Symposium for Journalistic Courage

October 5, 2016

The McGill program is funded by the McGill Lecture Endowment McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

Excerpts from four group discussions:

• Covering Conflict and Caring

• Covering Elections when Press Freedoms are Under Attack

• Mental Illness: Fighting Stigma with Personal Stories

• College Sports and Sexual Assault: Giving Voice to the Victims McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

Contents

Welcome 3

Covering Conflict and Caring 4

Covering Elections: When Press Freedoms are Under Attack 7

Mental Illness: Fighting Stigma with Personal Stories 10

College Sports and Sexual Assault: Giving a Voice to the Victims 13

Participants 16

Contact Us 16 McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

Welcome

On behalf of my colleagues in the Grady College of and Mass Communication, welcome to the McGill Symposium. The McGill symposium, now in its tenth year, is an outgrowth of the McGill lecture.

For nearly 40 years, the McGill lecture has brought significant figures in journalism to the University of Georgia to help us honor Ralph McGill’s courage as an editor.

Roundtable discussions in 2006 with industry professionals and faculty led us to develop the McGill symposium as the next step in honoring McGill and exploring journalistic courage. The McGill Symposium brings together students, faculty, and leading to consider what journalistic courage means and how it is exemplified by reporters and editors.

Today 12 McGill Fellows – undergraduate and graduate students selected by a faculty committee for their strengths in academic achievement, practical experience and leadership – join five McGill visiting journalists for a six hour discussion.

McGill Program Director Topics will include: Diane Murray • Covering Conflict and Caring • Covering Elections when Press Freedoms are Under Attack • Mental Illness: Fighting Stigma with Personal Stories and • College Sports and Sexual Assault: Giving Voice to the Victims

Today will be a success if the journalists, faculty and students engage each other rigorously to try to answer the question “What does courage look like in journalism?”

3 Covering Conflict and Caring

McGill Visiting : Louie Palu, Freelance Photojournalist Moderator: Mark Johnson, Senior Lecturer of at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

When he travels to a especially as organizations dangerous place to cover conflict, and social media have made photojournalist Louie Palu access more pervasive. He’s now carries a picture of his family in competing with governments that his helmet. It reminds him who manipulate images of an event, he’s responsible to first — his including terrorists with their family and his safety. Although own Twitter accounts. He showed it’s easy to romanticize foreign photo essays from a magazine correspondence or war reporting, called Inspire, which the militant it’s important to remember Islamist organization Al-Qaeda the reality of it as well. To produces to play up positive capture important moments, aspects of their operations. photographers must be there in “These are strong outreach person to document the scene. tools they use to talk to people Sometimes that scene can be through the Internet,” he said. unsafe. “We can’t go cover ISIS. We have “There’s a tradition of covering to use their images.” conflict, even dating back to While documenting war Francisco de Goya, a Spanish conflict in particular, Palu tries painter who documented the to cover both sides equally in disasters of war and human rights some way. Palu looks for different violations as Napoleon invaded angles and stories to tell about Spain,” he said. the people involved. He thinks Palu has covered stories about how they’ll be used in a worldwide in Pakistan, India, publication, how they’ll compete Mali and Libya for publications with other important news of such as the BBC, Sunday Times the day, and how important Magazine, TIME, Newsweek and aspects may be emphasized or The New York Times. He covered minimized depending on the news the war in Afghanistan from organization using his images. 2006-2010 and the Mexican “War isn’t just about two drug war from 2011-2013. While armies,” he said. “Both sides showing a collection of his photos kill, even the side where you’re during the McGill Symposium, standing.” Palu explained how war reporting has changed over the years,

