Danielle Buechel
This article was a good example of the uses of the court jargon used in court stories. The article dealt with President Bush's actions in dealing with an accused terrorist leader. The court story discussed 1st Amendment rights and Constitutional provisions, all of which are interesting to me as I have studied them in my Laws of Mass Communications Class. I think the crime article was well written and I would be interested to do a follow up on the case.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-022805padilla_wr,0,4180863.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Monday, February 28, 2005
Example- court case
I believe the article I read was a good example of how complicated court cases can be. The story is about a couple from Montgomery County who has brought a case to the Supreme Court demanding that school officials prove that they are following the rules under the Individuals with Disabilities Act. This “law requires that public schools grant every disabled child a ‘free appropriate special education’ tailored to the child’s specific needs.”
The couple in the story requested a hearing after their son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was removed from various schools because they “offered no special education programs.” The couple decided to enroll their son in a private school and sued for reimbursement for their son’s new school tuition.
The story goes on to explain how after the parents lost the suit, they brought their case to the U.S. District Court and gained support from the judge who then ordered the system to pay the parents for their son’s tuition. The Montgomery school system appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals which then ruled against the couple. The couple has just recently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although this article was not very long, it really made me realize how complex court cases can be. I thought it was interesting how this case seems to go back and forth between the couple and the school system. I do not know if there is anyway of solving this matter, because it seems as though both sides genuinely believe they are correct. I would be curious to know how long it continues.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45395-2005Feb22.html
The couple in the story requested a hearing after their son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, was removed from various schools because they “offered no special education programs.” The couple decided to enroll their son in a private school and sued for reimbursement for their son’s new school tuition.
The story goes on to explain how after the parents lost the suit, they brought their case to the U.S. District Court and gained support from the judge who then ordered the system to pay the parents for their son’s tuition. The Montgomery school system appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals which then ruled against the couple. The couple has just recently appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Although this article was not very long, it really made me realize how complex court cases can be. I thought it was interesting how this case seems to go back and forth between the couple and the school system. I do not know if there is anyway of solving this matter, because it seems as though both sides genuinely believe they are correct. I would be curious to know how long it continues.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45395-2005Feb22.html
enterprise
my idea was looking at the nubers of forcible sex crimes on campus and if those deal with alcohol or drugs.
Enterprise Ideas
My first idea for the final project is a report about a specific faculty (Paul Klemp). A second option that I was thinking about was a feature story about the Model UN team on campus. Lastly, possibly a report on the peregrine falcon population in Wisconsin and the rest of the U.S.
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Enterprise Ideas
I have come up with a few ideas for the final project, but I am not sure which one I will use. The first idea I came up with is outdoor gear/clothing photography( who are the photographers, the people using the equipment, the equipment itself and how you obtain a job in this narrow field.) Second, may do a report on the various types of wolves in North America and their ecology. Third, do a report on John Muir or Aldo Leopold. Basically anything that deals with outdoor activities, mountainneerer's, or wild animals.
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
Considering I have no human source, I might consider this one of the two I don't complete.
Fox Valley Technical College - Appleton student Joshua G. Blankenberg, 23, was arrested on Feb. 12 on charges of operating while intoxicated and operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration over .08 percent.
After U.W. Oshkosh Police Officer Brian Murphy radioed that a car was driving without headlights, Officer Trent Morgan stopped the 1992 Ford Taurus at the intersection of Waugoo Avenue and Broad Street. The driver said he was driving from Kelly's Bar to Rosalia Street and "didn't realize they were on," as the police report notes.
He admitted to drinking. He failed field tests, was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail, where Morgan, a certified Intoximeter operator, conducted a breath alcohol test. The first breath yielded .140 percent and the second yielded .146 percent. Thus the reported value is .14 gallons per 210 liters of breath.
Morgan reports that once he received his citations, "Blankenberg was processed and released to a responsible adult."
After U.W. Oshkosh Police Officer Brian Murphy radioed that a car was driving without headlights, Officer Trent Morgan stopped the 1992 Ford Taurus at the intersection of Waugoo Avenue and Broad Street. The driver said he was driving from Kelly's Bar to Rosalia Street and "didn't realize they were on," as the police report notes.
He admitted to drinking. He failed field tests, was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail, where Morgan, a certified Intoximeter operator, conducted a breath alcohol test. The first breath yielded .140 percent and the second yielded .146 percent. Thus the reported value is .14 gallons per 210 liters of breath.
Morgan reports that once he received his citations, "Blankenberg was processed and released to a responsible adult."
$3,500 fine for rescuing 400 tadpoles
I believe that overall this article was good. It was actually rather touching, with the tadpole rescue and all. I think that the most important fact is that the case was settled out of court and that just a fine was imposed. The article was fair, in this case the victims were saved by the perpetrator, which kind of begs the question of whether there was a crime committed.
Interfering with FireFighting (Final)
UW- Oshkosh Police along with the Oshkosh Fire Department were alerted Feb. 18, by the Winnebago 911 Center that a fire alarm was activated in Evans Hall.
Firefighters and officers immediately responded only to find that someone had poured liquid into the detector head of a fire alarm and set it off.
The alarm was reset and residents were led back into the hall and the detector head was replaced.
“No suspect(s) has been apprehended at this time,” said Assistant Resident Hall Director for Stewart and Evans Halls Jocelyn Crist, “due to the fact that there is little evidence to go off of.”
Firefighters and officers immediately responded only to find that someone had poured liquid into the detector head of a fire alarm and set it off.
The alarm was reset and residents were led back into the hall and the detector head was replaced.
“No suspect(s) has been apprehended at this time,” said Assistant Resident Hall Director for Stewart and Evans Halls Jocelyn Crist, “due to the fact that there is little evidence to go off of.”
Interfering with FireFighting
I am doing my crime report on the fire alarm in Evens Hall from 2/18/05.
Three Citations In One Stop [final]
UW- Oshkosh Student Andrew Scheidegger was arrested and charged with three different offenses when a University Police officer pulled him over for driving with expired tags.
Officer Brian Murphy pulled a car over when he spotted that it had expired tags. According to the police report, when Scheidegger opened the door, Officer Murphy noticed a strong smell of intoxicants. Scheidegger failed all field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.131, well above the legal limit in Wisconsin.
Scheidegger received three citations for: driving while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol limit over 0.08, the legal limit in Wisconsin and driving with expired tags. He was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail and then was released to a responsible adult.
Officer Brian Murphy pulled a car over when he spotted that it had expired tags. According to the police report, when Scheidegger opened the door, Officer Murphy noticed a strong smell of intoxicants. Scheidegger failed all field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.131, well above the legal limit in Wisconsin.
Scheidegger received three citations for: driving while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol limit over 0.08, the legal limit in Wisconsin and driving with expired tags. He was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail and then was released to a responsible adult.
Jamie L. Tonella OWI final
UW-Oshkosh student Jamie L. Tonella, 21, was arrested on a charge of operating while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent. An officer on foot patrol noticed her vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street on the 500 block of High Avenue on Feb. 9.
UW-Oshkosh police officer Brian Murphy made contact with Tonella and noticed a strong odor of intoxicants inside her vehicle. According to the police report, when Murphy matched Tonella with her Wisconsin driver's license he noticed her "bloodshot eyes and "slurred speech." "I didn't know I was driving on the wrong side of the street," said Tonella. "I only had a couple of drinks and felt I was okay to drive."
The police report said Tonella admitted to drinking and consented to an intoxication test. Officer Zitek, also at the scene, administered the test. According to the police report, Tonella's blood alcohol level was at 0.144 percent, well above the state level of 0.08 percent. Murphy placed Tonella under arrest and transported her to the Winnebago County Jail for processing.
The police report said this was Tonella's first OWI offense.
UW-Oshkosh police officer Brian Murphy made contact with Tonella and noticed a strong odor of intoxicants inside her vehicle. According to the police report, when Murphy matched Tonella with her Wisconsin driver's license he noticed her "bloodshot eyes and "slurred speech." "I didn't know I was driving on the wrong side of the street," said Tonella. "I only had a couple of drinks and felt I was okay to drive."
The police report said Tonella admitted to drinking and consented to an intoxication test. Officer Zitek, also at the scene, administered the test. According to the police report, Tonella's blood alcohol level was at 0.144 percent, well above the state level of 0.08 percent. Murphy placed Tonella under arrest and transported her to the Winnebago County Jail for processing.
The police report said this was Tonella's first OWI offense.
Enterprise Bling Blatz......Ya Herd
I'm going to do my enterprise assignment on why I feel that the men's volleyball program should become a recognized varsity sport on campus.
cop beat final
Robert Ireland
Cop Beat
02-23-05
Police officers stopped a car for failure to indicate a turn and defective break lights on Elmood Avenue, Saturday Feb. 13 at 2:39 a.m.
The driver of the vehicle failed field sobriety test and was booked into Winnebago County Jail for a 12-hour hold.
Aaron Ammerman, 21, was cited for operating while intoxicated and failure to indicate a turn.
“I was driving over to the girlfriends place after being out at the bars for the night, as I was driving past Fletcher I saw a UP squad car,” Ammerman said. “Generally hating the UP anyway I decided to get off campus and was subsequently pulled over for having defective break lights.”
After Ammerman was pulled over he became ‘argumentative’ and ‘insulative’ with the officer according to the police report.
“I think it was a bogus stop because my break lights had been fixed two months ago,” Ammerman said. “I checked them the day afterwards and they worked, I believe Trent Morgan had no reason to pull me over.”
Ammerman had been previously warned about defective break lights twice, once by a state trooper and once by the University Police.Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Police Beat Final- Kirk Mayer
UW-Milwaukee student Kirk Mayer, 20, was stopped near Lot 35 during the early morning hours on Monday and was citied for operating while intoxicated (OWI).
Officer Morgan was doing a routine security check of Lot 35 when he saw a male stagger past him into the lot. The police report said he watched Mayer to see if he would drive safely and in order to "determine his intentions."
As Mayer began to drive through the lot, Morgan pulled behind the car and noticed that it displayed expired registration tags. Morgan stated in his police report that he than stopped the car and identified the male by his diver's license.
Mayer denied drinking to the officer but failed field sobriety tests. Mayer was put under arrest for OWI. This is his first offense.
In addition, Mayer was cited for operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration over 0.08 percent. He was administered a Breathalyzer test and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.18 percent.
Morgan processed and booked Mayer into the Winnebago County Jail on a 12-hour hold.
Information Verification:
In order to ensure that the information on the incident report was correct I checked the Internet. First, I went to the UW-Milwaukee website and looked in the directory to see if Kirk Mayer did go to school there. I also checked the Wisconsin court system website and looked up Mayer's citation. All the information that officer Morgan had recorded was consistent with the information I received through the Internet.
Quote:
I did try to contact both Mayer and officer Morgan. I called Mayer's phone number that was in the UW-Milwaukee student directory. The number was (262) 628-2473. I think that this was his home phone number, but there was no answer when I called. I also tried to speak with Mayer via his student email at kpmayer@uwosh.edu but have yet to hear back from him. As a final attempt, I went with Lindsay to the University Police Station on Tuesday to talk with officer Morgan. Unfortunately he was not there at that time. I may still get word back from Mayer if he answers my email. At that time I will edit my final draft to include a quote.
Officer Morgan was doing a routine security check of Lot 35 when he saw a male stagger past him into the lot. The police report said he watched Mayer to see if he would drive safely and in order to "determine his intentions."
As Mayer began to drive through the lot, Morgan pulled behind the car and noticed that it displayed expired registration tags. Morgan stated in his police report that he than stopped the car and identified the male by his diver's license.
Mayer denied drinking to the officer but failed field sobriety tests. Mayer was put under arrest for OWI. This is his first offense.
In addition, Mayer was cited for operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration over 0.08 percent. He was administered a Breathalyzer test and registered a blood alcohol level of 0.18 percent.
Morgan processed and booked Mayer into the Winnebago County Jail on a 12-hour hold.
Information Verification:
In order to ensure that the information on the incident report was correct I checked the Internet. First, I went to the UW-Milwaukee website and looked in the directory to see if Kirk Mayer did go to school there. I also checked the Wisconsin court system website and looked up Mayer's citation. All the information that officer Morgan had recorded was consistent with the information I received through the Internet.
Quote:
I did try to contact both Mayer and officer Morgan. I called Mayer's phone number that was in the UW-Milwaukee student directory. The number was (262) 628-2473. I think that this was his home phone number, but there was no answer when I called. I also tried to speak with Mayer via his student email at kpmayer@uwosh.edu but have yet to hear back from him. As a final attempt, I went with Lindsay to the University Police Station on Tuesday to talk with officer Morgan. Unfortunately he was not there at that time. I may still get word back from Mayer if he answers my email. At that time I will edit my final draft to include a quote.
Enterprise Assignment Ideas
I have come up with three ideas for my final enterprise project including the issue of campus parking and the prominence of underage drinking on the UW-Oshkosh campus. I have also thought about looking into the success of college students who are attending school while either pregnant or are (young) parents.
Police Beat Final Draft
Danielle Buechel
Police Beat Draft
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Kristina Congleton, 20, was cited for underage drinking Feb. 12 after a patrol officer discovered her crying on the rear staircase of Donner Hall.
According to an UW-Oshkosh Incident Report, Officer Trent Morgan of the University Police approached Congleton and another student in the stairwell around 11:50 p.m. He identified Congleton by a Wisconsin driver’s license and found that she was intoxicated and had vomited on the staircase. Congleton was assisted by a UW-O student identified as Donald Rideout, 21.
Upon questioning Congleton, a Donner Hall resident, admitted to drinking vodka at a house party and surrendered several cans of beer from her fourth floor dorm room. According to Congleton the police officer requested that she be tested to determine her blood alcohol level, which registered 0.002 percent.
"The whole night was a bad decision," Congleton said. "I was upset and had too much to drink, it was all a stupid mistake."
According to Congleton, she was allowed to choose between attending 12 classes in an alcohol assessment program or having the incident registered in her permanent record.
"The officer was really nice, he offered me a chance to take the class and to not have an underage put on my record," Congleton said.
Congleton was cited for underage drinking, given an alcohol assessment pamphlet and was released.
Police Beat Draft
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Kristina Congleton, 20, was cited for underage drinking Feb. 12 after a patrol officer discovered her crying on the rear staircase of Donner Hall.
According to an UW-Oshkosh Incident Report, Officer Trent Morgan of the University Police approached Congleton and another student in the stairwell around 11:50 p.m. He identified Congleton by a Wisconsin driver’s license and found that she was intoxicated and had vomited on the staircase. Congleton was assisted by a UW-O student identified as Donald Rideout, 21.
Upon questioning Congleton, a Donner Hall resident, admitted to drinking vodka at a house party and surrendered several cans of beer from her fourth floor dorm room. According to Congleton the police officer requested that she be tested to determine her blood alcohol level, which registered 0.002 percent.
"The whole night was a bad decision," Congleton said. "I was upset and had too much to drink, it was all a stupid mistake."
According to Congleton, she was allowed to choose between attending 12 classes in an alcohol assessment program or having the incident registered in her permanent record.
"The officer was really nice, he offered me a chance to take the class and to not have an underage put on my record," Congleton said.
Congleton was cited for underage drinking, given an alcohol assessment pamphlet and was released.
Police Beat Final
UW-Oshkosh student Matthew J. Feuerhelm, 19, was charged with underage drinking after a police officer discovered him being noisy in a hallway Wednesday morning.
“I don’t understand why he stopped me,” Feuerhelm said. “I was doing absolutely nothing wrong that night. I wasn’t calling any attention to myself.”
According to a police report, police officer Brian Murphy found Feuerhelm knocking loudly on a door in North Scott Hall. Murphy checked Feuerhelm's identification and noticed that "he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.”
After telling the officer that he had been drinking that night, Feuerhelm let Murphy into his room. The police officer reported that “two open cans of beer were plainly visible.”
