ABC 7 Lessons from Gene Ross Gene Ross
ABC 7
Lessons from Gene Ross
Gene Ross �Get internships, mainly in college
Gene Ross �Get internships, mainly in college �You will start in a small market
Gene Ross �Get internships, mainly in college �You will start in a small market �TV news also isn’t doing that great
Gene Ross �Get internships, mainly in college �You will start in a small market �TV news also isn’t doing that great �You’ll want to major in broadcast journalism to have a shot
Gene Ross �Get internships, mainly in college �You will start in a small market �TV news also isn’t doing that great �You’ll want to major in broadcast journalism to have a shot �Challenge for all “dinosaur” media is how to monetize their internet presence
And so we bid adieu to broadcast
Trends in journo
Newspapers vanishing?
“Freedom aims to sell newspapers” Wall Street Journal �Freedom Communications is looking to sell its 24 daily newspapers including Orange County Register �Halifax Media, which snatched up the Sarasota Herald -Tribune and the New York Times’ 24 other smaller papers, is one of the potential buyers
DPQ!!!!
The First Amendment �Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble; and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; of the right of the people peaceably to assemble; and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. ”
Why freedom of press? �SCOTUS 1957: “. . unfettered interchange of ideas for bringing about the political and social changes desired by the people. ”
Why freedom of press? �SCOTUS 1957: “. . unfettered interchange of ideas for bringing about the political and social changes desired by the people. ” �Free flow of ideas is necessary in a democracy (is the U. S. ? ) because people who govern themselves need to know about their government and those who run it
Why freedom of press? �SCOTUS 1957: “. . unfettered interchange of ideas for bringing about the political and social changes desired by the people. ” �Free flow of ideas is necessary in a democracy (is the U. S. ? ) because people who govern themselves need to know about their government and those who run it �FOIA (Freedom of Information Act): 1966 federal law makes it easier to get at government records.
Why freedom of press? �SCOTUS 1957: “. . unfettered interchange of ideas for bringing about the political and social changes desired by the people. ” �Free flow of ideas is necessary in a democracy (is the U. S. ? ) because people who govern themselves need to know about their government and those who run it �FOIA (Freedom of Information Act): 1966 federal law makes it easier to get at government records. �All states including Florida have open-records and open-meetings laws
Top 10 nations with freest press?
Top 10 nations with freest press? �Finland, Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Austria, Iceland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Cape Verde, Canada
Top 10 nations with freest press? �Finland, Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Austria, Iceland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Cape Verde, Canada �U. S. is 47 th
Top 10 nations with freest press? �Finland, Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Austria, Iceland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Cape Verde, Canada �U. S. is 47 th �Bottom feeders: Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Syria, Iran, China, Bahrain, Vietnam, Yemen, Sudan
Top 10 nations with freest press? �Finland, Norway, Estonia, Netherlands, Austria, Iceland, Luxemburg, Switzerland, Cape Verde, Canada �U. S. is 47 th �Bottom feeders: Eritrea, North Korea, Turkmenistan, Syria, Iran, China, Bahrain, Vietnam, Yemen, Sudan �U. S. fell 27 places because of “arrests of Occupy Wall Street journalists”
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right?
