispatch‘s decision not to.
News 2000: Gannett Was Right (Oct. 27, 2006)
By O. Ricardo Pimentel
Newspapers should keep core values and readers’ interests intact as they increasingly move toward the Web.
Leading from the Emerald City (Oct. 25, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Rajiv Chandrasekaran talks to Jill Geisler about the leadership culture of .The Washington Post
The Good-News Beat: Forget the Softballs(Oct. 24, 2006)
By Frank Greve
Ask readers
or viewers or elected
officials what kind of news they’re looking for these days, and you’ll
often hear something like: “Why don’t you give us some good news for
change?” Run that idea by most journalists, and you’ll see their eyes
begin to roll. So what in the world is a veteran Washington correspondent like Frank Greve doing on the Good News beat for the McClatchy Washington Bureau?
Surviving the Job-Hunt Journey: Odyssey of a Young Journo (Oct. 19, 2006)
By Liam Dillon
On the road in pursuit of a full-time work, a recent graduate
encounters unexpected hurdles and ends up “nearly naked (and) blind.”
But employed.
New on Poynter Online: New Rail, New Venture, Same Old Bottom Line (Oct. 13, 2006)
By Karen Brown Dunlap
The Poynter Career Center provides help-wanted advertising, resume-posting and content aimed at helping you manage your career.
Wake Up, Newsies: Stop Fretting and Start Building (Oct. 12, 2006)
By Geneva Overholser
A veteran editor and journalism activist argues that there are plenty
of ways to save good journalism — but somebody has to pursue them.
Can the Newspaper Industry Find Its Way? (Oct. 11, 2006)
By Tim McGuire
Industry leaders and editors face losing their newsroom impact — unless they pool their collective resources on the Web.
LinkedIn, Anyone? (Oct. 10, 2006)
By Sree Sreenivasan
Social networking for journalists: For reporting, job-hunting, connecting and hiring
Online Ethics: The Beginning of the End of the Ad-Hoc Era? (Oct. 6, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Navigating the complexities of online ethics
Dissecting the Foley Investigation (Oct. 5, 2006)
By Kelly McBride
At least two Florida newspapers that sat on the Foley story in 2005
attest they made the right call. Hold it or run it? Maybe, just blog
it. There’s not always an easy answer.
Coverage Ideas: About the Foley Story (Oct. 4, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Al’s Morning Meeting: Investigative journalism… Breaking news between
broadcasts/editions?… Foley’s announcement harmful to gay
Americans… Following the money… Which records are public?
Local TV Still Top News Pick, But Technology and Hype Nibble at Edges (Oct. 3, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Survey findings reveal the content TV viewers value — and what they can do without
September 2006
National Writers’ Workshop Fort Lauderdale 2006: Extending the Conversation (Sept. 30, 2006)
By Meg Martin, Leann Frola, Michael Kruse and Andrew Tran
Dispatches, notes and insights from the 2006 National Writers’ Workshop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Covering Suicide: Attempted, Completed and Otherwise (Sept. 27, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
The still-hazy Terrell Owens story raises one of journalism’s biggest
challenges: coverage of suicides attempted, completed and sometimes
falsely reported.
Editors: The Future of News (Sept. 25, 2006)
By John McIntyre
At a time when unmediated contact between writer and reader appears to be on the rise, John McIntyre makes the case for the necessity of the copy desk.
Tracking the Teenage Path to News (Sept. 22, 2006)
By Leann Frola
A new Knight Foundation survey shows about half of high school students consume online news at least once a week. A majority of those students go to Internet portals for their news.
A Tribute to the Wellspring of Writers Workshops (Sept. 20, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
The Wilmington News Journal, which started it all, is calling it quits — or at least a time-out. Roy Peter Clark thanks the founders for their 15-year effort.
A Modest Proposal (Sept. 18, 2006)
By Butch Ward
“Humble journalist” doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. Butch Ward on the example set by Bob Schieffer at CBS News.
Photojournalism in the Age of Scrutiny (Sept. 15, 2006)
By Kenny Irby
Kenny Irby tracks what photojournalists are doing to address audience challenges to the integrity of images.