Feuerhelm’s blood alcohol content was 0.127 percent. Murphy issued him a citation.
“Because of this ticket I now have outstanding fines totaling $700, and I might have to drop out of school,” Feuerhelm said.
Feuerhelm later denied Murphy’s request to search his room saying that he had “personal things in there.”
Murphy said that this was Feuerhelm’s first underage drinking offense.
Verifying the Information
After I obtained an incident report from the University Police station, I spent many days wondering how I was going to find the courage to actually go out and interview someone that was involved with this crime. I started with a Google search of the alleged perpetrator (Matthew J. Feuerhelm), but did not find any information. After class on Monday, I decided that I would attempt to interview Matthew. Instead of giving him the chance to hang up on me, I thought I would make it a little more difficult for him to turn me away. I walked over to North Scott Hall for a face-to-face interview. I was scared out of my mind.
Before I entered the dorm, I double checked Matthew’s room number which was listed on the police report. I walked up to the third floor, knocked on the door and was told by the two freshmen boys who lived there that, of course, I had the wrong room. I read the police report wrong. They told me that Matthew’s room was two doors down and that he had just left. They said he would be back in about 15 minutes and invited me into their room to wait. When Matthew returned, he verified all of the information on the police report and what I had written so far. He also gave me a few quotes. He was very cooperative.
I also tried to talk to police officer Brian Murphy. Sara and I went back to the University Police station after class on Tuesday, but were told that Murphy was not in.
“I don’t understand why he stopped me,” Feuerhelm said. “I was doing absolutely nothing wrong that night. I wasn’t calling any attention to myself.”
According to a police report, police officer Brian Murphy found Feuerhelm knocking loudly on a door in North Scott Hall. Murphy checked Feuerhelm's identification and noticed that "he had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.”
After telling the officer that he had been drinking that night, Feuerhelm let Murphy into his room. The police officer reported that “two open cans of beer were plainly visible.”
Feuerhelm’s blood alcohol content was 0.127 percent. Murphy issued him a citation.
“Because of this ticket I now have outstanding fines totaling $700, and I might have to drop out of school,” Feuerhelm said.
Feuerhelm later denied Murphy’s request to search his room saying that he had “personal things in there.”
Murphy said that this was Feuerhelm’s first underage drinking offense.
Verifying the Information
After I obtained an incident report from the University Police station, I spent many days wondering how I was going to find the courage to actually go out and interview someone that was involved with this crime. I started with a Google search of the alleged perpetrator (Matthew J. Feuerhelm), but did not find any information. After class on Monday, I decided that I would attempt to interview Matthew. Instead of giving him the chance to hang up on me, I thought I would make it a little more difficult for him to turn me away. I walked over to North Scott Hall for a face-to-face interview. I was scared out of my mind.
Before I entered the dorm, I double checked Matthew’s room number which was listed on the police report. I walked up to the third floor, knocked on the door and was told by the two freshmen boys who lived there that, of course, I had the wrong room. I read the police report wrong. They told me that Matthew’s room was two doors down and that he had just left. They said he would be back in about 15 minutes and invited me into their room to wait. When Matthew returned, he verified all of the information on the police report and what I had written so far. He also gave me a few quotes. He was very cooperative.
I also tried to talk to police officer Brian Murphy. Sara and I went back to the University Police station after class on Tuesday, but were told that Murphy was not in.
Enterprise Article Ideas
I have some ideas for Enterprise stories, but I am not sure if one of these will be used for sure on the final project. One idea is reporting on the use of drugs and alcohol here on campus by students. Another possible topic is the success stories of journalism alumni (where their careers have taken them). My third possible idea is the reasons behind curriculum changes on campus.
Monday, February 21, 2005
Enterprise Assignment
Due to the fact that I am a journalism major and a psychology minor, I think it would be interesting to do an article on a mental illness facility for my enterprise assignment.
police report
I will be writing my police story on whatever information I recieve in the police report I filed at the Oshkosh Police Department. As of Monday, I have yet to hear back from the police department but I will be going there this afternoon to see it at the front desk.
Patrick Segar-final
UW-Oshkosh student Patrick Seger, 24, was cited Sunday evening after a university police officer observed him urinating within public view.
Officer Trent Morgan observed three males walking side by side down the sidewalk in front of Fletcher Hall. According to the police report one of the males, 24-year-old Patrick Seger exposed himself and began urinating. Officer Morgan observed seven to ten other pedestrians in the area and vehicle traffic was also present within view of his urinating.
Seger was cited for urinating in public and was released.
OWI
Robert Ireland
Police officers stopped a car for failure to indicate a turn and defective break lights on Elmood Avenue. The driver failed field sobriety test and was booked into Winnebago County Jail for a 12-hour hold.
Aaron Ammerman, 21, was cited for operating while intoxicated and failure to indicate a turn.
“I was driving over to the girlfriends place after being out at the bars for the night, as I was driving past Fletcher I saw a UP squad car,” Ammerman said. “Generally hating the UP anyway I decided to get off campus and was subsequently pulled over for having defective break lights.”
After Ammerman was pulled over he became ‘argumentative’ and ‘insulative’ with the officer according to the police report. “I think it was a bogus stop because my break lights have been fixed two months ago,” Ammerman said. “I checked them the day afterwards and they worked, I believe Trent Morgan had no reason to pull me over.”
Ammerman had been previously warned about defective break lights twice before, once by a state trooper and once by the University Police.
Student Charged with Three Offenses in Single Stop
UW Oshkosh Student Andrew Scheidegger was arrested and charged with three different offenses when a University Police officer pulled him over for driving with expired tags.
Officer Brian Murphy pulled Scheidegger over when he spotted the expired tags. When the student opened the door Officer Murphy noticed a strong smell of intoxicants. Scheidegger failed all field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.131, well above the legal limit in Wisconsin.
Scheidegger was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail and then was released to a responsible adult. Scheidegger received three citations: driving while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol limit over 0.08, the legal limit in Wisconsin and driving with expired tags..
Officer Brian Murphy pulled Scheidegger over when he spotted the expired tags. When the student opened the door Officer Murphy noticed a strong smell of intoxicants. Scheidegger failed all field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.131, well above the legal limit in Wisconsin.
Scheidegger was arrested and taken to the Winnebago County Jail and then was released to a responsible adult. Scheidegger received three citations: driving while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol limit over 0.08, the legal limit in Wisconsin and driving with expired tags..
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Jamie L. Tonella OWI draft(in progress)
UW-Oshkosh student Jamie L. Tonella, 21, was arrested on a charge of operating while intoxicated and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 percent. An officer on foot patrol noticed her vehicle driving the wrong way on a one-way street on the 500 block of High Avenue on Feb. 9.
UW-Oshkosh police officer Brian Murphy made contact with Tonella and noticed a strong odor of intoxicants inside her vehicle. According to the police report, when Murphy matched Tonella with her Wisconsin driver's license he noticed her "bloodshot eyes and "slurred speech." "I didn't know I was driving on the wrong side of the street," said Tonella. "I only had a couple of drinks and felt I was okay to drive."
The police report said Tonella admitted to drinking and consented to an intoxication test. Officer Zitek, also at the scene, administered the intoxication test. According to the police report, Tonella's blood alcohol level was at 0.144 percent, well above the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Murphy placed Tonella under arrest and transported her to the Winnebago County Jail for processing.
UW-Oshkosh police officer Brian Murphy made contact with Tonella and noticed a strong odor of intoxicants inside her vehicle. According to the police report, when Murphy matched Tonella with her Wisconsin driver's license he noticed her "bloodshot eyes and "slurred speech." "I didn't know I was driving on the wrong side of the street," said Tonella. "I only had a couple of drinks and felt I was okay to drive."
The police report said Tonella admitted to drinking and consented to an intoxication test. Officer Zitek, also at the scene, administered the intoxication test. According to the police report, Tonella's blood alcohol level was at 0.144 percent, well above the state's legal limit of 0.08 percent. Murphy placed Tonella under arrest and transported her to the Winnebago County Jail for processing.
Underage Violation- Draft
Danielle Buechel
Police Beat Draft
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Kristina Congleton, 20, was cited for underage drinking February 12 after a patrol officer found her on the rear stairs in Donner Hall.
During a routine patrol, Officer Morgan of the University Police saw two students in the rear stairwell of the dorm and stopped to check on their welfare. He identified Congleton by a Wisconsin Driver License and found that she was highly intoxicated and had vomited on the staircase.
Quote
Upon questioning, she admitted to drinking vodka at a house party and surrendered several cans of beer from her fourth floor dorm room. Congleton was being assisted by another UW-O student, identified as Donald Rideout, 21.
Quote
Congleton was cited for underage drinking and was released.
Police Beat Draft
UW-Oshkosh sophomore Kristina Congleton, 20, was cited for underage drinking February 12 after a patrol officer found her on the rear stairs in Donner Hall.
During a routine patrol, Officer Morgan of the University Police saw two students in the rear stairwell of the dorm and stopped to check on their welfare. He identified Congleton by a Wisconsin Driver License and found that she was highly intoxicated and had vomited on the staircase.
Quote
Upon questioning, she admitted to drinking vodka at a house party and surrendered several cans of beer from her fourth floor dorm room. Congleton was being assisted by another UW-O student, identified as Donald Rideout, 21.
Quote
Congleton was cited for underage drinking and was released.
Freakin Pot Heads- Draft
Two UW-Oshkosh students were cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession marijuana Friday on the fifth floor of North Scott Hall.
Officers Trent Morgan and Brian Murphy responded to a call from Eric Schneeweis, an eigth floor duty Community Advisor, concerning a strong odor of marijuana at 1:46 a.m. Murphy arrived on the scene to meet with the duty CA who had already attempted to make contact with the residents in room 561. After minutes of delay, resident Alex J. Miller, 18, allowed Murphy into the room to do a search for suspected marijuana usage. Murphy found a bag of marijuana and a scale which Miller uses to weigh marijuana in his closet. According to the police report, Miller said that both items belonged to him. Miller also had a hand-blown glass marijuana pipe that was discovered by Morgan in his room.
Morgan interviewed Miller’s neighbors David A. Muhasky Jr.,18 and Ross M. Street, 18 and found that Muhasky had also been smoking marijuana in Miller’s room earlier. Morgan stated that Muhasky had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and lethargic movements but registered a 0.00% blood alcohol content. He was cited for use of marijuana and was released. Street also admitted to smoking marijuana in Miller’s room earlier. Street admitted to owning the glass pipe in Miller’s room that Morgan had confiscated. Street also confessed to having three shots of whiskey at a house party and he had a 0.077% alcohol level. Street was cited for use of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia but was only given a verbal warning for underage drinking which could have been his second offense.
In attempts to reach Miller for an interview, I was denied such access.
Officers Trent Morgan and Brian Murphy responded to a call from Eric Schneeweis, an eigth floor duty Community Advisor, concerning a strong odor of marijuana at 1:46 a.m. Murphy arrived on the scene to meet with the duty CA who had already attempted to make contact with the residents in room 561. After minutes of delay, resident Alex J. Miller, 18, allowed Murphy into the room to do a search for suspected marijuana usage. Murphy found a bag of marijuana and a scale which Miller uses to weigh marijuana in his closet. According to the police report, Miller said that both items belonged to him. Miller also had a hand-blown glass marijuana pipe that was discovered by Morgan in his room.
Morgan interviewed Miller’s neighbors David A. Muhasky Jr.,18 and Ross M. Street, 18 and found that Muhasky had also been smoking marijuana in Miller’s room earlier. Morgan stated that Muhasky had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and lethargic movements but registered a 0.00% blood alcohol content. He was cited for use of marijuana and was released. Street also admitted to smoking marijuana in Miller’s room earlier. Street admitted to owning the glass pipe in Miller’s room that Morgan had confiscated. Street also confessed to having three shots of whiskey at a house party and he had a 0.077% alcohol level. Street was cited for use of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia but was only given a verbal warning for underage drinking which could have been his second offense.
In attempts to reach Miller for an interview, I was denied such access.
Police Beat Draft- Kirk Mayer
UW-Milwaukee student Kirk Mayer, 20, was stopped near Lot 35 during the early morning hours on Monday and was citied for operating while intoxicated.
Officer Morgan was doing a routine security check of Lot 35 when he saw a “male swagger past me into the lot.” He kept an eye on the male as he entered his car to see if Mayer would be able to drive. As Mayer began to drive away, Officer Morgan pulled behind the car and noticed that he displayed expired registration tags. Morgan stated in his police report that he than stopped the car and identified the male.
Mayer denied drinking to the officer but failed field sobriety tests. Mayer was put under arrest for OWI.
In addition, Mayer was cited for operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration (PAC) over .08 percent. He was administered the breathalyzer test and blew a .18 percent.
The officer processed and booked Mayer into the Winnebago County Jail on a 12 hour hold.
Officer Morgan was doing a routine security check of Lot 35 when he saw a “male swagger past me into the lot.” He kept an eye on the male as he entered his car to see if Mayer would be able to drive. As Mayer began to drive away, Officer Morgan pulled behind the car and noticed that he displayed expired registration tags. Morgan stated in his police report that he than stopped the car and identified the male.
Mayer denied drinking to the officer but failed field sobriety tests. Mayer was put under arrest for OWI.
In addition, Mayer was cited for operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration (PAC) over .08 percent. He was administered the breathalyzer test and blew a .18 percent.
The officer processed and booked Mayer into the Winnebago County Jail on a 12 hour hold.
cops
I'm going to report on Joshua Blankenberg, a FVTC Appleton student who recieved citations for operating while intoxicated and operating with a prohibitive alcohol concentration over .08%.
Police Beat Draft
UW-Oshkosh student Matthew J. Feuerhelm, 19, was charged with underage drinking after a police officer discovered him being noisy in the hallway Wednesday morning.
"I don't understand why he stopped me," Feuerhelm said. "I was doing absolutely nothing wrong that night. I wasn't calling any attention to myself."
According to a police report, Police Officer Brian Murphy found Feuerhelm knocking loudly on a door in North Scott Hall. After asking for identification, Murphy noticed that Feuerhelm had "glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech."
After telling the officer that he had been drinking that night, Feuerhelm allowed Murphy into his room. The police officer reported that "two open cans of beer were plainly visible." Feuerhelm's blood alcohol content was 0.127 percent. Murphy issued him a citation.
"Because of this ticket I now have outstanding fines totaling $700 and I might have to drop out of school," Feuerhelm said.
Murphy reported that this was Feuerhelm's first underage drinking offense.
Feuerhelm later denied a search of his room saying he had "personal things in there."
"I don't understand why he stopped me," Feuerhelm said. "I was doing absolutely nothing wrong that night. I wasn't calling any attention to myself."
According to a police report, Police Officer Brian Murphy found Feuerhelm knocking loudly on a door in North Scott Hall. After asking for identification, Murphy noticed that Feuerhelm had "glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech."
After telling the officer that he had been drinking that night, Feuerhelm allowed Murphy into his room. The police officer reported that "two open cans of beer were plainly visible." Feuerhelm's blood alcohol content was 0.127 percent. Murphy issued him a citation.
"Because of this ticket I now have outstanding fines totaling $700 and I might have to drop out of school," Feuerhelm said.
Murphy reported that this was Feuerhelm's first underage drinking offense.
Feuerhelm later denied a search of his room saying he had "personal things in there."
mike cowling story
In a speech describing his experiences working at The New York Times, Professor Mike Cowling explained the downward direction the paper has been headed toward in the past years and several defenses it has built in efforts to stop it.
Cowling started by saying that The Times has "a reputation as a paper that has consistently done things, and done things well." The paper won its first Pulitzer Prize in 1918 and since then has earned a total of 90 Pulitzers, almost double the amount received by any other newspaper.
