Submitted by jhai on Tue, 03\/03\/2009 – 10:14pm<\/p>\n
Session Convenor: <\/strong> Bill Moushey<\/p>\n Session Reporter: <\/strong>Jackie Hai<\/p>\n Discussion Participants: <\/strong> Lou Ureneck, Ken Carpenter, Carey French, et al.<\/p>\n Bill Moushey of the\u00a0Innocence Institute<\/a> at Point Park University and Lou Ureneck of the\u00a0New England Center for Investigative Reporting<\/a> at Boston University talked about their programs.<\/p>\n Innocence Institute – research and reporting – 2 sets of classes<\/p>\n Open-ended classes (practicum, internship, directed research)<\/p>\n – students have gotten 15-18 credits doing things related to Innocence Institute<\/p>\n – they have very little knowledge of criminal justice system, after taking classes, knowledge base increased tenfold<\/p>\n – 13 cases have been reversed each year<\/p>\n – 400 media appearances in last 2.5 years<\/p>\n – Bill is expanding the Innocence Institute to become a center for enterprise reporting<\/p>\n New England Center for Investigative Reporting<\/p>\n – students are trained in classes that prep them for internship at the center<\/p>\n – internships are guided\/directed<\/p>\n – center has partnerships with media: Boston Globe, New England Cable News, WBUR<\/p>\n – each unit brings something to table: reporting\/editing help, production capacity<\/p>\n – now trying to tap into alumni network<\/p>\n Young people fall in love with their stories – a huge motivator<\/p>\n How many kids in each class?<\/p>\n – 20 kids involved in Innocence Institute<\/p>\n Have never finished an investigation in one semester – sometimes runs into summer – need committed faculty for this.<\/p>\n At BU, paid reporters from media partners are leading investigations, coaching students, but not teaching classes – giving students pieces of the assignment and guiding them.\u00a0At Point Park, students enterprise their own stories and investigations.<\/p>\n How to ensure integrity of reporting?<\/p>\n – students don’t go alone,\u00a0faculty accompany students on interviews<\/p>\n – students usually have not yet developed a good B.S. meter, need to be told to double-check<\/p>\n – anecdotal stuff not allowed unless presented on documents<\/p>\n How to get started with your own center<\/p>\n – integrating programs<\/p>\n – “center” means outside funding sources<\/p>\n – consider which route to take: 501(c)3 standalone vs. university umbrella<\/p>\n – Bill modeled his program after one by David Protess at Northwestern, though now it’s\u00a0grown more towards becoming a larger organization<\/p>\n Getting buy-ins<\/p>\n – from universities, e.g. law school partner<\/p>\n – from other journalism professors, e.g. broadcast, photography<\/p>\n – bring in more instructors by hiring through center with grant funding<\/p>\n ProPublica model<\/p>\n – give away stories in exchange for credit, student’s name in byline<\/p>\n – gets the word out<\/p>\n Curriculum<\/p>\n – two cornerstone courses: principles and techniques of journalism, media law and ethics<\/p>\n – course in investigative reporting<\/p>\n – IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors)\u00a0book, anecdotes and tips<\/p>\n – students get cases almost immediately, compiling backgrounds, surveying kids in detention centers<\/p>\n This is good, old-fashioned journalism<\/p>\n – though the presentation may change,\u00a0fearless hardnosed reporting is still the backbone of good journalism<\/p>\n – students still want to learn this and are flocking to it<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Submitted by jhai on Tue, 03\/03\/2009 – 10:14pm Session Convenor: Bill Moushey Session Reporter: Jackie Hai Discussion Participants: Lou Ureneck, Ken Carpenter, Carey French, et al. Bill Moushey of the\u00a0Innocence Institute at Point Park University and Lou Ureneck of the\u00a0New … Continue reading