Proud to Be a Newspaper Writer (Sept. 13, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
Roy Peter Clark deconstructs a riveting New York Times lead from the paper’s Sept. 11 coverage
Narrating the Recent Past: Docu- or -Drama? (Sept. 11, 2006)
By Jill Geisler & Larry Larsen
The story of Sept. 11, 2001, has been retold in many ways to commemorate its fifth anniversary. Two networks have taken very different approaches: documentary and docudrama. Larry Larsen and Jill Geisler discuss. PLUS: Five Years On — Poynter faculty and staff reflect on the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Sept. 11 Anniversary: Story Ideas (Sept. 8, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Patriotism… International interest… Americans taking action… Matters of faith… Life-changing decisions… Always on our minds… Foggy facts… The news before the attacks… Facts & figures.
All Eyes on Couric’s CBS News: The Gravitas and the Goofy (Sept. 5, 2006)
By Jill Geisler, Scott Libin, Larry Larsen, Keith Woods and Roy Peter Clark
Poynter faculty watch her debut at their keyboards and share first impressions of the broadcast.
Katrina: The Power of the Press Against the Wrath of Nature (Sept. 1, 2006)
By James O’Byrne
James O’Byrne of The Times-Picayune reflected on newspaper
coverage in the midst of chaos in an April 21 keynote address at the
American Copy Editors Society conference in Cleveland. PLUS: “Coming Back,” by Keith Woods;”The Eyes of the Storm: Reflections from Gulf Coast Photojournalists,” by Kenny Irby; Katrina One Year Later: Essays & Epilogues — personal essays by Gulf Coast journalists on the year that has passed since Katrina made landfall by Matt Stamey, Arthur Lauck, Ronnie Crocker, Ron Franscell, Dee Dixon, Ted Jackson, Jessica Willey and Vicki Zimmerman
August 2006
After Katrina: A Clickable Landscape (Aug. 30, 2006)
By Jeremy Gilbert, Larry Larsen, David Shedden & Meg Martin
A dynamic map of the news organizations on the Gulf Coast most affected
by the storm and its aftermath — with other coverage from around the
world PLUS: the story of an editor as he leads his staff to recovery, Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose’s reflections on the storm’s lasting impacts, Roy Peter Clark’s musings on the relationship between Katrina and the social contract and personal essays from journalists who survived the storm and are working toward recovery.
As New Storms Approach, Five Lessons from Katrina (Aug. 29, 2006)
By Keith Woods
The lessons of Katrina abound as we remember the devastation it brought
to the Gulf Coast a year ago. Here are five of them to keep in mind as
the 2006 hurricane season gains momentum. PLUS: “Katrina: History is Now,” a list of Katrina-related books by David Shedden; “Lessons Learned: On Being Laid Bare,” reflections from Times-Picayune columnist Chris Rose; “American Behemoth,”
A year after Katrina, have we restored the social contract? by Roy Peter Clark.
Prepping for Disaster: The Lessons of Katrina (Aug. 27, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Al’s Morning Meeting: Gulf Coast coverage of Hurricane Katrina’s one-year anniversary… Damage… Floodwalls… Ernesto… and more.
Story Behind the Picture: Who Owns the JonBenet Photos? (Aug. 26, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
The arrest of a suspect prompts a debate over copyright protection of
photos involved in high profile stories. Poynter Online examines the
controversy.
Commentary: Nonsense About the NYT(Aug. 24, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Michael Wolff’s analysis of the Gray Lady’s business problems pretty much gets it all wrong.
In the Company of Writers: Quotes for the Writing Life (Aug. 21, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
And I Quote: How tenacity, patience and failure guarantee that our best work is yet to come.
On the Road from Atlanta to Indy: Paving His Own Destiny (Aug. 16, 2006)
By Karen Brown Dunlap
Poynter President Karen Dunlap asks NABJ President Bryan Monroe about his transition from Knight Ridder to Johnson Publishing.
One Cool Cat: The Return of Dr. Ink (Aug. 14, 2006)
By Dr. Ink
The doc applauds the whimsy of a cute animal story — a crooked kitty named Willy — amid the death and destruction of Middle East coverage.
All the Little Things Lead to Big Breaks (Aug. 11, 2006)
By Joe Grimm
Report from NAJA: Successful college students on being a successful college student — and a successful journalist.
Keeping It Real: Accurate Coverage of Native Culture (Aug. 10, 2006)
By Jodi Rave
How Oprah’s visit to a Navajo powwow missed the mark — and what journalists can do to improve coverage of Native culture.
Adventures in Change at the News-Sun: From P.M. Broadsheet to A.M. Compact(Aug. 9, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
The editor of a small Illinois daily describes leading his staff through a double dose of change.
Shuffling the Beats (Aug. 7, 2006)
By Butch Ward
When it comes time to shuffle beats in the newsroom, both reporters and their editors can play a role in deciding how.
