Monthly Archives: September 2016

And here’s how NPR did it, during the candidates’ joint appearance.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

The article is from the group “Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting”, and it clearly points out why euphemisms like “officer-involved shooting” are worse than cop-speak and police blotter writing. Read it here.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

Here’s an interesting look back at some of the ways news was gathered back in the day. It explains why a radio reporter’s news kit always included alligator clips. But it doesn’t mention that we also carried a bunch of dimes around, too – to feed the nearest pay phone, for calling in a story.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

In a social media exchange I had this morning with the long-time assistant ND at WLUK-TV 11, Bill Kiefer, who, like me, is a former student of the late Dr. Robert L. Snyder at UW-O, Bill pointed me to an article in CJR that quantifies the idea that many of us in the news profession have had for some time – namely, the decline of “stable platforms of journalistic production”, as CJR terms it, has contributed to the intense political polarization we’re seeing today.

Well worth the few minutes it takes to read.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

Joanne Stevens’ great tips for radio folks are just as valid for TV professionals. Read them here.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

Two common complaints in any newsroom: too many meetings, too much e-mail. It all adds to an already high stress level. There are some very practical tips here.

(I can’t help but be the grammar police regarding the title to the article “Here’s to Less Meetings and Email….”.  For things that can be counted, we use the word “fewer”, not “less”.)

Posted by Tim Morrissey

Although we’ve had our fair share of mass murders in our state’s history, few Wisconsin reporters have ever been called on to report on one. Here are some cogent thoughts from a panel of reporters at the RTDNA Excellence In Journalism-2016 Conference. Each of them has had to cover a mass murder recently.

Posted by Tim Morrissey

It used to be a hard and fast rule in every newsroom: we do not report suicides. But times change, and circumstances change. We report “suicide by cop” as a matter of standard newsroom procedure. But, just as it’s no longer desirable to use the phrase “wheelchair-bound” – people use wheelchairs to get around, as mobility devices; they’re not “bound” to them – it’s also considered incorrect form to say “committed suicide”. So, how should you say it? Here is a fantastic resource, put together by journalists who’ve done a lot of work in this area. It’s probably a good idea to share this resource with your colleagues in the newsroom.

Posted by Tim Morrissey