4 McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

said. “It’s a tale of rough guys and Robin Hoods down there who act like they’re killing for justice.” Through sources, Palu kept track of the safe and dangerous cities for travel on both the Mexico and Texas sides of the border. He was more careful about investigating areas that he wasn’t familiar with, but it also didn’t stop him from taking daring photos. He interviewed gang members to learn their backstories and found women in shelters along the borders who had stories to tell. “We were all the same when McGill Visiting Journalist Louie Palu and Moderator we were two years old,” he said. Mark Johnson “How did they get here? Who are they now? What motivates them?” For a series about Marines readers and voters to get angry,” Palu first became interested on the cover of Newsweek, for he said. “The photos don’t change in documenting images overseas example, Palu took portraits of what’s happening, but they can because his parents are Italian service members with massive empower us to change it.” immigrants, and they shared burns on their faces. It showed While documenting the stories about growing up during reality, rather than a sanitized Mexican drug war, Palu World War II and their struggles. view of war. photographed human rights Palu wanted to connect to his In a conflict zone, however, violations, murders and heritage and learn more about this can be tough to keep in assassinations that occurred countries where conflicts occur mind. Fellow Elizabeth Fite as part of the drug trade. He today. When he travels, however, wondered how Palu shows both documented 140 killings he often doesn’t tell his mother sides, especially when covering during his first month. Part all of the details about where he’s countries that don’t demonstrate of his job required not only traveling and what he’s seeing. democratic ideals or respect for taking the photographs but also “Many of my family members citizens of all races, genders understanding the scene and know what I do but don’t want to or beliefs. Palu agreed that knowing who was killed, who see it,” he said. “When students when he sees children get hurt killed them, and how they did it. tell me they want to cover by landmines or shrapnel, in Sometimes, cartel members sent conflict, I agree to give them particular, he has become angry messages to police at the scene advice but make sure they’ve and unsure. In most cases, he of the murders, and other times, talked to their family first about follows the Code of Ethics of the police killed to send a message to the possibility of getting wounded National Press Photographers the cartels. or shot.” Association and thinks about it “Both sides would set up McGill Fellow Cory Cole asked when he has doubts. their own photo, and we’d try to about the importance of getting “My job is to show the work around it, just like covering close to subjects in a conflict zone different sides, and it’s up to the politics or staged photos,” he 5 but also staying safe. Palu agreed McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage that in combat, it’s sometimes and when he returns to maintain of interest. It’s necessary to bond necessary to move close to the balanced mental with them, Palu agreed, but noted that journalists must draw action to show trauma, revenge health. Alcohol and drug abuse a line ethically. If someone is and hate in the scene. At the can run rampant on confined shot, it may be fine to help carry same time, he often sees young military compounds, and Palu a wounded soldier to a medic, photographers move too close to runs, cycles, meditates and does and Palu has done that before. the gunfire, where landmines are yoga to keep himself entertained If a solider asks him to hold a laid. and physically active. He gun or carry ammo, however, he “They target us and want to also avoids alcohol when he refuses. He will not be part of kill us,” he said. “We’ve got to get returns from an assignment the combat. close but be careful.” and prioritizes sessions with his Journalists should also feel Fellow Kaitlyn Yarborough therapist. responsible for their fixers, asked Palu how he prepares “You’ve got to give yourself drivers and translators who help them navigate the area, Palu said. Understand what they’re being paid, find out if they’re equipped with armor, and plan emergency contact information and first aid kits for them as well. “They’re part of your team,” he said. “They’re risking their lives to help you, and you’re responsible for them.” Palu encouraged the Fellows to find workshops, conferences and fellowships to develop their skills and meet other photojournalists. He regularly McGill Fellows Katelyn Umholtz and Jaylon Thompson attends sessions with the National Press Photographers Association and White House himself to travel to dangerous the management tools to deal News Photographers Association conflict zones. He starts by with trauma and stress,” he said. to be inspired by others and their preparing health insurance, “There’s still a stigma, even with work. vaccines and legal paperwork, my guy friends, about therapy, “The importance of and then he talks to fellow but it’s one of the best decisions photography has never been photojournalists or government I’ve made.” more important than now,” he officials who have traveled That also means finding said. “Do what you believe in, recently to the location. He friends and trusted coworkers and you will figure out the rest.” also prepares physically for the while on the ground in a combat strain of long days and lugging zone. Fellow Josh Jones asked equipment. how Palu maintains professional Most of all, he focuses on a relationships with soldiers and healthy lifestyle while he’s gone officials without having a conflict 6 Covering Elections: When Press Freedoms are under Attack