The Power of Heat (Aug. 4, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
New ways to cover the heat wave, from energy assistance programs to understanding the national power grids.
Blurring the Borders Between Work and Family (Aug. 2, 2006)
By Scott Libin
Two NPR stories focus on a persistent struggle for journalists: balancing their lives on the job and at home.
July 2006
Ten Toes in the Multimedia Waters (July 31, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
2006 is turning into the year of trying everything at once.
Breaking News is Back in Style (July 26, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
But how precarious is the path toward convergence?
Caring About the News Again (July 24, 2006)
By Doug McGill
A veteran newsman who turned off news of the latest Middle East crisis describes what plugged him back in. PLUS: A podcast with Doug McGill about “glocalism” from Poynter’s Public Radio International seminar.
EyeTrack’07: New Study Probes Online and Print(July 21, 2006)
By Jessica Sandler
A new Poynter study will examine reading patterns of 600 subjects in four U.S. cities.
Double-Barreled Questions: Gifts to the President (July 14, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
How pigging out in a presidential question yields less of what the nation needs in the answer.
Engaging Readers in Enron: What It Took (July 12, 2006)
By Bob Steele
An e-mail Q&A with Mary Flood of the Houston Chronicle on multiple-platform reporting coverage of the Enron case
Voicing the Story: The Art and Craft of Podcast Narration (July 6, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Insights, tips, tools and technology from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s Tom Opdyke, on narrating newspaper stories for podcasting.
June 2006
Welcome to Writing Tools: The Book and the Blog (June 30, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
Roy Peter Clark unveils his newest project, a blog version of his 50 Writing Tools.
Visions of Harold & Kumar: A Plea for Better Coverage of the Asian Man (June 27, 2006)
By Tom Huang
Tom Huang on diversifying news coverage by covering your community beyond the stereotypes
The New Bottom Line: 25 Percent Revenue by 2011 (June 23, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Top execs of the nation’s publicly traded newspaper companies tell Wall Street their future is all about online.
The Future of News: A Challenge to Both Sides of the House (June 21, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
A collection of reflections, essays and roundups by the editors, publishers, researchers and other newsroom leaders from Poynter’s recent Future of News conference
PLUS: “New Relationships, New Pressures, New Potential,” by Gregory Favre and “News as Watchdog, as Trusted Agent, as Useful Tool,” by David Zeeck
End of an Era: Rather Leaves CBS (June 20, 2006)
By Bill Mitchell
Dan Rather departs the world of network television with some shots at his CBS bosses and a pledge to “do the work I love elsewhere.”
Stuck at the Desk Next to the Bathroom: Advice from a Young Journalist (June 19, 2006)
By Kelly McBride & Peter Zuckerman
Peter Zuckerman, a 2003 fellow in Poynter’s summer program for young journalists, speaks with Kelly McBride about his recent Livingston Award-winning work and about being one of the youngest journalists in the newsroom.
Paper Creates Interactive Ethics Guidelines (June 16, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
The Post Register of Idaho Falls has published its interactive ethics code on its Web site along with an invitation to readers to hold the paper accountable.
Spokesman-Review Goes Live with Its Editorial Meetings (June 14, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Spokane’s daily newspaper will officially begin streaming its morning and afternoon editorial meetings live on the Internet — for everyone to see.
The Future of News: Sense-Making and Other Strategies for Survival (June 9, 2006)
By Tom Rosenstiel
Five tips for managing transition — as opposed to supervising decline.
Calls of Last Resort: Remembering Today’s War Dead(June 7, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
The News & Observer‘s Jay Price and the Anchorage Daily News‘ Tataboline Brant on phone calls to the families of soldiers who have died in war.
Facing the Future: Poynter’s Summer Fellowship for Young Journalists(June 5, 2006)
By Kelly McBride
Soon, Poynter’s summer fellowship participants — and others like them — will be knocking on the doors of newsrooms across America for the first time. Are you ready? They are.
Are We Failing Young Journalists?(June 2, 1006)
By Ken Krayeske
Has the newspaper industry turned its back on aspiring young journalists?
May 2006
The Curmudgeon and the Kid: A Veteran Reporter and a Young Editor on Working Effectively (May 31, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
A veteran reporter is paired with a rookie editor. One is skeptical, the other nervous. What happens next might surprise you.
