Al Jazeera English Channel

SPRING BREAK IS ONLY A FEW DAYS AWAY! 

Which is my excuse for being absent on here for the last week...and I had the flu for two days. Ugh. I hate the flu, especially when I'm so far from home and my mom isn't here to baby me. 

Today's guest speaker:  

Camille El Hassani

• Senior White House Producer for Al Jazeera (English Channel)
• Previously worked at ABC for six years
• Spent a year working overseas in Iraq at a news station

"Observe, Report, and Analyze."

I'm noticing a trend with our guest speakers, especially as technology continues to advance. Social Media is not only changing the world, but especially journalism and how we get our news. 

At first social networking sites weren't seen as real journalism, and while it is still significant to check sources and credibility of the sites and what you read, they are making a big impact on how we get our information.

In the United States we are fortunate enough to have Free Speech (First Amendment). We can basically say whatever we want, basically anywhere we want. Social networking sites are assisting citizens in other countries that are normally censored. Through sites like facebook and youtube we are able to communicate almost immediately with people in different times zones. 

At first news organizations kind of blew off the thought of social networking sites, but now even the biggest and most powerful news outlets have facebook, twitter, etc.

The One and Only: Bob Schieffer

"If you want it bad enough you will figure out a way to do it."

- Bob Schieffer

This week one of our feature guest speakers was Bob Schieffer. Not only is he a famous journalist, but he is also a household name for many reasons.

MR. BOB SCHIEFFER

• CBS Chief Correspondent
• Anchor of 'Face the Nation'
• Broadcast Cable Hall of Fame
• Presidential Debate Moderator
• New York Times Bestselling Author 

Mr. Schieffer has been a reporter for 54 years. He is a veteran of how Washington operates. He spoke to us about politics, the era of technology in journalism, signed our books and told us what he has learned over the years. He brought up a lot of really good points.

 
 Mr. Schieffer has been a reporter for 54 years. He is a veteran of how Washington operates. He spoke to us about politics, the era of technology in journalism, signed our books and told us what he has learned over the years. He brought up a lot of really good points:

• Even the worst newspapers have an editor that know where the information came from, on the internet you don't have that. Anyone can publish anything with out proof and people will believe it.

• Some politicians living in DC aren't in touch with their communities. They may the issues but they spend most of their time here in Washington and not in the actual home communities. They are usually from a jurisdiction with one major demographic. Their concern is in regard to their jurisdictions demographic, not all demographics.

DEFAMATION LAWS 101

The Power of The Pen.

Journalists' have so much power. They have the power to bring light an important event. They break stories that can change lives and they are the watchdog of society. People put their trust into journalism.

Accuracy and Truth: significant traits that have been instilled into every journalism student since day one.

 

Kirkland & Ellis LLP -- Thomas Clare 

 

Defamination & Unlawful Newsgathering Tactics: 

 

---->Basic Legal Principles: 

• Defamation - legal right not to have damaging falsehoods published about a person or company. 

1. Slander - spoken
2. Libel - written

• Journalists have no special immunity from law while investigating 

1. No immunity from criminal laws
2. Newsgathering torts

---->Legal Elements of Defamatory Claims

• False and defamatory  statement of fact
• "Of and Concerning" the plaintiff  (even if the company is not specifically named but can be pinpointed in obvious ways)
• Publication to a Third Party
  
• Actual Malice

-----> Defense in Defamation Case:  

• Fact vs Opinion
• Name Calling
• Substantial Truth
• Absolute Privilege

1. court pleadings
2. speech and debate

• Qualified Privilege 

1. "fair report"
2. "common interest"

 

USA TODAY

USA TODAY -- Donna Leinwand

(she is super funny)

• Journalism career began at the Miami Herald
• Former President of the National Press Club
• Current Status: USA TODAY
• Covers major crimes and mass disasters
• Foreign correspondent: covered tsunami in Indonesia and earth quake in Haiti 

Tips for Journalist:

• Be a Generalist: know a little bit of everything, read about different things, stay informed
• Become Quick, Accurate, Clean and Concise Writers: no grammar errors, no factual errors
• Develop Video and Photography Skills: more to offer employers

 Tips for Foreign Correspondents:

• See a Bathroom, Use a Bathroom: you never know when your next opportunity will come
• Always Have a Spare Tire
• Get Vaccinated Now
• Have Multiple Forms of Communication: your phone may lose service, you might not have a place to charger your computer. 

