The following is an analysis of The Center for Investigative Reporting Web site. This site can be viewed at www.centerforinvestigativereporting.com.
The Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation’s oldest nonprofit investigative news organization. It was founded in 1977. The CIR produces multimedia reporting and has a long track record of award-winning print, broadcast and web reporting. CIR states that they are seeking new ways to lead transforming journalism in the 21st century. The mission of this news organization is to ensure that high-quality journalism that is unique and credible will not die but flourish in a time where the role journalism plays in a functioning democracy is at risk. On the home page it states, “Journalism dedicated to revealing injustice since 1977.” CIR has about 10 people on staff, nine staff reporters, three correspondents and numerous people on the advisory board. CIR collaborates with other news organizations, universities, journalists and public policy organizations. The stories, of course, focus on in-depth investigative pieces such as immigration, war, government and even domestic situations like one of the feature stories now about pregnancy.
The Web site looks much like a news organization site, such as CNN. At the top of the site is a slideshow that provides the link to many stories about the subject of the picture. The most recent stories are in the middle of the site, with the blog entries on the left and CIR news, events and other information on the right. They have a blog called "The Muckraker" blog and a reporting series called “California Watch.” The navigation pages include two pages that I found to be interesting. The CIR Investigations page takes you to all stories and there are some that are only in print, some Web exclusives and some videos. The other page is called Reporter Tools, which gives a journalists information on how to write, report and find stories better. This page also offers tutorials on the equipment journalists, especially print reporters, find themselves using on certain stories. The site also gives visitors links to other information on the subjects they report.
One of the feature series I found that could be very useful for journalists in understanding the change in journalism is “The Investigators” web-video series. It shows investigative journalists doing their job. The viewer can see everything the journalist must do, from making calls, asking questions, using the cameras, microphones, blogging, etc. There is even a segment where the journalist is interviewed about the job tasks and reporting tips.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I would say 5. I give this site an excellent rating because of the content it provides citizens, the investigations and in-depth reporting, such as investigating the civil rights cold case crimes, the presentation of the site, the different presentations of the stories, from print to feature trailers, and the resources the news organization provides other journalists to help them become better at finding, covering and reporting relevant news. For a nonprofit news organization, CIR is doing well to hold up to its mission.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
AlterNet
The following is an analysis of AlterNet.org. Links to to the Web site and it's content can be found throughout this analysis.
AlterNet began in 1998 and it brands itself as a progressive news magazine and online community that relies on new and aggregated content. The site notes that collected content is pulled from search engines such as Google and aggregators like Reddit and Digg. The content is supported through donations that readers make online.
The stated mission of AlterNet is to inspire action and advocacy on the enviornment, human rights, civil liberties, social justice, media and health care issues. It asserts that this Web site confronts the failures of corporate media and it is a response to the "right wing, hate talk media". The site notes that it views itself as a filter for news that would be impactful and applicable to its readers.
AlterNet began in 1998 and it brands itself as a progressive news magazine and online community that relies on new and aggregated content. The site notes that collected content is pulled from search engines such as Google and aggregators like Reddit and Digg. The content is supported through donations that readers make online.
The stated mission of AlterNet is to inspire action and advocacy on the enviornment, human rights, civil liberties, social justice, media and health care issues. It asserts that this Web site confronts the failures of corporate media and it is a response to the "right wing, hate talk media". The site notes that it views itself as a filter for news that would be impactful and applicable to its readers.
The members of this site tend to me more progressive or liberal politically, yet the site asserts its dedication to fairness and equality. The site has over 30, 000 registered commenters and attracts about 1.5 million unique visitors each month. The demographics of the Alternet visitor are a 52-48 percent male to female ratio, more likely to be in the 18-34 age range, and 48 percent say they have a college degree.
The Web site is organized simply with a header that includes different tabs that one could access depending on their interest. These tabs include things like news, economy,civil rights, and entertainment. Above these main tabs are also links for more information about the site and instructions for donations. This Web site's funding is 40 percent of the operating budget is based upon donations and advertising.
