Columbia Journalism Review January-February 2000: Vol 38 Iss 5

85 Pages·27.2 MB·English

eeHU) MT
eeE A
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2000
REVIEW $4.95/CANADA $5.95
=
IL aalleafessalllfssseallll,I , halt levell Hlesallvaallaaal
#BXBFBFB FREER REEREEEEEEE **5.D IGIT 48103
#48103MCR300SRO01#
BG 0167 BN 0001 ie
48103MCR300SROOA JRCL 244 fO 1>5
XEROX U MICROFILMS
oe tom
300 N ZEEB UU rae
ici ANN ee MI ants: 1553 3
—F S
rs
3
=
ts
>a
The miracles f science’
P)
NEW THIS ISSUE
COUNTERPOINT EXPERT WITNESS
David Hall denounces cr survey of Dr. Herbert Pardes, New York Presbyterian
best American newspapers as a Hospital chief executive, talks about medical
pointless exercise in triviality. journalism with qr’s Neil Hickey. 60
Published by the Columbia University Contents
Graduate School of Journalism
Dean: Tom Goldstein
PUBLISHER AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: COVER STORY/SPORTS JOURNALISM
David Laventhol
MANAGING EDITOR: Gloria Cooper
THE EX-SPORTSWRITER Gene Collier tells why he quit writing sports
SENIOR EDITOR: Mike Hoyt
and went elsewhere to look for heroes.
EDITOR AT LARGE: Neil Hickey
THE FAN Michael Shapiro focuses on Pete Rose and Jim Gray, and why
ART DIRECTOR: Nancy Novick
sports really matter.
ASSISTANT EDITORS: Brent Cunningham,
THE PHOTOGRAPHER Mannie Millan searches for unique images in his
Tracy McNamara
sports photography.
EDITORIAL/PRODUCTION: Tom O'Neill
THE REPORTER Bill Plaschke describes a threatening moment and
ASSISTANT TO PUBLISHER: Susan Teitz
offers some locker-room guidelines.
INTERN: Aparna Surendran
WOMEN SPORTSWRITERS They are still “dumb broads” to some.
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: Dennis F. Giza THE KING Jim Shea profiles ESPN, the most powerful force in sports
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Louisa D. Kearney journalism and perhaps sports itself.
BUSINESS ASSISTANT: Kathleen Brow THE OWNER Mike Gartner tells what it is like to switch from being a
CONSULTANT: Samuel E. Schulman newspaper editor to a minor league baseball owner.
ONLINE PRODUCER: Peter Leonard WHAT’S IN A NAME? The stadium as marketing device.
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS:
James Boylan, Christopher Hanson, ARTICLES
Trudy Lieberman, Michael Massing,
Bruce Porter, Bruce Selcraig, THE BEST MAGAZINE EDITORS __ Sa se
Alvin Shuster, Steve Weinberg,
Barry Yeoman gr's panel picks the ten best — and five more to watch. And cjr’s magazine
columnist, Marshall Loeb, tells what makes a great editor.
EDITORIAL ADVISERS
Philip S. Balboni, Jim Carey, THE NEWHOUSE WAY : - .
Phyllis Malamud Clark, When good editors come together with the Newhouse management
Barbara Cochran, Robert Curvin, philosophy, better newspapers result. Brent Cunningham reports.
Arthur Gelb, Alex Jones,
LESSONS FROM LOS ANGELES _ ee ; 7
Jonathan Z. Larsen,
John Leo, Janice C. Simpson, James Risser assesses dramatic events at the Los Angeles Times. With a
Sally Bedell Smith, Judy Woodruff
crisis chronology and a report on the origins of the newsroom “wall.”
CJR is a member of CAMPAIGN WATCH _ 4 tala ;
The Leadership
Christopher Hanson chronicles the start of the silly season for politicians
Network [phone]
and the media, particularly the baiting of “beta” Al Gore.
MAJOR DONOR DON’T TOUCH THAT QUOTE a -
The Ford Foundation
DONORS A specially commissioned poll finds that a majority of journalists oppose
Cabot Family Charitable Trust quote-tampering of almost any sort.
