From properly identifying sources to insensitive phrases or photos, journalists can submit questions online and then an expert in that area will be in touch for a longer conversation.
How did the hotline come to be? How were the experts selected?
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Wright: The original impetus for this particular project came about after the Philadelphia Inquirer decided to run an especially tone-deaf headline in the wake of protests of the death of George Floyd at the hands of the state. For those who don't quite understand, the destruction of buildings is shameful but pales in comparison to the untimely end of a human life. Building repairs can be financed via insurance or any number of other means, but George Floyd cannot be replaced. [SPJ Region 3 coordinator and hotline administrator] Michael Koretzky ran the idea by a couple of SPJ members who reached out to other members in their network and we took it from there.
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What do you want journalists to take away from this resource?
Mercer: At least on my end, I think it's important for reporters to know that people have the answers. It's crucial for journalists to go seek the truth — getting facts wrong, whether they be about race or gender or both — isn't acceptable. And as we report the truth, we also want to make sure we do so ethically. If we're going to be a voice for the voiceless, we want to tell their stories right. That's why our experts are a part of these communities.
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Can you share some of the most common questions asked?
Branstetter: Many of the questions I and TJA have fielded from reporters center on language — pronouns, use of prior names, specific terminology. Others focus on identity and privacy — when is it relevant to identify a source as transgender? What questions about medical history are out of line (hint: most of them)?
The most common question I've received, however, is how reporters can find transgender people impacted by policies and events designed for our benefit or our detriment. I strongly encourage reporters to remember trans people are in their coverage areas — their towns, their districts, their cities, and their industries. Instead of calling polished national LGBT organizations, I strongly recommend they familiarize themselves with their own local queer community, including LGBT centers, direct service organizations, social clubs, campus pride clubs, and family support groups.
Why is it important for journalists to ask these questions outside of their newsrooms?
Branstetter: Misconceptions about transgender people are widespread, as are social and systemic biases that can (and often are) reflected in reporting. The majority of most editorial staff in the country are white, male, and cisgender, and three quarters of all editors-in-chief are white, male, and cisgender. This means these reporters are often engaging on issues that do not impact, or might even stand to benefit, people who share those identities. That is not objectivity; it's a mockery of objectivity. Diversifying newsrooms is one necessary step to resolve this, and letting marginalized people lead as experts on the issues impacting them is another.
In what circumstances should a reporter call the hotline rather than have the conversation in the newsroom?
Wright: Consider deadlines first and foremost, and consider your relationship to whoever you would ask this in your newsroom. If you don't already have a good rapport with whoever that is, consider that they may feel pressured to answer a certain way or even decline to answer if they know the newsroom generally or if they think advice will fall on deaf ears. Readers can tell how coverage is rosy for some groups and unforgiving for others, and reporters are even closer to that dynamic than readers are.
What do you hope will happen after a call to the hotline?
Mercer: At the bare minimum, I hope it helps a reporter with context for their questions. Stylebooks are great, but you can't ask a book why certain rules are in place. Ideally, once reporters' questions will be answered, they'll be able to walk away from a conversation with one of our experts with a little extra knowledge and the confidence to tell a story accurately and ethically.
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In a departure from her typical beat as a New York Times journalist, Sarah Maslin Nir has turned her reporter’s eye on herself in her new book, “Horse Crazy: The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal,” which unpacks her and others’ obsession with horses. Nir began riding horses as a 2-year-old but it wasn’t until she started writing a memoir about her passion that she realized the role they played in helping her heal from trauma.
Registration is open now for this free online program, which will be held on Sept. 21, from 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Nir will be in conversation with Rukmini Callimachi, a fellow New York Times journalist, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and horse lover. They will discuss:
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Newsroom change must be systemic, not symbolic. A few new hires, promotions, and task forces on racial and gender equity are symbolic actions. But digging into the very structure of news organizations – the values, skills, tools, assumptions and systems that drive them – is the real work ahead. (Here are some tips for getting started. ) Aspiring allies can make a difference. Read, listen and learn. Pay attention to the journalists of color in your newsroom, and follow their lead. Remember to look up, systemic inequity is all around us, and too often it can start at the top.
Advice from Jill Geisler, Bill Plante Chair in Leadership & Media Integrity, Loyola University Chicago, Freedom Forum Fellow in Women’s Leadership
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COVID has dashed many travel dreams this year, causing frustration and FOMO as we roll into the next phase of the pandemic.
But putting travel on hold doesn’t have to halt the high we get when planning a trip. Research shows that, while we benefit from physically breaking away from the norm, the thrill of planning and anticipating an adventure can be just as beneficial to our well-being.
While a big trip might be out of the picture for now, the act of planning low-key getaways can boost your mental health with similar effects.
Some ideas for short trips:
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Explore local and state parks you haven’t been to within driving or walking distance.
- Visit your local zoo or botanical garden (avoiding indoor exhibits).
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Sketch out and take a daylong, roundtrip road trip (for the music, snacks and scenery).
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Plan a picnic in a nearby city: Once you get there, order takeaway from a chef-y restaurant to enjoy in an outdoor space.
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Research popular murals in and around your city, and plot an afternoon around taking photos at each of them.
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The National Press Club Journalism Institute, the National Press Foundation, and the RAND corporation are offering journalists a new way to prepare for the unexpected in Election 2020 news: Gaming your coverage plan.
Registration is open for this free program, which will be held on Friday, Sept. 25 from 5-7 p.m. ET.
RAND gamemaster David A. Shlapak will present players with scenarios based on current and likely events, and each team will make coverage decisions, not knowing what the next roll of the dice will bring.
The game will surface journalists’ assumptions and test decisions as reporters and editors balance competing goals, commit limited resources, and assess tradeoffs. The game’s timeline will begin in September, continue through Election Day, and end on Inauguration Day.
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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco, Holly Butcher Grant, and Julie Moos. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.
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