Kansas City Star blogging guidelines
The Kansas City Star has launched new reporters' political blogs to much success, and has created these guidelines for the reporters blogging:
1. Editing. We still do it, albeit on the fly.
2. Tone. It must be light, not condescending or hurtful.
3. Edginess. We apply it to all posts where appropriate, in an odd way being "fair" to all.
4. Reality. Entries must be based on something "real" that we can verify.
5. Response. Everybody gets a chance to respond, although sometimes in a later posting.
6. Scorecard. The editor keeps a loose score of negative and positive, trying to keep it balanced over time.
Aug 22, 2006 | E-MAIL | SAVE | PRINT | PERMALINK | DISCUSS(1)
Discussion
1 comments about 'Kansas City Star blogging guidelines'To Whom It May Concern,
Not too long ago we had the story of a woman working on her garden in Kansas City, KS. who was mauled and killed by a neighbor’s Pit Bulls. These dogs had somehow gotten over the fence between the two houses. This of course was a big story with great coverage–as it should have been. It, and another story of Pit Bull attacks in Independence, has prompted changes in city ordinances in the whole area. You guys did a great job!
About a week after the mauling and killing we had another story of a young boy, about five, being mauled by a neighbor’s Rottweiler. That dog had jumped the fence, and attacked the boy when his older brother, nine, intervened. The 9-year-old pulled the dog off, screamed for his little brother to get their grandfather, all the while suffering that dog’s attack himself. (Have you got guts enough to do what he did?) The summoned grandfather shot that dog and killed it. How come every citizen in the world doesn’t know about this little 9-year-old hero?
I started my first newspaper job in June, 1950. I worked newspapers from then until 1961, switched to radio for two years, then combined TV work for another year until working full time at WZZM-TV, Grand Rapids, MI., switched to WKZO-TV, Kalamazoo, and then bought a radio station in Marshall, MI. In 50-years of journalism I’ve covered big and little stories. I’ve become acquainted with presidents, governors, mayors, etc., I “rode the board” defusing the racial situation in Lansing the night Detroit burned, but I’ve never seen a bigger story than this little 9-year-old boy sacrificing his own safety for his little brother. What guts!
How come everyone in America doesn’t know of his deeds. How come the people of this great country, and around the world, are not allowed to build a college fund big enough to send this boy clear through his entire education of neurosurgery which encompasses 17-years of college?
When I was a boy growing up in the 30's and 40's we had heros, people we could emulate, people who did those hero things boys want to copy. I sincerely believe we still do have these people–these heros. But the news media has become blinded by the negative–the murders–the dope dealers–the child molesters. People this “scuddsy” should have as little “air-time” as possible, and people like this 9-year-old hero above should have a dominate position in the newscasts where children can see them.
My first publisher taught me news stories are in fact advertising. By your choices you can make or break someone. Companies would pay, if allowed, great amounts of money to receive the publicity you give crime infested stories every evening. The cop-out of this is what the people want to see, hear, or read should not “so greatly” influence your news choices. In America you hold a choice position. It is a privilege to have your job. You are an “unelected” branch of the government guarding the public welfare. You are a free press supposedly operating in, and for, the public interest.
The other cop-out of “We just cover the news, we don’t make it” is a bunch of B.S. YOU DECIDE where to point your camera or microphone, who to include and who to exclude, what direction to “point your story, and what stories to put in the waste basket. You decide! You select! You run! You choose one story to publicize over another story to not. Just show me one person besides you who has the chance at your microphone, your camera, your spot in the paper or on the air! No, you select, so you make the newscast. That puts you in the position of MAKING NEWS!
What has happened to the great fourth estate which should not only protect our citizens, but promote them as well? That 9-year-old should be well known all over the U.S. and Canada–in fact the world. He is a true hero in a crime infested world. Wake up and accept the great responsibility you have been given. Always be out in front promoting good. Young Kansas Citians do not need cop shooting dope dealers promoted which makes them the only heros available.
Sincerely.
Ben McCrea, 1912 E. 89th Terr., K.C., MO 64131 816 444-7461
Posted by Ben McCrea at September 4, 2006 9:58 PM
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