The MacArthur Foundation
A JOURNALIST'S LIFE P a
TO CONTACT US:
“You have to decide” — on the job with a news director in mid-Missouri.
Editorial: [phone]
Advertising: [phone] HOW THEY GOT THAT STORY
Business: [phone] The Philadelphia Inquirer fought through a police cover-up to report on
Subscriptions: [phone]
countless rape complaints, buried to improve statistics.
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW THE DEPARTMENTS
Journalism Building
2950 Broadway LETTERS 4 e CURRENTS 10 » WATCHDOG (DARTS & LAURELS) 19 » LOWER CASE 81
Columbia University VOICES/BOOKS
New York, N.Y. 10027
On the Web: www.cjr.org JAMES BOYLAN « PIERS BRENDON « EVAN CORNOG « LAWRENCE K. GROSSMAN
MIKE HOYT « ANDREW KOHUT e JAMES LEDBETTER * GENEVA OVERHOLSER
“To assess the performance of journalism .. .
to help stimulate continuing improvement
in the profession, and to speak out for what A complete Voices index is on page 63.
is right, fair, and decent”
From the founding editorial, 1961 OVE C MANNY MILLAN/SPORTS ILLUS
CJR January/February 2000
Waco prosecutor warns Reno
evidence possibly withheld
By Lee Hancock Notations about file al prosecutor involved longest in
Staff Writero f The Dallas Morning News the Branch Davidian investigation.
“There was discussion about
Case illustrates ach nice ISN ae tha: senid be trned
! Bush biography is recalled ||
risks of heavy
Author’s collaborator on earlier books was fellow inmate
. sBNhaysetl yAv UebPsSu,erT etIaeNuao fST-p luh-beol U vieetsAirsh=e e sMr eca roaptisugec sr Naomw fblleewd ofFfr idtahye trpheuovbrelM aielsaoefhn diw nFhgoi riuteeuh,wni sattoeiir nnytf Seoorornfv:m iaeJtwGHi.seo onr aHganetda t bioeWulr.dt e, c Bourtasdhuhs-e ttVahiiacntt T uhnMet r h. rboofoH uoagmkthif i sethlaabddik.s e ng 4la1a,i iwndyeceedonr nt tisittoynhm uaeet s ahtetto e nimtsa :i tnh-e
to recall a biography of Gov. George W and the Making of an American Presi for its allegations that Mr. Busi
Agency called in extra work US. Buslohnt awfhteoer htsihree da tuta hoheirt tr udrned out Ato he ga deent nt Orancogncealeed a v1e9d7 2 tot ceado§ c naobiynn yem ar,
+ der
One in an occasional series @ Fuorvero sentrenc e.
aBnyd BTairbma raW yaKtetss ler bstyaf rf, wiessba buuicsek nclaisgeunsn gd a en in Panama, accounts say
Saf!W riterso Tfa eD allasM orning News loads and staffing sb
©1999, TheD allasi horaiNnegw s cortdo iintenrnagl m e
When he arrived at Medical terviews with current
Tp, WoCa2tcSlienheno-rftfarndmtsytavsPo 7’ eniconsctgi, rhdt le oc oeb seuretc -sw,gistomho sosw,olie meuoe rsdterblu d s hbb gdl waeare edRit imod tnonabak htcycsnesgeh ai ydbuecsndeJ ur efeo ettv oam cirnugoCekivorunohe hns feo roin o tismlec cnest dyttr shs s h bwae uJeyloPr crb a—m r.akss d bobnteiioowta iddpanuealt gle b Acts acdhptste cr.trfroitrei iu iusfseevlnbi. lmd.e-ss a + CCaltwe®ilPP onarneo gdgtSSeucsijd FwDli s n aohcgudttgirmaira aenw r,cifstsie eahfonttteiRn .i chgtm od m hc epwhuyoi oeetesrn «crnh yeltadtc,i Jwpt. rirg io .iahnlu,ubwntpl gl ne eoIo rdarttauwte, i tn hli ootadgdmbdtew he te,! n h ««d aecdc.o Brwtsdyii1sa9neyh t9 teP9fseee t A rsTmoT behNfrioe AeccnmDAd de Miei g lBdlAelueian rR‘stset7M a0oa osru.rCbiOy onInb ri pfTnaoeTY Pgrn,c h raNegoensneeD ntwaao— disl mnlau aaalc ns lT tdMyoh ed reduno ei rtnxhigepnU srSongee si wcsittr toenexhdgt.e AaI Irlr ielelnyeie’ tg taa lt piyroS onavsye sn , oacstItllfoTialc.m otahmneOsrieT udfkmadh fnysnoeyuiier fg cl otxeieacUcpailgdSlklooaa .,asesinn itund cmw isr sinteat t u ehPssfntdcteoahsorrdnee u a alwsA fmdaUigbo Salner.c nco eatw sug erasWoyafOeo vrpg roretoamlhlrn n eidngsa e mba-ieWdlarndianeittrd--y
