Caroline Cherry Averitt

January 12, 2023

The Student Journalist’s News Attitude Survey

The Student Journalists’ News Attitude Survey

As a student of journalism, it is important that I have a grasp on my own attitude towards the news world. Many people in today’s climate have a distrust in the media, so it is important that I know where I stand if I am going to be involved with the media.

I personally believe that news stories usually get the facts straight. Humans produce news stories, and with that brings a level of human error, but generally, I think with the combination of writers and editors, the finished product is fine tuned to be accurate.

I prefer to get my news through a combination of text and images. I personally like to read and write, so I am more likely to read news than to watch it, but images support the written word by providing a visual and tangible element to any news story.

News and the government are often intertwined as news provides the public with information about the actions of the government which serves to also keep them in check. The government should not be able to restrict the news media and what they are allowed to publish in order to ensure that the people are getting objective facts and not just reading what the government wants them to think.

When big news events happen, for example, if the president were assassinated, I would most likely follow the story through social media sites in order to stay in the loop with real time updates.

I don’t consider political commentators to necessarily be journalists because it is more based in what their opinion is and not spreading information to the public. Therefore, I don’t consider Bill O’Reilly or Rush Limbaugh to be journalists. Similarly, I don’t consider Jon Stewart a journalist because he does work as a political commentator and comedian. I would consider Bob Woodward to be a journalist because he does investigative work in order to uncover information and get it to the public. I would also consider Diane Sawyer to be a journalist because she has done work as a news anchor. For the same reasons, I consider Barbara Walters to have been a journalist.

There will always be an element of bias in the news because humans are unable to fully shed biases. While I do believe that certain news sites have a certain political bias, I think generally news is not biased in favor of conservatives and liberals, especially if one can read the same story from multiple sites in order to find the facts.

When I hear conflicting versions of a news story, I am likely to read many different perspectives in order to find what remains consistent. I might be likely to favor independent websites because they would be less likely to have those political biases I mentioned above. I would be least likely to trust Fox News because I believe that they care more about entertainment and sensationalism than the truth.

I often think the news today is depressing but also entertaining. It can be useful at times, but often news stories are written or produced largely for their entertainment value. News is not always, but sometimes, very sensationalized. With the rise of the internet as the major news medium, it’s all about getting people to click on stories, so shocking and sensational news is popular.

I almost never get my news from TV. I occasionally get my news in print form, but that is mostly from The Herald. I get my news digitally daily.

Confidential sources are a difficult subject to navigate ethically in the world of journalism. If I worked with a confidential source, I think I would likely make sure that I protected that source’s identity unless I were strongly swayed by my legal counsel.

The following potion of the survey indicates for me to pick between two statements. The statement I choose will be typed out here.

I prefer news that is as neutral and objective as possible. I resent it when journalists inject their own opinions into stories.

I could easily go for days without reading any news.

Journalists don’t do enough to challenge public figures and expose governmental problems.

I can usually relate to most news stories I read, see and hear.

When I read newspapers, magazines, or websites, I frequently take the time to read long stories that analyze issues and events in depth.

Generally, I prefer to read news about serious issues and major events.

“Man reading the news – Spain” by PABLO ASOREY is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

December 9, 2022

What Kind of Journalist?

When I was a sophomore in college, I went to Dallas to take an aptitude test. They told me things I excelled at, as well as things I struggled with. One of the things that I scored low on was foresight. This means that I have a hard time planning for the future.

This is important to know about myself because I have a hard to envisioning what I want to do in the future. The truth is: there are many different parts of journalism that I don’t enjoy and can’t picture myself doing professionally. However, I have learned so much and grown as a writer during my short time being a journalism major so far.

I’ve been looking into careers for those who major in journalism that aren’t journalism. Right now, it looks like I will pursue a career in publishing. While I hope to eventually be the one writing the books, I also love to read and critique work, so I could see myself being an editor.

A major in journalism can help me sharpen skills that can propel me toward a job as a novelist or editor. To start, much of a journalism degree is about being a skilled and effective writer. Additionally, a journalism degree shows that someone can do research, which can be a big part of the book writing process. Journalism students have to be able to adhere to deadlines, another important part of the publishing industry.

In short, a journalism degree can be beneficial for careers outside the field of journalism. Whatever I choose to do with my career, I hope that the skills I have learned with this major will help me be the best I can be.

“Reading” by be creator is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

December 2, 2022

At What Cost?

It can be dangerous to pursue the career of journalism. Not only has it become more and more common for journalists to be attacked and assaulted, but journalists also are criticized for doing their job and can be scarcely paid for doing it. Journalists do important work, but at what cost?

There comes a risk when reporting the ugly truth. Many prominent figures have skeletons in their closets, and it is the job of the journalist to expose them. This creates risk because those prominent figures might attack the journalist, rather than own up to their actions.

Sometimes, risks need to be taken in order to tell the real story. Hamid Mir, the last journalist to interview Osama bin Laden, said in an interview, “I think that a journalist must take a calculated risk to uncover the truth. Risk is the beauty of journalism, after all.” So, risk is an important part of a journalist’s job.