McGill Visiting Journalist: Mary Katharine Ham, CNN Contributor and The Federalist Senior Writer Greg Bluestein, Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Moderator: Barry Hollander, journalism professor at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication The 2016 Election will be one garner applause, and journalists for the history books, both for learn to shrug, laugh and continue the polarizing campaigns and the reporting. When this happens challenges to press freedom. As to Bluestein, politicians often Republican candidate Donald seek him out after the event and Trump called out reporters in act cordial. However, this tactic public, sometimes by name, seemed more extreme during Democrat candidate Hillary Trump’s campaign. Clinton gave a subtle cold “He called reporters ‘slime’ shoulder to press members to and said we were horrible, terrible control coverage. With press people,” Bluestein said. “In the freedom under attack from middle of a giant room during a social, legal and philosophical rally, that can rev up supporters angles, journalists are wondering who turn around a hurl insults at whether this is the “new norm” you.” and if future campaigns will At the same time, Trump has follow this example as the way to been one of the most accessible treat media members. candidates during a campaign, “I think this election will have often calling radio programs and an asterisk next to it in history TV shows to give his input. He books,” said Greg Bluestein, a also pitted journalists against each reporter for the Atlanta Journal- other at the same publication Constitution who has covered for interview access. Even as he politics in the Atlanta area for blocked the Washington Post from more than a decade. “I’ve never an event, for example, he agreed felt this level of hostility toward to an in-depth sit-down interview the press.” with reporters from the staff. In Reporters often receive contrast, Clinton held few press public critique, especially if conferences in the 100 days they cover politics as a beat, leading up to Election Day and Bluestein noted, but this year’s stopped inviting press pools onto election cycle seemed more her plane to travel to campaign vitriolic than usual. At political events. rallies, it’s common practice for “I worry that her model politicians to take a jab at well- is going to become the norm known reporters or their news because candidates will see they 7 organizations during speeches to can limit press coverage,” he said. McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

photos and creating a curated “brand” around the First Family. Members of the White House Press Corps pushed back occasionally during the past eight years, sometimes with success. “We’re supposed to take these photos. We’re supposed to document these moments,” Ham said. “Instead, we’re seeing this West Wing story that is delivered to the public.” That erosion is happening on the local level, too, Bluestein said. Thousands of reporters cover national elections, but few reporters watch state and local elections. As Bluestein has McGill Visiting Journalists Greg Bluestein and covered elections, inaugurations Mary Katharine Ham, and Moderator Barry Hollander and legislative sessions at the Georgia Capitol during the past “Her style may set a precedent.” Both candidates know reporters decade, he’s seen fewer reporters That’s why Clinton’s health at top national publications by in the press box. This means became a mystery during the name, and neither seems to mind bills, votes and decisions pass by campaign, said Mary Katherine making enemies, Ham added. readers without investigation or Ham, a CNN contributor and Both candidates broke paradigms, commentary. senior writer for The Federalist. and reporters seemed beholden “Georgia is the ninth biggest When Clinton quickly left a Sept. to access. When Chris Wallace state in the country, but only 11 gathering and seemed weak, of Fox News Sunday refused to a handful of reporters cover her departure developed into a big host Trump on the show over the what’s happening,” he said. “As news story. She didn’t have a pool phone rather than in the studio, journalists, we’re on the front of reporters around her, so nobody Ham cheered. lines of these state decisions.” captured the full details of what “I’d like to see more courage In addition, as commentary happened on the scene. In fact, like that. We shouldn’t be led expands online and through social her escape from the event seemed around by the nose,” she said. media, election coverage often secretive. “As we move down the road runs through a gamut of “news “That’s why we put a pool of toward campaigns being like of the moment” stories. McGill reporters with candidates at that reality TV shows, it’s important for Fellow Michelle Baruchman point in the campaign,” Ham us to push back.” wondered how 2016 compared said. “Everything a candidate As Trump’s administration to previous campaign years where does is important.” takes over in 2017, the erosion of certain gaffes, such as Howard At the same time, both access is the key press freedom Dean’s on-stage rant in 2004 candidates have been public to watch, she added. During or Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” figures for decades and are President Barack Obama’s remark in 2012, seemed to familiar with the way journalists, administration, the White House end the campaign. This year, particularly political journalists, team took on a outlandish comments persisted. pursue story ideas and deadlines. more direct role in distributing “We’ve seen Trump make a 8 McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