‘yem Dallas CPS office, buffeted Please see CPS on Page 244. [
Over the years, we've been recognized for quality
reporting as well as a commitment to journalistic
accuracy and integrity.
Increased circulation" is one important result.
Ghe Ballas Morning News
www.dallasnews.com
*Daily: 518,548 - Sunday: 781,959. Circulation totals as rePp orted by ABC Publisher's Statement for six months ending 9/30/99
CRIME &
COMMUNITIES
MEDIA FELLOWSHIP
1999 FELLOWS
THE NEW QR: the superficiality of the com- One last complaint: I liked
The Center on Crime, Communities ments of the pundits. Gail the Darts & Laurels section
& Culture of the Open Society LAURELS & DARTS Collins, for example, speaks of just as it was. Excuse my suspi-
Institute is pleased to announce its
1999 Crime & Communities the unelectibility of Hillary cions, but I fear this change
Media Fellows: Clinton and Rudy Giuliani will be an excuse for easing up
I greatly admire the look and (the mayoralty of New York on the culprits who have, for
Nell Bernstein
Pacifica News Service the contents of the new issue. City is not an elective office?) the most part, clearly earned
The choice of commentators and then rhapsodizes over her the arrows thrown their way.
Dan Collison
Contributor, NPR promises a variety of intelli- Republican father’s adoration BRADLEY Moopy
Andrew Lichtenstein gent voices whose responses for Boston mayor Montgomery,
Photo Journalist will not be automatic and pre- James Michael Curl- Alabama
Salim Muwakkil dictable. ey, saying “he was
Columnist, Chicago Tribune Editors choosing America’s much more interest- The new look and
Eric Whitney best newspapers, their rank- ing than any pol- new voices make CJR
High Plains News Service ings and their judgments, is itician we've ever more _ appealing.
valuable reading, and the had in Ohio.” Mayor What concerns me is
choice of journalists to reflect Curley served jail whether the contents
WHO SHOULD APPLY on the century is a happy one. time for income-tax = of the future will be
THOMAS GRIFFITH evasion on the pro- ™ reflective of the poor
The Crime & Communities Media
Former media writer, Time ceeds of his political corrup- quality of your recent ranking
Fellowship is awarded annually to
journalists to cover in-depth New York, New York tion, thus stealing simultane- of the best newspapers in the
stories on issues related to ously from Boston tax-payers country.
incarceration in the United States. The measure of a good indus- and his fellow U.S. citizens. Nothing in your “methodol-
Fellows will be required to try magazine issue is practical: It is not colorful personali- ogy” indicates what the polled
produce publishable or broadcast-
ready works. The average one how much time do I spend at ties or private peccadilloes that editors were examining when
year grant is $50,000. the newsroom copy machine the press needs to pursue. The they wrote down their rank-
making copies of articles that press needs to know its facts ings.
