JR102 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Bench Trial
28 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Public Affairs Reporting
●Qualities of a public affairs reporter
○Be diligent
■Public affairs reporters must follow a regular pattern of checking
sources.
○Know the sources
■Public affairs reporters must know how to use both people and
documents to find information quickly.
○Be accurate
■Reporters must understand and describe the details of complicated
issues correctly.
○Write clear explanations
■Reporters must explain issues and decisions clearly to readers,
listeners or viewers. Unless reporters explain governmental actions
clearly, citizens will not understand how their lives and interests
may be affected.
●Crimes and Accidents
○Spend time at the police station and talk to officers; try to learn their
concerns.
○Get as much information as possible from the investigating officers,
witnesses victims and suspects.
○Learn what records are available at the police station and what information
they do and do not contain.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Public affairs reporters must follow a regular pattern of checking sources. Public affairs reporters must know how to use both people and documents to find information quickly. Reporters must understand and describe the details of complicated issues correctly. Reporters must explain issues and decisions clearly to readers, listeners or viewers. Unless reporters explain governmental actions clearly, citizens will not understand how their lives and interests may be affected. Spend time at the police station and talk to officers; try to learn their concerns. Get as much information as possible from the investigating officers, witnesses victims and suspects. Learn what records are available at the police station and what information they do and do not contain. When writing crime stories, avoid implying that a suspect is guilty. Avoid referring to a suspect"s race or religion unless it is clearly relevant in the story.
