Everyone, I’m elated to tell you that Tumblr will be joining Yahoo.
Before touching on how awesome this is, let me try to allay any concerns: We’re not turning purple. Our headquarters isn’t moving. Our team isn’t changing. Our roadmap isn’t changing. And our mission – to empower creators to…
I am actually excited about this. I have always liked Yahoo - even though it’s been painfully uncool to like Yahoo. Let’s see what Meyer can do.
- Andy Warhol (via perfect)
(Source: fallere)
Sometimes in our reporting we forget what’s what in terms of attribution. Here’s how the AP handles things.
Not everyone understands “off the record” or “on background” to mean the same things. Before any interview in which any degree of anonymity is expected, there should be a discussion in which the ground rules are set explicitly.
These are the AP’s definitions:
On the record. The information can be used with no caveats, quoting the source by name.
Off the record. The information cannot be used for publication.
Background. The information can be published but only under conditions negotiated with the source. Generally, the sources do not want their names published but will agree to a description of their position. AP reporters should object vigorously when a source wants to brief a group of reporters on background and try to persuade the source to put the briefing on the record. These background briefings have become routine in many venues, especially with government officials.
Deep background. The information can be used but without attribution. The source does not want to be identified in any way, even on condition of anonymity.
In general, information obtained under any of these circumstances can be pursued with other sources to be placed on the record.
FJP: Pay attention to that last bit. If someone requests anonymity and will only speak off the record or on background or deep background, do your best to find someone who’ll put their name behind their words.
Related: Back when Reuters’ Jack Shafer was still at Slate, he had a pet project of tracking publications’ use of anonymous sources. He called them anonymice.
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Richard Feynman
Verbs, not nouns.
(via stoweboyd)
(Source: inthenoosphere)
![futurejournalismproject:
Reporting Traumatic Events
Steven Gorelick, professor of media studies, Hunter College:
Be very careful about the experts you select as sources. These kinds of high-profile stories are magnets for everyone from legitimate scholars and practitioners to self-proclaimed “profilers.”
Serious experts are almost always quick to admit that there is no easy explanation for why and how something happened, especially before even the most basic information is released. Beware of the expert source who is just dying to be helpful. And perk up your ears when someone tells you: “I really need to get more information before I have anything useful to say.”
Scott Wallace, freelance journalist:
Despite the fact that we are all on deadline, you must take the time to breathe, empathize and feel the pain of survivors and loved ones whom you interview and come in contact with…
…Above all, forget trying to “scoop” your colleagues on this story. A spirit of cooperation should reign among the reporters, photographers and producers on a story like this. It may be useful to work in tandem with a colleague or two from some other media outlet, sharing the material and the experience of the interview rather than putting the same subject through it multiple times.
Lena Jakobsson, television producer:
Chasing victims’ family members down the street seems like a far more reasonable idea if CNN and MSNBC and FOX and all the nets are doing it, too, and you’re about to get yelled at if you don’t get that video. But you always have at least a few seconds to stop and listen to what your gut is telling you. Ratings come and go. The impact on your integrity, and on the people you’re covering — that stays.
Al Tompkins, Poynter
Clearly tell the public what you know and what you do not know. With a story like this — one that changes by the hour — do not assume the public is up to date…
…Acknowledge the emotional impact of the tragedy. Online conversations about the bombings, especially Twitter, have been loaded with people who are in distress, wondering what has become of humankind. Don’t underestimate that feeling. Spend some time and space honoring the good people who performed selfless acts in a time of crisis and beyond. Work with your local crisis lines, counselors and clergy, and stay in touch with the pulse of what they are hearing.
Dave Weigel, Slate:
In a situation like this, political reporters should probably make a quiet, temporary exit from the scene. There will be political angles in the reaction to this story, because this sort of nightmare knocks everything else out of the news cycle. Gosnell? Manchin-Toomey? Immigration? They’re in the middle of the paper if they’re anywhere. They’re paused, as is any speculation about the motivation for the attack. Who has ever speculated about that and not gone on to total, moronic infamy?
Jeremy Stahl, Slate
[D]on’t use a tragedy to make a political point before the facts are even known. Shortly after the attacks, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted this inanity: “explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment.” Probably realizing how his snarkiness sounded under the circumstances, Kristof quickly deleted the tweet and called it a “low blow.” On the right, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin sent out this doozy, comparing the national media’s coverage of Boston to its alleged non-coverage of the Kermit Gosnell abortion case.
Image: A man after the explosions at the Boston Marathon, via Boston.com/AP.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/c636ecb31a081e5d3f5925b812628829/tumblr_mlcrzjJi7I1qedj2ho1_500.jpg)
Reporting Traumatic Events
Steven Gorelick, professor of media studies, Hunter College:
Be very careful about the experts you select as sources. These kinds of high-profile stories are magnets for everyone from legitimate scholars and practitioners to self-proclaimed “profilers.”