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Can’t ignore a judge’s order to, for example, not print a rape victim’s name
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Can’t ignore a judge’s order to, for example, not print a rape victim’s name �Violating copyright laws
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Can’t ignore a judge’s order to, for example, not print a rape victim’s name �Violating copyright laws �Pornography or obscene materials and language
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Can’t ignore a judge’s order to, for example, not print a rape victim’s name �Violating copyright laws �Pornography or obscene materials and language �Military secrets, stolen memos
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Can’t ignore a judge’s order to, for example, not print a rape victim’s name �Violating copyright laws �Pornography or obscene materials and language �Military secrets, stolen memos �Threats to assassinate President
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Most of the laws limiting the absolute freedom of the press are related to libel
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Most of the laws limiting the absolute freedom of the press are related to libel �Libel: the damage to a person’s reputation caused by making the person an object of hatred, contempt or ridicule in the eyes of a substantial and respectable group
So we’re pretty much free to print or broadcast anything, right? �Most of the laws limiting the absolute freedom of the press are related to libel �Libel: the damage to a person’s reputation caused by making the person an object of hatred, contempt or ridicule in the eyes of a substantial and respectable group �Dictionary def: “defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures”
Libel �Journalists can libel someone in print, photographs, radio, internet, television or other broadcast
Libel �Three questions: did it damage the reputation; was the accusation false; was it published with “actual malice” – knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth
Libel �Three questions: did it damage the reputation; was the accusation false; was it published with “actual malice” – knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard for the truth �Four standards courts look for to determine damage: did you falsely accuse somebody of crime; did you damage a person in his office or occupation; did you accuse a person of serious immorality; and did you accuse somebody of having a nasty disease?
Defenses for libel
Defenses: The truth �“What is truth? ” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him…” John 18: 38
The truth �Report no more than you know to be true: Police charged Fred Fernfickle with drunk driving; you don’t know that we was drunk driving.
The truth �Report no more than you know to be true: Police charged Fred Fernfickle with drunk driving; you don’t know that we was drunk driving. �When reporting statements from people you interview, be careful: “That Mark Gutsche is a known klepto and also likes to torture defenseless kittens by forcing them to listen to Justin Bieber songs over and over, ” Ima Lyre told WLAF-TV.
Which brings us to: privilege
Which brings us to: privilege �Privilege: courts allow legislators, judges and government officials the absolute privilege to say anything – true or false – when acting in their official capacity
Which brings us to: privilege �Privilege: courts allow legislators, judges and government officials the absolute privilege to say anything – true or false – when acting in their official capacity �Allows them to speak freely and in the spirit of democracy, mix it up with gusto
Which brings us to: privilege �Privilege: courts allow legislators, judges and government officials the absolute privilege to say anything – true or false – when acting in their official capacity �Allows them to speak freely and in the spirit of democracy, mix it up with gusto �Lady Astor to Churchhill: “If I were married to you I’d poison your coffee. ”
Which brings us to: privilege �Privilege: courts allow legislators, judges and government officials the absolute privilege to say anything – true or false – when acting in their official capacity �Allows them to speak freely and in the spirit of democracy, mix it up with gusto �Lady Astor to Churchhill: “If I were married to you I’d poison your coffee. ” �Church: “Madam, if I were married to you I’d drink it. ”
Privilege �As a reporter, we have qualified privilege to report what these people say. If a Senator defames someone, as long as we truthfully and completely report it, we are exempt from libel
Privilege �As a reporter, we have qualified privilege to report what these people say. If a Senator defames someone, as long as we truthfully and completely report it, we are exempt from libel �Standards vary, but generally speaking, as long as a politician or gov official is acting in official capacity, we have qualified privilege
Fair Comment and Criticism
Fair Comment and Criticism �Courts protect editorial writers who savage those in the public eye
Fair Comment and Criticism �Courts protect editorial writers who savage those in the public eye �Includes politicians, actor, sports figures, other public officials and people in the news
Fair Comment and Criticism �Courts protect editorial writers who savage those in the public eye �Includes politicians, actor, sports figures, other public officials and people in the news �You are protected as long as you do not misstate facts
Fair Comment and Criticism �Courts protect editorial writers who savage those in the public eye �Includes politicians, actor, sports figures, other public officials and people in the news �You are protected as long as you do not misstate facts �In practice, you can say anything about political figures and not be charged with libel
Assignment 4/3 �Do internet search and find three cases where celebrities or politicians successfully won libel cases. Pick one case and report on the legal issues involved. 250 words.
Assignment 4/3 �Do internet search and find three cases where celebrities or politicians successfully won libel cases. Pick one case and report on the legal issues involved. 250 words. �Read pages 137 -149 of Inside Reporting
- Slides: 61