"Pulitzers mean a lot to The New York Times," Cowling said. He then went on to explain how The Times sets aside a separate budget strictly for the Pulitzer Prize, and that only the best writers are hired to write the nomination letters for the prize.
Although he made it clear that The New York Times is a very prestigious paper, Cowling also touched on some of the problems that it has been having in recent years.Cowling said that most of the problems started with the Jayson Blair scandal. Blair, a reporter for The Times, was recently caught after years of plagiarizing and fabricating articles. Blair got away with this because editors at The Times were not checking his sources.
This was a "major black eye for The New York Times," Cowling said. He also said that critics believe The Times has "lost it's edge" and that lately it has become so concerned with restoring it's image that the paper's stories are beginning to suffer.
The New York Times is working on these problems. According to Cowling, committees at The Times have hired a "Public Editor" who serves as an "in-house critic of the publication." These committees also make sure credit is given to everyone who was involved in the story, whether they be the photographer, reporter or the editor. A three-tier system of sourcing was also installed to be sure all information is complete and accurate. Cowling said The Times is being "overly cautious" but believes it is for good reason.
Cowling became a member of the journalism faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1994. Over the past 11 years, Cowling has taught courses such as media ethics, editing, feature writing and reporting. Since 1997, he has spent his summers working as a copy editor on the national or foreign desk for The New York Times. Cowling currently edits the paper's web edition five nights a week.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1975 at Eastern Illinois University, majoring in journalism and history. In 2004, Cowling was inducted into Eastern's Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame for the contributions he has made to the university's journalism program. He received his master's in journalism at the University of Illinois.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association. In 2001, with help from other board members, Cowling established a $500 scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school student who is looking for a career in journalism. He has also sponsored editing and ethics workshops throughout the nation.
Cowling started by saying that The Times has "a reputation as a paper that has consistently done things, and done things well." The paper won its first Pulitzer Prize in 1918 and since then has earned a total of 90 Pulitzers, almost double the amount received by any other newspaper.
"Pulitzers mean a lot to The New York Times," Cowling said. He then went on to explain how The Times sets aside a separate budget strictly for the Pulitzer Prize, and that only the best writers are hired to write the nomination letters for the prize.
Although he made it clear that The New York Times is a very prestigious paper, Cowling also touched on some of the problems that it has been having in recent years.Cowling said that most of the problems started with the Jayson Blair scandal. Blair, a reporter for The Times, was recently caught after years of plagiarizing and fabricating articles. Blair got away with this because editors at The Times were not checking his sources.
This was a "major black eye for The New York Times," Cowling said. He also said that critics believe The Times has "lost it's edge" and that lately it has become so concerned with restoring it's image that the paper's stories are beginning to suffer.
The New York Times is working on these problems. According to Cowling, committees at The Times have hired a "Public Editor" who serves as an "in-house critic of the publication." These committees also make sure credit is given to everyone who was involved in the story, whether they be the photographer, reporter or the editor. A three-tier system of sourcing was also installed to be sure all information is complete and accurate. Cowling said The Times is being "overly cautious" but believes it is for good reason.
Cowling became a member of the journalism faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1994. Over the past 11 years, Cowling has taught courses such as media ethics, editing, feature writing and reporting. Since 1997, he has spent his summers working as a copy editor on the national or foreign desk for The New York Times. Cowling currently edits the paper's web edition five nights a week.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1975 at Eastern Illinois University, majoring in journalism and history. In 2004, Cowling was inducted into Eastern's Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame for the contributions he has made to the university's journalism program. He received his master's in journalism at the University of Illinois.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association. In 2001, with help from other board members, Cowling established a $500 scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school student who is looking for a career in journalism. He has also sponsored editing and ethics workshops throughout the nation.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Police Beat- Scoop
I am doing my police report on Jamie L. Tonella. He is accused of driving while under the influence and driving on the wrong side of the street.
cowling story
Mike Cowling, assistant professor at UW-Oshkosh and an editor at the The New York Times, spoke of the new committees the Times put together after the Jason Blair incident.
“The culture of the newsroom has changed since Jason Blair,” Cowling said.
The new committees put together in the past three years are to help make decisions at the Times. One of the ideas the new committees introduced was for the paper to have a public editor. The idea of a public editor was something the Times didn’t believe in before Blair.
Due to Blair’s fabrication and plagiarism the paper is also to give credit to everyone who contributed to a story, who the photographer was, and list where everyone was the time the story was written.
“No matter who you are, you have as much in stake in a story as anyone else,” Cowling said.
There is also a confidential new source policy that contains three different levels of confidentiality to sources.
Cowling, who has worked at the Times for eight years, discussed his sabbatical project on the Times’ Pulitzer Prizes.
“People put a lot of value into winning a Pulitzer Prize at the Times,” Cowling said.
The Times has won 90 Pulitzer’s since winning its first Pulitzer on June 3, 1918. The Times’ in-house publication, Times Talk, won seven Pulitzers alone, in 2002 for its coverage of 9/11.
“The Times expects excellence from someone who works there,” Cowling said.
He also stated that in order to be an executive editor an employee must work there for many years and every editor accept for one has won a Pulitzer.
Cowling also discussed how particular the Times is about its style and nature of corrections.
“The New York Times will correct things that most papers won’t,” Cowling said. “They ran a correction on a story from 50 years earlier.”
Another topic of discussion was the treatment of Times’ employees.
Cowling discussed the good pay, seminars and workshops offered and Publisher’s Awards. The Publisher’s Award is given to an employee every month. He gave the example that his headline won him $300 one month.
I'm doing by crime story on Aaron Ammerman.
“The culture of the newsroom has changed since Jason Blair,” Cowling said.
The new committees put together in the past three years are to help make decisions at the Times. One of the ideas the new committees introduced was for the paper to have a public editor. The idea of a public editor was something the Times didn’t believe in before Blair.
Due to Blair’s fabrication and plagiarism the paper is also to give credit to everyone who contributed to a story, who the photographer was, and list where everyone was the time the story was written.
“No matter who you are, you have as much in stake in a story as anyone else,” Cowling said.
There is also a confidential new source policy that contains three different levels of confidentiality to sources.
Cowling, who has worked at the Times for eight years, discussed his sabbatical project on the Times’ Pulitzer Prizes.
“People put a lot of value into winning a Pulitzer Prize at the Times,” Cowling said.
The Times has won 90 Pulitzer’s since winning its first Pulitzer on June 3, 1918. The Times’ in-house publication, Times Talk, won seven Pulitzers alone, in 2002 for its coverage of 9/11.
“The Times expects excellence from someone who works there,” Cowling said.
He also stated that in order to be an executive editor an employee must work there for many years and every editor accept for one has won a Pulitzer.
Cowling also discussed how particular the Times is about its style and nature of corrections.
“The New York Times will correct things that most papers won’t,” Cowling said. “They ran a correction on a story from 50 years earlier.”
Another topic of discussion was the treatment of Times’ employees.
Cowling discussed the good pay, seminars and workshops offered and Publisher’s Awards. The Publisher’s Award is given to an employee every month. He gave the example that his headline won him $300 one month.
I'm doing by crime story on Aaron Ammerman.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Michael Cowlings speech
UW-Oshkosh Professor Michael Cowling, a part-time copy editor for The New York Times, gave a speech Wednesday dealing with the integrity that newspaper holds as well as the problems that have appeared within the past few years.
Cowling said that The New York Times is different from other publications. He gave several examples as to what makes the Times unique. The atmosphere of the newspaper gives its employees the ability to form committees and make suggestions. He also said that the Times is a more democratic newspaper, as opposed to most papers where the editors make the decisions.
The Times has a high level of integrity, Cowlings pointed out, that other newspapers have not obtained. One item that separates the Times from other newspapers is its staff. It has a large staff of experts in their field. Cowlings said that reporters for the Times do not have to be journalism graduates. The paper wants the best of the best working for it. They hire reporters who display knowledge in a given field. For example, doctors write medical stories. Cowlings said the Times “want smart people who know a lot.” This adds to its credibility as well when it has experts in a given field writing for the stories.
Another area Cowlings spoke on was the way the paper handles its sources. Many papers run into the problem of how to cite a source that wants to remain confidential while at the same time maintaining a credible story. The Times believe that its sources should be protected, especially if they (the source) want to remain anonymous. In order to still have the information in the story, the newspaper protects the identity of the source but explains to the readers why the source was not cited.
Cowlings said that the Times expect excellence. Grammar is important to check, as it is in most newsrooms. Ultimately, Cowlings said that the Times” want the final product to be the best it can be.” There is the expectation that the entire staff will do everything they can do, collectively as well as individually, to make its stories the best. He pointed out that when mistakes are run, the Times will correct things most papers normally will not. For example, he stated that one time the paper ran a correction from a story that had run 50 years earlier.
Although the Times strive to maintain a high level of integrity, Cowlings pointed out some pressures in the past years that have led to problems for the paper. For instance, the Times had a problem in 2003 with one of its reporters, Jayson Blair. He was caught plagiarizing and fabricating stories. This scandal cost the Times some of its credibility.
The Times has also lost some of its sharp coverage on stories. He said that recently it has been distracted by several interfering factors. After September 11 there were challenges the media faced such as getting coverage in Iraq. The Times has had some troubles in its investigation, which has not been as strong in the past few years. Cowlings questioned how the Times should cover stories when the recent American attitude has become so patriotic. Another area that has distracted the Times is the managerial changes that have occurred.
Although the Times has had its share of problems, Cowlings still feels that “there is no place quite like it.” He also said that it is still “top dog.”
Cowlings, a graduate from Eastern Illinois University and University of Illinois, studied history and journalism with an emphasis in news editorial. He has not only worked for the Times but also has held jobs with The Chicago Sun-Times and The Los Angeles Times. He has participated in a variety of events and has written many essays. In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University.
Cowling said that The New York Times is different from other publications. He gave several examples as to what makes the Times unique. The atmosphere of the newspaper gives its employees the ability to form committees and make suggestions. He also said that the Times is a more democratic newspaper, as opposed to most papers where the editors make the decisions.
The Times has a high level of integrity, Cowlings pointed out, that other newspapers have not obtained. One item that separates the Times from other newspapers is its staff. It has a large staff of experts in their field. Cowlings said that reporters for the Times do not have to be journalism graduates. The paper wants the best of the best working for it. They hire reporters who display knowledge in a given field. For example, doctors write medical stories. Cowlings said the Times “want smart people who know a lot.” This adds to its credibility as well when it has experts in a given field writing for the stories.
Another area Cowlings spoke on was the way the paper handles its sources. Many papers run into the problem of how to cite a source that wants to remain confidential while at the same time maintaining a credible story. The Times believe that its sources should be protected, especially if they (the source) want to remain anonymous. In order to still have the information in the story, the newspaper protects the identity of the source but explains to the readers why the source was not cited.
Cowlings said that the Times expect excellence. Grammar is important to check, as it is in most newsrooms. Ultimately, Cowlings said that the Times” want the final product to be the best it can be.” There is the expectation that the entire staff will do everything they can do, collectively as well as individually, to make its stories the best. He pointed out that when mistakes are run, the Times will correct things most papers normally will not. For example, he stated that one time the paper ran a correction from a story that had run 50 years earlier.
Although the Times strive to maintain a high level of integrity, Cowlings pointed out some pressures in the past years that have led to problems for the paper. For instance, the Times had a problem in 2003 with one of its reporters, Jayson Blair. He was caught plagiarizing and fabricating stories. This scandal cost the Times some of its credibility.
The Times has also lost some of its sharp coverage on stories. He said that recently it has been distracted by several interfering factors. After September 11 there were challenges the media faced such as getting coverage in Iraq. The Times has had some troubles in its investigation, which has not been as strong in the past few years. Cowlings questioned how the Times should cover stories when the recent American attitude has become so patriotic. Another area that has distracted the Times is the managerial changes that have occurred.
Although the Times has had its share of problems, Cowlings still feels that “there is no place quite like it.” He also said that it is still “top dog.”
Cowlings, a graduate from Eastern Illinois University and University of Illinois, studied history and journalism with an emphasis in news editorial. He has not only worked for the Times but also has held jobs with The Chicago Sun-Times and The Los Angeles Times. He has participated in a variety of events and has written many essays. In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University.
Crime Beat Underage Violation
Danielle Buechel
I plan to do my article on Kristina Congleton who recieved an underage drinking violation in Donner Hall.
I plan to do my article on Kristina Congleton who recieved an underage drinking violation in Donner Hall.
mike cowling story
Mike Cowling, spends most of his days at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh lecturing to students in stuffy classrooms on media ethics and news writing but at night this professor truly applies those lessons to practice when he joins one of the worlds largest news organizations, The New York Times, as copy editor for The Times website.
Cowling’s other job, his experience and the organization for which he is employed, The New York Times, were all topics Wednesday when Cowling spoke on the UW-Oshkosh campus.
Cowling, who has spent the past eight summers working for The Times in its main offices as a copy editor as well as spending five nights a week reviewing sections for The Times website, enlightened faculty and students alike on the success of the paper as well as the changes that The Times has faced since 9-11 and in the wake of their own plagiarism scandal with former employee Jayson Blair.
Once regarded as one of the leaders in the industry, The Times has won almost twice as many Pulitzer Prizes for journalism as any other newspaper or news organization. Since 1917 The Times as won 90 of the prestigious awards.
However, The Times has spent more time in the past year reviewing the work of their own employees since news broke in the spring of 2003 that former employee Jayson Blair fabricated parts of many of his stories written for The Times. Since then, The Times has created the position of public editor, a position currently held by Daniel Okrent, to oversee the content of the paper’s reporters
Another element that has forced changes in the way that reporters at The Times and throughout the world cover stories is 9-11. This change can be seen, according to Cowling, in The Times lack of investigative reporting on issues regarding the war on terror.
“How do you cover things when everyone is so patriotic,” said Cowling.
Even for a more liberal paper such as The Times this balance can be tricky.
Cowling is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During his ten-year tenure at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has taught a variety of courses including news writing, reporting, feature writing as well as media ethics and editing, two courses that he currently teaches. Prior to taking a full-time teaching job at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling taught part-time at California State University-Fullerton and Cal Poly-Pomona. Cowling’s assistance to aspiring journalists does not stop at the college level; currently he is executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association, an organization for high school journalism students.
Cowling’s love for journalism has propelled him into the forefront of his profession. "It is the little things in life you do that are important and I am lucky to have found something I enjoy and love to do," Cowling said during his hall of fame induction speech at Eastern. Along with fulfilling his teaching duties at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has spent the last 5 years as an editor for The New York Times Web site. Throughout his career Cowling has held the position of news editor at The Los Angeles Time as well as copy editor at The Chicago Sun-Times. He also held workshops on editing, written a chapter for an editing textbook and had many free lance articles published throughout the United States.
Cowling, a 1975 graduate of the Eastern Illinois University was inducted into Eastern’s Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. Prior to graduating from Eastern with a degree in journalism and history, Cowling was editor of the schools’ newspaper The Eastern News as well as sports editor of The Warbler. Both of these positions proved to be a positive stepping-stone for Cowling, something that he feels is crucial to the department and its students. As a result Cowling has stayed in contact with the department. "I have stayed in touch with The Eastern News because I feel it is the heart of the program, the glue that holds the journalism department together," he said.
Cowling’s other job, his experience and the organization for which he is employed, The New York Times, were all topics Wednesday when Cowling spoke on the UW-Oshkosh campus.
Cowling, who has spent the past eight summers working for The Times in its main offices as a copy editor as well as spending five nights a week reviewing sections for The Times website, enlightened faculty and students alike on the success of the paper as well as the changes that The Times has faced since 9-11 and in the wake of their own plagiarism scandal with former employee Jayson Blair.
Once regarded as one of the leaders in the industry, The Times has won almost twice as many Pulitzer Prizes for journalism as any other newspaper or news organization. Since 1917 The Times as won 90 of the prestigious awards.
