Thursday May 15, 2008

CCJ Books

The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect

Completely updated and revised
"The most important book on the relationship of journalism and democracy published in the last fifty years." – Roy Peter Clark, The Poynter Institute

We Interrupt This Newscast: How to Improve Local News and Win Ratings, Too

Just Released
A landmark study on what people watch and why. The most exhaustive study ever of local TV news -- what helps ratings, what drives viewers away, and what editorial approaches and story-telling techniques most influence viewership.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT ...

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Do You Know Your Stuff?

by Jon Margolis

May 13, 2008 - Reporters need to know stuff - not just the stuff of the immediate story, but the stuff of the world behind the story. It's the stuff sources might not mention, but it's the stuff that drives the story. Take, for example, the real reason behind Barack Obama's loss in West Virginia's primary.

Today's Media News

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Articles

  • Conflict and Conflation of Race and Gender
    Obama could have been speaking for journalists when he spoke of choosing between "division, and conflict, and cynicism" or a new way. But not all reporting on how race and gender is playing a role -- and taking its toll -- is quite getting it.
  • A Cartoon and Me
    An original Marlette editorial cartoon that adorns our offices was drawn a generation ago about race and another presidential race. But it still speaks volumes about politics and the power of editorial illustration.
  • Down with the War, Up with the Campaign
    Two stories with decidedly different trajectories -- the Iraq war and "the earliest-starting campaign in U.S. history" -- dominated the headlines in 2007, according to the 2008 Project for Excellence in Journalist State of the Media report.
  • Mark Carter Named CCJ Executive Director
    Mark Carter, a 20-year veteran media executive, strategist, reporter and executive producer, has been named Executive Director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists and the Goldenson Chair in Community Broadcasting at the Missouri School of Journalism.
  • Washington Post Ombud Rips 'Women are Stupid' Piece
    A lot of people thought the Washington Post opinion piece by Charlotte Allen – you remember, the one where she riffed on how women are weak and stupid after all -- was outrageous. Well, so does the Post ombud.
  • When is a Citizen Journalist not a Citizen Journalist?
    That's 'community journalist' to you.
  • Anonymous Sources Ruling 'Draconian and Perhaps Unprecedented'
    A judge has ordered a USA Today reporter to reveal the names of confidential sources or pay more than $45,000 out of her own pocket – without help from others, including the newspaper – and to do so immediately, even pending appeal.
  • Scotsman Reporter Stands By 'Monster' Quote Decision
    Gerri Peev, the Scotsman reporter who quoted Samantha Power as calling Hillary Clinton 'a monster,' said she could not 'in good conscience' have agreed to keep the remark off the record.
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J-Tools

CCJ has collected some of journalism's best ideas, strategies and techniques to help journalists and citizens alike.

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Newsroom Development

Training, Strategic Planning, Critical Thinking

You can bring the Committee’s Traveling Curriculum development program to your organization. The Traveling Curriculum offers customizable newsroom workshops that our staff of respected trainers has led in scores of print, broadcast, and online newsrooms of all sizes.

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