That risk comes with reward, right? Maybe a high salary and good benefits? Unfortunately, the field of journalism is not necessarily a high paying job. Pay depends on the position as well as where the job is located. Pay may be higher in New York City than in small cities in the southeastern United States, but the cost of living in New York City is comparably very high.

The reward journalists receive is rarely monetary. For many, journalism is rewarding because investigating and telling stories is fulfilling. The risk of being a journalist, whether danger or public criticism, is rewarded for those that love the work.

“President Trump at the Israel Museum. Jerusalem May 23, 2017 President Trump at the Israel Museum. Jerusalem May 23, 2017” by U.S. Embassy Jerusalem is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Donald Trump regularly attacked the media on social media and in interviews throughout his political career.

November 18, 2022

Eye of the Beholder

“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is a common idiom, but what exactly does it mean? It is a common adage that indicates that beauty is subjective. Two people could see the same thing and one could think it is beautiful while the other could disagree, even though they are looking at the same thing.

What else is ‘in the eye of the beholder’? A large aspect of journalism is photography, which has everything to do with ‘the eye’. There are many ways that photography can alter the perception of an event because of what they eye can see. Many people are more interested in looking at photos than reading an entire news story, so the way the ‘beholder’ interprets a photo can be very important.

Photos can be edited and cropped in order to change the story that it tells. Removing certain elements from a photo removes the context of the photo. We commonly see issues like this on social media in which people are able to edit their appearances in order to look better.

Additionally, the type of photo used in tandem with a story can shape the perception of the story. For example, if a celebrity is arrested, one news outlet can decide to use their mugshot, while another news outlet can choose to use a more glamorous photo. These different photos influence the impression of that celebrity, even if the articles are telling the same story.

The way that an audience perceives a photograph can strongly influence their understanding of a news story. Photos can be altered or chosen based on what story they tell. Perception is in the eye of the beholder.

“Army Reservist Photographer with the Media Operations Group” by Defence Images is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

November 11, 2022

Keeping Yourself

Journalism can be a dangerous profession. According to Unesco, there were 86 journalists killed worldwide between 2020 and June 2021.

Journalists are charged with telling the truth. Unfortunately, sometimes people do not want the truth told. Worldwide, people are “shooting the messenger” for exposing the truth.

While there are many journalism related deaths every year, there also smaller issues such as harassment, threats, and persecution. It is less likely for a reporter to be killed in America, but non-fatal violence still takes its toll.

Politicians in America have spoken out against journalists, such as Donald Trump saying the media is the enemy of the people. With the rising concern of fake news, journalists are under strong scrutiny and can be the target for violence, even when they are just telling the truth.

Journalists also may need to cover difficult topics such as tragedies and disasters. When terrible things happen, journalists are responsible for relaying that information to the public.

Because of these issues, journalists can be subject to trauma. Journalists need to understand and utilize resources that can take care of their safety and mental health. Some companies have resources for their reporters, but if not, journalists may need to find therapy or coping mechanisms outside their place of work.

Mental health has importance in every walk of life. Especially in professions that deal with traumatic experience. No one is invincible. No one can take on life alone. Reporters dealing with extreme stress and trauma should not feel like they have to deal with that on their own.

Life is hard, so take care of yourself.

“One and Other-Mental Health” by Feggy Art is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

November 4, 2022November 4, 2022

35 or Less

With attention spans dwindling, journalists need to hook their audiences quickly to even have a chance of them sticking around for the whole story.

There are so many sources for news these days: local news channels, newspapers, social media. There are even more sources of entertainment competing for an audience, competing for attention. This is why it is important to begin a news article with something quick and compelling.

Enter the lede. The lede is a quick summary of the information that it precedes in a news article. The lede is typically 35 words or less. The word count is so small because every word counts. Filler words and fluff need to be avoided so that the audience is compelled to read every word.

The lede summarizes the story so the audience can determine if they want to continue reading. This is why the lede needs to contain an overview of the most important information to come in the article so that the readers can decide if they want to know more. A good lede will use that information to compel readers to finish the story.

News articles additionally are written in an inverted triangle style. This means that the most important information is written first. Since many readers will not stick through the whole story, the information that is most important should be in the lede.

The lede is a crucial part of a news article. It needs to be 35 words or less so that it is quick and compelling so that the audience sticks around.

“Twittering Times” by topgold is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Audiences scroll on social media for hours with many different news and entertainment sites competing for their attention.

October 28, 2022

Ethical Journalism

Working as a journalist is a big responsibility. Much of what the public knows about what is going on comes from the news. It’s not only important to make sure that facts are verified, it’s also important to have integrity and be ethical.

There are many different codes of ethics that journalists can adhere to including SPJ ASNE, RTDNA, and NPPA. I think the Society of Professional Journalists has a clear and concise code of ethics that can help guide journalists to make the right decisions.

The first point in the SPJ code of ethics is “Seek Truth and Report It.” This point means that information shared should be verified, accurate, and include appropriate context. Sources should be properly and clearly identified and a journalist should be careful making promises, such as promising to keep a source anonymous. This also means that journalists are to be a watchdog so that public records are accessible to everyone. It is important for journalists to make sure that what they are finding is the truth, and let the public know that truth. They should not publish false information nor should they withhold the truth.