However, The Times has spent more time in the past year reviewing the work of their own employees since news broke in the spring of 2003 that former employee Jayson Blair fabricated parts of many of his stories written for The Times. Since then, The Times has created the position of public editor, a position currently held by Daniel Okrent, to oversee the content of the paper’s reporters
Another element that has forced changes in the way that reporters at The Times and throughout the world cover stories is 9-11. This change can be seen, according to Cowling, in The Times lack of investigative reporting on issues regarding the war on terror.
“How do you cover things when everyone is so patriotic,” said Cowling.
Even for a more liberal paper such as The Times this balance can be tricky.
Cowling is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During his ten-year tenure at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has taught a variety of courses including news writing, reporting, feature writing as well as media ethics and editing, two courses that he currently teaches. Prior to taking a full-time teaching job at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling taught part-time at California State University-Fullerton and Cal Poly-Pomona. Cowling’s assistance to aspiring journalists does not stop at the college level; currently he is executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association, an organization for high school journalism students.
Cowling’s love for journalism has propelled him into the forefront of his profession. "It is the little things in life you do that are important and I am lucky to have found something I enjoy and love to do," Cowling said during his hall of fame induction speech at Eastern. Along with fulfilling his teaching duties at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has spent the last 5 years as an editor for The New York Times Web site. Throughout his career Cowling has held the position of news editor at The Los Angeles Time as well as copy editor at The Chicago Sun-Times. He also held workshops on editing, written a chapter for an editing textbook and had many free lance articles published throughout the United States.
Cowling, a 1975 graduate of the Eastern Illinois University was inducted into Eastern’s Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. Prior to graduating from Eastern with a degree in journalism and history, Cowling was editor of the schools’ newspaper The Eastern News as well as sports editor of The Warbler. Both of these positions proved to be a positive stepping-stone for Cowling, something that he feels is crucial to the department and its students. As a result Cowling has stayed in contact with the department. "I have stayed in touch with The Eastern News because I feel it is the heart of the program, the glue that holds the journalism department together," he said.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Cowling Article
Michael Cowling, a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, in a presentation yesterday on The New York Times, stated concerning the publication, “I think it lost some of its mystique.”
The dean’s symposium event took place in the University’s Reeve Memorial Union and began with a reservation-only lunch at 11:30 a.m. before Cowling’s presentation at noon.
In Cowling’s presentation, “All the News that's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times,” he examined the paper’s long history and the bumps it has had throughout, especially lately with Jayson Blair and the war in Iraq.
Mostly due to these recent problems, the atmosphere of the paper has changed from one of a heavy tradition to one more open to ideas, Cowling described.
“I think it’s become much more democratic that way,” Cowling, who has worked the past eight summers on the Times’ national copy desk, said.
Cowling also emphasized the paper’s new public editor position. This was added in response to the Jayson Blair scandal, in which Blair falsified sources and wasn’t at places he said he was. Up until then, Cowling said, the Times thought of public editors and ombudsmen as a “cop out.” Now the Times’ new public representative’s column appears at least twice monthly as a way to check up on the paper.
“They expect excellence from everyone who works for them,” Cowling said, “no matter what they do.”
He expressed that he felt the paper has lost some of its edge of late, though, due to the scandal and management in the newsroom.
“The New York Times is up against many more roadblocks,” Cowling said.
He began the presentation by briefly described the history of the paper.
Afterwards he spoke of the many celebrated Pulitzer Prizes the Times has won – of which there are 90 in comparison to the runner-up, The Associated Press, with 47.
However Cowling pointed out that one of the Times’ prizes has a disclaimer under it as it hangs on the ninth floor hallway at the New York Times Company building. This was won in 1932 for Walter Duranty’s 1931 coverage of the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin. Many discredit it for Duranty’s dismissive reporting on the famine there.
Cowling also displayed that the Times puts great emphasis on winning Pulitzers. He said that they put a great amount of time and money into it and that he had even once asked how much, to no avail.
His next discussions were about the Blair scandal, his experiences at the Times and his $300-winning headline, which read “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Being in Hot Water.” It was about an addition of a hot tub in the White House.
He ended the presentation with a question and answer segment.
Michael Cowling is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He currently teaches editing, media ethics and an independent study history in the media course. He has also taught news writing, reporting and feature writing.
Graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1975, Cowling double-majored in journalism and history. He received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He has been a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and a national news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He has taught part time at California State university-Fullerton and at Cal Poly-Pomona. He joined the UW – Oshkosh faculty in the fall of 1994.
Every summer from 1997 to 2004 Cowling has worked as a copy editor on either the national or the foreign desk at The New York Times. He has also been a year-round editor on their web site for 5 years.
He has conducted many editing and ethics workshops and has served as a writing coach for newspapers and organizations.
Cowling was the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association and together with the board of directives created a $500 scholarship in 2001 for high school students interested in journalism.
The dean’s symposium event took place in the University’s Reeve Memorial Union and began with a reservation-only lunch at 11:30 a.m. before Cowling’s presentation at noon.
In Cowling’s presentation, “All the News that's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times,” he examined the paper’s long history and the bumps it has had throughout, especially lately with Jayson Blair and the war in Iraq.
Mostly due to these recent problems, the atmosphere of the paper has changed from one of a heavy tradition to one more open to ideas, Cowling described.
“I think it’s become much more democratic that way,” Cowling, who has worked the past eight summers on the Times’ national copy desk, said.
Cowling also emphasized the paper’s new public editor position. This was added in response to the Jayson Blair scandal, in which Blair falsified sources and wasn’t at places he said he was. Up until then, Cowling said, the Times thought of public editors and ombudsmen as a “cop out.” Now the Times’ new public representative’s column appears at least twice monthly as a way to check up on the paper.
“They expect excellence from everyone who works for them,” Cowling said, “no matter what they do.”
He expressed that he felt the paper has lost some of its edge of late, though, due to the scandal and management in the newsroom.
“The New York Times is up against many more roadblocks,” Cowling said.
He began the presentation by briefly described the history of the paper.
Afterwards he spoke of the many celebrated Pulitzer Prizes the Times has won – of which there are 90 in comparison to the runner-up, The Associated Press, with 47.
However Cowling pointed out that one of the Times’ prizes has a disclaimer under it as it hangs on the ninth floor hallway at the New York Times Company building. This was won in 1932 for Walter Duranty’s 1931 coverage of the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin. Many discredit it for Duranty’s dismissive reporting on the famine there.
Cowling also displayed that the Times puts great emphasis on winning Pulitzers. He said that they put a great amount of time and money into it and that he had even once asked how much, to no avail.
His next discussions were about the Blair scandal, his experiences at the Times and his $300-winning headline, which read “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Being in Hot Water.” It was about an addition of a hot tub in the White House.
He ended the presentation with a question and answer segment.
Michael Cowling is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He currently teaches editing, media ethics and an independent study history in the media course. He has also taught news writing, reporting and feature writing.
Graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1975, Cowling double-majored in journalism and history. He received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He has been a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and a national news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He has taught part time at California State university-Fullerton and at Cal Poly-Pomona. He joined the UW – Oshkosh faculty in the fall of 1994.
Every summer from 1997 to 2004 Cowling has worked as a copy editor on either the national or the foreign desk at The New York Times. He has also been a year-round editor on their web site for 5 years.
He has conducted many editing and ethics workshops and has served as a writing coach for newspapers and organizations.
Cowling was the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association and together with the board of directives created a $500 scholarship in 2001 for high school students interested in journalism.
Cowling Debunks Nation's Best Paper
Mike Cowling, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, spoke at a luncheon today about the history and recent changes of his summer employer for the past eight years, The New York Times.
The Times has long been one of the most prestigious newspapers in America, but according to Cowling it has been loosing its way in the years after the September 11 Attacks and the Jason Blair incident. The paper has had to adapt to change, including hiring an In House Editor, to serve as a voice for the public. According to Cowling the paper once thought of itself as being elite, but has been adopting a more democratic operation.
Cowling was quick to point out the positive aspects of the paper, including the fact that it has won 90 Pulitzer Prizes, almost twice as many as any other publication. “The Times expects excellence from everyone, no matter where they are in the editing process,” Cowling said. The paper allows copy editors to change things and move around parts of articles to make the publication better.
The Times has a long running tradition of doing things that most papers would not. Every day mistakes that readers point out can be found in the corrections section, including one that was recently pointed out from an article that was printed 50 years ago.
The paper has taken a stand against being patriotic just because the government says they should be. The recent court case of Judith Miller caused the Times to spring into action, sending a memorandum to its employees saying that they should accept and use protected sources.
Miller’s case is not the first time that the Times has come under fire for not granting the government access to its sources. Cowling, who double majored in Journalism and History at Eastern Illinois University, told his audience about a case in 1857 where a journalist from the Times has been sentenced to jail under contempt of congress, but only served 19 days once his story broke.
Cowling also pointed out that the New York Times has remained family owned throughout its history, unlike The Los Angeles Times, where he also worked as a national editor. He has also been employed as a reporter or editor on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Chicago Sun Times.
One of Cowlings proudest accomplishments while at the New York Times was his “$300 headline.” Every month The Times picks the best headline and pays the writer a $300 bonus for their work. Cowling won for his headline about a hot tub being installed in the White House during the Clinton Administration, reading “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Sitting In Hot Water.”
Cowling was a professor at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before he came to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He currently teaches media ethics and editing and still manages to work five nights a week on The New York Times’ national and foreign desks as a copy editor.
The Times has long been one of the most prestigious newspapers in America, but according to Cowling it has been loosing its way in the years after the September 11 Attacks and the Jason Blair incident. The paper has had to adapt to change, including hiring an In House Editor, to serve as a voice for the public. According to Cowling the paper once thought of itself as being elite, but has been adopting a more democratic operation.
Cowling was quick to point out the positive aspects of the paper, including the fact that it has won 90 Pulitzer Prizes, almost twice as many as any other publication. “The Times expects excellence from everyone, no matter where they are in the editing process,” Cowling said. The paper allows copy editors to change things and move around parts of articles to make the publication better.
The Times has a long running tradition of doing things that most papers would not. Every day mistakes that readers point out can be found in the corrections section, including one that was recently pointed out from an article that was printed 50 years ago.
The paper has taken a stand against being patriotic just because the government says they should be. The recent court case of Judith Miller caused the Times to spring into action, sending a memorandum to its employees saying that they should accept and use protected sources.
Miller’s case is not the first time that the Times has come under fire for not granting the government access to its sources. Cowling, who double majored in Journalism and History at Eastern Illinois University, told his audience about a case in 1857 where a journalist from the Times has been sentenced to jail under contempt of congress, but only served 19 days once his story broke.
Cowling also pointed out that the New York Times has remained family owned throughout its history, unlike The Los Angeles Times, where he also worked as a national editor. He has also been employed as a reporter or editor on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Chicago Sun Times.
One of Cowlings proudest accomplishments while at the New York Times was his “$300 headline.” Every month The Times picks the best headline and pays the writer a $300 bonus for their work. Cowling won for his headline about a hot tub being installed in the White House during the Clinton Administration, reading “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Sitting In Hot Water.”
Cowling was a professor at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before he came to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He currently teaches media ethics and editing and still manages to work five nights a week on The New York Times’ national and foreign desks as a copy editor.
cowling
The New York Times, a newspaper that is thought of as being the top source for news by many Americans, was brought down to a personal level yesterday afternoon, when UW-Oshkosh assistant professor Mike Cowling spoke about his experiences and views as being a summer editor on its National desk.
Cowling spoke to approximately forty people inside the ballroom at the Reeve Memorial Union with a presentation titled: All the News That's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times, from Adolph Ochs and Jayson Blair to the Coverage of the Byrd Expedition and the War in Iraq. The presentation is part of the Dean of Letters and Science Symposium Series.
Cowling said that the newspaper has changed since he started as an editor at the paper eight summers ago.
Jayson Blair, a reporter who plagiarized and fabricated many articles was a big cause for that change.
“Now the paper has a public editor, which is interesting because before the Jayson Blair , the stigma was ‘we do not believe in th
is, we think this is just a cop-
out’, ” Cowling said.
A public editor acts similar to an ombudsman, or a person who is a representative a newspaper’s readers.
Another change is that there is a new confidential sources division routine set up for the editorial process.
“There is now a three tier system of sourcing,” Cowling said. “ For example, if there is an article that is of extreme sensitivity, the reporter many repeal to the executive editor to keep their sources confidential but this is very rare.”
Despite problems the New York Times has faced in the past, Cowling said that the New York Times continues to be a highly respectable newspaper.
“The atmosphere in the newsroom is that they have a tradition and they expect any one who works there to follow it,” Cowling said.
“ They want the final product to be the best it can be. No matter who you are, you have as much stake in a story as anybody else.”
Along with certain editorial changes to the newspaper, Cowling also spoke about the importance of the Pulitzer Prize to the New York Times.
“The Pulitzer Prize is very important to the New York Times,” Cowling said.
“If you want to be an executive editor at the New York Times you have do two things; work there for many years and you need to have won a Pulitzer Prize.”
The New York Times already has 90 Pulitzer Prize medals under their belt and still wants more.
Cowling said one has to submit a letter to the Pulitzer Prize panel in order to be considered and often the New York Times has it’s best writers to create the letter for a better chance at acknowledgement.
He is currently working on a book called “Pulitzers of the Times”.
Cowling ended his presentation describing how he feels to work at such a well-known newspaper.
“I think a lot of people think that people say, ‘This is it, this is the epitome’, Cowling said. “But for me, I’ve always looked at it as, I just wanted to work at a big metro paper.”
Cowling spoke to approximately forty people inside the ballroom at the Reeve Memorial Union with a presentation titled: All the News That's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times, from Adolph Ochs and Jayson Blair to the Coverage of the Byrd Expedition and the War in Iraq. The presentation is part of the Dean of Letters and Science Symposium Series.
Cowling said that the newspaper has changed since he started as an editor at the paper eight summers ago.
Jayson Blair, a reporter who plagiarized and fabricated many articles was a big cause for that change.
“Now the paper has a public editor, which is interesting because before the Jayson Blair , the stigma was ‘we do not believe in th
is, we think this is just a cop-
out’, ” Cowling said.
A public editor acts similar to an ombudsman, or a person who is a representative a newspaper’s readers.
Another change is that there is a new confidential sources division routine set up for the editorial process.
“There is now a three tier system of sourcing,” Cowling said. “ For example, if there is an article that is of extreme sensitivity, the reporter many repeal to the executive editor to keep their sources confidential but this is very rare.”
Despite problems the New York Times has faced in the past, Cowling said that the New York Times continues to be a highly respectable newspaper.
“The atmosphere in the newsroom is that they have a tradition and they expect any one who works there to follow it,” Cowling said.
“ They want the final product to be the best it can be. No matter who you are, you have as much stake in a story as anybody else.”
Along with certain editorial changes to the newspaper, Cowling also spoke about the importance of the Pulitzer Prize to the New York Times.
“The Pulitzer Prize is very important to the New York Times,” Cowling said.
“If you want to be an executive editor at the New York Times you have do two things; work there for many years and you need to have won a Pulitzer Prize.”
The New York Times already has 90 Pulitzer Prize medals under their belt and still wants more.
Cowling said one has to submit a letter to the Pulitzer Prize panel in order to be considered and often the New York Times has it’s best writers to create the letter for a better chance at acknowledgement.
He is currently working on a book called “Pulitzers of the Times”.
Cowling ended his presentation describing how he feels to work at such a well-known newspaper.
“I think a lot of people think that people say, ‘This is it, this is the epitome’, Cowling said. “But for me, I’ve always looked at it as, I just wanted to work at a big metro paper.”
Cowling Debunks Myths of Nations Top Paper
Mike Cowling, Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, spoke at a luncheon today about the history and recent changes of his summer employer for the past eight years, The New York Times.