Spoken Like A True Professional

CBS -- Dave Martin

• National Security Correspondent since 1993
• Writer for AP
•  Author

As a veteran journalist, Mr. Martin spoke to our class about new media. There are so many more new forums of journalism today than there were when he started: blogging, twitter,and the internet in general.

"Writing is the number one objective."

                              - Dave Martin

Although a lot of things have changed since he began his career in journalism, the foundation of journalism remains the same:

1. The Art of Writing: it is the single most important thing to know. It has to make sense to the reader. It doesn't matter how much or how little the reader knows about the topic, everyone should be able to understand it, whether they are 12-years-old or 90-years-old. 

2. Write to Pictures: even if someone may not remember your story, they will remember the pictures. 

3. Interviews: It's always better to get an interview in person than over the phone. You have a better sense of accuracy in person.

4. Information: when you are interviewing someone it is important to be up on the current information -- asking the right question at the right time.

I feel like I could write my own book on journalism with all of the useful information I am getting this semester... don't worry, I won't attempt that... yet. 

Journalism: Broadcast & Online

National Geographic

- JOHN BREDAR - 

Award Winning Documentary Producer

I think it was unanimous that everyone, including Professor Krasnow, wanted this man's job.

He not only spoke about the elements it takes to produce a great documentary but he also led by example. It's was really great that he would explain 'teases' and elements of storytelling and then show us from documentaries he worked on. He also told really great stories.

        

Helpful Tips When Making a Documentary:

• Great Leads: grab attention
• Intense images, intense music, intense narration.
• When it comes to narration, make sure the narrator's voice adds to the production, not distracting the audience. 
• It is always nice to get an editor's point-of-view because he/she sees things that you may not because you have come so involved with the work.
• When you make a movie, you make it three times. The three-step approach    --->                1) in your head and on paper 2) the fieldwork and interviews 3) the actual production and editing

 SLATE.COM

- EMILY YOFFEE -

She writes a human genie pig column... when people dare her to do things... she does them.

AND then writes about them, it's pretty funny... and brave.

She has worked as a journalist for 30 years, from the Washington Post to freelancing.

Advice From Emily:

• "GOT TO HAVE THICK SKIN"
• We all need to be seekers, challenge what you hear and what people assume
• Never be anything but honest
• Think like a journalist--everything is a potential story.
• "Writing is like quilting: just start" - even if you start with a paragraph. Sometimes the paragraphs are disconnected, and then you can start stitching them together, adding a transition here and there.

Behind the Scenes at Fox 5

As I previously mentioned, I am interning at WTTG Fox 5. I'm learning from professionals and I get to see behind the scenes of a real news station production.

The News Room

Studio 1 

Guests & Interviews

Washington is a great place for journalism, especially if you're interested in covering government and politics.

BLIZZARD!

 8 inches of snow and freezing rain!

Being from Chicago I have grown accustom to the routine of under armor under my jeans, 3 shirts, 2 pairs of socks, and the bitter cold winter winds. However, I have never been a commuter student during a weather advisory...until now.

Weather, it is a natural blessing and disaster, depending on the season. This past week I have experienced the down fall of winter. We lost power for 4 DAYS! I felt like a refuge. It couldn't be avoided and I was only one of over 300,000 people to lose power. I didn't shower for 3 days. I slept on a family friends couch, and I was stuck on a bus for 3 hours. While it may sound as if I am complaining... I'm not. There were reports on the news of people who had been stuck on the road for 9 hours!! 9 HOURS!!

Although there is the disaster of losing power, being stuck on the bus, and feeling like I was temporarily homeless, we made the best of it. (and I am pretty sure a lot of school children enjoyed their 3 days off of school.) Turns out I am just as awesome at Monopoly now as I was when I was 10 and it was a reason for my host parents and I to venture out to the museums and different venues. Not to mention the awesome snowmen that a lot of people made... some of them were VERY creative. 

WASHINGTON SNOW STORM PICTURES:

AU snow man!

winter wonderland anyone?

 The bad news... there is more snow to come! But, I hear the springs are very nice here, so I'm looking forward to that :)