9. USA Today
Read by people who think they ought to run the country
but don’t really understand the Washington Post
10. Los Angeles Times
Read by people who wouldn’t mind running the country if
they could spare the time...
and if they didn’t have to leave LA to do it.
12. New York Daily News
Read by people who aren’t sure who’s running the
country and don’t really care
as long as they can get a seat on the train
13. New York Post
Read by people who don’t care who’s running the
country, either...as long as they do something really
scandalous, preferably while intoxicated
15. Miami Herald
Read by people who are running another country, but
need the baseball scores
16. Purposes of journalism
• Basic human need for news
• Building community, conversation
• Citizenship
• Democracy
• Witness
• Give voice
• Watchdog (keep powerful in check)
18. Does it matter?
• Number of Americans who can name their
congressman
19. Does it matter?
• Number of Americans who can name their
congressman
• 3 out of ten
20. Does it matter?
• Number of Americans who can name their
congressman
• 3 out of ten
• How much of the country votes in a
presidential election?
21. Does it matter?
• Number of Americans who can name their
congressman
• 3 out of ten
• How much of the country votes in a
presidential election?
• Fewer than half
22. Lippmann vs Dewey
• Lippmann = “pictures in their heads”
• Citizens are like theatre-goers who “arrive in
the middle of the third act and leave before
the last curtain, staying just long enough to
decide who is the hero and who is the
villain.”
• Dewey = efficient government not the goal,
freedom is (democracy the means, not the
end)
23. Threats to journalism
• Government censorship
• Government marginalization
• Conglomeration
• Commercialism
24. “With its vast and direct influence on
public opinion, journalism cannot be
guided only by economic forces, profit and
special interest. It must instead be felt as a
mission in a certain sense sacred, carried
out in the knowledge that the powerful
means of communication have been
entrusted to you for the good of all.”
25. “With its vast and direct influence on
public opinion, journalism cannot be
guided only by economic forces, profit and
special interest. It must instead be felt as a
mission in a certain sense sacred, carried
out in the knowledge that the powerful
means of communication have been
entrusted to you for the good of all.”
Pope John Paul II
26. Modern challenges
• Fragmented audiences
• Disrupted economic model
• Journalists no longer gatekeepers, but
verifiers and sense-makers
27. Theory of the
Interlocking Public
• Involved public
• Interested public
• Uninterested public
28. The elements of journalism
What news people
should know and the
public should expect
29. The elements of journalism*
! * Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2000 Crown Publishers
30. The elements of journalism*
• The purpose of journalism is to
provide citizens with the
information they need to be free
and self-governing.
! * Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2000 Crown Publishers
31. The elements of journalism*
• The purpose of journalism is to
provide citizens with the
information they need to be free
and self-governing.
• The journalists’ first obligation is to
the truth.
! * Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2000 Crown Publishers
32. The elements of journalism*
• The purpose of journalism is to
provide citizens with the
information they need to be free
and self-governing.
• The journalists’ first obligation is to
the truth.
• Journalists’ first loyalty is to citizens
! * Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2000 Crown Publishers
34. The elements of journalism
• Journalists must maintain an
independence from those they cover.
35. The elements of journalism
• Journalists must maintain an
independence from those they cover.
• Journalists must serve as an
independent monitor of power.
36. The elements of journalism
• Journalists must maintain an
independence from those they cover.
• Journalists must serve as an
independent monitor of power.
• Journalists must offer a voice to the
voiceless.
37. The elements of journalism
• Journalists must maintain an
independence from those they cover.
• Journalists must serve as an
independent monitor of power.
• Journalists must offer a voice to the
voiceless.
• Journalism must provide a forum for
public criticism and comment.
39. The elements of journalism
• The essence of journalism is a
discipline of verification.
40. The elements of journalism
• The essence of journalism is a
discipline of verification.
• Journalists must make the significant
relevant and interesting.
41. The elements of journalism
• The essence of journalism is a
discipline of verification.
• Journalists must make the significant
relevant and interesting.
• Journalists should keep the news in
proportion and make it comprehensive.
42. The elements of journalism
• The essence of journalism is a
discipline of verification.
• Journalists must make the significant
relevant and interesting.
• Journalists should keep the news in
proportion and make it comprehensive.
• Journalists have an obligation to
personal conscience.
43. Proper role of government
We believe that governments were
instituted of God for the benefit of man;
and that he holds men accountable for
their acts in relation to them, both in
making laws and administering them.
— D&C 134:1
44. Proper role of government
We believe that all governments
necessarily require civil officers and
magistrates to enforce the laws of the
same that such as will administer the law
in equity and justice should be sought for
and upheld by the voice of the people if a
republic, or the will of sovereign.
— D&C 134:3
47. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
48. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
• Uncover “secret combinations”
49. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
• Uncover “secret combinations”
• Involve the public in the political process
50. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
• Uncover “secret combinations”
• Involve the public in the political process
• Create a civic dialogue – to build bridges
51. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
• Uncover “secret combinations”
• Involve the public in the political process
• Create a civic dialogue – to build bridges
• Lift ethical standards
52. Role of journalists
• Constitutional journalism
• Monitor local, state and national governmental
activities
• Uncover “secret combinations”
• Involve the public in the political process
• Create a civic dialogue – to build bridges
• Lift ethical standards
• Represent all of society
53. Mind of a journalist
What’s a nice person like me doing in a place like this?
54. Why journalism?
• Like to read, write, tell stories
• Intense curiosity
• Desire to contribute to society
• Independent
• Getting inside to find out things first
• Generalist
55. Why now?
• There is still a demand for journalism
• Journalism needs you—help develop the
future
• Journalism will be better than ever
56. Mind of a journalist
• What’s it like being a journalist?
• What’s opinion got to do with it?
• What’s ethical?
• How do I balance journalism with my faith?
• How do I balance journalism with celebrity?
57. Anatomy of a learning
community
• We are each responsible for our own
learning
• We learn by teaching and critiquing others
58. Your presentations
• Four people per group
• Approx. 45 minutes
• Bring topic to life
• Lead conversation
• Videos, slides, handouts, object lessons,
role-plays, etc.
• Use BYU-appropriate material
59. Deliverables
• Your PowerPoint file (SlideShare)
• Links used in your presentation (emailed)
• Digital copies of your handouts (Scribd)
• Group self-evaluation (each member of
group)
60. Peer review
• Grade the class assignment related to your
topic
✓Blog entries — and/or
✓Writing assignment
• Five exam questions
61. What to blog about
• Discussions in class (particularly after the
presentations start)
• Issues and topics raised by presentation
groups
• Assigned readings
• Articles on the web
62. For next time...
• Chapter 1, Elements of Journalism
• Online reading assignment
• Set up your blog and respond to email
asking for your information
• Post entry answering these questions:
• What is journalism?
• Who is a journalist?
