Chase Carnot
JOUR 3050
March 4, 2009
Speaker Summary
Speaker: Paul Parker
Chase Carnot
Discussion Leader: Beren Jones
In discussing the investigative techniques Paul Parker uses in his reporting for the Providence Journal, the class discussion moved for the first time significantly outside the realm of ethics. There was little mention of the assigned readings and instead, both Parker and the class focused more on the changing media landscape. As discussion leader, Beren focused on this and took it in two directions: both the future of newspapers and the use of new technologies at print publications.
Beren pointed first to the simulation in which Parker had constructed a model of the Station nightclub fire using computer software and data gathered by 62 reporters. Beren said the model struck him as little more than speculation. Some students agreed at first but Prof. Dufresne pointed out that the data was gathered from eyewitnesses that actually escaped the fire and traced their route out of the club on a map that Journal reporters took with them to interviews. More students then said they found the simulation a good “concrete example” that could dispel rumors among the public about what actually happened on the night of the fire.
Students also found that the story was made more clear with the alternative models of what could have happened had the club adhered to at least one of its occupancy limits. Alyssa and Joe however, said the models were irrelevant because it wasn't what happened and “what ifs” are simply conjecture. Pat believed that the models and graphics would attract more readers to the newspaper, whether online or in print. He said that the breakdown of all the scenarios like a crime scene investigation would also be beneficial for future planning. Another student pointed out that the coverage has already resulted in changes to Rhode Islands building and fire codes. The rest of the class seemed to agree that the alternative models make fault more clear, which leads to better accountability.
Parker warned the class that they would need to know things like Excel and Power Point and be skilled with a video camera. Erin said that she thought Parker's concerns were “old school” since our generation grew up with this technology. Alyssa added that her camera, unlike Parker's, takes video and photos.
Underlying the class's discussion of this theme seems to be that technology is very important to the work of reporting and will only grow more so as newspapers compete with broadcast and web news. There seems also though, to be a healthy skepticism about what technology really adds to the news. Pat admitted that he found all the spreadsheet and database stuff confusing while other students said they felt the graphics and data can be overwhelming, at least in print. The consensus was that the use of technology should probably be reserved for reporting and to make more clear to the reader what that reporting uncovered. Graphics, charts, lists and tables shouldn't replace content, but instead demystify it.
Computer-assisted reporting held the class's attention for much of Beren's 10 minutes but he was able to set the tone for the other discussion leaders, at least in part, by focusing next on the future, or lack thereof, for newspapers. Beren asked: Do newspapers need to be online?
Parker earlier raised the specter of the death of newspapers when he touched on the layoffs and buyouts at the Providence Journal last year. The newspaper was chaotic for a time before it underwent a reorganization with its diminished staff. The shakeup at the Journal came only a few years after it provided such valuable coverage of the Station fire. Dozens of Journal reporters dedicated themselves to the story and uncovered information at odds with official reports from state agencies. The paper's financial difficulties seem all the more glaring in light of this recent public service.
The class agreed that the web makes much of the information clearer than in print where it would be overwhelming. Parker sounded optimistic in his presentation about the future of newspapers. He said that the corporate model is what is failing now with its emphasis on quarterly returns for investors at the expense of good journalism. The web isn't responsible for that. Parker added that local news will still need to be covered. And that while bigger papers may look down their nose at them, smaller local papers provide a service that won't be snatched up by the bigger papers and can't be replaced by the internet. Those publications will also remain in print because when people are part of the news, like if their child's boy/girl scout troop made the paper, they want something tangible and permanent.
The class was less optimistic than Parker in response to the question of the future of newspapers and whether they need to migrate online. Some students said that only the big papers like the Washington Post and New York Times with a national audience could afford to stay in print. Others agreed with Parker and Prof. Dufresne that small local papers are the only outlets that are irreplaceable and that unique content and becoming “hyper local” is their best bet. The consensus seemed to be though that people need the news and that it is merely migrating online. Those papers that can survive the next couple decades as predominately print institutions will be a special case, focusing exclusively on national or exclusively on local news.
In conclusion, the importance of technology to journalism and investigative reporting in particular is obvious. But at the same time, that technology is not a substitute for good journalism. It is important to remember that news is a public service and that even though it is failing as a business doesn't mean we can live without it. While the internet is seen as replacing the traditional newspaper, internet news is just an aggregation of what has already appeared in print for the most part.
It looks like the class found everything very “interesting.” The cards overwhelmingly point to the significance of computer-assisted reporting as a major theme or at least the most interesting. Some students were surprised that it plays such an important role. Others were struck by the way technology could clarify the story. Overall the class seems to have taken to heart the fact that such in-depth reporting will sustain the news in the future, if not newspapers. Amy made the point that Parker was the first speaker that did not raise “glaring ethical concerns” and links that to the fact that he is a UConn graduate.
Take-Away Cards
Shane Godrich: “Computer assisted reporting appears to have opened many new doors to the extent and detail a story can be reported on. The knowledge needed to use this kind of reporting seems to be an important skill for future journalists.”
Emily Abbate: “Paul's experiences at the PRJ is extremely interesting and very inspiring considering I have never learned (?) anything about investigative reporting before.”
Kim Romanello: “I found his specialty of computer-assisted reporting to be very intriguing and something I had known very little about.”
Aaron Roy: “Paul's speech demonstrated how C.A.R. is essential to the future of journalism. Journalists are going to need skills beyond the past norms that have been established.”
Amy Lockmiller: “I think it's interesting that this is the first speaker we've had that there seemed to be no glaring ethical concerns. I wonder if this is because Parker has been through the same journalism program we're going through.”
Brendan Cox: “I was struck by the importance that seemingly irrelevant software (ie Excel) plays in his job. The Station Fire coverage w/ the simulation software was very innovative, in my opinion.”
Daniella Henry: “It was very interesting how the floor plans and data sheets really enhanced the stories about the station fire.”
Amanda Wisniowski: “I was surprised to learn how software plays a major role in reporting these days.”
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