mistake every 15 seconds but wouldn’t have landed on the news give the commenters any attention keep going, so we’ve seen the assignment desk a few years ago or satisfaction for bothering him. pendulum swing,” Ham said. are being assigned as quick-hit Ham is also used to negative “Instead of a cloistered political stories for the day, Bluestein comments from social media candidate, people want someone said. Reporters are required to followers but thinks 2016 has who will say everything.” be aware of their own click-based been more abusive than usual. These pervasive negative metrics, and editors often use More “trolls,” or fake accounts that comments may have broadened them in annual evaluations and intentionally target social media the public’s tolerance for gaffes, performance reviews. users with harassing comments to she said. Plus, the 24/7 news “It’s a profound change in the elicit a reaction, are posting sexist, cycle makes it more difficult for industry, and everyone I know has racist and offensive posts, she gaffes to rise above the noise and to deal with ‘getting clicks’ as a said. In addition, more paid troll stay there, Bluestein said. At the part of their job,” he said. “It’s farms are being funded to unleash same time, this election cycle has a constant struggle to write the hateful comments. On some opened room for racist and sexist well-thought-out premium story of days, Ham avoids the comment comments to go unanswered, he the day and an easy that will section of her stories to shield her added. When these comments get clicks but not truly serve the emotional well-being. Other times, surface, Fellow Lauren Herbert readers.” she chuckles that she receives hate asked, how can reporters cover On top of that, managing mail from both sides of the aisle. the news in an unbiased way? social media coverage during “Part of the job now is that you “That’s my job. I open up the election is an added have to protect yourself,” she said. about where I stand and that responsibility, as well as a “I’ve seen some people stop using I don’t like either candidate,” detractor. It can also affect Twitter because of the comments. I Ham said. “When I see a blip on morale. Since he’s Jewish, hope the extreme ones will simmer Twitter, I work hard to check the Bluestein routinely receives anti- in 2017 after the election.” context of what was said and how Semitic comments on his stories As election coverage it was phrased.” and posts. He often mutes them transitions to stories about the At the same time, stories that and ignores them, not wanting to new administration, Ham hopes the American public will demand important stories in the political arena. Part of the erosion of access during the campaign is related to the erosion of trust in media as an institution, she said. If Americans care less about how journalists are treated or what access they have, it’s harder for reporters themselves to push back against candidates. In 2017, that could shift again. “The silver lining of this campaign is who knows what will happen next time,” she said. “Since I’ve been in D.C., I’ve seen political campaigns become more professionalized and manipulative. It’s time for the press to push McGill Fellow William Robinson back.” 9 Mental Illness: Fighting Stigma with Personal Stories McGill Visiting Journalist: Carrie Siedman, Reporter, Sarasota Herald-Tribune Moderator: Patricia Thomas, Journalism Professor at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication After mass shootings in Tucson, hearing from the families was not Colorado and Sandy Hook in being told.” 2011, 2012 and 2014, a national Siedman decided to write conversation developed about the about the families and their shooters who were young white children. Her 2015 special project males with mental health issues. on schizophrenia, called “The S What caused them to become Word,” received the Media Award violent? Is there any way to help from Mental Health America, the them or stop them? Community Engagement Award As she watched the from the American Society of conversation grow, Carrie Siedman, Editors, and the Best a reporter at the Sarasota Herald- Features or Series Award from the Tribune in Florida, noticed a Society for Features Journalism. change in tone toward her own son, As she began reporting, Keaton, who was diagnosed with however, she knew sources might schizophrenia at age 22. She found not want to reveal their identities that acquaintances and friends had in the community newspaper, misconceptions about his brain especially around a condition disorder and thought he might have such as schizophrenia. Although violent tendencies. mental health conditions such as “It was every parent’s depression and bipolar disorder nightmare,” she said. have sparked more conversation Siedman attended family in media outlets in recent years, support groups in the Sarasota schizophrenia still conjures area for parents of adult children negative associations. with mental health disorders “Even though the families knew and heard stories similar to hers. me, loved me and trusted me, they Parents struggled to find help for didn’t want to have their faces their children and often ran into and names in the newspaper and roadblocks when lining up health online,” she said. “People tell me services, medications and job I was brave to tell this story, but opportunities. it’s people like my son who were “I was living in a dichotomous willing to put their faces on it who world where I saw the headlines are brave.” on one side and my personal life Siedman worked on the story on the other,” she said. “I started in her own time for several months feeling strongly that the side I was in addition to her daily work as a 10 McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

