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… Read More: Handling A Very Touchy Subject: Suicide »

It’s always been a tricky issue for reporters, and there’s plenty of grey area. In the so-called “Rolling Stone” trial regarding allegations of a sexual assault at the University of Virginia, and a Rolling Stone article about the case, the judge has ruled that a University official is, in this instance, a public figure. This concise… Read More: Who Is – And Who Is Not – A “Public… »

This dandy – unsigned, as all letters like this are – was sent to Meteorologist Jeriann Ritter at WHO-TV in Des Moines. Thick skin is a job requirement, as we all know. (Image courtesy of Jeriann Ritter, WHO-TV) Posted by Tim Morrissey