The Times has long been one of the most prestigious newspapers in America, but according to Cowling it has been loosing its way in the years after the September 11 Attacks and the Jason Blair incident. The paper has had to adapt to change, including hiring an In House Editor, to serve as a voice for the public. According to Cowling the paper once thought of itself as being elite, but has been adopting a more democratic operation.
Cowling was quick to point out the positive aspects of the paper, including the fact that it has won 90 Pulitzer Prizes, almost twice as many as any other publication. “The Times expects excellence from everyone, no matter where they are in the editing process,” Cowling said. The paper allows copy editors to change things and move around parts of articles to make the publication better.
The Times has a long running tradition of doing things that most papers would not. Every day mistakes that readers point out can be found in the corrections section, including one that was recently pointed out from an article that was printed 50 years ago.
The paper has taken a stand against being patriotic just because the government says they should be. The recent court case of Judith Miller caused the Times to spring into action, sending a memorandum to its employees saying that they should accept and use protected sources.
Miller’s case is not the first time that the Times has come under fire for not granting the government access to its sources. Cowling, who double majored in Journalism and History at Eastern Illinois University, told his audience about a case in 1857 where a journalist from the Times has been sentenced to jail under contempt of congress, but only served 19 days once his story broke.
Cowling also pointed out that the New York Times has remained family owned throughout its history, unlike The Los Angeles Times, where he also worked as a national editor. He has also been employed as a reporter or editor on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Chicago Sun Times.
One of Cowlings proudest accomplishments while at the New York Times was his “$300 headline.” Every month The Times picks the best headline and pays the writer a $300 bonus for their work. Cowling won for his headline about a hot tub being installed in the White House during the Clinton Administration, reading “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Sitting In Hot Water.”
Cowling was a professor at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before he came to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He currently teaches media ethics and editing and still manages to work five nights a week on The New York Times’ national and foreign desks as a copy editor.
The Times has long been one of the most prestigious newspapers in America, but according to Cowling it has been loosing its way in the years after the September 11 Attacks and the Jason Blair incident. The paper has had to adapt to change, including hiring an In House Editor, to serve as a voice for the public. According to Cowling the paper once thought of itself as being elite, but has been adopting a more democratic operation.
Cowling was quick to point out the positive aspects of the paper, including the fact that it has won 90 Pulitzer Prizes, almost twice as many as any other publication. “The Times expects excellence from everyone, no matter where they are in the editing process,” Cowling said. The paper allows copy editors to change things and move around parts of articles to make the publication better.
The Times has a long running tradition of doing things that most papers would not. Every day mistakes that readers point out can be found in the corrections section, including one that was recently pointed out from an article that was printed 50 years ago.
The paper has taken a stand against being patriotic just because the government says they should be. The recent court case of Judith Miller caused the Times to spring into action, sending a memorandum to its employees saying that they should accept and use protected sources.
Miller’s case is not the first time that the Times has come under fire for not granting the government access to its sources. Cowling, who double majored in Journalism and History at Eastern Illinois University, told his audience about a case in 1857 where a journalist from the Times has been sentenced to jail under contempt of congress, but only served 19 days once his story broke.
Cowling also pointed out that the New York Times has remained family owned throughout its history, unlike The Los Angeles Times, where he also worked as a national editor. He has also been employed as a reporter or editor on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Chicago Sun Times.
One of Cowlings proudest accomplishments while at the New York Times was his “$300 headline.” Every month The Times picks the best headline and pays the writer a $300 bonus for their work. Cowling won for his headline about a hot tub being installed in the White House during the Clinton Administration, reading “White House Addition Lets President Enjoy Sitting In Hot Water.”
Cowling was a professor at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before he came to the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. He currently teaches media ethics and editing and still manages to work five nights a week on The New York Times’ national and foreign desks as a copy editor.
Cowling Speech Draft
Danielle Buechel
Cowling Speech Draft
UW-Oshkosh Journalism professor Mike Cowling told guests in a presentation Wednesday that changes in the publication and management of The New York Times reflect both the paper’s achievements and downfalls.
Cowling, a part-time employee of the Times, suggested to students, faculty and guests that an increase in government support as well as a lax attitude toward investigative reporting may be contributing factors in the recent decline in circulation of The New York Times.
Cowling stated that though the Times has seen changes since the controversial incident in 2003 involving Jayson Blair and the disclosure that the reporter had plagiarized numerous stories, the paper may have to refocus its attention on more precise coverage of news events and investigative reporting to boost sales. He went on to say that the policy changes have been vital in rebuilding the paper’s credibility.
Cowling, who has worked as a copy editor of both the Nation and Foreign desks, also discussed the paper’s accomplishments in earning nearly twice as many Pulitzer Prizes for journalism than another other newspaper. Cowling praised the Times’ large staff and treatment of its employees.
“The Times expects excellence from everyone who works for them,” Cowling said.
Cowling has been employed by various publications including the Chicago Sun-Times where he served as a national news editor. He currently instructs courses in media ethics and editing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he has taught for 10 years and continues to host conferences and instructional speeches on the subject of journalism.
Cowling Speech Draft
UW-Oshkosh Journalism professor Mike Cowling told guests in a presentation Wednesday that changes in the publication and management of The New York Times reflect both the paper’s achievements and downfalls.
Cowling, a part-time employee of the Times, suggested to students, faculty and guests that an increase in government support as well as a lax attitude toward investigative reporting may be contributing factors in the recent decline in circulation of The New York Times.
Cowling stated that though the Times has seen changes since the controversial incident in 2003 involving Jayson Blair and the disclosure that the reporter had plagiarized numerous stories, the paper may have to refocus its attention on more precise coverage of news events and investigative reporting to boost sales. He went on to say that the policy changes have been vital in rebuilding the paper’s credibility.
Cowling, who has worked as a copy editor of both the Nation and Foreign desks, also discussed the paper’s accomplishments in earning nearly twice as many Pulitzer Prizes for journalism than another other newspaper. Cowling praised the Times’ large staff and treatment of its employees.
“The Times expects excellence from everyone who works for them,” Cowling said.
Cowling has been employed by various publications including the Chicago Sun-Times where he served as a national news editor. He currently instructs courses in media ethics and editing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he has taught for 10 years and continues to host conferences and instructional speeches on the subject of journalism.
Cowling speaking
The New York Times has won more Pulitzer Prizes than any other newspaper. However, after the Jayson Blair scandal and the coverage leading into the Iraq war, Mike Cowling, UW-Oshkosh professor and employee of the Times, thinks the paper may have lost its "edge."
Cowling spoke to an audience of professors, administrators and students at the Dean’s Symposium held yesterday in Reeve Memorial Union.
Cowling has worked at the New York Times for the past eight summers as a copy editor and continues to work five nights a week reviewing sections for The Time’s Web site.
“I think it’s lost a little bit of its edge since Jayson Blair, Cowling said.
He also criticized Judith Miller’s reporting of whether or not Iraq had weapons of mass destruction leading up to the war.
He also told the audience what it was like working for the paper.
The Times treats its employees well Cowling said. The copy desk has seven hour work days and anything more you employees receive overtime, the Times also gives out monthly awards for reporters, photographers and for headline writing. Cowling won $300 for a headline he had written regarding a new hot tub installed during former President Clinton’s administration, “White House Addition lets President Enjoy being in Hot Water,”
Cowling discussed the editing process stories go through before they see print and admitted afterwards even the Times makes mistakes.
“We don’t care whose name is on it everyone’s got a stake in it,” he said.
An audience question led Cowling to discuss the corrections page.
The Times makes corrections must papers wouldn’t, he said. They made a correction for an article that ran 50 years prior to it.
Mike Cowling has been a professor at UW-Oshkosh for 10 years and prior to this had worked for The Chicago Sun-Times and The Los Angles Times. He had also taught part-time at California University Fullerton and at California Poly-Pomona.
Cowling has written for the Grass Roots Editor on diversity changes in small communities and has written an article on how the staff of the Oshkosh Northwestern handled three changes in ownership.
In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. He graduated from Eastern in 1975.
Cowling spoke to an audience of professors, administrators and students at the Dean’s Symposium held yesterday in Reeve Memorial Union.
Cowling has worked at the New York Times for the past eight summers as a copy editor and continues to work five nights a week reviewing sections for The Time’s Web site.
“I think it’s lost a little bit of its edge since Jayson Blair, Cowling said.
He also criticized Judith Miller’s reporting of whether or not Iraq had weapons of mass destruction leading up to the war.
He also told the audience what it was like working for the paper.
The Times treats its employees well Cowling said. The copy desk has seven hour work days and anything more you employees receive overtime, the Times also gives out monthly awards for reporters, photographers and for headline writing. Cowling won $300 for a headline he had written regarding a new hot tub installed during former President Clinton’s administration, “White House Addition lets President Enjoy being in Hot Water,”
Cowling discussed the editing process stories go through before they see print and admitted afterwards even the Times makes mistakes.
“We don’t care whose name is on it everyone’s got a stake in it,” he said.
An audience question led Cowling to discuss the corrections page.
The Times makes corrections must papers wouldn’t, he said. They made a correction for an article that ran 50 years prior to it.
Mike Cowling has been a professor at UW-Oshkosh for 10 years and prior to this had worked for The Chicago Sun-Times and The Los Angles Times. He had also taught part-time at California University Fullerton and at California Poly-Pomona.
Cowling has written for the Grass Roots Editor on diversity changes in small communities and has written an article on how the staff of the Oshkosh Northwestern handled three changes in ownership.
In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. He graduated from Eastern in 1975.
Class Prep Feb. 16
I found my crime article in the Oshkosh Northwestern. The aticle was published Feb. 15 and was very well written. The article was about a man who was driving while intoxicated on Murdock Ave. in Oshkosh. When police suspected that he had been drinking they turned on their lights. However, the man didn't stop he ran stop signs, traveled over speeds of 95mph and resisted arrest. The police also found drug paraphinallia. He is facing up to 17 years in prison.
I like how the article was written because the reporter used words like "according to court records", and "the complaint says". I like these statements because even though it is evident that this man did these crimes, he has yet to be charged with them in a court of law. The reporter is fair to the man who allegedly did these acts. Using "the complaint says" gives the story more crediblilty rather than just leaving it out and not attributing the source. The information was well provided.
I like how the article was written because the reporter used words like "according to court records", and "the complaint says". I like these statements because even though it is evident that this man did these crimes, he has yet to be charged with them in a court of law. The reporter is fair to the man who allegedly did these acts. Using "the complaint says" gives the story more crediblilty rather than just leaving it out and not attributing the source. The information was well provided.
Mike Cowling speaks in Reeve Union
The New York Times has lost some of its "edge" since the Jayson Blair scandal, according to Mike Cowling a professor at the University of Oshkosh. " The scandel did more than ruin one reporter's reputation; it questioned the integrity of the prestigious newspaper," Cowling said in a speech Wednesday in Reeve Memorial Union about his work with The New York Times.
Jayson Blair was a reporter for the New York Times, which shocked readers when he admitted to plagiarism and faked reports. Cowling discussed how The New York Times has changed since the scandal. Many of the repercussions of the scandal led to more committees, more attributes to sources and most notably the resignation of editor Howell Raines.
"The New York Times is still a traditional newspaper," Cowling said. Unlike many news publications, The New York Times have not combined with any other bureaus, contrary to the Chicago-Sun Times. The times still remain liberal newspaper. Cowling said, " The reporters at the times takes pride in not revealing their source, even if it means jail time."
According to Cowling, the changes, such as more committees to review articles before being published, have made the paper "very cautious". However, even after the Blair scandal, the times still demand excellence in every story. Cowling described himself as a "rim rat" or editor at the Times and he and many of his colleagues would constantly clean up the stories to make them better and more powerful. According to Cowling, The New York Times still maintains the highest level of news reporting in the world. Last year, the times won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. "The New York Times refers to itself as the top dog", Cowling said.
Cowling has taught at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin for 10 years, where he teaches media ethics, new writing and news editing. Prof. Cowling is also the executive secretary for the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA). Cowling has spent the last eight summers as copy editor on the National or Foreign Desk of The New York Times and during the last eight years he has spent his nights as an editor for The New York Times, reading section fronts. Earlier in his career he spent 8 years as a National news editor for the Los Angeles Times, where he taught at the University of California-Fullerton.
He spent five years as a copy editor for the Chicago-Sun Times and has worked for five other newspapers in Illinois area as an editor or reporter. Cowling received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and History at the University of Eastern Illinois and earned his master's degree in journalism at the University of Illinois.
Cowling was asked to speak at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin on behalf of the "Thinking and Writing in Journalism" series which was presented by the Department of Journalism and Journalism Advisory Board. Cowlings has done freelance and editorial work for the Los Angeles Times and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Prof.Cowling was the author " Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly", which he reviews the book "Controversies in Media Ethics" by A. David Gordon, John M. Kittross and Carol Reuss. Cowling has a wife named Melanie. They have two children: Matthew, 24, and Audrey, 15.
Jayson Blair was a reporter for the New York Times, which shocked readers when he admitted to plagiarism and faked reports. Cowling discussed how The New York Times has changed since the scandal. Many of the repercussions of the scandal led to more committees, more attributes to sources and most notably the resignation of editor Howell Raines.
"The New York Times is still a traditional newspaper," Cowling said. Unlike many news publications, The New York Times have not combined with any other bureaus, contrary to the Chicago-Sun Times. The times still remain liberal newspaper. Cowling said, " The reporters at the times takes pride in not revealing their source, even if it means jail time."
According to Cowling, the changes, such as more committees to review articles before being published, have made the paper "very cautious". However, even after the Blair scandal, the times still demand excellence in every story. Cowling described himself as a "rim rat" or editor at the Times and he and many of his colleagues would constantly clean up the stories to make them better and more powerful. According to Cowling, The New York Times still maintains the highest level of news reporting in the world. Last year, the times won a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. "The New York Times refers to itself as the top dog", Cowling said.
Cowling has taught at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin for 10 years, where he teaches media ethics, new writing and news editing. Prof. Cowling is also the executive secretary for the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA). Cowling has spent the last eight summers as copy editor on the National or Foreign Desk of The New York Times and during the last eight years he has spent his nights as an editor for The New York Times, reading section fronts. Earlier in his career he spent 8 years as a National news editor for the Los Angeles Times, where he taught at the University of California-Fullerton.
He spent five years as a copy editor for the Chicago-Sun Times and has worked for five other newspapers in Illinois area as an editor or reporter. Cowling received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and History at the University of Eastern Illinois and earned his master's degree in journalism at the University of Illinois.
Cowling was asked to speak at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin on behalf of the "Thinking and Writing in Journalism" series which was presented by the Department of Journalism and Journalism Advisory Board. Cowlings has done freelance and editorial work for the Los Angeles Times and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Prof.Cowling was the author " Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly", which he reviews the book "Controversies in Media Ethics" by A. David Gordon, John M. Kittross and Carol Reuss. Cowling has a wife named Melanie. They have two children: Matthew, 24, and Audrey, 15.
Mike Cowling Speech-My Article
In a speech on Wednesday, an associate professor in journalism at UW-Oshkosh described how he thought the leading light within the newspaper industry, The New York Times, has been dimming as a result of the Jayson Blair scandal but have been making efforts to regain their lost step Wednesday.
“Everyone contributes to make a single story better,” said Professor Mike Cowling. “No matter who you are in ranking from either highest to lowest, you have a certain responsibility to make that story better in anyway, no matter who’s name gets put on it.”
Cowling spoke on how the last years Joseph Pulitzer Prize for Journalism News Writing winner The Times, has seemed to have lost a step in the newspaper industry. Cowling talked about how the Times uses committees now to get a lot of things done around the newsroom now and how more and more open-minded the management staff has become about new ideas on how to make the overall look of the paper better.
As Cowling stated, the Times has a much higher standard of writing and presentation of it in print than most other publications. The Times, having its own style writing book, corrected a story from 50 years ago and then ran it in their new edition to show their readers how committed they are to excellence.