reporter. Herald-Tribune editors wrote pieces about Patrick and graphics and art for the series. Some support long-form narrative Keaton and how they handle their of the sources’ families didn’t want journalism and feature several daily lives. The community reaction their names or photos used, so the major projects each year. When was so strong that the Herald- newspaper set aside a stipend to Siedman suggested the idea for the Tribute scheduled two forums hire an artist to create images for the series, the editors advocated for her for community members to have series. The artist, who also struggles to write her own story. important conversations with those with schizophrenia and has only “Reporters can find amazing involved with the story. The first found work as a janitor at a local stories but have to fight the forum, which had room for 100 mental health institution, illustrated good fight to showcase them, people, filled to the brim with 150 themes and his struggles with the and the editors trusted her, readers. The second event cut off at brain disorder. His work was framed which can be rare,” said Pat 350 reservations. and exhibited at the community Thomas, journalism professor at “It was wonderful because the forums as well. the University of Georgia Grady participants who are usually hidden “It was an inventive way of College of Journalism and Mass and scorned were at the head of getting around the challenge of Communication. “Carrie reacted to the table and celebrated,” she said. not having photos while also giving the zeitgeist that mentally ill people “People really do want to talk about insight into the gifts of people who are dangerous, and she found the mental health.” have mental health challenges,” face of that.” Since the series, Patrick and Siedman said. Siedman began reporting by Keaton have expressed gratitude to Fellow Will Robinson asked talking with the people she knew in Siedman and said they’re glad they about the challenge of swimming the mental health organizations in spoke on the record and advocated against public perception and Sarasota. She followed one young for their disorder. At the same negative stigmas about mental man who dropped out quickly due time, reporters must be careful health disorders. With movies and to qualms about his reputation. She when covering mental health other entertainment media that then worked with another young stories, Siedman said. As a 2016- dramatize the criminally insane, how man for three months who stopped 2017 Carter Center Mental Health can journalists present a responsible because his father didn’t want him Journalism Fellow, she heard a message? to face potential repercussions in tragic story about a fellow reporter Media messaging is getting the future. Siedman worked with who profiled a young man under better, but it could still use work, a third young man, Patrick, for age 18 who later regretted that Siedman agreed. Most people with six months to tell his story. Then his story was searchable online. mental health issues lead normal six weeks before publication, he When he prepared to graduate lives, take medication and deal hesitated and told her he wanted for college and look for jobs, the with issues such as finding work, to back out. She met with him and asked the reporter and news community and social services talked calmly with him about the publication to remove the story, but like everyone else. The extreme story and what she intended to the news organization declined to 10 percent who self-medicate write. take it down. In the end, the man and become violent, however, are “I was ready to give up six committed suicide. the ones who often receive news months of work,” she said. “As “This is real. It’s not casual coverage, she said. someone who writes about mental to write about people who have “There’s way too much focus on health respectfully, I wasn’t going disorders,” Siedman said. “It’s that end of mental health disorders,” to tell him that he had to do the paramount for both the reporter she said. “I’d love to see reporters story.” and subject to take care of their continue to tell the other side, too.” The next day, Patrick called mental health. Even reporting on Explainer stories about mental back and agreed. He was full this can be traumatic.” illness in general are helpful, committed. The Tribune-Herald also got Siedman added. With the Herald- 11 When the section ran, Siedman creative with its use of images, Tribute series, she wrote a story that McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