The next point of the SPJ code of ethics is “Minimize Harm.” As journalists, we have to report the truth, but we need to considerate for the people that we write about. Certain situations, such as ones dealing with juveniles or sexual violence, deserve sensitivity. When information is published, it is out in the world forever. Journalists should keep long term implications in mind when publishing details about someone.

The third point is “Act Independently.” If a journalist is charged with being objective, they should not interview friends or family and should not accept favors or give favors in exchange for information. They should also make sure to not blur the lines between news and advertisement. A journalist should be focused on finding information and releasing it to the public. Conflicts of interest create biases which can cloud judgement and misconstrue the truth. Additionally, accepting money or favors from a source decreases a journalist’s credibility.

The final point is “Be Accountable and Transparent.” Journalists should be clear and honest with their audience. They should also correct mistakes they make. This point sums up what journalists should keep in mind in order to be ethical. As long as a journalist is responsible and honest, they will most likely be practicing ethical journalism.

Journalists have to follow a code of ethics in order to make sure that they are being responsible to the profession and the public. A journalist should “seek the truth and report it,” “minimize harm,” “act independently” and “be accountable and transparent.”

“News Reporters at an Obama Rally” by tenioman is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Journalists conducting an interview, hopefully ethically.

October 21, 2022

The First Freedom

In the United States, there is a constitution that outlines governmental procedures and the rights that citizens have. Most of the stipulations in the constitution are in regards to the government or the people’s relationship to it. However, one institution is clearly referenced: the press.

The first amendment states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

To simplify: Congress cannot make a law that reduces the freedom of the press.

Why is the press mentioned without the mention of any other business? When determining what candidate to support, where do constituents go for information? The press. When the government does something wrong, who tells the public? The press.

The press is a crucial aspect of a democracy, as it can provide information to the public about candidates and issues and can hold politicians and political institutions accountable for their actions.

It is so fundamental that the constitution clearly outlines that there is freedom of the press so that information can be accessible to the public.

Even though there is freedom of the press, journalists still have a responsibility to publish reliable information. That freedom does not give news outlets the right to publish false or intrusive information.

If the press is directly mentioned in the constitution as an institution that cannot be restricted by the government, that means that it is important. Journalists should recognize their freedoms and view them as a crucial responsibility.

“Support the First Amendment” by American Life League is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

October 14, 2022October 14, 2022

On Style

Depending on what you are writing, you may need to use a specific style. APA (American Psychological Association) style, MLA (Modern Language Association) style, and Chicago style are among writing styles that can be used. In journalism, the style of choice is AP (Associated Press) style.

Luckily, journalists do not need to memorize every bit of AP style, there is a stylebook with everything a journalist needs to know. It is important for a journalist (or an aspiring journalist) to be familiar with the rules of AP style and know how to use their stylebook. While it may be good to already know the rules, it is important to reference one’s stylebook because sometimes the rules change. When a new edition of the AP Stylebook is released, a journalist should be sure to familiarize themselves with new terms and changes.

Why does style matter? Consistency is important. The same term should be written the same way so that the reader does not get distracted by inconsistencies. The reader does not need to get caught up in style variations; they need to be focused on the story.

Style is also important when talking about minorities. Journalists are charged with being objective, so having a standardized way of referring to specific groups can eliminate opinion and connotation. For example, a journalist would not want to mislabel a person as Hispanic, when they are really Latino, as those terms are not synonymous. The AP Stylebook is a good reference for determining how to refer to a specific person or group.

The purpose of all grammar, spelling, and style is to effectively communicate information. The job of a journalist is also to communicate information, so using correct style can help a journalist to communicate effectively.

A student referencing the AP Stylebook (pictured: Caroline Cherry Averitt, photo by Caroline Cherry Averitt)

September 30, 2022

What is News?

Whether watching a local channel, reading a reputable newspaper, or scrolling on Twitter, we have news at our fingertips at all times. But what exactly is news?

When writing news, we can use the news values to determine whether or not a story is news. Those values are timeliness, impact, conflict, currency, unusual, prominence, and proximity. If a story does not have at least one of those values (though usually a story needs a few), it does not need to be covered because it is not news. But reporters have to work to verify their information and then their story goes through editors. While misinformation has been printed or broadcast on TV, the main issue is media literacy.

Sometimes, in order to understand what news is, we have to know what is not news. Unfortunately, fake news and misinformation are easily spread on social media. While, for example, a reporter for a newspaper has to make sure to trust but verify, someone on Twitter can post whatever they want without fact-checking anything. It is important that the public develop strong media literacy so they can understand what is and is not news.

The most important thing is that there are fact checkers available. While you may think you can spot fake news from a mile away, running information through a reputable fact-checker is never a bad idea. A well-recognized fact checker is https://www.politifact.com/ which can verify whether or not something is news or fake news.

News is something with timeliness, impact, conflict, currency, unusualness, prominence, and proximity but news is also reliable. In order to make sure that something is really news, you can run it through a fact checker. Media literacy is essential so that we can make informed decisions. Stay informed and always verify your information!