When scrolling down the site, there is a lead story that runs dominant. Underneath this are four other stories that also include photos. Visual images are dominant on this site as every story that is teased includes a photo or an illustration. The only areas without photos is the progressive wire, which lists highlights from progressive members of the media or pertinent national issues, and the comments section.
There is a section along the right side of the page, the Soapbox, that is nothing but reader comments and blog opinions on various topics ranging from the KKK in Texas to religious bullies. Included on the site are also links within advertisements that encourage the viewer to get involved or take a stand. For example, one advertisement calls for viewers to join American veterans in closing Guantanamo Bay.
This site is not specifically for journalists, but it gives journalists an example of where people are turning on the internet for news. The Web site brands itself as an alternative source for people who are dissatisfied with mainstream, corporate media. The website is organized around hot topics or issues rather than a daily, chronological log of news. It plays to people's interests and if, for instance, the environment is that interest there is an upper tab devoted to that cause. This site shows journalists what it looks like when you are primarily giving the viewer what he or she wants.
A journalist could use this site to glean information about hot button issues and the opinion of more liberal minded readers. I would caution journalists to use this site, however, because it does play to the more extreme views of progressive politics. Headlines on the site include things like "What if Sarah Palin were Black?" and "Dick Cheney Admits to Torture Conspiracy". There is a tab on the front of the site titled media and culture, but this primarily is a sounding board for those complaints about right-wing media. In class, we have discussed the problems that result when we simply go to the extremes of the political spectrum asking for opinions. We have not necessarily found the truth and while this Web site may help the journalist be fair, it is not necessarily a place I would recommend turning for stakeholders.
Two things about this site that do show journalistic innovation and that other outlets should take a closer look at are the organization by issue and the prominence of reader blogs and comments. First, the site organizes things in such a way that it makes it much easier to find the specific type of content you are looking for. While there are tabs for things like news and entertainment, there are tabs for civil rights and environmental issues that gather a niche audience. It is all about national news, but it breaks down stories into smaller groupings so it is easier to filter through.
The reader blogs, as mentioned before as the Soapbox, are highlighted prominently on the page and cover most of the right hand side of the site. One of the stated goals for Alternet.org was to bring people together as a community and these blogs certainly allow for people to come together for an exchange of opinions and ideas. This sort of reader involvement is growing amongst other news sites, but here it is a key component of the Web site. The site creates a forum for people to exchange their views without questioning the validity of their beliefs. This forum encourages people to be involved in the site and that is important to a site that relies heavily on advertising and donations. Journalism outlets are currently looking for ways to remain viable through the internet and this sort of community forum might be one way to hold onto those readers who no longer pick up the paper.
In looking over this site and the type of content it provides I would rate it a 4 as far as being a site that does what it aims to do: provide content for a targeted, progressive audience. As far as being a resource for journalists, I would have to argue it is more around a 2. It provides some information about current issues about the economy and environment, but at the same time it is hard to sift through the stories and find some objectivity. In class, we discussed Hayakawa and how he wrote about reports, inferences, and judgments. While journalists should focus on verifiable reports, this site deals greatly with inferences and judgments. It makes judgments about the right-wing side of politics and a subjective message is clear upon ready initial headlines.
This is not the kind of site a newspaper or television outlet should mimic as far as content, which is a large factor, although the design and layout are positive things that make it easier for a visitor to navigate. The tabs are simple and it is user friendly with the blogs encouraging user produced content and feedback. Overall, this site reminds me of a liberal version of a Drudge Report where there are a few positive attributes, but there is also a clear political agenda to attract a certain type of reader.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Association of Health Care Journalists
The following is an analysis of the Association of Health Care Journalists, also known as AHCJ. The Web site can be found at healthjournalism.org.
The AHCJ was created after a group of journalists met and felt the need that a group was needed to help ensure accurate and professional health and health care information be available to all journalists.
Membership includes professional journalists, freelance journalists, journalism and non journalism instructors, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.
The mission of the AHCJ and the Web site is to advance public understanding of key health care issues, as well as improve quality, accuracy and visibility of health care reporting, writing and editing.
