What Mass Media students SHOULD be watching.

Does the 4^th estate of journalism exist?

This question is discussed, among other media related topics, by the PBS show ‘Frontline’ in its series ‘News War.' Viewers may watch episodes on Tuesday nights at 10p.m. on PBS station WJCT or on pbs.org at any time.

Some background:

The concept of four estates classifies all members of society into economic casts beginning with the clergy (Modern government officials), second the aristocracy (modern business leaders), third are serfs and peasants (modern consumers) and most recently the fourth(the free speakers) whom are press or mass media members.

The problems arise when people in the fourth estate are members of the second estate or are constrained by the first estate's powers.

Our constitutional amendments entitle this country’s citizens to certain legal rights and privileges. Among those detailed within the first amendment are freedom of speech and the freedom of the press.

The fourth estate's members of the media are, in certain situations, above the prohibitive influence of the government but are always charged with being fair and balanced in their reporting. There are exceptions to the powers of the press.

According to the first amendment, government may limit (censor) the press in situations of libel, obscenity, use of words that might cause violence or present a clear and present danger to the Commonwealth.

The goal of the amendment according to justicelearning.org is "to ensure a free exchange of ideas even if the ideas are unpopular."

The NewsWar site states that in 1972 the court case Branzburg v. Hayes may have determined whether the fourth estate of journalism actually exists based on the amendments of the constitution.

In a 5 to 4 ratio the powers that be ruled that there were no special privileges allotted for members of the press. That means that reporters could be punished criminally by the courts for refusing to divulge their sources.

The first amendment debate rages on with lingering ambiguity from the specific wording used by the justices’ ruling in the Hayes case. For those in the legal professions, meanings are open to maneuvering and interpretation. But over the past 30 years there have been many cases in which the highest court has refused to make a place for the fourth estate to protect journalistic sources.

The Fore Granted Opinion:

Even in cases like the Valerie Plame/CIA leak investigation I believe in a reporter’s commitment to preserve the integrity of their source by keeping it a secret. Many governmental officials will cry foul and seek the source for treasonous prosecution or to “protect national security” but to betray the source is to destroy the freedom of the press. I would make allowances for a reporter’s discretion when the government is involved. Confidentiality is a must. Incriminating witnesses need to feel confident that their identities will be kept secret. Otherwise, they will not feel free to come forward when government officials are in authority and in the wrong.

In my estimation, nothing could be better for this country than an unbiased fourth estate. A dose of healthy skepticism is the ultimate method of “checks and balances” to keep governmental officials honest and accountable to the public through the media’s voice.

The Fore Granted Final Question:

Do you think government officials should have the power to rebuke journalists for refusing to expose their sources?

Even experts can face the unknown.

Having a curious mind is a good trait for a journalist to possess yet there are many things that will always remain unknown. I came across one such mystery in the poynter forums this week.

The subject in this link is debated by professional journalists and editors who see it daily, making it even more mysterious that its origin is unknown.

The forum question is about the meaning of the editor’s mark ‘CQ.’ The mark is used in practical terms during the editing process to confirm that details of a story have been verified. For example, when an editor has verified the quoted person named Smith is not actually supposed to be spelled Smyth. The mark CQ is then written next to the questionable phrase or item to show that it is correct.

What does ‘CQ’ mean?

Some professionals responded with the meaning they'd been taught for the abbreviation. Possible explanations for CQ included; correctly quoted, correct but quaint, chequed or the archaic spelling of checked, cannot question or other combination of c and q.

What are the origins and meaning of the mysterious CQ?

Is local news on its deathbed?

This week my Blog topic was taken from pointer.org. The blog-posting asks the question: Is Local News Dead?

Author Katja Riefler describes a newspaper conference discussion where the question is posed about local newspaper. But she turns the question deeper. Her post expands the question to include the next step in local news in all formats.

My theory on the future of local news is- there will always be local happenings that appeal to only the small population that lives in proximity to that news. Through convergence the details of these stories will manifest in small chatroom-like web venues such as MySpace, more rapidly than ever before. But, on the whole ‘local news’ is becoming obsolete because items that would have been in the local domain such as local weather and sports will make their impact on regional based web-casts rather than focusing on the cities or small towns from which they originate unless they have world-wide appeal. Local human interest stories will fade away unless their novelty extends to a worldwide audience.

I experienced such convergence this week watching the local news on television while being on-line the moment Anna Nicole Smith died. The local newscaster advised the audience to keep watching for more information on this breaking story. The Anna Nicole Smith-dies-at-39 story is focused in our time zone and in our state so any updates the local news can provide are going to be slower than Internet posts because of their production time before airing. Advice to “stay turned” is laughable since the major news organizations, like Reuters or Associated Press, post updates far more frequently on-line than a local newscast could provide. I typed in her name and received more than enough data about the life and times of the iconic Ms. Smith again reinforcing the fact that local news can not compete with the Internet for volume, speed or specificity.

What do you think the future of local news will be?

Attack of the Grammarians!

While searching for this week’s blog topic poynter’s
writer self-help section beckoned.
I want to discuss the essential but often ignored-

 GRAMMAR.

This blog post written by Roy Peter Clark deals with
his admiration for another writer, essayist David
Foster Wallace. I am beginning to wonder if I should
be using my first middle and last names when I write.
Wallace asserts that all writers want to use the
written word to communicate their ideas with
confidence and grace. Wallace writes,“…some people
still want to use the language well... to use the
language deftly so that it's fit for their purposes.”

Clark agrees so vehemently that he wishes he had
written about this subject in such a succinct and
intelligent manner. Clark is interested in using
grammar to engage the audience so that they can’t
help but read further. A  hook is what we all need
in our pieces. Wallace and Clark know that the way
you represent yourself on paper is important.
Your ability to write says volumes about your
intelligence and ideas.

When I was a Master Student of English tutor,
I told anyone who would listen that the true
test of any piece of writing is that it be
understood strictly based upon what is written
on the page with no verbal or further
explanation from the author. Written work
should be able to stand alone and live a life
beyond the author if he or she has done their
job by completing a thought.

The problem for many people is that when they
write,they can not let go of their reliance
on verbal communication. Many people write
in the same manner in which they speak and
while I do respect the fact thatlanguage
is a fluid and evolving entity-there is
a structure to which every written language
adheres. There is a standard not only for
grammar but also for spelling and
other components of written communication.

We study masterworks that sometimes innovate
or deviate from the normal grammar like
e.e. Cummings'I am a small i poetry,or
departures from the normal form of written
artistry like prose poetry. So sometimes
artists can develop their own style and break
from convention but for everyday people,
there are rules of engagement.

In my current duties as a copy editor,
I am learning more structure from the periodical
based Associated Press style for journalism. 
But, the majority of errors I correct in my
own writing and for others lie in grammar,
spelling and normal sentence construction.  
I wish all aspiring writers were attentive
to errors in grammar and edited their work
before submitting it for publication.

A tool I use to edit more effectively is to
 read each sentence aloud (in my head) to
better identify errors. Also, leaving a piece
to mature for a few hours and then reading it
again helps maintain objectivity within the
editing process of my own work.

Do you have a tip for editing or do you work
to improve your grammar and/or writing?