Protesters Clash in
Cairo, More Presidential Advisers Quit
On Tuesday, Dec. 4th, Egyptian riot police
fired tear gas outside the presidential palace, where tens of thousands of
protesters had gathered while Morsi was inside conducting business.
Police tried to stop the crowd from storming the palace
but soon retreated and let the marchers through a barrier and up to the palace
walls. Egyptian officials say president left the palace during the march.
Many of the marchers chanted the same anti-government
slogans used in the uprising that toppled former authoritarian president Hosni
Mubarak.
Media Coverage
There has been quite a
while since riots in Cairo, Egypt has been taking place. Explicit images that
portray the violent wave that is happening over there have taken over media for
months now, such as the one below.
Many people are unable
to resist news coverage of violent attacks. As horrific as they are to watch on
television and read about in newspapers and magazines, many still find it
nearly impossible to turn away. It is difficult to know why the information is
so hard to resist. Media is intentionally creating seductive and addictive
images almost like those seen in an action movie. Whatever the reason, it is
important to understand the effects on the community that this type of exposure
may have.
You're a new reporter covering
local government for a newspaper in a small town. After attending numerous
council meetings, you get your first interviews with several well-placed
sources about a controversial new highway bypass around the town. Local
businesses are against it because it will decrease traffic to their
storefronts, and residents are for it because it will reduce congestion and
provide more peace and quiet in many neighborhoods. In an interview with the
mayor hints that he and two members of the city council have
"strong-armed" a few of the larger businesses to keep quiet regarding
their opposition by offering some attractive zoning and tax incentives. Then,
after he says that, he adds, "That's off the record."
What do you do?
Principio del formulario
A. You say nothing and let the comment
pass.
B. You stop the mayor and tell him that
"off the record" can't really be added to a statement after the
fact.
Final del formulario
B. You stop the mayor and tell him that "off the
record" can't really be added to a statement after the fact.
He becomes angry, tells you to forget the whole interview,
and that you can't publish anything he has said at all.
What do you do?
Principio del formulario
1. You interview several of the local
businesses and ask about their reactions to the proposed highway bypass
and whether or not local officials have offered special incentives to
make the situation better for them. You attribute information to the
business leaders.
2. After discussing the situation with
your editor and receiving permission to refer to an unnamed source, you
publish the information you gleaned from the mayor anyway, citing a high
level official as the source who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Final del formulario
Evaluation
Many people unfamiliar with
journalism naturally do not have a complete understanding of how some rules in
this profession work. Before beginning an interview, it's best to set the
ground rules and define what "off the record" and "on the
record" mean, so that you and your source have a clear understanding of
the information that you can and cannot print. You also want to avoid hurting
the relationships you build with sources. Unless a source first says she'd like
to comment "off the record," the interviewee must recognize that everything
said is "on the record." And even if you do anger the source or have
the interview terminated, you can always interview other sources and gain
valuable information from them. Finally, it's good to talk with your supervisor
about the paper's policy on anonymous sourcing and when it can be used.
Based on the SPJ Code of Ethics:
Seek Truth and Report It
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering,
reporting and interpreting information.