The AHCJ has six important goals. The first is to support the highest standards of reporting, writing, editing and broadcasting in health care journalism for the general public and trade publications. Second, the AHCJ strives to develop a strong and vibrant community of journalists concerned with all forms of health care journalism. The third goal is to raise the stature of health care journalism in newsrooms, the industry and the public as a whole. The fourth goal is to promote understanding between journalists and sources of news about how each can best serve the public. The fifth goal is to advocate for the free flow of information to the public. Lastly, an important goal is to advocate for the improvement of professional development opportunities for journalists who cover any aspect of health and health care.
The site includes recent headlines and blogs on the home page, as well as a resources tab to help journalists find health and health care information quickly. Under the resources tab, journalists can find hot health headlines, AHCJ publications, electronic mailing list, tip sheets, contest entries, latest reports and studies, AHCJ articles, data, Web sites and Web casts. Another way to find information is through the “Select Topic” box on the upper right of any page on the Web site. Here, journalists can sort through an array of health and health care related topics. Other information on the site includes links to important sites, reporting guides and Facebook and Twitter links.
Journalists can find this Web site very useful when it comes to stories concerning anything health and health care related. It can also help get the facts straight as well. There are fact sheets under the resources tab that provide statistics and other facts that can help fill in gaps within stories or make sure a source is accurate and telling the truth. The site goes into much more detail about health related topics than if a journalist were to get the details and information from the Associated Press or other news sources.
The site can also be helpful to journalists, as well as journalism organizations, when they encounter problems in the workforce. For example, journalists and journalism organizations are asking the FDA to retract their policies of mandating permission from an agency official in order to conduct interviews. Another issue is that journalists are encountering variations of released numbers when pertaining to the extent of H1N1 patients. The site is not only helping put journalists and journalism organization's concerns out there, but the site is also helping retrieve input and feedback from those who read the articles. The AHCJ wants to know what journalism organizations and journalists have encountered, how they dealt with the situation and what the current status is of the situation at hand.
I would rate the Web site at a four out of five. The “Select Topic” box is very helpful when letting journalists narrow down to certain topics. The pages that come up under topics include links to other sites that are very helpful, such as informational sites or blogs of experiences or expertise. It also seemed to be up to date for the most part. Health and health care are very broad subjects, but the AHCJ helps journalists narrow down resources in order to help journalists obtain information faster and report accurately. The only problem I encountered was limiting searches even more. For example, I wanted to search for lymphoma, a type of cancer, but the site only allows a search for cancer. If it would let journalists select more detailed topics, the site would easily be a five out of five rating.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Association for Alternative Newsweeklies!
The following is an analysis of The Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (AAN) (http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/index).
According to the Web site the AAN has, “a tolerance for individual freedoms and social differences; and an eagerness to report on issues and communities that many mainstream media outlets ignore.” From local news and culture to arts and narrative journalism, the AAN includes a variety of publications.
There is a link called newsweeklies that gives you a directory of all 130 weekly newspaper associations who are members of the AAN. The resource directory not only gives the weekly news in each state, when clicking on each specific paper you get information on each papers demographics, names of the staff members, press releases and AAN awards it has received.
The site also has a News Archives tab allows you to search by department, by specific AAN members and date up until 1998.
A web portal on the AAN Web site called AltWeeklies.com provides up-to-date news about “politics, crime, social issues, the environment, health, sex, food, film, music, art and books - all with a different perspective from what is generally found on wire-service and daily-newspaper Web sites.”
The association has high standards and screens perspective applications for membership, accepting 30% of the papers that apply for membership. The Web site has specific AAN bylaws that states the requirements and specific standards each association must meet in order to receive membership.
Overall I would rate this Web site a 3 out of 5. I think that the Web sites strict standards of membership are important because it ensures that the material is coming from a trusted and educated source. However, the Web sites layout could be improved because the links are very small and it seemingly takes longer to find your way around the site searching for information.