someone else at our newspa- and figures so it can test relia- I hope some editors based
yet 1OLU N ha OE.) per ought to read? bility of the candidates’ con- their decisions on a thorough
I spent a lot of time copying tentions. examination of an array of
The Center on Crime, items in your new issue for the JOHN SHURTLEFF each paper, but I imagine that
Communities & Culture of the benefit of Press reporters, edi- Morristown, New Jersey most, pressed as they are,
Open Society Institute seeks to tors, circulation and advertis- made gut judgments based on
create a better understanding of ing folks as well as our pub- As a nonjournalist who something less definable and
and support for effective and
humane responses to crime in lisher. (Actually, I just sent our reads your publication to keep more suppositional, including
order to enhance the safety of all publisher the whole damned up with news and trends in an occasional reading of a few
communities. The Center supports issue with lots of little post-it journalism and the mass of the papers, fresh rumors
innovative programs and research
in criminal justice and public notes.) Well done. media, I am not very excited or and old clichés, and ASNE
safety and provides fellowships to PAUL MERKOSKI encouraged by the look, for- and APME friendships.
people committed to becoming Editor mat, or content of the Novem- The survey betrayed your
leaders in the field. The Center The Press of Atlantic City ber/December issue. I liked the mission and undermined
seeks projects representing a Atlantic City, New Jersey format the way it was and did- your otherwise legitimate
variety of viewpoints and is
n't see any need for change. I efforts to become more solid,
committed to protecting the
integrity and independence of I was blown away by the think the most recent issue is more credible, and more
each Fellow’s work. November/December issue of filled to excess with opinion demanding of our profession.
CjR. I’ve sent in a subscription. pieces, some of which are inter- HANK KLIBANOFF
KATHARINE GRAHAM esting and provocative and Business editor
For more information, visit our website: Washington, D.C. some not at all. The Philadelphia Inquirer
www.soros.org/crime/
The ten-plus pages of cov- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
or call Miriam Porter at [phone]
or E-mail [email protected] I applaud your November/ erage of the 2000 election real-
Crime & Communities Media Fellowships December cover story, “Is ly added very little to what has CHALLENGING GERMOND
The Center on Crime, Communities & There a Better Way?” The been said in these pages before
400 West 59th StreCeutl,t uNree w York, NY 10019 American public deserves a and seemed weighted more in
better break “Covering Cam- the direction of pontificating Jack Germond, in “No Sense
paign 2000” than it got in 1996. than in providing new insight of Proportion” (cjR, Novem-
DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15, 2000 However, I am appalled at and ideas. ber/ December), took a cou-
CJR January/February 2000
ple of good swings at the cur- HEADS UP
«SERIOUS about ASIA?
rent state of political journal-
ism, but he really missed his * INTERESTED in /earning more
chance at a home run. In fact, CJR is quite right that the about the region?
he purposefully kept the bat Clinton administration’s new + EAGER to improve
opni tchhi ss tsrheoaukledde rd oaws n thteh eb imgi df-at imnetnetr agae nmcoyr ee ffdoertl ibteor a“tiem plaen-d your UNDERSTANDING, ||
dle of the plate. | well-developed international your JOURNALISM,
Germond wrote, “Any public information strategy your SPEECHWRITING? ||
reporter who doesn’t answer bears watching” (Currents, | Eintetnhde.n cing |
the reader’s first question — November/December ). |
who’s winning? — should be That ought to be a func-
covering the school board. tion of the press. But can we _ ASIA PACIFIC
Nor doI believe we fulfill our rely upon the very same peo-
function properly by making ple who have proven so mad-
up checklists of ‘the issues’ deningly gullible — if not
and concentrating our cover- | enthusiastically cooperative MEDIA NETWORK
age there.” — when it comes to the mis-
Wrong, Jack! I’m reminded | information and disinforma- a| e
of times I’ve spent laboring tion promulgated by our gov- |
over a billiards table. Numer- ernment — and others — in |
ous times, the curious have the effort to disarm the law- A PARTNERSHIP of the COMMITTED -l ed by the |
asked, “Who’s winning?” Well, abiding public? |l eading newspapers of the ASIA PACIFIC, including:
in pool shooting, there is no Surely press freedom is too |
such concept. At any time, important to be left to jour-
SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
anyone might “run the table” nalists.