The nature of news coverage recently has changed since the Sept. 11 incident and the Jayson Blair scandal. The Times has been somewhat distracted with all the recent changes in management and Sept. 11 issues that some of their key qualities have taken a back seat momentarily.
Cowling, who met his wife Melanie while attending Eastern Illinois University for undergraduate school, has been devoting much of his hours during the summer to being as in journalistic terminology, a “rim rat” on either the National or Foreign desk at the Times. Copyediting had been something that Cowling had studied for quite some time during graduate school at the University of Illinois.
Cowling has made a home for himself at UW-Oshkosh in the last ten years, as he is now the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in which helps high school journalism students become better journalists.
“Everyone contributes to make a single story better,” said Professor Mike Cowling. “No matter who you are in ranking from either highest to lowest, you have a certain responsibility to make that story better in anyway, no matter who’s name gets put on it.”
Cowling spoke on how the last years Joseph Pulitzer Prize for Journalism News Writing winner The Times, has seemed to have lost a step in the newspaper industry. Cowling talked about how the Times uses committees now to get a lot of things done around the newsroom now and how more and more open-minded the management staff has become about new ideas on how to make the overall look of the paper better.
As Cowling stated, the Times has a much higher standard of writing and presentation of it in print than most other publications. The Times, having its own style writing book, corrected a story from 50 years ago and then ran it in their new edition to show their readers how committed they are to excellence.
The nature of news coverage recently has changed since the Sept. 11 incident and the Jayson Blair scandal. The Times has been somewhat distracted with all the recent changes in management and Sept. 11 issues that some of their key qualities have taken a back seat momentarily.
Cowling, who met his wife Melanie while attending Eastern Illinois University for undergraduate school, has been devoting much of his hours during the summer to being as in journalistic terminology, a “rim rat” on either the National or Foreign desk at the Times. Copyediting had been something that Cowling had studied for quite some time during graduate school at the University of Illinois.
Cowling has made a home for himself at UW-Oshkosh in the last ten years, as he is now the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in which helps high school journalism students become better journalists.
Class prep Feb 16
Class prep Feb 16
I had trouble finding an article on a crime case that was current in today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Still, I found an interesting article about a case in which democrats were ordered to stand trail for slashing the tires of republican, Get out the Vote campaign. Overall, I thought that the article was good. It shed light on the case, that I didn’t know much about.
The article is balanced in its information regarding the case. It obviously starts talking about the accused because the story is that they must face trail. However, it does not stop there. It goes into detail about the offenses against the accused then asking the defense to comment. You see then that the defense feels that the judge linked many misdemeanors together, saying that there case “is held together by gum and glue”. I thought that the article was well detailed, very informative and well written.
I had trouble finding an article on a crime case that was current in today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Still, I found an interesting article about a case in which democrats were ordered to stand trail for slashing the tires of republican, Get out the Vote campaign. Overall, I thought that the article was good. It shed light on the case, that I didn’t know much about.
The article is balanced in its information regarding the case. It obviously starts talking about the accused because the story is that they must face trail. However, it does not stop there. It goes into detail about the offenses against the accused then asking the defense to comment. You see then that the defense feels that the judge linked many misdemeanors together, saying that there case “is held together by gum and glue”. I thought that the article was well detailed, very informative and well written.
class prep feb 16
Class prep Feb 16
I had trouble finding an article on a crime case that was current in today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Still, I found an interesting article about a case in which democrats were ordered to stand trail for slashing the tires of republican, Get out the Vote campaign. Overall, I thought that the article was good. It shed light on the case, that I didn’t know much about.
The article is balanced in its information regarding the case. It obviously starts talking about the accused because the story is that they must face trail. However, it does not stop there. It goes into detail about the offenses against the accused then asking the defense to comment. You see then that the defense feels that the judge linked many misdemeanors together, saying that there case “is held together by gum and glue”. I thought that the article was well detailed, very informative and well written.
I had trouble finding an article on a crime case that was current in today’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Still, I found an interesting article about a case in which democrats were ordered to stand trail for slashing the tires of republican, Get out the Vote campaign. Overall, I thought that the article was good. It shed light on the case, that I didn’t know much about.
The article is balanced in its information regarding the case. It obviously starts talking about the accused because the story is that they must face trail. However, it does not stop there. It goes into detail about the offenses against the accused then asking the defense to comment. You see then that the defense feels that the judge linked many misdemeanors together, saying that there case “is held together by gum and glue”. I thought that the article was well detailed, very informative and well written.
POLICE BEAT- underage drinking
I am doing my report on Matthew Feurhelm. Feurhelm recieved an underage drinking ticket in North Scott Hall on Feb. 16.
Gunshot Victim Charged with "Endangering Safety"
Despite the short length of this article I'd say that it good overall, if not entertaining. What made it interesting was the absurdity of the content and the hilarity of it all. Now I’m not saying that a man shooting himself is funny, but taking into consideration that he was drunk and the wound was his butt makes it tremendously funny. I really don’t think that there is more that can be added to this story.
The most important facts or details of this particular story are what the crime was (self-endangerment), that he was intoxicated and that no one else was harmed or injured. I feel that the article was fair. It did not seem to have any bias and it published the facts that needed to be reported.
The most important facts or details of this particular story are what the crime was (self-endangerment), that he was intoxicated and that no one else was harmed or injured. I feel that the article was fair. It did not seem to have any bias and it published the facts that needed to be reported.
Video Tape of pipe bomb
This is an Associated Press story that appeared in the New York Times Web site. I found this story interesting because I hadn't heard of the shooting in the mall. In the post 9/11 world anything that has pipe bombs becomes news worthy.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Chase Ends Safely
This crime article is different than the ones we looked at in class, instead of being about a fire or murder, it’s about a vehicle chase that ended without anyone getting hurt. The article depends heavily on using the police report, though the reporter was able to get an interview with the police. This interview may have been a short press statement or conference. They are not releasing the man’s name and I am unclear as to why, he is 29 and has been charged so his identity should be a matter of public record. The press may have been asked to refrain from printing his name, but there isn’t any indication that this step has been taken, nor is there a clear and present danger to the defendant if his identity were to become public knowledge. The only reason that I can think of that the police are not releasing the name of this person is because they are or are related to a public official, maybe even a police officer. Without a statement as to why they will not release the name, I think that I would have requested it from the booking sergeant at the Winnebago County Jail.
Crime Story Review
I read an article about a fire that started at Hindsdale high school in Chicago today due to some banners starting on fire in the hallway near science rooms. The fire was put out by sprinklers in the hall.
I thought it was an okay article, it discussed where the fire occured, what time and stated there were no injuries. I thought they could have talked to teachers, the principal or someone who was at the high shcol when the fire occurred, but they did talk to the fire chief. They are still investigating the cause of the fire.
I thought it was an okay article, it discussed where the fire occured, what time and stated there were no injuries. I thought they could have talked to teachers, the principal or someone who was at the high shcol when the fire occurred, but they did talk to the fire chief. They are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Dorothy Stang-nun shot by hitmen.
So I scour the internet in search of a good crime article to review and alas,I come across several choppy postings of crime articles with the byline of 'AP'. They are not very well written and I assume that they are edited to fit space on whatever newspaper's website.
In lieu of being dissatisfied by several Milwaukee Journal Sentinel articles, I decide to
out the Los Angeles Times website because I know they win a lot of awards for photography and I assume their writing must be decent also.
I come across an article about Dorothy Stang, a nun that was slain in the Brazil .While reading the article I instantly realize that this article is a little different. Reporter Henry Chu doesn't just report about how this woman was killed, but he also relates the story behind her death, a very important piece to the story.
Dorothy Stand was a nun who lived in the Amazon rainforest and opposed logging in the region. She was a beloved figure amongst poorer residents of the area and advocated that they stand up against business interests that "threatened to destroy their livelihood".Unfortunately, she also lived in a region that saw a lot of violent disputes of the land.Note: Taken directly from the article, Chu writes, "More people die from land conflicts in Para than in any other state, and most cases go unresolved."
I love how he doesn't just report on how she died but also talks about what caused her death.I think the article was very fair to the victim because Chu explains the reason why she died and how it is related to how she lived her life. He talks to people that know her and he talks to people who explain the violence that has accumulated in the region.
I've read so many article about how some person murders someone but then the write fails to describe the reason behind the killings. Chu writes a story of a nun's death but also points out a serious social and land issue in Brazil. I wonder what kind of social issues could be brought out if someone wrote about an inner-city crime the way Chu wrote the story about Stang.
In lieu of being dissatisfied by several Milwaukee Journal Sentinel articles, I decide to
out the Los Angeles Times website because I know they win a lot of awards for photography and I assume their writing must be decent also.
I come across an article about Dorothy Stang, a nun that was slain in the Brazil .While reading the article I instantly realize that this article is a little different. Reporter Henry Chu doesn't just report about how this woman was killed, but he also relates the story behind her death, a very important piece to the story.
Dorothy Stand was a nun who lived in the Amazon rainforest and opposed logging in the region. She was a beloved figure amongst poorer residents of the area and advocated that they stand up against business interests that "threatened to destroy their livelihood".Unfortunately, she also lived in a region that saw a lot of violent disputes of the land.Note: Taken directly from the article, Chu writes, "More people die from land conflicts in Para than in any other state, and most cases go unresolved."
I love how he doesn't just report on how she died but also talks about what caused her death.I think the article was very fair to the victim because Chu explains the reason why she died and how it is related to how she lived her life. He talks to people that know her and he talks to people who explain the violence that has accumulated in the region.
I've read so many article about how some person murders someone but then the write fails to describe the reason behind the killings. Chu writes a story of a nun's death but also points out a serious social and land issue in Brazil. I wonder what kind of social issues could be brought out if someone wrote about an inner-city crime the way Chu wrote the story about Stang.
Crime Article-Mentally Incompetent Mom
Danielle Buechel
I read a report about a woman who was deemed mentally incompetent by a jury to stand trial. The woman, who is accused of severing her baby's arms on Nov. 22, 2004, was ordered to seek treatment in a mental hospital before she can stand trial in the case.
I searched the latimes.com website archives and found the orignial article which was more informative than this updated version posted Feb. 15. I thought that though this article provided the bare minimum facts about the alleged incident, the article was written very impersonally and worked to describe the jury ruling about the woman's mental competence.
I thought that the article fairly depicted the the woman as the alleged perpetrator but little was said about the 10-month-old baby who was involved in the case. The author did a great job including descriptions of the woman's appearance in shackles and her vacant stare when she face jury members in the courtroom.
I think that the article could have been improved if the author would have looked back to the article previously written in November, shortly after the incident took place, and incorporated some of those details to help fill in the background information.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mom15feb15,1,4115268.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true
I read a report about a woman who was deemed mentally incompetent by a jury to stand trial. The woman, who is accused of severing her baby's arms on Nov. 22, 2004, was ordered to seek treatment in a mental hospital before she can stand trial in the case.
I searched the latimes.com website archives and found the orignial article which was more informative than this updated version posted Feb. 15. I thought that though this article provided the bare minimum facts about the alleged incident, the article was written very impersonally and worked to describe the jury ruling about the woman's mental competence.
I thought that the article fairly depicted the the woman as the alleged perpetrator but little was said about the 10-month-old baby who was involved in the case. The author did a great job including descriptions of the woman's appearance in shackles and her vacant stare when she face jury members in the courtroom.
I think that the article could have been improved if the author would have looked back to the article previously written in November, shortly after the incident took place, and incorporated some of those details to help fill in the background information.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-mom15feb15,1,4115268.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=true
Example of a Crime Story
Overall I feel like this was a good example of a crime story. I found this example in the Los Angeles Times, which was posted online today at 2 p.m.
What made this article good was the fact that the man that was accused of causing the deadly train wreck kept changing his mind on whether or not he wanted to committ suicide. He was the most undecisive criminal I've ever read about.
Enough relevant information was provided such as witnesses names, cause of accident and comments from officials or witnesses. Some important facts in this article are how investigators said one thing about the suspect and he said another, how he parked the SUV on the tracks in attempts of suicide but then jumped out before it hit.
What made this article good was the fact that the man that was accused of causing the deadly train wreck kept changing his mind on whether or not he wanted to committ suicide. He was the most undecisive criminal I've ever read about.
Enough relevant information was provided such as witnesses names, cause of accident and comments from officials or witnesses. Some important facts in this article are how investigators said one thing about the suspect and he said another, how he parked the SUV on the tracks in attempts of suicide but then jumped out before it hit.
crime article review
This article is about the sentencing of the kid who killed his grandparents. Overall the article is good. It has multiple sources and quotes from a juror, the defendent, the judge, a prosecuter, one of the defendent's lawyers and a statement from Pfitzer, the company that makes Zoloft, the drug the defendent was supposedly taking. The information was relevant and it provided an explaination of the Zoloft debate well (if it made the kid more violent or not). The defendent's background information also added to the story as it helped illustrate his troubled life. Perhaps the most important details were in the antidepressant debate and why the jury decided the drug didn't affect the defendent's choice to kill. The article did describe him having to move to his grandparents house for "having trouble at home" twice, before later describing the trouble (which indirectly makes it a third time). This seems a little redundant and two times would have been enough. Perhaps more statements from the defendent would make the article more fair, but with the resouces the reporter had, it seems as fair as can be.
Crime story example
Link: www.nytimes.com/2005/02/14/nyregion/14jewelry.html?oref=login
The article I read was about two 23-year-olds (Christopher DiMeo and Nicole Pearce) who went on a crime spree. They stole jewelry and killed three people. I believe this is a good example of a crime story because encompassed a lot of information and gave many good details.
The article gave background information on the suspects. This included their families relationships and their criminal background. I felt that the author of the article tried to give the story some life because he used a lot of descriptive adjectives.
The author also gathered the information from a variety of sources such as: relatives, friends, teachers and land lords. Quotes were used to describe the pair and their life. Another good aspect of the story was the author gave full coverage on how the crime played out. It explained how much was stolen, where the stores were located, and who had been killed.
The article I read was about two 23-year-olds (Christopher DiMeo and Nicole Pearce) who went on a crime spree. They stole jewelry and killed three people. I believe this is a good example of a crime story because encompassed a lot of information and gave many good details.
The article gave background information on the suspects. This included their families relationships and their criminal background. I felt that the author of the article tried to give the story some life because he used a lot of descriptive adjectives.
The author also gathered the information from a variety of sources such as: relatives, friends, teachers and land lords. Quotes were used to describe the pair and their life. Another good aspect of the story was the author gave full coverage on how the crime played out. It explained how much was stolen, where the stores were located, and who had been killed.
Mike Cowling
Michael Cowling became a member of the journalism faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1994. Over the past 11 years, Cowling has taught courses such as media ethics, editing, feature writing and reporting. Since 1997, he has spent his summers working as a copy editor on the national or foreign desk for The New York Times. Cowling currently edits the paper's web edition five nights a week. Throughout his career, Cowling has also worked at several print newspapers including The Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1975 at Eastern Illinios University, majoring in journalism and history. In 2004, Cowling was inducted into Eastern's Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame for the contributions he has made to the university's journalism program. He received his master's in journalism at the University of Illinios.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association. In 2001, with help from other board members, Cowling established a $500 scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school student who is looking for a career in journalism. He has also sponsored editing and ethics workshops throughout the nation.
Cowling currently lives in Sheboygan with his wife, Melanie. Together they raised two children, Matthew, 24, and Audrey, 15.
He earned his bachelor's degree in 1975 at Eastern Illinios University, majoring in journalism and history. In 2004, Cowling was inducted into Eastern's Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame for the contributions he has made to the university's journalism program. He received his master's in journalism at the University of Illinios.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association. In 2001, with help from other board members, Cowling established a $500 scholarship that is awarded each year to a high school student who is looking for a career in journalism. He has also sponsored editing and ethics workshops throughout the nation.