of us have never had a moment of anxiety. This isn’t ‘us’ versus ‘them.’ This is all of us.” Siedman shared several tips for journalists interested in telling mental health stories with compassion: 1. Ask yourself, “Is this relevant?” When covering breaking news in particular, does a mental health question come to mind? If so, is it documented and a legitimate factor to the story? 2. Educate yourself. Don’t approach a mental health story without knowing the condition you’re profiling. Read current research so you can convey your McGill Fellow Leigh Beeson knowledge and sensitivity. corrected misconceptions about and emotionally. In one article, 3. Don’t rush sources. This isn’t a schizophrenia, particularly the Siedman shared Keaton’s first story you can do quickly during a still-lingering belief that it means psychotic break, when she picked 45-minute interview on a Tuesday. multiple personalities or psychotic him up from college at age 22. He Build trust by spending several behavior. For reporters, the Carter was put in isolation in a psychiatric hours on your interviews during Center is a good resource to turn for hospital after pushing a police multiple meetings. information about disorders and the officer across a room. While there, 4. Apologize when necessary. If you best way to describe them correctly he received medication he had make a mistake with terminology in stories. never taken before, and he left or elsewhere and someone points it Fellow Michelle Baruchman the crisis unit and disappeared out, acknowledge the comment. asked when mental illness should for 10 days. As Siedman shared 5. Find a way around obstacles. If be covered as part of a news story. her story, she heard that others you face issues naming sources For example, when shootings had experienced the same and or taking photographs, look for occurred in San Bernardino in appreciated her insight. solutions such as illustrations. December 2015, several news “That’s how you reach people 6. Don’t cling to your story. If outlets sparked a conversation and relate to people,” she said. sources back out, let them. It’s about mental health issues before “Yes, it was intensely personal, but tough to give up six months of suspects were named. I saw the value in sharing the story work on a great project, but in the “We have to be careful about and hearing from others that they end, people’s health comes first. the breaking news end of things. weren’t alone.” 7. Consider untold stories. Incorrect information always comes Siedman added that young Investigative teams are writing out initially,” she said. “Personally, journalists are the hope for mental about abuse in state mental health I don’t think mental health should health conversations in America hospitals and violence, yet many be part of any story unless it’s to improve. As readers gain more stories aren’t being told about the relevant and there’s a doctor’s awareness, more people can be people who live normal lives with diagnosis.” diagnosed accurately, services can mental health issues daily. What Fellow Jaylon Thompson asked improve, and everyone will benefit. positive stories about recovery, how Siedman was able to write “We’re all on the mental health services and healthy living 12 about her son, both personally health spectrum,” she said. “Few can you share in your community? College Sports and Sexual Assault: Giving Voice to the Victims McGill Visiting Journalist: Walt Bogdanich, Investigative Reporter, New York Times Moderator: Vicki Michaelis, Journalism Professor at the University of Georgia Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication For an investigative journalist, evidence,” Bogdanich said. a career rises and falls on great “What’s wrong with this picture? ideas. Investigative reporter Walt Something wasn’t right.” Bogdanich has pursued great National reporters flocked to ideas for 35 years at the New Tallahassee for the prosecutor’s York Times, CBS, ABC News and but promptly left. the Wall Street Journal. He never That’s when Bogdanich arrived struggled to develop questions and asked questions. He didn’t and pursue the answers, earning set up a meeting or call first. He Pulitzer Prizes for his work in simply showed up. The prosecutor 1988, 2005 and 2008. welcomed Bogdanich into his In 2013, Bogdanich began office, and they talked for three reporting his next story based on hours. a tip within The Times . “And boy, did he unload,” He always bonded with the sports Bogdanich said. “He unloaded desk writers and enjoyed talking about the police and what they did to them about the latest games. wrong.” The sports editor told him to check Bogdanich didn’t ask if the out a story about Jameis Winston, conversation was on the record. He a quarterback at Florida State simply took notes and then asked University charged with sexual to return with a video camera. Take assault against a fellow female chances and don’t give sources — student. Florida State was on its especially officials — too much way to a national championship, time to think about why they don’t and Winston was headed toward want to talk, he advised. the Heisman Trophy. Huge “Do it in person. Go there. The titles were at stake. Although whole dynamic changes,” he said. the sports beat wasn’t his usual “They can’t hang up the phone on area of expertise, Bogdanich’s you.” investigative sense tingled when Since Bogdanich wasn’t a the local prosecutor revealed that college football fan before covering a rape charge wouldn’t be pursued the story, he didn’t anticipate the and there were problems with the obstacles he’d face while reporting police investigation. the story. Although he had thick “You don’t hear prosecutors skin and moxie already as an complain about police because investigative reporter, he learned 13 they depend on them for McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage even more while interviewing university officials and battling public relations professionals at a large academic institution. At one point, for example, he called Florida State to speak with the Title IX coordinator. Bogdanich scheduled a meeting with him, as well as the campus police chief and other top university officials. As soon as he arrived in Tallahassee, however, he received a voicemail saying a new crisis manager was hired to handle press questions about the case and that all of his appointments were canceled. The real kicker — the crisis manager was a former investigative reporter. “He knew the reporting mentality and what I wanted to hear,” Bogdanich said. “He said everything was off the record and McGill Visiting Journalist Walt Bogdanich then proceeded to spit out untruths about what happened with the case.” and how he found the information a judgment about whether the Bogdanich also worked around that they university didn’t want assault occurred. the donors who support not only him to access. Bogdanich first “I assembled the evidence and the Florida State athletic program reached out to the sexual assault presented it in as fair a manner but also university-related expenses victim to hear her full story. Then as I could,” he said. “I wanted such as administrators’ salaries. he interviewed others, always to document the failings in a way These groups aren’t subject to open keeping their motives in mind. In that was unassailable.” records laws, so Bogdanich faced emotional and traumatic cases After the story ran, Bogdanich reporting roadblocks. Similarly, such as sexual assault, he said, received emails and voicemail when pursuing documents from sources may want to speak out of messages that were so angry the university and local medical revenge, anger or attention. and threatening that he debated institutions, he had to battle “You have to be careful where requesting coverage from the the Family Educational Rights you step in a story like this,” he security personal in The Times and Privacy Act (FERPA) and said. “It can be an emotional newsroom. He received threats Health Insurance Portability and minefield.” on his life. Ultimately, he decided Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws Throughout the reporting not to report them as formal that protect student and patient process, Bogdanich decided to complaints. files. focus on the police investigation “I learned early on when “That’s part of what you have to timeline and whether it was fair reporting about organized crime expect with investigative stories,” to the case rather than individual that if they actually threaten you, he said. “However, I didn’t expect personal accounts. He explored they don’t harm you,” he said. what I got with this one.” whether the investigation complied “Instead, you have to worry about McGill Fellow Kaitlyn Yarborough with the law and took the assault the ones who don’t threaten you asked about his reporting process seriously. He didn’t want to make but just do it.” 14 McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage

slowly reveal the narrative. “To be an investigative reporter, you need 100 tactics to get the information you need,” he said. “I owe it to my readers to do what I can in the bounds of good taste and fairness to get people to talk.” In the Hobart and William Smith case, for example, Bogdanich visited the family 10 times before ever pulling out his notebook. During one of the visits, the victim got a new dog, and Bogdanich bonded with the dog. She was able to watch his interactions and demeanor before agreeing to do the story. Once she trusted him, Bogdanich was able McGill Fellows Kaitlyn Yarborough, Cory Cole and to convince her to go back to the Leigh Beeson campus with him and talk about what happened. social shaming had become, When Bogdanich saw another “I don’t go in, take the especially with social media and sexual assault complaint at Hobart information and leave,” he said. “I other anonymous websites that and William Smith Colleges build a relationship and honestly posted unseemly comments about in New York, he knew another care, even if I don’t write the story. her. The girl’s parents wanted investigation was at stake. He We still keep in contact today.” Bogdanich to write the story, and made 14 visits to the victim’s Across his decades of he wanted to write the story. But mother’s apartment before he felt investigations into organized he decided not to do it. any inkling that he would be able crime, the tobacco industry, sports “It was a good story, but it was to do the story. He had to gain and Chinese manufacturers, hard to see what it was doing to her trust and show he was serious Bogdanich has noticed a trend her,” he said. “I didn’t think she’d about explaining her daughter’s of power abuse. In many cases, be ready to have her name spread side of the story. Unlike the Florida a system doesn’t work properly out there nationally, and the paper State case, the Hobart and William and institutions leave gaps where backed me on the decision.” Smith case didn’t have much individuals are harmed. Those Fellow Lauren Herbert asked documentation or investigation are the stories he enjoys reporting about Bogdanich’s method for paperwork to bolster the story. the most — not when one corrupt contacting and approaching Without the victim’s voice, he politician makes a misstep, for sources, especially victims of didn’t have a story. example, but when an entire sexual assault. He explained that “That’s what you have to do system isn’t working that should encouraging people to talk is a sometimes,” he said. “These be fixed. An investigative story skill. With emotional and sensitive stories are real and awful and about systemic issues may lead to conversations, reporters must readers need to know about them, reform. spend time with the source, be so you take the time to do them.” “I care about lasting change patient and let them talk when After that story, Bogdanich and playing a role in making that they’re ready. These aren’t brief, worked on a story about a 14-year- happen,” he said. “As corny as it scheduled conversations over the old girl who was raped during her sounds, isn’t that one of the more phone. Instead, they’re multiple 15 first month of high school. He noble callings of journalism? saw through her eyes how terrible long conversations in person that McGill Symposium on Journalistic Courage Participants and Contact