or scratch the eight-ball. The | WILLIAM J. DURR THE STRAITS TIMES
same applies to political cam- | Cornwallville, New York |
LOS ANGELES TIMES
paigns. Ironically, Germond
even provided evidence | MISSING FILTER THE JAPAN TIMES
counter to his position. He | INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE
wrote, “The politicians in
Washington perform so poor- In the thought-provoking dia- | THE KOREA TIMES
ly in office that the voters log, “Millennium-Bound: BANGKOK POST
increasingly ignore cam- Reflections on the Century” |
paigns.” So what exactly does (cjR, November/December), |
the phrase, the candidate is Jules Witcover’s comment | | In ALLIANCE with:
winning, mean? about the lack of any “discrim- | | UCLA, UCSD Graduate School of International
In another misconception inating filter” among the | Relations & Pacific Studies, Nanyang Technological
in his article, Germond wrote, news-ingesting public struck | University (Singapore), California State University,
“It is not our function to me as being more important | J. Paul Getty Trust, ARCO and StarTV (Hong Kong)
repair the system, however. than ever. But, taken with John | [
Political reporters should not Seigenthaler’s comment on | the WEBSITE and stay informed
take it upon themselves to “the rise ofa kind of culture of
www.aSsiamedia.ucla.edu
claim some public purpose allegation in journalism,” and
beyond gathering and pre- Jules Witcover’s concerns
senting the news. If the system about the blending of enter- | our famed DeadlineSCHOLAR service |
isn’t working, we should tainment and journalism, it | (free) to improve your JOURNALISM
describe it, not fix it.” seems the press is to blame. (email: [email protected])
Wrong, Jack! Whether jour- Maybe the discriminating fil- |
nalists like it or not, they are a ter that once easily segregated
or APMN network
part of the political system. a fascist dictator, a racist soci-
The press could regain a great ety, and a corrupt president | (free trial period)
deal of its lost integrity by from the public good can no
making up an honest checklist longer apply because the pub- | | SUBSCRIBE TO ASIA COMMENT
of “the issues” and “concen- lic has been conditioned away
trating . . . coverage there.” from definitions of the press’s our new op-ed service
That’s the part of the political traditional purpose. The press, |
system journalists can repair. in its historical “goodness,” Contact Founder and Director TOM PLATE,
|
If not the press, who? measured the acts of leaders ([email protected]), or APMN Associate Director
RON DUPLANTIS against a subjective notion of ALICE WU ([email protected]) |
Huntington Beach, California right and wrong. Now, it
CJR January/February 2000
working as a reporter at a 6,000
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
circulation daily in a small
town in western Colorado.
Press Seminars Over the last four years in
seems, the press is represent- Detroit I’ve seen the local Free
ing the interests of itself. Press drop from being one of
on Health Policy ANDY RUSNAK the ten largest and one of the
Editor, Composites Fabrication ten best newspapers in the
Magazine country. It goes unmentioned
a breakfast series for journalists Arlington, Virginia by editors in your poll. Its cir-
George D. Lundberg, M.D., series moderator culation has dropped 38 per-
UNCROSSED ‘T'S cent, after the newspaper and
its JOA partner tried to break
Spring 2000 Program six local unions and brought
It is a cliché to say that one of in replacement workers from
the reasons folks distrust the outside the community.
Tuesday February 29 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
media is that the media often Tony Ridder, a resident of
America’s Uninsured: either tell only half of the story California and c.e.o. of Knight
The Search for Solutions or, with increasing frequency, Ridder’s Free Press, could not
tell the wrong story. It is a be interested in community
cliché because it reflects reali- journalism or he would not
Thomas R. Reardon, M.D., American Medical Association ty. Thus, several letters to the allow the publisher of the
(invited) editor in your last issue com- Detroit newspaper to live
Charles N. Kahn Ill, Health Insurance Association of America plained that reports in CJR forty-five miles outside the
Ron Pollack, Families USA were wrong. That those letters city in a private, gated com-
went unanswered is a conces- munity. Obviously, under-
Tuesday March 28 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. sion to their verity. standing the community is
Election 2000: Ironically, in the same issue not a goal of the Detroit news-
Lawrence K. Grossman wrote paper or its corporate owner.
