The Editor's Logtag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog/32008-05-09T10:09:06ZA conversation about the newspaper, online and journalism in general.Movable Type 3.34Running toward danger*tag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.246592008-05-09T09:49:27Z2008-05-09T10:09:06ZAs I was channel surfing the local stations watching the weather coverage last night, Fox8 had a crew in the field reporting back about the lightning strikes in the area. After a moment, anchor Neill McNeill in the studio told...John Robinson
weather coverage last night, Fox8 had a crew in the field reporting back about the lightning strikes in the area. After a moment, anchor Neill McNeill in the studio told the reporter and photojournalist in the remote truck to power down so that they don't attract a strike.
I don't know if the crew did; I surfed on. But I bet they didn't.
I have been in Neill's position many times and told working journalists not to get themselves hurt in reporting a story. Pretty much been ignored every time. The drive to get the story is powerful. Reporters and photographers don't go to the scene not to report what they see.
*Running Toward Danger]]>
Citizen Journalism Academytag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.246402008-05-08T20:56:42Z2008-05-08T20:57:38ZAbout four weeks and change until the Citizen Journalism Academy being put on by the Society of Professional Journalists The June 7 session at Guilford College promises to be good. Learn about journalism ethics, media law, public records, new tools...John Robinson
Citizen Journalism Academy being put on by the Society of Professional Journalists The June 7 session at Guilford College promises to be good. Learn about journalism ethics, media law, public records, new tools and smart writing, among other things. I know two of the session facilitators and they're top drawer talents.
It costs $25. Register here.]]>
Political sexiness sellstag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.246302008-05-08T16:31:59Z2008-05-08T18:16:30ZI have been critical in the past of celebrity news coverage in the paper, explaining that we didn't spend any time and little space on the antics of Britney and Brangelina. Leave that to the Peoples and the Us magazines...John Robinson
critical in the past of celebrity news coverage in the paper, explaining that we didn't spend any time and little space on the antics of Britney and Brangelina. Leave that to the Peoples and the Us magazines of the world.
Oh, how wrong I was. Little did I know that we have had nothing but celebrity-dominated front pages for much of the past month
From The New York Times:
Some of the most celebrity-centric, entertainment-obsessed news media outlets have added a heavy dose of political news to their lineups, taking space normally devoted to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and handing it to articles on people known more for wonkiness than sexiness....
Driving all of it, editors and campaign aides say, is the appetite for news on presidential candidates and their families -- people who have transcended politics to become bona fide celebrities. As the campaign stretches into its second year, in some corners it is simply seen as entertainment.
Entertaining, it is.]]>
Marketing the newstag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.246042008-05-07T18:26:50Z2008-05-07T19:42:30ZSeth Godin reminds us that William Randolph Hearst built his newspaper empire by understanding that the goal of newspapers is to sell newspapers, not to report the news. That was 110 years ago, but still.... Godin adapts that idea to...John Robinson
Seth Godin reminds us that William Randolph Hearst built his newspaper empire by understanding that the goal of newspapers is to sell newspapers, not to report the news. That was 110 years ago, but still....
Godin adapts that idea to news Web sites. The product they sell is drama. He makes the point effectively using a screen grab from CNN and big fat green check marks.
I'm not going to disagree with him, either. We do sell drama. We know what happens when all we give the people is spinach. (Those that eat it become strong like Popeye -- OK, a little misshapen, too. Those who don't, well, you have Bluto.) We want to grab attention. We have a bias in favor of drama, which is a nicer way of saying we have a bias in favor of conflict.
I don't see anything wrong with it either. Looking at the CNN example, the headlines don't pander. They don't link to nude celebrity photos or crash diets. As Seth notes, they simply emphasize drama on the political front.
For comparison purposes, our Web front. It probably doesn't market enough.
]]>
Race and votingtag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245972008-05-07T15:28:23Z2008-05-07T18:25:28ZA caller wanted to know why we didn't identify the race of the voters we quoted in our presidential primary stories. Specifically, he wanted to know whether all of the people we quoted supporting Obama were African Americans. (I'm being...John Robinson
primary stories.
Specifically, he wanted to know whether all of the people we quoted supporting Obama were African Americans. (I'm being kind: He said that he knew they were because they "sounded" like it.)
Racial profiling?
By including that piece of information, it would suggest that the individual's race is specifically relevant to how they voted. It may be. It may be because an African American wants a black man to win in the same way that a woman votes for Hillary because of her gender. It may also mean that the voter agrees with Obama's policies because they have seen the world through similar eyes.