Cowling currently lives in Sheboygan with his wife, Melanie. Together they raised two children, Matthew, 24, and Audrey, 15.
Michael Cowling B-matter
Michael Cowling has been a professor at UW-Oshkosh since 1994, and he teaches such classes as Editing and Media Ethics. Cowling will be presenting a speech in Reeve on Feb. 16 titled All the news that's fit to print: An inside look at the venerable NY Times. In this speech, he will be giving an insiders view of the history and workings of the NY Times.
Cowlings received his Bachelor's Degree at Eastern Illinois University and his Master's at the University of Illinois. He studied history and journalism with an emphasis in news editorial. This gave him the background to begin a long journey of excitement and success in his career. He has held jobs at many different newspapers from around the map such as: The Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times and NY Times.
He has participated in a variety of events and has written essays. One such essay, "Surviving Changes in Ownership: How one community newspaper coped with three new owners in two years" explained how change in ownership of the Oshkosh Northwestern affected the surrounding community. He also is the executive secretary for Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA). In 2001 he helped to form a $500 scholarship through NEWSPA to reward high school students who would be pursuing a journalism career and to bring minority students into the field of journalism. This scholarship is called the Diversity in Journalism Scholarship. During the fall of 2003 he took a sabbatical to study Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the NY Times. He also is part of the UW-Oshkosh Film & Society Club.
In October 2004, Cowlings was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. Although he has a stable career in Oshkosh, he continues to do free-lance work for a variety of newspapers.
Cowlings received his Bachelor's Degree at Eastern Illinois University and his Master's at the University of Illinois. He studied history and journalism with an emphasis in news editorial. This gave him the background to begin a long journey of excitement and success in his career. He has held jobs at many different newspapers from around the map such as: The Chicago Sun-Times, Los Angeles Times and NY Times.
He has participated in a variety of events and has written essays. One such essay, "Surviving Changes in Ownership: How one community newspaper coped with three new owners in two years" explained how change in ownership of the Oshkosh Northwestern affected the surrounding community. He also is the executive secretary for Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA). In 2001 he helped to form a $500 scholarship through NEWSPA to reward high school students who would be pursuing a journalism career and to bring minority students into the field of journalism. This scholarship is called the Diversity in Journalism Scholarship. During the fall of 2003 he took a sabbatical to study Pulitzer Prizes awarded to the NY Times. He also is part of the UW-Oshkosh Film & Society Club.
In October 2004, Cowlings was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. Although he has a stable career in Oshkosh, he continues to do free-lance work for a variety of newspapers.
Cop Beat - DUI Kirk Mayer
I am going to be doing my police story on a Kirk Mayer's DUI. This occurred on February 13.
Monday, February 14, 2005
example of crime article
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Japan-School-Stabbing.html?
The article I read was about a 17-year-old boy who stabbed an elementary school teacher to death in Tokyo. I believe this is a good article because it gives a detailed account of how the crime happened, and also lists many sources including the police and numerous eyewitnesses to the murder. It explains how other teachers and students felt after the incident had occurred, but also remains fair to the victim.
Although the police did not release the name of the boy because of his age, the article did provide some background information on him. The article said the boy had graduated from the elementary school, but started skipping classes and had dropped out shortly after entering junior high.
I believe the most interesting facts in this story were the ones that explained how juvenile deliquency is on the rise in Japan. In the article, the reporter goes on to list other examples of school violence that have taken place in the country in recent years. The article concludes by describing how one school in Tokyo has started tagging students with radio technology. This has allowed parents and teachers to keep track of students leaving and returning to the school.
The article I read was about a 17-year-old boy who stabbed an elementary school teacher to death in Tokyo. I believe this is a good article because it gives a detailed account of how the crime happened, and also lists many sources including the police and numerous eyewitnesses to the murder. It explains how other teachers and students felt after the incident had occurred, but also remains fair to the victim.
Although the police did not release the name of the boy because of his age, the article did provide some background information on him. The article said the boy had graduated from the elementary school, but started skipping classes and had dropped out shortly after entering junior high.
I believe the most interesting facts in this story were the ones that explained how juvenile deliquency is on the rise in Japan. In the article, the reporter goes on to list other examples of school violence that have taken place in the country in recent years. The article concludes by describing how one school in Tokyo has started tagging students with radio technology. This has allowed parents and teachers to keep track of students leaving and returning to the school.
Cop Beat DUI
Aaron Ammerman was cited for DUI on February 13. That is what I will be doing the cop story on.
Cowling info
Professor Mike Cowling has been a professor at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh for over ten years. He teaches Editing and Media Ethics classes. During his summers he travels to New York Times, where he is and editor at the national news desk.
Cowling also conducts seminars on ethics in media and is the Executive Secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association.
He has worked at the New York Times since 1997, where he’s held the position as and the copy desk and news editor.
Gaining experience up until now Cowling has worked for the Los Angles Times, as a news editor, Chicago Sun Times for three years as a copy editor and at the University of California – Fullerton and Poly – Pomona.
He has also published the book Grass Roots Editor and has had articles published in the Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
Cowling also conducts seminars on ethics in media and is the Executive Secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association.
He has worked at the New York Times since 1997, where he’s held the position as and the copy desk and news editor.
Gaining experience up until now Cowling has worked for the Los Angles Times, as a news editor, Chicago Sun Times for three years as a copy editor and at the University of California – Fullerton and Poly – Pomona.
He has also published the book Grass Roots Editor and has had articles published in the Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly
Cowling B Matter
Mike Cowling has been a professor at UW-Oshkosh for 10 years and prior to this he had worked for the New York Times, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Los Angles Times. He had also taught part-time at California University Fullerton and at California Poly-Pomona.
Cowling has written for the Grass Roots editor on diversity changes in small communities and has written an article on how the staff of the Oshkosh Northwesetern handled three changes in ownership.
In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. He graduated from Eastern in 1975.
Cowling has written for the Grass Roots editor on diversity changes in small communities and has written an article on how the staff of the Oshkosh Northwesetern handled three changes in ownership.
In October 2004, he was inducted into the journalism hall of fame at Eastern Illinois University. He graduated from Eastern in 1975.
Cowling Honored by EIU, Deservingly
Mike Cowling was inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame at Eastern Illinois University on October 13, 2004. He had graduated from EIU with a double major in journalism and history in 1975. He received a masters degree in journalism from the University of Iowa and has served as an editor and reporter for many papers across America.
He worked for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times as a national editor. The Chicago Sun Times also employed him as a copy editor, which he has been working as for the New York Times on the national and foreign desks. Cowling has also worked on eight other papers in Illinois.
Cowling has done freelance work for a number of newspapers and journals, putting his history degree to good use. This work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Editor and Publisher Magazine, Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly and The Journal of Mass Media Ethics.
Professor Cowling as taught at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before coming to the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. For the last ten years he has worked as an associate director at the university, teaching courses on feature writing and reporting. Cowling now teaches media ethics and editing.
He worked for the Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Sun-Times as a national editor. The Chicago Sun Times also employed him as a copy editor, which he has been working as for the New York Times on the national and foreign desks. Cowling has also worked on eight other papers in Illinois.
Cowling has done freelance work for a number of newspapers and journals, putting his history degree to good use. This work has appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Editor and Publisher Magazine, Journalism and Mass Communications Quarterly and The Journal of Mass Media Ethics.
Professor Cowling as taught at California State University- Fullerton and Poly Pomona before coming to the University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh. For the last ten years he has worked as an associate director at the university, teaching courses on feature writing and reporting. Cowling now teaches media ethics and editing.
B-Matter Cowling
Danielle Buechel
Feb. 14, 2005
Mike Cowling, a Journalism professor at UW-Oshkosh, presented a program Wednesday entitled All the News that's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times. Cowling shared with students, faculty and guests h is experiences in working on the desks of The New York Times. The discussion, held in Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom on the UW-Oshkosh campus featured Cowling's experiences as an employee working as a copy editor on both the National and Foreign desks of the New York Times.
Cowling has worked for various other publications including the Chicago Sun-Times where he served as a national news editor. He currently instructs courses in media ethics and editing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he has taught for 10 years and continues to host conferences and instructional speeches in the subject of journalism.
Cowling was inducted into the Easter Illionis University Journalism Hall of Fame on Oct. 13, 2004 and he continues to write free-lance for various newspapers and magazines in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Feb. 14, 2005
Mike Cowling, a Journalism professor at UW-Oshkosh, presented a program Wednesday entitled All the News that's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times. Cowling shared with students, faculty and guests h is experiences in working on the desks of The New York Times. The discussion, held in Reeve Memorial Union Ballroom on the UW-Oshkosh campus featured Cowling's experiences as an employee working as a copy editor on both the National and Foreign desks of the New York Times.
Cowling has worked for various other publications including the Chicago Sun-Times where he served as a national news editor. He currently instructs courses in media ethics and editing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he has taught for 10 years and continues to host conferences and instructional speeches in the subject of journalism.
Cowling was inducted into the Easter Illionis University Journalism Hall of Fame on Oct. 13, 2004 and he continues to write free-lance for various newspapers and magazines in Wisconsin and Illinois.
Cowling B-Matter (a work in progress)
Michael Cowling is a professor at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh. He currently teaches editing, media ethics and an independent study history in the media course. He has also taught news writing, reporting and feature writing.
Graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1975, Cowling double-majored in journalism and history. He received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He has been a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and a national news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He has taught part time at California State university-Fullerton and at Cal Poly-Pomona. He joined the UW – Oshkosh faculty in the fall of 1994. Every summer from 1997 to 2004 he has worked as a copy editor on either the national or the foreign desk at The New York Times. He has also been an editor on their web site for 5 years.
He has conducted many editing and ethics workshops and has served as a writing coach newspapers and organizations.
Cowling was the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association and together with the board of directives created a $500 scholarship in 2001 for high school students interested in journalism.
Graduating from Eastern Illinois University in 1975, Cowling double-majored in journalism and history. He received his master’s degree from the University of Illinois. He has been a copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times and a national news editor at the Los Angeles Times. He has taught part time at California State university-Fullerton and at Cal Poly-Pomona. He joined the UW – Oshkosh faculty in the fall of 1994. Every summer from 1997 to 2004 he has worked as a copy editor on either the national or the foreign desk at The New York Times. He has also been an editor on their web site for 5 years.
He has conducted many editing and ethics workshops and has served as a writing coach newspapers and organizations.
Cowling was the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association and together with the board of directives created a $500 scholarship in 2001 for high school students interested in journalism.
Cowling blog
Mike Cowling is an associate professor in the Department of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. During his ten year tenure at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has taught a variety of courses including news writing, reporting, feature writing as well as media ethics and editing, two courses that he currently teaches. Prior to taking a full-time teaching job at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling taught part-time at California State University-Fullerton and Cal Poly-Pomona. Cowling’s assistance to aspiring journalists does not stop at the college level, currently he is executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association, an organization for high school journalism students.
Cowling’s love for journalism has propelled him into the forefront of his profession. "It is the little things in life you do that are important and I am lucky to have found something I enjoy and love to do," Cowling said during his hall of fame induction speech at Eastern. Along with fulfilling his teaching duties at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has spent the last 5 years as an editor for The New York Times Web site. Throughout his career Cowling has held the position of news editor at The Los Angeles Time as well as copy editor at The Chicago Sun-Times. He also also held workshops on editing, written a chapter for an editing textbook and had many free lance articles published throughout the United States.
Cowling, a 1975 graduate of the Eastern Illinois University was inducted into Eastern’s Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. Prior to graduating from Eastern with a degree in journalism and history, Cowling was editor of the schools’ newspaper The Eastern News as well as sports editor of The Warbler. Both of these positions proved to be a positive stepping stone for Cowling, something that he feels is crucial to the department and its students. As a result Cowling has stayed in contact with the department. "I have stayed in touch with The Eastern News because I feel it is the heart of the program, the glue that holds the journalism department together," he said.
Cowling’s love for journalism has propelled him into the forefront of his profession. "It is the little things in life you do that are important and I am lucky to have found something I enjoy and love to do," Cowling said during his hall of fame induction speech at Eastern. Along with fulfilling his teaching duties at UW-Oshkosh, Cowling has spent the last 5 years as an editor for The New York Times Web site. Throughout his career Cowling has held the position of news editor at The Los Angeles Time as well as copy editor at The Chicago Sun-Times. He also also held workshops on editing, written a chapter for an editing textbook and had many free lance articles published throughout the United States.
Cowling, a 1975 graduate of the Eastern Illinois University was inducted into Eastern’s Journalism Alumni Hall of Fame in 2004. Prior to graduating from Eastern with a degree in journalism and history, Cowling was editor of the schools’ newspaper The Eastern News as well as sports editor of The Warbler. Both of these positions proved to be a positive stepping stone for Cowling, something that he feels is crucial to the department and its students. As a result Cowling has stayed in contact with the department. "I have stayed in touch with The Eastern News because I feel it is the heart of the program, the glue that holds the journalism department together," he said.
basic info on cowling
Michael Cowling
assistant professor-news editorial at UW-Oshkosh
Joined fall of 1994
editing position at the chicago Sun-Times and Los Angeles times.
New York Times continues to be editor at national desk over the summer
event called: All the News That's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New Yor Times, from Adolph Ochs and Jayson Blair to the Coverage of the Byrd Expedition and the War in Iraq---
College of Letters and Science Dean's Symposium
Reeve Memorial Union
assistant professor-news editorial at UW-Oshkosh
Joined fall of 1994
editing position at the chicago Sun-Times and Los Angeles times.
New York Times continues to be editor at national desk over the summer
event called: All the News That's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New Yor Times, from Adolph Ochs and Jayson Blair to the Coverage of the Byrd Expedition and the War in Iraq---
College of Letters and Science Dean's Symposium
Reeve Memorial Union
J Tizz's B-Matter....Yizz Zerdd
Michael Cowling, a master's degree graduate in journalism from the University of Illinois and undergraduate from Eastern Illinois University, has made a home for himself at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the last 10 years. His main areas of teaching are media ethics and editing but also alittle bit of news writing and some reporting. He previously taught part-time at California State University-Fullerton and at Cal Poly-Pomona.
Cowling, who met his wife Melanie while attending Eastern Illinois, has two children: Matthew, 24 and Audrey, 15.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in which helps high school journalism students become better journalists. Professor Cowling has done some major work for several big city newspapers such as The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun-Times and sveral others in the state of Illinois. Since the summer of 1997, Cowling has been devoting much of his time to working on either the National or Foreign desk at The New York Times. He had also worked as an online editor for The New York Times, reading sections fronts five nights a week.
His free-lance work includes articles and essays that both have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Editor & Publisher magazine, The Journal of Mass Media Ethics and Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.
Cowling, who met his wife Melanie while attending Eastern Illinois, has two children: Matthew, 24 and Audrey, 15.
Cowling is the executive secretary of the Northeastern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association in which helps high school journalism students become better journalists. Professor Cowling has done some major work for several big city newspapers such as The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Sun-Times and sveral others in the state of Illinois. Since the summer of 1997, Cowling has been devoting much of his time to working on either the National or Foreign desk at The New York Times. He had also worked as an online editor for The New York Times, reading sections fronts five nights a week.
His free-lance work includes articles and essays that both have appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Editor & Publisher magazine, The Journal of Mass Media Ethics and Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly.