Wounded CBS Correspondent Improving(May 29, 2006)
CBS News reports that its correspondent, Kimberly Dozier, critically injured in a bombing in Iraq, has been moved to Germany, where she is in critical but stable condition. The explosion killed cameraman Paul Douglas and soundman James Brolan, as well as an Iraqi translator and a U.S. soldier.
Advice from a Reader to the New Boss in Town(May 25, 2006)
By Butch Ward
Butch Ward, whose nearly 20 years at the Philadelphia Inquirer included five as managing editor (1996-2001), writes to Brian Tierney, CEO of the new Philadelphia Media Holdings L.L.C.
Unleash the Watchdogs!(May 22, 2006)
By Bill Kirtz
Holding the powerful accountable: Some tips from those who do it best
Personal Journalism: Race, Adoption and the Father-Daughter Bond(May 19, 2006)
By Butch Ward
Last fall, Butch Ward wrote a letter to his adopted daughter, Caitlin, addressing her Asian heritage. It was a letter that she urged him to publish, and one that received a strong response from readers. Here are some of their reactions to “Letter to Caitlin,” followed by Butch’s thoughts on the power of personal journalism.
Newspaper as Community Arts Patron: Too Much of a Good Thing?(May 17, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
With a focus as a community patron, how much profit is The Daytona Beach News-Journal willing to risk?
Taking a Time Out: Lessons from News Directors’ Medical Leave (May 15, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Lessons from news directors who have gone on health-related hiatus from the newsroom. What happens when they leave?
The Guru Within: The Power of Self-Coaching(May 12, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Chip talks to a young reporter about avoiding plagiarism, being influenced by the work of other journalists and taking the time to solve her own problems.
Rising to the Top: A Q&A with New Yorker Editor David Remnick (May 10, 2006)
By Ellen Heltzel
“Reporting,” New Journalism and the priorities of a renaissance writer
Freelancing Overseas: Casting Off the Parachute(May 8, 2006)
By Vanessa Gezari
Notes, tips and insights for journalists who are thinking about freelancing overseas, from one writer who has been there
Want to Live Forever? Write Your Own Obit(May 4, 2006)
By Don Fry
A how-to on writing your own obituary.
When Work and Life Collide(May 2, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Work-life balance? Maybe not. But with effort — and with help — you can achieve “harmony.”
April 2006
Monday’s Boycott: Questions About Your Coverage(April 30, 2006)
By Aly Colon
A half-dozen questions to consider while there’s still time to frame — and tell — the story as fully and accurately as possible.
Serious Times Call for Serious News(April 27, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
TV viewers want more national and international news, less crime and entertainment, researcher says
PLUS: More coverage from the NAB@RTNDA and ASNE conventions: Five steps to broadcast success (Al Tompkins), Last call at the ASNE saloon (John Carroll) and more.
“Guardians of the Soul of Newspapers”(April 26, 2006)
By Rick Rodriguez
Out-going ASNE president Rick Rodriguez on the future of newspapers, role models in the newsroom and fulfilling newspapers’ sacred trust
This is (Not) a Test: Adventures in E-Learning(April 21, 2006)
By Howard Finberg
NewsU celebrates its first year of e-learning for journalists
The Wisdom of Ages: Letters to a Young Journalist(April 19, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Chip Scanlan’s Q&A with Samuel G. Freedman, author of a new book of wisdom for young (and not-so-young-anymore) journalists
From Biloxi and New Orleans: The Stories Behind the Pulitzers(April 17, 2006)
By Butch Ward
Jim Amoss and Stan Tiner discuss the winning work with Butch Ward. PLUS: New Orleans and Biloxi newsrooms celebrate. And a history of joint winners and a chat about the process with the newest Pulitzer Board member.
Blogging the Conference: Sports Journalism Summit (April 14, 2006)
By Meg Martin, Michelle Hiskey, Michael Kruse, Larry Larsen, Joseph Goodman and Keith Goldberg
Blogging the Sports Summit: A star-studded cast convenes at Poynter to discuss the state of the art of sports journalism.
The Inner Voices of Young Bosses(April 14, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Jill Geisler on the challenges for young newsroom managers — with an invite to write about them.
Adopted: When It Fits, When It Doesn’t, and Why(April 10, 2006)
By Sara Kiesler
Sara Kiesler on adoption in the media
The Business of Supporting Citizen Journalism (April 6, 2006)
By Steve Outing
Our series looks at the forms of citJ and the revenue models emerging to fund it.