Asian American Journalists Association
The following is an analysis of the Asian American Journalists Association website. (http://www.aaja.org)
AAJA is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1981 in Los Angeles, CA. With around 2000 members, the group offers support for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists in the United States. The organization was founded in a time when few AAPI journalists were working in the field.
The website provides resources for professional and student members, such as mentor programs, grants, leadership programs and job opportunities. They also offer information on camps and training programs for members. Most of the site is devoted to membership offerings including information on the organization's 2010 convention, information on how to become an member and details on membership programs.
The AAJA Awards have a separate section of the site. The organization provides awards to journalists for coverage of AAPI issues.
At first glance, the site appears to be only of use to members. The homepage has quick headline information for organization news, the upcoming 2010 convention, and headlines about partnering organizations. Near the bottom, links to journalism resources and community news are found.
The site aims primarily to members or those seeking membership, but there are a few features which can be valuable to journalists and students who are not members. The MediaWatch section of AAJA "addresses issues of unfair and inaccurate news media coverage about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." This area of the site gives links to stories in which the AAPI community is covered in a biased way. This area of the site gives a watchdog feel to the organization, but instead of watching the government, they are watching their coworkers.
The news section of the site also gives brief headlines of industry news, membership news and AAJA announcements.
In addition to being a source for diversity among journalists, the website also gives a list of reference tools for all journalists. This list includes style guides, links to other news organizations' websites and AAJA publications among others.
In terms of journalism innovation, the site is an excellent source for diversity in journalism. One of the major challenges facing journalists today is diversity in the newsroom and in coverage of the community. The site provides resources that allow journalists to provide that diversity and examples of what not to do (the MediaWatch section). The AAJA Publications section of the site gives links to AAJA's annual reports and the 2007 Focus Project. The Focus Project provides information on Asian American journalists in the industry and how they feel in the newsroom. The annual reports include valuable information on major stories of the year involving AAPI community members and how those stories were covered, properly or not. The report also gives a summary of the MediaWatch issues for that year.
Overall, I would give this site a 3 out of 5. If I were grading only on their MediaWatch and Industry news sections, I would have given a higher rating. I feel that with issues as important as diversity in the journalism profession, it is vital that information is easily accessible to everyone on the subject. On the surface, the site is very membership focused with diversity information buried in the website. In my opinion, the site should be diversity focused with membership information buried. That information needs to be a priority in a diversity organization.
AAJA is a non-profit educational organization founded in 1981 in Los Angeles, CA. With around 2000 members, the group offers support for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) journalists in the United States. The organization was founded in a time when few AAPI journalists were working in the field.
The website provides resources for professional and student members, such as mentor programs, grants, leadership programs and job opportunities. They also offer information on camps and training programs for members. Most of the site is devoted to membership offerings including information on the organization's 2010 convention, information on how to become an member and details on membership programs.
The AAJA Awards have a separate section of the site. The organization provides awards to journalists for coverage of AAPI issues.
At first glance, the site appears to be only of use to members. The homepage has quick headline information for organization news, the upcoming 2010 convention, and headlines about partnering organizations. Near the bottom, links to journalism resources and community news are found.
The site aims primarily to members or those seeking membership, but there are a few features which can be valuable to journalists and students who are not members. The MediaWatch section of AAJA "addresses issues of unfair and inaccurate news media coverage about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders." This area of the site gives links to stories in which the AAPI community is covered in a biased way. This area of the site gives a watchdog feel to the organization, but instead of watching the government, they are watching their coworkers.
The news section of the site also gives brief headlines of industry news, membership news and AAJA announcements.
In addition to being a source for diversity among journalists, the website also gives a list of reference tools for all journalists. This list includes style guides, links to other news organizations' websites and AAJA publications among others.
In terms of journalism innovation, the site is an excellent source for diversity in journalism. One of the major challenges facing journalists today is diversity in the newsroom and in coverage of the community. The site provides resources that allow journalists to provide that diversity and examples of what not to do (the MediaWatch section). The AAJA Publications section of the site gives links to AAJA's annual reports and the 2007 Focus Project. The Focus Project provides information on Asian American journalists in the industry and how they feel in the newsroom. The annual reports include valuable information on major stories of the year involving AAPI community members and how those stories were covered, properly or not. The report also gives a summary of the MediaWatch issues for that year.
