Feb 14 Class Prep

Danielle Buechel
February 8, 2005
2 Questions; Class Prep

1. If I had the opportunity to move from the obit desk to the police beat I would definately take advantage and make the switch. The book discusses coverage of crimes, fires and accidents and portrays the job as exciting and full of action. The chance to investigate, interview and meet new people is also a perk to the job. The book states that reporters must work to find witnesses and sources when writing about accidents and fires, I think that this opportunity to dig deeper into a story would make for an interesting investigation. The reading also tells readers that there is often great interest in stories involving crime and danger, this added feedback from the community would likely make the job more interesting and rewarding.

2. I think that the most difficult aspect of a switch from the obit desk to the police beat would be adjusting to and remembering the various restrictions and laws surrounding sensitive or criminal manners. The book lists many lawful restrictions for crime reporting including issues of taste and ethics and the consequences of negligence in crime reporting. Another challenging aspect may include being available on short notice and in high demand as well as finding the right words to handle delicate matters such as rape and murder. The book also discusses the factor that poorly done court coverage could lead to criticism for the press, this too could prove a difficulty in producing a well written crime article.