PLUS: Traditional Media Adopts CitJ: Some news organizations are overcoming fears and opening up to citizen journalism; CitJ’s National Networks: Will They Bloom?: Entrepreneurs and media companies eye the opportunities in aggregating local sites; Independent CitJ: Web sites and Networks: Citizen-media practitioners can do it on their own; It’s Not About the Money: CitJ is a valuable community service — and for some people, it’s too important to turn it into a business; CitJ Start-ups’ Models: Entrepreneurs try to figure out the business; learn from them; and Ideas From CitJ Gurus: Get creative to succeed with citizen media. Advice from Amy Gahran and Chris Willis.
Couric Confirms: She’s Headed for CBS(April 4, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
Poynter’s Al Tompkins looks at the ongoing coverage of the story, with a roundup of resources on Couric, networks and what it all means for the nightly news.
PLUS: Early Anchors: a chronology of TV news by Poynter’s David Shedden; Memo to Katie Couric from Poynter’s Jill Geisler; Round-up of links from Poynter’s Jim Romenesko; and The Couric Buzz: what the blogs, the colleagues and the critics are saying, by Poynter’s Al Tompkins.
March 2006
Safety and Story: A Balancing Act(March 31, 2006)
By Meg Martin, Roy Peter Clark, Jill Geisler, Al Tompkins and Larry Larsen
What journalists can learn from Jill Carroll’s story: resources, ethical questions and more from Poynter faculty.
The New Associated Press: A News Strategy to Fill the Gaps(March 29, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
In the second installment of a two-part series, Rick Edmonds examines the AP’s strategy to adapt to a news cycle that has shifted from a daily miracle to a 24/7 media phenomenon.
The New Associated Press: Under Construction(March 27, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
An examination of the role of online video, youth marketing and advertising in the AP’s strategy to move from the clatter of the wire to the buzz of digital news.
Jerry Ceppos on J-Schools: Ethics, Convergence, PR and More(March 26, 2006)
By Gregory Favre
Gregory Favre talks with the retired KR vice president about journalism education.
PLUS: An interview with Christopher Callahan.
Sunshine Week: Online Redux(March 23, 2006)
By Amy Gahran
Amy Gahran looks beyond the bubble.
Broadband Power Drives News Use (March 22, 2006)
By Howard Finberg
A new Pew study links broadband access to greater reliance on the Web for news.
To Capture Kids, Reconsider Definition of News (March 16, 2006)
By Bob Andelman
Merrill Lynch equity analyst Lauren Rich Fine talks about kids and media.
PLUS: Being in the ‘A-ha!’ business and News & our four needs.
Embracing Contradictions: Andrew Heyward on the Value of News(March 15, 2006)
By Bob Andelman
Former CBS News president says, “If content is king, then connectedness is queen.”
Big Deal, Big Sequels(March 14, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
More on the Knight Ridder takeover and the 12 “orphan” papers
PLUS: The Geography of Change, Leading Through Uncertainty, and More Than New Bosses Await Knight Ridder’s Online Staffs.
McClatchy Details Plans for KR; Future Uncertain for Slow-Growth Dozen(March 13, 2006)
By Poynter Institute
McClatchy VP Howard Weaver talks about the future and more.
State of the News Media 2006: Skimpy Rations(March 13, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
A review of the Project for Excellence in Journalism’s 2006 report.
The Accidental Aggregator(March 9, 2006)
By Lou Alexander
Lou Alexander on the lessons learned from his gig as unofficial newsgatherer for the Knight Ridder diaspora.
Move Over, Strunk & White: There’s a New Kid in Town (March 6, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
An interview with Arthur Plotnik about language and rules.
Sweeps & MySpace, Olympics & Mardi Gras, The AP and President Bush & More This Week in Media(March 3, 2006)
By Poynter faculty and staff
Highlights from Scott Libin, Jill Geisler, David Shedden, Casey Frechette, Bill Mitchell and Karen Dunlap.
Passing the Torch: Don’t Let Great Sportswriting Flame Out (March 1, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
Creativity, passion and wit on and off the playing field.
February 2006
Making a Difference, One Newspaper at a Time (Feb. 27, 2006)
By Aly Colon
How one initiative is bringing diversity to America’s newsrooms.
Looking Good & Getting it Right (Feb. 24, 2006)
By Anne Van Wagener
The Society for News Design develops an ethics code.
The Parenting Parallel(Feb. 21, 2006)
By Scott M. Libin
Being a boss & being a parent may require some of the same skills, but the analogy has its limits.
