College Newsroom » Steve Fox

Accuracy

Steve Fox — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:41:26 +0000

This was recently posted, in a longer version, on a listserv. Any ideas:

This year, we have seen a precipitous decline in our accuracy standards. Hardly a day goes by without a correction or three.

Part of it, I think, is that it’s never been easier for readers and sources to point out our mistakes. I think other factors include editors who are too busy multitasking to really think critically during the editing process, writers who are disengaged, stories that come in too close to deadline for good vetting and potentially, a process with so many fail-safes that no one takes ownership.

Here is what we are already doing:

–Reporters are required to put CQs in their stories that list of the source of info on each fact.

–Every story is edited by three line editors, then two copy editors .

–Pages are checked by top editors and copy editors.

–When mistakes are made, editors are required to fill out a form explaining the mistake and why/how it happened.

–I’ve distributed lists of my best practices for getting things right.

–I sponsored an accuracy contest called Good Save! to create a culture that celebrates finding and fixing mistakes before they hit the paper.

–I’ve done multiple enrichments on accuracy.

–We’ve talked about taking ownership of your own work.

Accuracy is a post from: College Newsroom. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Hookah Bar Ads?

Steve Fox — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 15:57:54 +0000

If a student newspaper has restrictions on advertising tobacco or smoking products, what do you do with a hookah bar? Is that the same thing or something totally different?

I must admit, I’ve never entered a hookah bar. I don’t know what they’re all about. I just wonder how they fit into the equation and what student newspapers are doing about ads from places like hookah bars.

Does the need for increased ad revenue in tough economic times outweigh the moral standards the paper would like to uphold? Does the economy make it necessary for student papers to review and maybe change old advertising regulations to help increase revenue, regarding things like alcohol and tobacco? Reality is these companies are often getting rich off the money from students on your campus; why not get some money from those wealthy companies?

Hookah Bar Ads? is a post from: College Newsroom. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Losing Staff Members?

Steve Fox — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:08:14 +0000

What if you have a really strong News Editor (or any other leadership position for that matter) who is offered a position at a professional paper or a great internship and literally has to leave one day? Do you bite your tongue and celebrate the success as a student newspaper? Do you criticize the person for not giving more notice and bailing out on a year– or semester-long commitment? How does a student newspaper — small or large — deal with such changes? It is the nature of the beast to have a staff somewhat in flux.

Losing Staff Members? is a post from: College Newsroom. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Detroit Getting a New Daily Paper

Steve Fox — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:31:14 +0000

This article ran in today’s Grand Rapids Press. It was on Page B2 — in the Business section. Just a brief. We hear all about newspaper’s struggling as a business, but not much about things like this…

Detroit Daily Press to start publishing Nov. 23; home delivery starts Nov. 30
By The Associated Press
November 13, 2009, 11:43AM
Facebook
Two veteran publishers are launching a daily newspaper serving the Detroit area, where the two main players have reduced home delivery to survive in a struggling industry.

Brothers Mark and Gary Stern said Friday they’ll start publishing The Detroit Daily Press on Nov. 23, selling it for 50 cents daily and $1 on Sundays. Home delivery starts Nov. 30.

The paper’s 60 full-time employees are using the former offices of The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak, which moved.

The Sterns ran daily newspapers in Detroit in 1964 and 1967; New York in 1978; and Minneapolis in 1980 when workers at those cities’ major newspapers went on strike.

The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press in March reduced home delivery and increased electronic offerings.Detroit Daily Press Facebook site

Detroit Getting a New Daily Paper is a post from: College Newsroom. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.

Demanding More From Writers or Unfair Practice?

Steve Fox — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:44:06 +0000

At some papers, writers are stripped of bylines if their articles do not meet the standards of the publication. The result, no pay and no clip. This is the ultimate insult to a reporter, really. It surely would get someone’s attention.

My question, is this a proper way to handle student journalists? How many of you work at papers that use this practice?
If you do something different, what is it?

Demanding More From Writers or Unfair Practice? is a post from: College Newsroom. If images or multimedia are missing, please visit the original post at the web site.