Decoding the Politics of Healthcare in his review of The Insider Today, we on the front lines
that “journalists do cross every of community journalism need
‘t, dot every ‘i, and check every to know from trade publica-
Robert J. Blendon, Harvard School of Public Health
fact.” (His emphasis.) Wish it tion columnists how we may
Celinda Lake, Lake Snell Perry & Associates
were true. It is not. survive. Elegant elegies are of
Ed Goeas, The Tarrance Group
Unless and until the media little help.
— including those who pur- GEORGE WALDMAN
Tuesday April 25 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
port to comment on the media Detroit Sunday Journal
Medical (mis?)Information on the Internet: — sufficiently check their facts (Nov. 19, 1995-Nov. 21, 1999)
The Medium and the Messages to get it right, trust in the Detroit, Michigan
media will continue to de-
grade. Sadly, the end road will Rx FOR COVERAGE
Humphrey Taylor, Harris Interactive be the unchecked government
Alejandro R. Jadad, M.D., Health Information Research Unit, against which the Framers
McMaster University erected the First Amendment. I applaud Trudy Lieberman’s
Bruce B. Dan, M.D., WebMD. To paraphrase Robert Bolt’s A story in CjR’s September/
Man For All Seasons, when all October issue, “New Drugs: A
the media-guards to our liber- Dose of Reality,” but it didn’t
Seminars are held at ties are flat, where will we hide? go far enough. In addition to
The Columbia Club RALPH ADAM FINE the questionable safety of the
Judge, Wisconsin Court of drugs, journalists should be
15 West 43rd Street, New York, NY
Appeals (and former journalist) questioning their value. Phar-
Milwaukee, Wisconsin maceutical company money is
A light breakfast is served. funding carefully crafted p.r.
PLANS, NOT POEMS and advertising campaigns
RSVP to Pro-Media, at 212-245-0510 aimed at consumers to create
or to ProMediaNY @aol.com. demand for drugs for which
Include your telephone number and complete address. The elegant elegy to communi- there is often limited medical
ty journalism by Geneva Over- benefit. This would not be a
These programs are supported by holser in the November/De- problem if unlimited resources
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation cember issue told me again were available, but every new
what I learned to be true in col- life-style drug reduces the
lege thirty years ago and in my funds available for more criti-
first job in the profession cally needed drugs or medical
CJR January/February 2000
interventions. It’s time to call is the same without regard to The third and fourth sen- wheel every time we engage in
the question about the market- the circumstances in which tences are also balderdash: moral decision-making. That’s
ing tactics being used by the those issues arise. “There are good reasons to | not only arrogant; it’s foolish.
major drug manufacturers. For example, the Los avoid ethical rules and regula- Who has the time on deadline
ALLAN MANN Angeles Times/Staples deal cre- tions. First, no rule has ever to do that?