I think the discussion overly simplifies a complex decision, and, in some case, tries to affirm our own beliefs about people. Many emotional, intellectual and political factors enter into picking a candidate.
Singling race out seems unfair, unless the voter specifically said he voted for Obama because of his race. An African American may vote for Obama because they support his policies. Put another way, imagine this sentence: "John Doe, who is white, said he voted for Obama because he agreed with him on the gas tax moratorium." What does race have to do with his vote? Nothing.
Granted, we want it both ways. We look at the demographics of voter registration and exit polling. Our first paragraph on the Obama victory story today certainly examined the results through a racial lens: Sen. Barack Obama's sweeping victory over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in the North Carolina primary reaffirmed his strength among the affluent and African American voters and set up the final rounds in the bruising contest for the Democratic presidential nomination.
That tells me more about who voted for Obama and how he won, but not why.]]>
Myanmar cyclonetag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245722008-05-06T22:13:22Z2008-05-07T14:20:31ZCharlotte, Raleigh, Winston-Salem and Asheville papers all put stories about the cyclone in Myanmar on their front pages this morning. So did many of the newspapers around the world. From the Newseum's front page analysis of the day's papers: Numbers...John Robinson
many of the newspapers around the world. From the Newseum's front page analysis of the day's papers: Numbers make the difference. Yesterday, when the death toll stood at 350 for the cyclone in Burma (aka Myanmar), a few U.S. dailies carried the story on Page One. Today, with the guesstimated toll in the multiple thousands, it's Page One news on an international basis.
We published a promo on the front with a small photo, but put the story on page A9. A reader questioned that news judgment.
Certainly, playing the story on Page One was the safe bet. I know 10,000 deaths anywhere is tragic and big news. Yet I read about it online yesterday. The story was played prominently on the evening's network news programs yesterday. That story got even older -- and worse -- overnight and today as the death toll is now estimated to be more than 22,000.
We try to publish stories on Page One that are new to readers and/or have a direct connection to their lives. We want stories to be fresh and to avoid repeating what people have seen online or on television all day. Our election package today isn't necessarily fresh information, but it has a direct connection to citizens.
For the record, Myanmar isn't going to be on the front page tomorrow, either.
Wednesday update: Scott Karp has a somewhat related piece about redundant news stories that is well worth reading.]]>
Aboard the Straight Talk Expresstag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245732008-05-06T21:34:44Z2008-05-06T22:16:09ZWant to hear the straight talk on McCain's Straight Talk Express? Mark Binker taped it in all its 25-minute glory today. Be prepared to listen to sausage being made....John Robinson
Straight Talk Express? Mark Binker taped it in all its 25-minute glory today.
Be prepared to listen to sausage being made.]]>
Violating an Election Day traditiontag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245492008-05-06T10:27:31Z2008-05-06T19:50:55ZTraditionally, newspapers shy away from giving last-minute controversial political statements high visibility on Election Day. Certainly not on the front page; probably tucked inside the paper, if we publish at all. We're old fashioned that way. Several reasons: * The...John Robinson
this story would have been inside the paper today. (It was on the Local front.) A week ago, an article about two school board members urging voters to vote down school bonds would have been worth notice. Today, it violates at least two of the reasons above. Unfortunately, they successfully played us. It's not a mortal sin; more of a low-grade venial one. Still.
Allen has more. Right now this feels wrong, like a political sucker punch.. ]]>
What makes America greattag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245472008-05-05T21:43:50Z2008-05-06T22:16:56ZJoe Killian posts a couple photos on Decision 2008 of the extent to which some Hillary fans will go. (And Joe has a nice little riff about the music played for the candidates.)...John Robinson
posts a couple photos on Decision 2008 of the extent to which some Hillary fans will go. (And Joe has a nice little riff about the music played for the candidates.)]]>
Bidding the candidates adieutag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245282008-05-05T14:04:22Z2008-05-05T14:33:22ZWhile it has been exciting to live through the past two weeks as the two Democratic presidential candidates have discovered that there are voters in North Carolina, I must admit that a small but rapidly growing part of me is...John Robinson
appearance in Raleigh later that night. We wrote: Earlier Friday, Clinton gave a speech at Guilford College in Greensboro. Her talk touched on many of her regular themes, including making college affordable, improving health care and pulling soldiers from Iraq.
