SJSU- Investigative Reporting Day
Be a little optimistic. Make new friends. Keep old friends. Keep your promises. Morals to live by? These were 4 mindsets recommended for future Investigative reporters at feature panel investigative reporters and Pulitzer Prize winners. San Jose State University, sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, held an Investigative Reporting Day and had a panel of professionals, two SJSU alumni, to answer the question: “Can Investigative Reporting Save Journalism?"
Yes was the answer given by Mark Katches; Pulitzer Prize winner and SJSU alum, David Williman, Pulitzer; prize winner and SJSU Class of 78”, Lance Williams; from the San Francisco Chronicle and one of the men behind Balco’s steroid scandal, and Bart Roberston; who works on the “Tainted Trials/Stolen Justice” for the San Jose Mercury News. Lance Williams gave us the four recommended mindsets for all investigative journalists. Other panelist like David Williman spoke about news in general saying, “All news is inherently “investigative.” He also urged the listeners that journalists are not “stenographers”, the need to be “rigorous with facts” and above all the “need to be unbiased to political sway.”
There was also a realistic opinion about the future of print journalism. It was mentioned that many news reporters do a lot of the same work. Consolidation may have to be the best course of action in order to adjust with the company’s budget and revenues. But the consensus of the panel was that investigative reporting should not only be immune to consolidation but should be built upon to grow or “evolve” as one member put it, within the ever changing environment.
2 comments:
I like your opening -- nice, short, snappy sentences followed by a question that makes it work as a blind lead.
But then it all turns to mush. Your next sentence gets all passive voice on me, and your last sentence is convoluted and way too long. It's what I call a "boilerplate" sentence because it provides background information, not news, and it ought to be a short separate paragraph.
So what if you handled the lead like this?
Be a little optimistic. Make new friends. Keep old friends. Keep your promises. Morals to live by? No, they're the mindsets needed by investigative reporters.
At least that's what four investigative reporters told a crowd of San Jose State journalism students at the Investigative Reporting Day panel discussion yesterday....
Fact error: You spelled David Willman's name wrong. (-10)
Put the "credits" and titles after their names. When you're writing as a reporter, don't say "us" -- keep yourself out of the story.
"It was mentioned" is passive voice. Rewrite the sentence to make it active voice.
hyphenate ever-changing environment
Tell me which reporter made the last comment.
35/50
By the way, I'd suggest you revise and republish this piece to improve your grade.
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