Vice president, public affairs ates a conflict of interest, just been made that shouldn't also Louis W. HoDGes
Kaiser Permanente as does a political reporter be broken ina particular situa- Knight Professor of Ethics
Oakland, California running for elective office. tion.” That seems to say, “we in Journalism
Both situations are morally ought not have rules because Washington and Lee University
ON LOGICAL ETHICS wrong, and they are wrong for occasionally there are excep- Lexington, Virginia
the same reason: journalists tional circumstances in which
cannot reliably serve readers’ a rule does not fit well.” is that Columbia Journalism Review |
Both cjr and Alex Jones sur- interest while pursuing their not logically comparable to (ISSN 0010 - 194X) is published |
bimonthly. Volume XXXVIII, Number |
prised me with his piece in the | own competing nonjournalis- saying that we ought not estab- 5 January/February 2000. Copyright |
November/ December issue — tic agendas and interests. Each lish a moral rule against lying © 2000 Graduate School of |
him for writing it and cjRr for case of conflict of interest dif- because people will occasional- Journalism, Columbia University. |
Subscription rates: one year $19.95;
publishing it. fers from others. But the ly find it necessary to lie? To say two years $34.95; three years
Jones’s difficulties begin nature of conflicts of interests that we ought not have moral | $47.95. Canadian and foreign sub-
with the first sentence: “One of is the same universally. rules is tantamount to saying scriptions, add $4 per year. Back |
issues: $5.50. Please address all
the problems of debating the And what about the logic of that journalists are incapable of subscription mail to: Columbia
rights and wrongs of journal- Jones’s second _ sentence: deciding when breaking a rule | Journalism Review, Subscription
Service Department, P.O. Box 578, |
ism is that no situation is “Applying codes doesn’t work is morally obligatory, or at least
Mt. Morris, IL 61054; (888) 425-
exactly [italics mine] like any very well because news organi- morally permissible. 7782. Periodical postage paid at
other.” While that is literally zations avoid any but the most The biggest problem with New York, N.Y. and at additional
mailing office. No claims for back
and absolutely true, it is also flexible guidelines.” That logic the article is that, in effect, | copies honored after one year. |
absolutely irrelevant and mis- seems to state that applying Jones denies the value of moral National newsstand distribution:
leading. It is misleading codes does not work because reasoning as a systematic pro- Eastern News Distributors, Inc.,
2020 Superior St., Sandusky, Ohio |
because it ignores the fact that news organizations do not cess based on but not absolute- 44870. Postmaster: send Form |
the ethics of deception, of pri- have codes — only guidelines. ly bound by carefully consid- 3579 to Columbia Journalism |
Review, P.O. Box 578, Mt. Morris, IL |
vacy invasion, of confidential- It is truly difficult to apply ered rules. Absent those moral
61054. Printed in the U.S.A.
ity, of conflict of interest, etc., codes that do not exist. rules, we must reinvent the ee aceteil
LeDto I’t Bset ter
As a newsroom leader, do you want to improve The deadline to apply is February 10, 2000.
your coverage of America’s struggle with race and For an application or more information
contact:
ethnicity? We're ready to help.
Professor Sig Gissler
Director, Workshops on Journalism,
In June, the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia Race, and Ethnicity
University will conduct an innovative Workshop on Graduate School of Journalism
Journalism, Race, and Ethnicity for newspaper editors and Columbia University
2950 Broadway, Mail Code 3817
television newsroom managers from across the United States.
New York, NY 10027
With Ford Foundation support, the workshop will showcase
outstanding coverage of race and ethnic issues. The news- [phone]
[phone] Fax
paper and television journalists who produced the work
[email protected]
will discuss its conception, development, and impact. www.jrn.columbia.edu/workshops
The expense-paid weekend workshop will be held on June
9-11, 2000. For busy managers, it is an ideal chance to COLUMBIA
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
find practical ways to move journalism to a higher level. UNIVERSITY
CJR January/February 2000
800 miles away, where the con-
Counterpoint is a new regular feature that will provide sultant’s last effort failed.
PAPERS — an opportunity for those who disagree with cjr on a Copying another newspa-
particular issue to express their point of view. In this per’s techniques becomes easi-
issue, David Hall states the case against running Best er than thinking.
TRIVIAL Newspaper rankings. Hall has been the editor of four “America’s Best News-
newspapers, most recently the Cleveland Plain Dealer. papers” compounds another
PURSUIT He was editor of The Denver Post in 1986 when that malady that newspaper edi-
paper won the Pulitzer Prize for public service. tors should resist: the fad that
everything must be ranked.