Given that their stump speeches are much the same, what do we have to report? And the coverage gets the candidates' faithful all riled up. (Actually, that happens regardless of where the candidates are.) We didn't cover the former president in our area last night, but we will be the candidate today. And we don't know yet whether either will be in the state to celebrate a victory tomorrow night.
Personally, I'm trying to keep my eye on the prize -- the potential for more people than ever participating in the democratic process by voting.
Lenslinger has more. What all this simulated momentum has to do with governing our great land I ain't so sure, but if I wanted to manufacturethis kind of clamor I'd go back to pimpin' American Idol. They got w-a-y cuter interns.
]]>
Building a better blogtag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.245272008-05-04T15:34:39Z2008-05-04T15:37:00ZThree links to advice: 1. When to post: This isn't the worst time to post items on the blog, but it is close. At least according to one study. According to Connecticut software developer Jake Luciani, "between 1 pm and...John Robinson
one study. According to Connecticut software developer Jake Luciani, "between 1 pm and 3 pm PST (after lunch) or between 5 pm and 7 pm PST (after work) are the best times and Thursday is the best day. The worst time to post? Between 3 and 5 pm PST on the weekends -- nobody cares."
2. Dave Caolo on 5 ways to improve your blog. I need to take his advice. I fall down on each point.
3. Darren Rowse on 9 essential questions to ask yourself before you write. No. 8 -- Could I give this post a little more time before publishing to 'mature'? Would coming back to it tomorrow help me to add depth to it? Good idea. See ya.
]]>
Going greentag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.244992008-05-04T13:27:20Z2008-05-04T13:25:24ZMy newspaper column Every other week, I gather the newspapers at home, slide them into a brown grocery bag and drop them in the recycling bin. Thousands of you do the same. In fact, 9,493 tons of newsprint were processed...John Robinson
My newspaper column
Every other week, I gather the newspapers at home, slide them into a brown grocery bag and drop them in the recycling bin.
Thousands of you do the same. In fact, 9,493 tons of newsprint were processed through the city of Greensboro’s recycling center in 2007. While the News & Record didn’t make up the total tonnage, my guess is that we had the lion’s share.
That's good, too. Recycling is not only an easy habit to acquire, it is civically important.
There once was a time that environmental activism earned you the name "tree hugger," which was often used derisively.]]>
No longer. More and more people are interested in "going green" and "reducing their carbon footprint." Readers often call us to ask about our "eco-friendly" practices. Our goal is always to be a socially responsible citizen.
Just as you toss your papers, cans and bottles into the brown recycling can, we recycle as many of our manufacturing materials as we can. For instance:
* About 45 percent of our newsprint comes from recycled paper.
* Our color inks are soy-based, not petroleum.
* The plastic bags that keep your paper dry are made of recycled plastic. Once inside your home, the bags can be used for all sorts of things. I have filled them with ice to wrap a sore ankle. I also use them to pick up after our dog.
* The plastic tubes which hold your paper on some of our rural routes are made of recycled material.
* Our aluminum printing plates are recycled.
* Other items used within the newspaper -- plastic straps, plastic wrap, cardboard, office paper, pallets and metals -- are recycled.
Even the drink cans and bottles sold in vending machines inside the building are recycled. I'm certain about this: I have been chastised by a co-worker for absent-mindedly tossing a plastic bottle in the wrong bin.
We read our own newspaper. We know that Greensboro garbage is trucked 70 miles south to a landfill in Montgomery County at a cost to taxpayers of several million dollars.
Sending less trash to the landfill is not only better for the environment, it also improves the city’s bottom line. That is a savings every taxpayer should take advantage of.
Doug Marlette's Magic Timetag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.244772008-05-02T19:47:04Z2008-05-02T19:42:33ZI'm just getting to the late Doug Marlette's novel Magic Time. Doug was a Greensboro native, and we met and talked many times. I'm embarrassed it has taken me so long to read this novel of newspapering, race and the...John Robinson
Doug Marlette's novel Magic Time. Doug was a Greensboro native, and we met and talked many times. I'm embarrassed it has taken me so long to read this novel of newspapering, race and the South.