Mike Cowling B Matter
Mike Cowling an assciate professor at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin spoke Wednesday in Reeve Memorial Union about a program entitled All the News that's Fit to Print: An Insider's Look at the Venerable New York Times. Cowling has taught at the university for 10 years, where he teaches media ethics, new writing and news editing. Prof. Cowling is also the executive secretary for the Northeasern Wisconsin Scholastic Press Assciation( NEWSPA). According to the the Eastern Illinois website, Prof. Cowling has spent the last five summers as copy editor on the National or Foreign Desk of the New York Times and the last five years he has spent his nights as an editor for the New York Times, reading section fronts. Earlier in his career he spent 8 years as a National news editor for the Los Angeles Times, where he taught at the University of California-Fullerton. He spent five years as a copy editor for the Chicago-Sun Times and has worked for five other newspapers in Illinois as a editor or reporter. Cowling received his bachlor's degree in Journalism and History at the University of Eastern Illinois and earned his master's degree in journalism at the University of Illinois. Cowling was also asked to speak at the University of Oshkosh Wisconsin on behalf of the "Thinking and Writing in Journalism" series which was presented by the Department of Journalism and Journalism Advisory Board. Cowlings has done freelance and editorial work for the Los Angeles Times and Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. Prof.Cowling was the author " Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly", which he reviews the book "Contraversies in Media Ethics" by A. David Gordon, John M. Kittross and Carol Reuss. Cowling has a wife named Melanie.They have two childern: Matthew,24, and Audrey, 15.
police beat
Imagine you’ve been offered the opportunity to move up from the obit desk to the police beat. Would you take the job? Explain your reasoning in terms of the text’s discussion of covering crimes, fires and accidents.
The position would require one to always think on his or her feet and have excellent knowledge on where to do research. Also, being on the police,crimes,fires and accidents beat one would have to be present at many tradgedies and report on them. I see writing about crime as fun becau a reporter gets to contact the police chief and get down the nitty gritty of the crime. I don’t think that writing about fire,accidents and tradgedies would be very fun.
I think many reporters can eventually get immune to those type of situations but dealing with recent tragic personal experiences, I do not think I could handle it. For my job I’ve been to the scenes of several accidents, have seen several dead bodies and have witness a countless number of people at the pinnacle of desperation. Everytime I see something like that I get really disturbed, so most likely I would not be able to handle being writing as a crime reporter at a city daily; at least not at this point in my life.
2. Assume you’re given no choice—you have to move to cops. What would be the hardest part of the transition? In other words, what would be the biggest challenges in covering the cops beat?
The biggest challenge in the cops beat would be the extreme responsibility of being accurate because this is a beat where reporting something wrong could possibly lead to some very angry people and even a lawsuit. Also, one would have to be very flexible in schedule because crimes,fires,and tradgedies happen at all times of the day.
The position would require one to always think on his or her feet and have excellent knowledge on where to do research. Also, being on the police,crimes,fires and accidents beat one would have to be present at many tradgedies and report on them. I see writing about crime as fun becau a reporter gets to contact the police chief and get down the nitty gritty of the crime. I don’t think that writing about fire,accidents and tradgedies would be very fun.
I think many reporters can eventually get immune to those type of situations but dealing with recent tragic personal experiences, I do not think I could handle it. For my job I’ve been to the scenes of several accidents, have seen several dead bodies and have witness a countless number of people at the pinnacle of desperation. Everytime I see something like that I get really disturbed, so most likely I would not be able to handle being writing as a crime reporter at a city daily; at least not at this point in my life.
2. Assume you’re given no choice—you have to move to cops. What would be the hardest part of the transition? In other words, what would be the biggest challenges in covering the cops beat?
The biggest challenge in the cops beat would be the extreme responsibility of being accurate because this is a beat where reporting something wrong could possibly lead to some very angry people and even a lawsuit. Also, one would have to be very flexible in schedule because crimes,fires,and tradgedies happen at all times of the day.
Class Prep, Feb. 14
1. I guess moving to the police beat would depend on other things going on in my life. If I thought I could handle the extra load – such as dealing with more authorities (police, police reports (or lack thereof), etc.), the need for more sources (witnesses, victims, specialists, etc.), the danger and just the sheer responsibility – then I probably would take the job. Not that obituaries don’t require a level of factual and emotional responsibility, it’s just that the police beat deals with crimes and misdeeds toward people, differing sides and a heavier social obligation to finding the truth. If I wasn’t feeling adventurous or motivated I would probably stay doing obituaries. It seems like interesting and rewarding work too. Also, the city that I would be working in would also play into my decision I imagine.
2. The hardest part would probably be getting used to the extra responsibilities. Also dealing with crime scenes would take some getting used to. Talking to cops and getting enough factual information – within the guidelines of the law – could prove more difficult as well.
Class Prep 2/14
Class Prep 2/14
1.) I would take the position. Covering, crime, fires and accidents are fast paced and gives you the reporter more opportunity to research and dig up facts. You never know what to expect in the field and may find yourself reporting from a news conference or from the field where the accident has happened trying to interview people and find the facts. This variation tests you as a reporter and offer much more flair to the job.
2.) The fun of the job would also be the hardest thing to deal with, uncertainty and expecting the unexpected. You may have to report on a fire or accident as it happens at 2 a.m. or 2 p.m. That variation can cause stress and uncertainty but also would be exciting for a young up and comer.
1.) I would take the position. Covering, crime, fires and accidents are fast paced and gives you the reporter more opportunity to research and dig up facts. You never know what to expect in the field and may find yourself reporting from a news conference or from the field where the accident has happened trying to interview people and find the facts. This variation tests you as a reporter and offer much more flair to the job.
2.) The fun of the job would also be the hardest thing to deal with, uncertainty and expecting the unexpected. You may have to report on a fire or accident as it happens at 2 a.m. or 2 p.m. That variation can cause stress and uncertainty but also would be exciting for a young up and comer.
Class Prep Questions
- There would be some pros and cons involved when debating to move from writing obituaries to covering crime stories. On one hand, writing obituaries allows for more expressive and "colorful" writing which most people feel comfortable with, crime stories may be too detailed or precise which not everyone enjoys having to do. Crime stories and obituaries are closely related in terms of murders. I personally would like to have the chance to work with crime stories because they give variety in writing. Nothing usually happens twice which means there is always something new to either be seen or heard then written about.
- One of the hardest transition about having to move from the obit desk to covering crime stories would be that crime stories sometimes requires you to be in the field doing "hands on" activities in order to collect your information. Some people aren't willing to give certain information regarding your particular story too. The biggest challenge of all would be making sure that all of your information that was collected is accurate and truthful. A lot of times people tell reporters things in assumptions or "best guesses". Having to check with the police department, witnesses, family memebers of ones involved etc. could be very stressful and difficult.
Class Prep. for Feb. 14
Nathan Kragh
Reporting 327
2-14-05
It would depend on the size of the newspaper. The larger the newspaper, the less likely I would choose the police beat, because of the tendency for more violent crimes to occur. At the obit desk you deal in death everyday, but you at least you have the chance to shed light on life. Crime holds most of the worst aspects in humanity and I cannot see any reason I'd willing choose to immerse myself in that.
I think that one of the hardest transitions is reporting on murder or crime involving children. Another hard transition is maintaining sensitivity to victims and their families while trying to make the deadline.
Reporting 327
2-14-05
It would depend on the size of the newspaper. The larger the newspaper, the less likely I would choose the police beat, because of the tendency for more violent crimes to occur. At the obit desk you deal in death everyday, but you at least you have the chance to shed light on life. Crime holds most of the worst aspects in humanity and I cannot see any reason I'd willing choose to immerse myself in that.
I think that one of the hardest transitions is reporting on murder or crime involving children. Another hard transition is maintaining sensitivity to victims and their families while trying to make the deadline.
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Police, Crime and Blazing Buildings
1. Both jobs deal in human suffering, usually by loss of life or property, so they wouldn’t be too different. I would jump on the opportunity to advance in my career as a reporter, moving the contents of my desk in a couple of minutes. The two jobs are fairly similar in how the information is gathered, so it would not be a big change. For example, the mortuary form is essentially the same kind of information you could find in a police report, except for funeral times. You must also interview people who are connected with the victims of a crime or accident, which is very important with obituary stories; and in both cases you must be sensitive to the feelings of those connected with the tragedy.
2. Though both types of stories are similar, there is a large difference between the two. With crime stories, tragedy has recently struck and people haven’t had time to prepare for it, making them less likely to want to talk, though “They are able to talk“ (278). Dissimilarly, people interviewed for obituaries generally have had time to think about what they would like to say and there has been time to prepare for a death. This difference may make it difficult to shift from one department to the other, since the reporter may be used to having people ready and willing to talk to them.
2. Though both types of stories are similar, there is a large difference between the two. With crime stories, tragedy has recently struck and people haven’t had time to prepare for it, making them less likely to want to talk, though “They are able to talk“ (278). Dissimilarly, people interviewed for obituaries generally have had time to think about what they would like to say and there has been time to prepare for a death. This difference may make it difficult to shift from one department to the other, since the reporter may be used to having people ready and willing to talk to them.
Class prep Feb. 14
If I were offered the job to leave the obit desk and work on the police beat, I would accept the new position. My main reason for leaving the obit desk is the fact that I don't like writing only stories about non-living individuals. I think the job on the obit desk is too dry for me. I would like the police beat job because it would be more exciting. In the chapter, a police beat reporter has to gather facts by making phone calls and personal interviews to obtain information. I would like to be the guy who has to gather the information and find out what is going on in the streets. It would be fun to be in the people's hair by questioning them, instead of writing obits. It would seem like detective work, something I would love to do.
The part of the police beat job I may not like would be having to see the people injured or suffering.(i.e. a car crash with hurt people or a child abuse case)Like may people watching people suffer is a tough thing for me to bear. I would feel very low if I had to question someone that just lost a loved one.
The part of the police beat job I may not like would be having to see the people injured or suffering.(i.e. a car crash with hurt people or a child abuse case)Like may people watching people suffer is a tough thing for me to bear. I would feel very low if I had to question someone that just lost a loved one.
Feb. 14 Class Prep
1.) I would enjoy moving from the obituary desk to the police beat for several reasons. First, it would be interesting to be more in-depth with my reporting. Reporters covering these types of stories are expected to go to the scene and speak with more people (witnesses, police officers, victims, etc.) to find out the who, what, where, when and why. For me it would be much more interesting to do the investigative reporting that goes along with covering the police beat. Another reason I would enjoy reporting police beats is the spontaneity of the job, you never know what will happen next or what story you are going to be assigned to cover.
2.) If I were forced to make the move from the obit desk to the police beat I think the hardest transition would be finding everyone I needed to talk to in order to produce a factual and all-encompassing story. After reading this chapter, I came to believe that handling these types of stories can create a lot of stress. When at the scene, the reporter must find police officers, coroners (if applicable), witnesses and victims in order to answer the questions journalists need to answer in their stories. Another hard transition for me would be the possibility of being around an accident where there are victims who are dead. I do not like blood and gore, so this would present a problem for me.
2.) If I were forced to make the move from the obit desk to the police beat I think the hardest transition would be finding everyone I needed to talk to in order to produce a factual and all-encompassing story. After reading this chapter, I came to believe that handling these types of stories can create a lot of stress. When at the scene, the reporter must find police officers, coroners (if applicable), witnesses and victims in order to answer the questions journalists need to answer in their stories. Another hard transition for me would be the possibility of being around an accident where there are victims who are dead. I do not like blood and gore, so this would present a problem for me.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Obit Final
Philip M. Strelow, a giving friend and nonstop debater with a penchant for random humor, died after drowning in freezing water last Wednesday at the Milwaukee County Zoo. He was 25.
He had fallen over the railing at the penguin exhibit and died surrounded by the black-and-white birds. Officials claim the penguins are innocent.
Born in Appleton, Wis., on Dec. 29, 1979, to Michael and Susan Strelow, Philip displayed signs of intelligence at a young age. As he grew he was always busy in thought.
He participated in debate and band during his time at Appleton East High School and continued playing the trumpet in college at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
In his classes professors knew they could count on him for a riveted class discussion. With his logistical skills he could muster strong emotions from pig-headed arguers and eventually lost count of the number of times he was called “Satan.”
Also during this time he quickly became a “reservist,” as he called it, in the UWGB Gamers’ Club, often running events at their annual Chaoticon.
He eventually graduated from UWGB in 2002 with a major in political science and, by this time, was forced to move back in with his parents for monetary reasons.
Philip found himself struggling to find a job after college due to the low demand for social science teachers. He worked at Barnes & Noble and as a substitute teacher in the Fox Cities, a job which he found both rewarding and demeaning. Being an avid reader, his job at the bookstore was a perfect match, as one could tell by the volumes of paperbacks on his bookshelves.
In fact he, himself, was an aspiring author, with dreams to one day write his novel “Kill for Bedlam,” a daring, futuristic take on altruism.
Even when relaxing in front of the television or playing Xbox he would listen to public radio. His constant thoughts were always easily transferred to words, though, and one could find oneself engrossed in a conversation with him for quite some time. An uninhibited public speaker, Philip could always capture an audience, whether they liked it or not.
After college, with most of his friends still in Green Bay, Philip found himself driving to the city at least once or twice a week to watch movies, go out to eat or play pen-and-paper role-playing games.
Probably one of Philip’s proudest moments was when he took a detour from his road trip to Arizona and defended the Earth from aliens for 30 minutes with only an aluminum baseball bat. Sitting in an empty field in Roswell, N.M., he was sure the heavenly visitors felt threatened to land. This trip also gave birth to his on-going love/hate relationship with Crunch ’n Munch.
A comic at heart, Philip had a joking attitude towards everything and would probably want people to laugh at his life in retrospect – even if they sometimes didn’t get him. “I’m HBO humor,” he said once, “and the rest of the world is ABC.”
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Eric, and a vast comic book collection.
The funeral service for Philip will begin at 12 p.m. on Thursday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Appleton. Visitation will last until 1:30 p.m. Burial will commence afterwards in Appleton Highland Memorial Park.
He had fallen over the railing at the penguin exhibit and died surrounded by the black-and-white birds. Officials claim the penguins are innocent.
Born in Appleton, Wis., on Dec. 29, 1979, to Michael and Susan Strelow, Philip displayed signs of intelligence at a young age. As he grew he was always busy in thought.
He participated in debate and band during his time at Appleton East High School and continued playing the trumpet in college at the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay.
In his classes professors knew they could count on him for a riveted class discussion. With his logistical skills he could muster strong emotions from pig-headed arguers and eventually lost count of the number of times he was called “Satan.”
Also during this time he quickly became a “reservist,” as he called it, in the UWGB Gamers’ Club, often running events at their annual Chaoticon.
He eventually graduated from UWGB in 2002 with a major in political science and, by this time, was forced to move back in with his parents for monetary reasons.
Philip found himself struggling to find a job after college due to the low demand for social science teachers. He worked at Barnes & Noble and as a substitute teacher in the Fox Cities, a job which he found both rewarding and demeaning. Being an avid reader, his job at the bookstore was a perfect match, as one could tell by the volumes of paperbacks on his bookshelves.
In fact he, himself, was an aspiring author, with dreams to one day write his novel “Kill for Bedlam,” a daring, futuristic take on altruism.
Even when relaxing in front of the television or playing Xbox he would listen to public radio. His constant thoughts were always easily transferred to words, though, and one could find oneself engrossed in a conversation with him for quite some time. An uninhibited public speaker, Philip could always capture an audience, whether they liked it or not.
After college, with most of his friends still in Green Bay, Philip found himself driving to the city at least once or twice a week to watch movies, go out to eat or play pen-and-paper role-playing games.
Probably one of Philip’s proudest moments was when he took a detour from his road trip to Arizona and defended the Earth from aliens for 30 minutes with only an aluminum baseball bat. Sitting in an empty field in Roswell, N.M., he was sure the heavenly visitors felt threatened to land. This trip also gave birth to his on-going love/hate relationship with Crunch ’n Munch.
A comic at heart, Philip had a joking attitude towards everything and would probably want people to laugh at his life in retrospect – even if they sometimes didn’t get him. “I’m HBO humor,” he said once, “and the rest of the world is ABC.”
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his brother, Eric, and a vast comic book collection.
The funeral service for Philip will begin at 12 p.m. on Thursday at St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Appleton. Visitation will last until 1:30 p.m. Burial will commence afterwards in Appleton Highland Memorial Park.
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