Where to Draw the Line?

After doing the reading for lecture today I was left wondering just how far is too far?  How, as an editor, are we supposed to know where to draw the line?

The article we read was a "you be editor" simulation on the poynter Web site.  (for some reason it's not letting me post the link..but it is on everyone's syllabus)  Anyway, the article showed some graphic, gruesome pictures that were shown across the nation from Fallujah, Iraq back in 2004.  Editors all over the country had to decide how to use these pictures:  Decisions such as where to place photos, which ones were appropriate enough to use and which were not.

The most offensive image depicted burnt and destroyed remains of American bodies being hung from a bridge.  The Iraqis in the background are cheering and yelling.  Another shows the Iraqis standing next to a burning car cheering and screaming.  It seems to me to be less graphic then the first.  There were 2 more pictures, both unpleasant, but in my option not as horrific as the first one with the bodies hanging from the bridge.

The Web site then goes through of series of questions that you are supposed to think about and consider if you were the editor who had to make a call like this.  The questions include circumstances that would change your decision in whether or not to include the picture, how to run it and the consequences you would face in doing so.

While I was going through the questions, I was really at a loss.  I have absolutely no idea what I would have chosen had I been the editor who had  to make a judgement call like this.  The part that worries me most, is I have no idea how one is supposed to know.  I honestly had no clue as to what was crossing the line or going too far.

Part of me thought that the picture was too graphic for people to see.  It would cause people to become too emotional and upset.  On the other hand, I think it is important for people to know what is going on and our job as the media is to inform our audience of as much information as we can.  I guess the question that becomes can you tell the audience the same message without the disturbing images?  I don't know.

I think a big issue would be offending the readers and also the newspaper or magazine's credibility.  I think both of these issues could go either way.  I honestly believe you can never please everyone.  Someone is always going to find something offensive.  It's inevitable.  Some people might find the media MORE credible for providing them with pictures such as these that truly depict what is going on.  It doesn't leave much for the imagination.  However, others might be upset and disgusted by the images and therefore, the media could lose respect.

This is a time where I realize there really is a lot more I have to learn about editing and journalism.  I am eager to talk about this issue in lecture tomorrow.  I am incredibly curious to see what my peers think about this picture and the issue at large.

Until next week,

-sar

Fakers and Frauds

After all of the readings for lecture last week, I really started thinking about just how many people plagiarize and make information up for their stories.  Of course, this same topic was also brought up in my media ethics class this week too..i love when topics from different classes coincide with each other :)

It really amazes me that people like Glass and Blair can just make things up, out of thin air, and not really have a problem with it.  In the videos we watched in class, Glass seemed to feel more remorse  for his actions then Blair did.  In my opinion, Blair didn't feel all that bad at all in his interviews.

The part that boggles my mind the most is how long both these men got away with their actions.  I find it amazing that their editors didn't catch them for months.  I feel like the editor's responsibility is to bust people like this.  I also think it is weird that more people didn't call in with doubt about the stories or to report misleading facts and information that were included in the pieces.

It almost makes you want to get mad at the editors.  You want to accuse them for slacking at their job and not following through with their responsibilities.  Then I sit back and think about it and I guess part of the problem is they WANT the stories to be real.  The audience is loving the stories by these authors and they are well written; it is like an editor's dream come true.  An editor never wants to assume the worse, which is that the stories are not actually real.

Honestly, cases like  this make me nervous that if I were to pursue a career in editing, I would not catch major mistakes and plagiarism like this.  There is a risk that the newspaper or magazine's credibility could decrease.  People's faith in me, as an editor, could also decrease as well, along with their respect for me.  This is just something that has been on my mind all week.

Sorry this one is kinda short...I have a big test tomorrow that I am cramming for.  I promise to write a longer blog next week..or maybe even another one this week if I find some time.

- Sar

Times Topics

For this week's blog , I was assigned to look at the New York Time's grammar and usage web page called Times Topics.

http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/subjects/e/english_language/grammar/index.html

The first thing that caught my eye on the page was an article on the left hand side.  

It basically addresses why proper grammar is so important in the world of 

journalism.  Many people might wonder why we grammar rules are necessary 

or if correct punctuation really matters. Below is an excerpt that I thought 

summarized the article quite nicely.

"But sticklers see proper grammar and usage as a baseline for a civilized society, or at least for a respectable publication. If writers don't know the difference between “rack” and “wrack,” or between a gerund and a participle, why should we trust them on anything else."

This is true. A writer has a responsibility to its audience to use correct punctuation

and grammar. This further proves just further teaches me how important editing is.

Readers count on what they read to be correct.

One feature of the Web site I really enjoyed was called "Red Pencil Ready?". It

gives passages from final editions of the NYT that have grammar and usage problems.

Readers are encouraged to try and find the mistakes and the answers are given the following

day. The whole idea is to create a "you be the editor" simulation.

I was surprised at how many mistakes a well-known and respected newspaper makes on

a regular basis. I guess it just goes to show that we all make mistakes; even the editors

at a fancy paper. At the same time; however, I think it also shows carelessness. Maybe a few

extra seconds need to be spent reviewing an article or 2?

The site also includes various articles written specifically about grammar. It also

has a grammar navigator, which provides a list of other grammar blogs for viewers to

check out.

The site was very helpful and one that I can see myself visiting again before turning

in a story.

-sar

My First Blog Ever :)

*Sunday, Feb 1.

Today marks that day that I, Sarah Fabbri, enter the blogging world.  My roommate is in Spain and I follow her blog religiously, but I have to admit I have never had a blog entry of my own.  So please bear with me because I am sure it will take me a little while to get used to this whole thing.

I chose to do about 50 other things this weekend other then write this blog entry, such as watch lifetime movies, go to the basketball game and watch the Super Bowl.  So now, here I am, exhausted on a Sunday night and left to do everything at the last minute like usual.  I swear one day I will stop being the queen of procrastination.  I have been saying that since 8th grade :)

I just came across an article online that seems to relevant to write about tonight.  The article is titled, "How to Manage a Newspaper Company in a Recession."  This seems relevant seeing as me and my fellow students will most likely be entering the work world at a time when the economy and job market are both struggling and unstable.

One of the articles main points was that innovation will be necessary to keep audiences reading.  It went on to say that "more editing is more important that more pages."  Editing is a crucial part of a newspaper's success.  With this being said, it is obvious that an editing class is going to pay off for many of us later...well hopefully.

Until next monday,

--sar