2016 McGill Fellows Moderators

Michelle Baruchman, Senior, Digital and Barry Hollander, Professor, Broadcast News University of Georgia

Leigh Beeson, Graduate Student, Health and Mark Johnson, Senior Lecturer, Medical Journalism University of Georgia Cory Cole, Senior, Journalism Vicki Michaelis, Professor, Elizabeth Fite, Graduate Student, Health and University of Georgia Medical Journalism Patricia Thomas, Professor, Erica Hensley, Graduate Student, Health and University of Georgia Medical Journalism Contact Us Lauren Herbert, Senior, Digital and Broadcast News For more information about the Jordan Hill, Senior, Journalism McGill Lecture and Symposium:

Joshua Jones, Senior, Journalism Diane Murray 706.542.5038 William Robinson, Senior, Journalism [email protected] Jaylon Thompson, Senior, Digital and The McGill program is on the Web at www.grady.uga.edu/mcgill Katelyn Umholtz, Senior, Journalism

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Senior, Journalism

McGill Visiting Journalists

Greg Bluestein, Political Reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Walt Bogdanich, Investigative Reporter, New York Times

Mary Katharine Ham, CNN contributor and The Federalist Senior Writer

Louie Palu, Freelance Photojournalist

Carrie Siedman, Reporter, Sarasota Herald- Tribune 16