Serious experts are almost always quick to admit that there is no easy explanation for why and how something happened, especially before even the most basic information is released. Beware of the expert source who is just dying to be helpful. And perk up your ears when someone tells you: “I really need to get more information before I have anything useful to say.”
Scott Wallace, freelance journalist:
Despite the fact that we are all on deadline, you must take the time to breathe, empathize and feel the pain of survivors and loved ones whom you interview and come in contact with……Above all, forget trying to “scoop” your colleagues on this story. A spirit of cooperation should reign among the reporters, photographers and producers on a story like this. It may be useful to work in tandem with a colleague or two from some other media outlet, sharing the material and the experience of the interview rather than putting the same subject through it multiple times.
Lena Jakobsson, television producer:
Chasing victims’ family members down the street seems like a far more reasonable idea if CNN and MSNBC and FOX and all the nets are doing it, too, and you’re about to get yelled at if you don’t get that video. But you always have at least a few seconds to stop and listen to what your gut is telling you. Ratings come and go. The impact on your integrity, and on the people you’re covering — that stays.
Al Tompkins, Poynter
Clearly tell the public what you know and what you do not know. With a story like this — one that changes by the hour — do not assume the public is up to date…
…Acknowledge the emotional impact of the tragedy. Online conversations about the bombings, especially Twitter, have been loaded with people who are in distress, wondering what has become of humankind. Don’t underestimate that feeling. Spend some time and space honoring the good people who performed selfless acts in a time of crisis and beyond. Work with your local crisis lines, counselors and clergy, and stay in touch with the pulse of what they are hearing.
Dave Weigel, Slate:
In a situation like this, political reporters should probably make a quiet, temporary exit from the scene. There will be political angles in the reaction to this story, because this sort of nightmare knocks everything else out of the news cycle. Gosnell? Manchin-Toomey? Immigration? They’re in the middle of the paper if they’re anywhere. They’re paused, as is any speculation about the motivation for the attack. Who has ever speculated about that and not gone on to total, moronic infamy?
Jeremy Stahl, Slate
[D]on’t use a tragedy to make a political point before the facts are even known. Shortly after the attacks, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof tweeted this inanity: “explosion is a reminder that ATF needs a director. Shame on Senate Republicans for blocking apptment.” Probably realizing how his snarkiness sounded under the circumstances, Kristof quickly deleted the tweet and called it a “low blow.” On the right, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin sent out this doozy, comparing the national media’s coverage of Boston to its alleged non-coverage of the Kermit Gosnell abortion case.
Image: A man after the explosions at the Boston Marathon, via Boston.com/AP.
Read In Between The Lines, There Was An Uprising In Guantanamo Bay Yesterday
After a mass hunger strike by 44+ of the 166 detainees that started Feb. 6th and years of peaceful resistance, prisoners at Guantanamo Bay have had enough of the torture, indefinite detention and horrid conditions. The lawyers of the inmates insist that the hunger strike in more widespread and nearly every person at the prison is refusing to eat.
Inmates covered security camera’s and windows and used broomsticks, mop handles and makeshift batons made up of tape and water bottles to clash with guards.
The violence erupted during an early morning raid at Camp 6 when guards attempted to end communal living and place all inmates in single cells. According to military officials, guards shot 4 ‘non lethal’ weapons at the inmates, 1 of which was injured. Though this should be taken with a grain a salt considering that Guantanamo Bay is where the military is known to torture inmates.
It should also be noted that 87 of the prisoners at Giztmo are cleared for release and 46 other prisoners cannot be prosecuted for a ‘lack of evidence’ according to the U.S. government. In other words, over 80% of the inmates being held at Guantanamo Bay would otherwise be free.
In January of 2013, Obama signed the NDAA 2013 which allows him to indefinitely detain American citizens without charge or trial, which is literally contradicts the constitution, and banned the government from closing Guantanamo Bay.
Did you see the op-ed in the Times today? A first-person account of one of the detainees on a hunger strike.
Adjusted for inflation, print newspaper advertising revenue in 2012 was lower than in 1950—or as I like to think: “Welcome back to the glory days of newspapering” (ht @hhavrilesky)
A year ago, Tumblr did something unprecedented — we created an editorial team of experienced journalists and editors assigned to cover Tumblr as a living, breathing community. The team’s mandate was to tell the stories of Tumblr creators in a truly thoughtful way — focusing on the people, their…
We know we’re late to this, but this is such sad news. We’ll miss you, Storyboard.
Very sad, but it goes to show how the difficulties of creating a news start-up. The Daily is gone too.
About A Sellout's Samizdat
My journalism career sucked, and that ship's headed for the deep anyway, so I sold out. My corporate job is a joke by comparison, but it's fun in many ways to be a drone to capitalism. Here's my story of what it's like to be a sellout - published in modern-day Soviet samizdat style. If my boss knew, I'd get sent to Siberia. And while I'm at it, why not poke fun at the dumb behavior of my former tribe?
Ask me anything How Did You Sell Out With Style?
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