While I have never met an editor like this, I love the description:
When Carter appeared in his office, Callahan leaned back in his swivel chair behind an antique mahogany desk stacked with newspapers. He lowered his smudged glasses and peered at Carter with pterodactyl eyes. Callahan was like something out of The Front Page, with his ill-fitting suits, coffee-stained ties, salt-and-pepper buzz cut, and matching day-old stubble. He spoke in a steady stream of U.S. Marine Corps-honed profanity and the jaundiced aphorism of the fourth estate. "I was born in the middle of the night," he would mutter in disgust over some politician's lie, "but not last night." His brutal candor was legendary. He once described a recently elected Miss Ellis County as "so ugly she could haunt a nine-room house from across the street," unaware that she was the niece of the society editor who was proudly showing him the photo running in her section. Carter had thus far dodged Callahan's standard retort to bad copy: "He couldn't write shit with a turd in both hands."Callahan bounced his right knee up and down like a jackhammer as Carter stood in the office, making his case. When listening to a story pitch, Callahan would always take a deep drag on his cigarette. The cigarette was like an egg timer. You had only as long as he could hold the smoke in his lungs to spit out whatever you had to say. In the event of an unnecessarily long verbal drumroll for a story idea, Callahan would shoot smoke through his nose and, alluding to the loquacious circus ringmaster who oversells his star attraction, say, "Bring on the dancing bear, son, bring on the bear."
I have heard editors talk about bringing on the bear and not being born last night, but never with such style.]]>
The free-wheelin' Webtag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.244582008-05-01T22:04:21Z2008-05-01T22:10:37ZJeffrey Goldberg at the Atlantic has an interesting post about what he calls an online mugging by another blogger. What bothered me about Mr. Haber's post was not its insults (a couple of which were funny) but that he repeated...John Robinson
interesting post about what he calls an online mugging by another blogger.
What bothered me about Mr. Haber's post was not its insults (a couple of which were funny) but that he repeated a discredited accusation made by an ethically-challenged journalist about my reporting without having sought my comment. I called Haber to complain. He said: "I just wanted to promote your new blog." ... Then he said that, while the Observer "does reporting," the blog for which he writes "is a looser, more fun kind of way of writing things." Fun, in Haber's view, includes slander.
It has always been a curiosity to me that some bloggers feel no responsibility to ask for information or an explanation before they write something negative about me or the reporters here or the newspaper. The responsibility then falls to me or someone else here to correct the record or at least present an explanation for what we're being accused of. Of course, that requires us to know that the post has been written in the first place. (And for sure, it is not just me or the paper; there are some public figures and other bloggers who get reamed without being contacted for comment. I can only speak for myself.)
Most recently, one blogger headlined a piece saying we had censored his comment. Actually, our spam filter snagged it because it had several links in it. When I read his post, I suspected that had happened and resurrected the comment. I explained what happened on his blog and asked him to change the headline, and he graciously did. That's hardly slanderous and isn't a big deal. But it was factually wrong and could easily have been explained and fixed. I'm not linking to him because in the past he has asked me via e-mail for a comment about an issue he was interested in.
We aren't difficult to reach. Writing a fuller, fairer piece seems a reasonable motivation. It brings the blogger more authority and credibility. It would make the local blogosphere a more inviting, civilized place. Is that just the traditional journalist in me? ]]>
Unequal murder coveragetag:blog.news-record.com,2008:/staff/jrblog//3.244512008-05-01T15:58:15Z2008-05-01T19:04:01ZAn editor asked me this morning why we were not giving this homicide of the A&T student the same visibility in the newspaper we gave this homicide of the UNC student body president. Stories about Eve Carson's murder in March...John Robinson
homicide of the A&T student the same visibility in the newspaper we gave this homicide of the UNC student body president.
Stories about Eve Carson's murder in March were on the front page a couple times. Stories about Derek Hodge have been on the Local front.
Both deaths are tragic for all the reasons you can think of. But for both philosophical and procedural reasons, the two were not judged the same way when we're putting the paper together. At least, that's how I responded to the editor. Here's why the difference in the coverage:
* Eve Carson was student body president and held a variety of high-profile positions within the university community. She was a mover and shaker who made news often by the things she did well before her murder.
* Her murder went national quickly, creating an interest in the story well beyond the Triangle or even North Carolina.
* A murder in "idyllic Chapel Hill" seems less common and therefore more newsworthy than one in Greensboro.
* The Chapel Hill police held regular news conferences and were relatively forthcoming with details and progress. That's not how Greensboro police do things.
* The case moved fast. Homicide of student then photos of suspected perps then arrests...all over the course of a few days. The progress created a sense of momentum.
But Hodge was a student at a local university, which carries a lot of weight here. Should we raise the visibility of his case?]]>