Watch Out, Broadsheet: Tabloid Power is Gonna Get Your Mama (Feb. 19, 2006)
By Roy Peter Clark
The tab is on its way. Are you ready?
Cheney Chatter; Cartoon Controversy; Press Expectations; & More This Week in Media (Feb. 16, 2006)
By Poynter faculty and staff
Highlights from Jill Geisler, Scott Libin, Rick Edmonds, Bob Steele and Larry Larsen.
Handling Abu Ghraib Images(Feb. 15, 2006)
By Poynter faculty and staff
How will you handle the newly-released disturbing photos?
E-mail Misunderstandings (Feb. 13, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
When electronic communication generates more questions than answers, it’s time to re-evaluate our habits.
Innovating for Audience; Danish TV & the Cartoons; Kristof vs. O’Reilly; & More This Week in Media (Feb. 9, 2006)
By Poynter faculty and staff
Highlights from Karen Dunlap, Rick Edmonds, Jill Geisler, Larry Larsen, Scott Libin and Kelly McBride.
Why I Blog (Feb. 8, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
Seven reasons the author joined the millions who are becoming bloggers.
Covering the Caricature Controversy(Feb. 6, 2006)
By Poynter faculty
Listen to this Poynter Podcast featuring a roundtable discussion led by Kelly McBride, with Bob Steele, Keith Woods, Roy Peter Clark and Aly Colón or read the transcript.
Wanted: Articulate, Creative Thinkers with Design Mojo (Feb. 2, 2006)
By Anne Van Wagener
Critical skills for the visual journalist.
“Ratings Institute,” King Coverage, SOTU & More This Week in Media (Feb. 2, 2006)
By Poynter faculty and staff
Poynter provides a look back and a look ahead at Iran, T-shirts, NASA and mosquitoes, mine safety, “iPod ear” and the Olympics.
January 2006
Ano-, Pseudo- … What’s the Best -nymity? (Jan. 31, 2006)
By Steve Yelvington
Identifying contributors and commentators on news and community Web sites.
Remembering Coretta (Jan. 31, 2006)
By David Shedden
Resources to help you understand and cover Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.
Why They Go: Three War Correspondents on the Work They Do (Jan. 30, 2006)
By Al Tompkins
The dangers they face and why they do it. PLUS: When one of your own is hurt.
ABC News Anchor, Photojournalist Stable After Surgery (Jan. 29, 2006)
By Jill Geisler
Bob Woodruff and Doug Vogt are being treated for head injuries they received while traveling with an Iraqi convoy.
The Week in Media (Jan. 27, 2006)
Poynter puts the week’s events in perspective: Roy Peter Clark on “Oprah”; Rick Edmonds on the problems that plague Knight Ridder; Steve Outing on Dan Gillmor and Google; David Shedden on Black History Month; Meg Martin on Anne Hull, James Frey and Samuel Alito.
A Reporter’s Cold Case File: Justice for Linda (Jan. 24, 2006)
By Chip Scanlan
A Q-and-A with Orange County (Calif.) Register legal affairs writer Larry Welborn.
Religion in (or Out of) the News (Jan. 22, 2006)
By Terry Mattingly
The role of religion in the year’s biggest stories.
The Week in Media (Jan. 20, 2006)
Poynter puts journalism in perspective. Jim Romenesko, Kelly McBride, Bill Mitchell, Karen Dunlap, Bob Steele and David Shedden on what was underplayed, surprises and what’s to come. PLUS: Subscribe to “This Week in Media.
What is Your Media Pyramid? (Jan. 19, 2006)
By Eric Deggans
What makes for a balanced news meal? Eric Deggans explores “brain food.” PLUS: Where do Poynter people get their news?
Lies and Literary Memoirs (Jan. 17, 2006)
By Ellen E. Heltzel
How blurry is the line between fact and fiction?
A Bad Year for Newspaper Stocks, A Worse Year for the Gray Lady (Jan. 12, 2006)
By Rick Edmonds
Why is Wall Street unhappy with The New York Times Company?
Tough Questions: In the Field & in the Newsroom (Jan. 9, 2006)
By Scott M. Libin
Inviting skepticism now can protect you later.
Resolving to Be More (Jan. 5, 2006)
By Thomas T. Huang
One editor’s goals for the New Year.
Stopping the Presses and Getting it Right (Jan. 3, 2006)
By Meg Martin
The Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh catches most of its press run with news of miners’ deaths. Other papers got it wrong. PLUS: Headlines on deadlines.