Some editors run phone-in
mostly harmless. Editors read for years. When moldy and out polls and publish the results, a
and shrugged. The magazine's of date, it will be cited as the betrayal of journalistic princi-
BY DAVID HALL attempt to rate newspapers is definitive ranking of the best ples that no disclaimer can
not harmless, and the No- daily newspapers. Three things absolve. Cjr’s editors candidly
hen new manage- vember article establishes no will happen becauseo f this list, admitted their ranking “wasn’t
ment took control of journalistic reason for the none good. a perfect process.” CJR’s process
the Columbia Journ- undertaking. 1. The newspapers listed will was a peer review and the
alism Review, hope soared The New York Times is a seize bragging rights that can methodology, however flawed,
that CJR would finally become great newspaper for its range | be milked for a decade of pro- was disclosed. The introduc-
the authoritative critical of coverage, its superb op-ed motion. Was that a purpose of tion says, “We believe there is
review of journalism that was page, and its coverage of cul- jr? To be a standing agate line shared value for all in recog-
promised years ago. Editor & ture as news. Yet many stories in self-congratulatory ads? nizing benchmark perfor-
Publisher wallows in tedium, are too long and ponderous; 2. Some ranked newspapers mances.” Okay. What are the
American Journalism Review its editorial page is turgid and will improve, some will de- benchmarked criteria? How
sells sizzle, Presstime concen- pretentious. Its discovery of cline. But an everlasting truth should performance be mea-
trates on reinventing newspa- trends in popular culture and in American journalism is, sured, say, if a newspaper
pers, and The American Editor politics occurs too frequently. you can’t live down a good wanted to bring headlines up
rolls annually through a Cjr’s judges called the Times reputation. to New York Times standards?
checklist to satisfy all ASNE “head and shoulders above 3. More imitation will occur How would an editor and
pressure groups. The Quill is everyone else.” That exaggerat- among newspapers in cover- publisher know which stan-
at least utilitarian. The best ed, unsupported cliché — a age and design — especially dards and objectives to choose
critical reporting comes from devotion to industry folklore design, the least-understood and from which of the
Nieman Reports. — reminds readers of cjr’s skill of editing. Today’s news- “best” newspapers? Over what
What a disappointment historic bias and arrogance. papers are so much more alike span of time should bench-
CJR delivered in November. It The Wall Street Journal is in content and appearance marking be done?
raised the standard of trivial- cited for “the depth with which than they were twenty years The CJR survey is sad because
ity for daily newspapers. Cjr’s it covers a niche.” The Journals it represents another trivial
attempt to designate “Ameri- front page recently carried sto- ‘THIS RATINGS pursuit when American news-
ca’s Best Newspapers” is a ries about skull surgery, mili- GAME IS papers are beset by problems —
scary leap by the magazine tary preparedness, new cancer diminished reporting stan-
right into the rush-hour traf- vaccines, and the use of old HYPE dards, timid editing, preten-
fic of superlatives. This rating technology to create new WITHOUT tious writing, poor layout,
game is hype without sub- music sounds. “Politics & shaky readership, confusion
stance. Rating newspapers Policy” often does more SUBSTANCE’ between the responsibilities of
and offering cryptic justifica- explaining in three-quarters of journalists and business de-
tions offers no help to editors a page than The New York ago. Editors go to the partments, and the surrender of
and publishers trying to solve Times does throughout its A American Press Institute to newshole to trivial stories in
their problems, which are section. The Journals editori- learn the optimum point size trivial sections.
usually local and more com- als stimulate thought and of a cutoff rule; they import Over the last few years we
plicated than a national sur- debate on issues well beyond writing coaches to do the jobs who manage newspapers have
vey with glib conclusions. business. CJR shows its igno- of assignment editors, then repeatedly shot ourselves in the
cjr has long tolerated the rance by characterizing the tolerate talk about silly sub- same foot with the same gun.
philosophy that journalism can Journal as a niche publication. jects like environmental leads; The gun’s brand name is
be practiced in a petri dish. Its cjr’s listing of “America’s consultants help start sections Triviality, and CjR just fired
arrogance, however, has been Best Newspapers” will linger patterned after a newspaper another bullet. @
CJR January/February 2000