Overall, I would give this site a 3 out of 5. If I were grading only on their MediaWatch and Industry news sections, I would have given a higher rating. I feel that with issues as important as diversity in the journalism profession, it is vital that information is easily accessible to everyone on the subject. On the surface, the site is very membership focused with diversity information buried in the website. In my opinion, the site should be diversity focused with membership information buried. That information needs to be a priority in a diversity organization.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The following is an analysis of The American Society of Journalists and Authors website. (http://asja.org/)
Founded in 1948, the American Society of Journalists and Authors is a professional organization of independent nonfiction writers. ASJA consists of over 1,400 freelance writers. They sponsor a Writers Emergency Assistance Fund for struggling authors. ASJA is a leadership organization supporting writers in their professional and ethical standards.
The ASJA homepage shows a list of events and news articles relevant to freelance writers. There are a few seminars and fundraisers available for the month of February. There are also select articles featured from ASJA Monthly. While most of the articles are interesting, few would help a journalist in their pursuit of writing. Most articles have a cost attached.
The website features a section for editors seeking writers. There are links to the writers’ personal websites featuring their best work. The site has a tab featuring story leads for editors to find a writer with an expertise. For the writers, there are many articles presenting tips and information about salary and demographics. ASJA also makes position papers explaining industry issues faced by most freelance writers.
A journalist could use this site to find experts on specific subjects they are working. Freelance journalists could use the site to showcase their work and use it as a platform for hire. There is research available on the site. However, the site can only be used as a starting point. It can point a writer towards other sources, such as books or articles that are available for purchase.
ASJA.org includes some short articles about journalism innovation. For example, there are pieces that question the future of travel writing, writing online, how Google affects the writer and more. However, most of the information on the site is not free. A reader can see a paragraph of an article and is then given a link to buy from a collection of an ASJA writer.
The American Society of Journalists and Authors creates a good support system. The group has a mentoring program for authors and encourages writers to continue their craft. However, most of the information provided for authors is ineffective. I would have rather seen a guide on how to succeed in the business, rather than the craft. The information I was most interested in was only suggested for purchase, and not available on the site. Overall, I would give the site a 3 out of 5.
Monday, February 1, 2010
American Press Institute
The following is an analysis of the American Press Institute website (http://americanpressinstitute.org/)
The American Press Institute (API) was founded by newspaper publishers in 1946. The API has different tracks of programs like advertising, editorial, and management. API also has seminars on content, values, leadership and management. API is located in Reston, Virginia, and conducts more than 30 seminars a year for everything from journalists to sale professionals.
The website has made information on it’s seminars readily available at the middle of the home page. It provides what kind of seminar will be given, when, and where. In the left column are accesses to API resources, leadership tips, and API news. API is also home to publications and research located at the bottom of the page.
This site can be useful to journalists because of the publications it provides. There is research published on the website concerning issues like the future of news, how to report on a crisis, how to connect with different audiences and ethnic groups, and even how our cell phones are affecting journalism. I did however try to access a number of these research publications and was told the page did not exist.
The website gives much emphasis to the API’s seminars on journalism. While I was not able to access many of the research publications, there are, however, a number of resources available that cover things like how to use social networking to generate revenue, educating youth about the First Amendment and freedom of speech, and how to diversify your newsroom.
The API Leadership column is probably the most informative. It has many articles titled “Five Questions For…” then an expert in the journalism community answers the questions. However many of these articles are dated. The most current article is from January 13, 2010, and the second most recent is from May 7, 2008. There is some good information in these articles though, despite their lack of timeliness.
Over all I would give the website a rating of 3 out of 5. There is some good information here, but some of it is dated. It is easily accessible and navigable. There is a place for discussion led by prominent people in the journalism business. The API claims it is a place for sharing ideas, experiences, and strategies. I think they do justify this statement. I would give the website a better score if more of the information was current.
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