Covering Crime: Chapters 1,5,7

Chapter 1

I completely agree that because most reporters have no criminal justice background, news organizations should help the journalist and allow adequate time and resources for training. If it was my first day on the job at a news station, and I was told to go out and cover a murder, I’m sure I could do it, but there would be some major hesitation on my part. I would try to find great sources, because after all the best reporters are those with the best sources.
I think it’s important for a journalist to go over the definitions of some crimes because if a journalist doesn’t know the different between larceny and theft and confuses the two in a story, then not only is it inaccurate, but it’s just bad journalism.

In crime beat basics we are told to “try to accept suggestions graciously, and try not to take criticism (or editing) personally.” I find that not only true in crime beats, but just in all editor/reporter relations.

“Editors and producers often call on police reporters to provide information about photo or video access to suspects.” I think perp walks photos or videos are a great thing to add to a story. I can still remember watching Timothy McVeigh’s perp walk in his orange jumpsuit… things like that stick in peoples minds and may engage the audience to want to know more about the story.
I really like the quote, "Police reporters deal with lives, reputations, and careers. So you keep on – ask one more question, knock on one more door, make one last phone call, and then another. It could be the one that counts." I like it because the quote is true and gives great advice to a reporter, but the reporter must keep on thing in the back of their mind… Show compassion for those who may be affected adversely by news coverage (SPJ). Two-thirds of journalists are satisfied with their jobs? I sure hope I am one of them some day.

“One-third of those surveyed said they would be leaving the media field…Among those who said they were leaving in the most recent survey, nearly half cited job-related stress as a dissatisfaction factor.” I don’t understand this because if you go to college to become a journalist, you know full well that it is going to be a stressful job… so I don’t understand why they would go through with schooling if they know they can’t handle to pressure.

A mass killing IS news. We know this is true from even the most recent school shooting, Virginia Tech. I know journalists got a lot of crap over showing Cho’s video on the air… they gave him fame/infamy, and some people believe doing that can result in copy-cat killings. I believe that the public had a right to see the video- it was important information- but I do not think it needed to be repeated over and over and over, as we all saw it. This also translates later in the reading when we are told “while details can make a story, the use of certain information (including photographs and video) can cross the boundary of good taste.

Crime coverage is reactive, so we are told to listen to a scanner, discover a crime, and cover it. I find this part true and funny in the same sense. I only find it funny because we just fixed our police scanner in the newsroom at Newswatch, and our producer told the assistants to listen to it for stories because it was a slow news day. This I believe shows that crime stories really are an important aspect of the news.

Chapter 5

The author says that “when a victim has been hospitalized, family members are at the hospital, awaiting news about their loved one's well being. It's best to get permission from a hospital official before trying to find the patient's room.” While this is true, I personally believe that it is inappropriate. Yes, we as journalists need to get the story, but my personal ethical belief is that you shouldn’t bother the victim at the hospital right after the incident, especially if their family is still waiting to hear of the victim’s well-being. Maybe that is just a personal choice, but I would wait (I don’t know how long I would wait, but I think there does need to be some time to recover.)

I feel that a lot of tips on covering crime and its victims are pretty much common sense. It’s obvious that a victim will sometimes be very emotional after a certain incident, and I think as a journalist we should have enough common sense to know how to handle the situation. Handling a tough situation shouldn’t be hard as a journalist, because we are human beings after all.

Chapter 7


This chapter is “not intended to provide a legal education, but more of an understanding of how the court system operates and how a reporter can go about reporting on what occurs there.” Although I feel like it is legal education.. While learning to deal with victims and crimes and such for a report may be somewhat common sense, when it comes to laws, trials, and such… I feel that as a report you really need to know and research your stuff!

I know it seems obvious, but as a reporter it is important to know what state you are in since each state is empowered to determine how its court system will be organized under its own constitution and laws.

Because a reporter is reduced to the status of an observer when court is in session, it is extremely important for a reporter to be a good note taker, observer, and critical thinker. If they is all they are relying on to write a story, then taking good notes is the most crucial.
I know in my case, if I were reporting on a trial and did not understand the case, I would not be afraid to as questions. I would ask lawyers to explain points of law or procedures that i don’t understand, because if I don’t understand my audience is probably not going to understand, and I would not want to lose their attention, because that would mean poor journalism on my part.
I think the most important thing in this chapter is just try to research as much as possible and when you are in a court, listen! The lawyers will break down the questions so they are easy for the witness to understand so you just need to pay attention to the answers and where everything is leading to, and hopefully a good story will come from it.