Inside Journalism Publications

Columbia College Chicago Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago Inside Journalism Publications 4-1-1991 Inside Journalism Columbia College Chicago Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/inside_journalism This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Columbia College Chicago, "Inside Journalism" (1991). Inside Journalism. 19. https://digitalcommons.colum.edu/inside_journalism/19 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Publications at Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. It has been accepted for inclusion in Inside Journalism by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Columbia College Chicago. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INSIDE FEBRUA RY, 1991 J A Newsletter Published by the Journalism Department of Columbia College Pro1ess gave j-s1uden1s his advice for preveming inaccuraie reporting. "Fi~t. DOWALIBY BASHES [journalists must] no1 rely on sources that aren't there. For inslallce, lhe three MEDIA sources [the medial had at the begin "The public heats whal is said a1 the ning of the case dwindled inlO one who beginning of the case, and from Iha~ 1es1ificd in coun. 1hey convict you." "Second, gc1 sources on the record. According 10 Cynthia Dowaliby, th.is Auribution provides security. is the reason her husband, David, was "And las1, don't get 100 close io u,e convicted of murdering their daugh1er, prosecution's ideas. The Dowalibys Jaclyn, last May. were advised by their auorney nol to - Dowaliby was one of three who wk 10 the press; therefore, the media only heard the prosecution's side, and recenily spoke 10 j,studenis in Jim magazine, CHICAGO: Aris and Ylisela's Inierpretive Reporting class they wkcd ex1ensively." O'Connor added that not enough Communication, visited Ringier about how the media can influence a America Priming Co., in Pontiac, Ill. a j ury's decision. She spoke with great care was taken by the press concerning the facts about David. He is only an few weeks ago, 10 see how their words emotion about the !rial of her husband. and graphics would eventually become ( ) The other speake~. David Protess, a ordinary pe=, she said, but he was lrealed with the indifference 10 ac a professional-level publication. journalism professor a1 Northwesiern The ieam consisied of Na1Lehnnan, University and an investigative curacy generally reserved for celebrities [who are less protected by chainnan of lhe j-deparunent and the reporter, and Peggy O'Connor, presi magazine's publishing advisor; Don dent of the Freedom for David libel laws].' u1 am pennancntly scarred," said Gold, director of the dcpa11mcni 's Dowaliby Commiuee, both concurred magazine program and 1he magazine's with Dowaliby's s1a1ements. Dowaliby. "I'm a 1rus1ing pe~on, maybe IOO trusting, but I don't trust the edi1orial advisor; Bunon Winick, an "Inaccurate evidence (was leaked] 10 deparunent faculty member and ad· 1he press by 1he prosccu1ing side," media anymore.•• an -Stacy Manglaras visor; Dina Giobbia, student produc Proless said. For insiance, the rope lhat tion manager; and myself, student was used as the murder weapon was editor-in-chief. We went to Pontiac to similar 10 one of 1he Dowaliby MEET THE PRINTER coordinaie the magazine's spring 1991 children's toys and the blood found on printing plans. Jaclyn's pillow was from Dowaliby's Ringier representatives met with us oral surgery, Pro1ess claimed. Bui the Maga,:ine Edllor Describes Process a1 a luncheon conference, and ham· media's inierproiation made them seem A five-member group representing mered out deiails and logistics. The like irrcfuiableevidcnceagainst David. 1he j -depariment's forihcoming meeting was productive and, for Dina and myself, an invaluable educational opponunity. Af1er a working lunch, we were 1aken on a plani tour 1ha1 included every siage of magazine production. The plant is a gigantic, high-technol· ogy complex that is extremely efficient and almost toially compuier-operalCd. At present, Ringier's webfed offset printing process is the sysiem mos1 often used in the United S1a1es IO prim magazines, illustrated books and I colorized brochures. The plan1 , .. produces millions of magazine copies Cynthia DowaUby pauses during the discussion In 3n lnterpre1h·e Reporting class. annually. Our tour took us through the the story," which she says is the banlest preparatory stage, on to printing and part about being a reporter. THE STORY BEHIND THE (. ) binding, and, fmally, distribution. Along with a photographer, she fo l SCANDALS ('lt was very encouraging 10 know lowed an elderly lady carrying two that a plant with that quality control and huge cardboard boxes and two tauered New Ckm Unco>ers In,.,sdgali<ms capacity is going to print our bags. magazine," says Oold. "It means the Instinctively, Johnson wanted to as Imagine that after months of exhaus tive investigative reporting, you've ob magazine will have the appearance of sist the lady but was instrueted by the a tained irrefuiable proof that the gover professional publication and that's cx photographer not to do she so, because nor, who everybody thought was a actl y what we're after, in all its was there only as an observer. man, is really a woman. It's your big aspects." Although it may seem like Johnson brealc-4he ;,1ory that will make you a - Muriel Wbetstone was born a journalist. she worked full time for many years secretary star. The hard part is over, right? as a Wrong. It's just beginning. before coming to CC. Now come the assaults on your char JOHNSON SHINES AT Johnson decided to attend CC and pursue writing career because she en acter, the attacks on your integrity and SUN-TIMES a the charges against your questionable joyed writing and realized that there methods. were uno promotion opportunit.ies "Going to work is like getting up, "There is a tremendous amount of without a degree." going on an adventure and being on a heat on the reporters once a story She became involved in the high," says senior j-studenJ Mary breaks ... a veritable fcrestorm is going Chronicle as the managing editor last Johnson, who is a part-time reporter for to hi~" says Mike Lyons, deputy direc semester, and ha.5 a near-perfect GPA. the Chicago Sun-Times. tor and chief investigator for the Better Johnson, 41, has wriuen about 50 Supp0ned by her husband, Melvin, and four children, John.50n is now able Government Association, a civic stories for the Sun-Times, 12 of which watchdOg group. to auend classes full-time. made the front page. Lyons says that this is a major aspect Johnson believes older people Johnson was offered a position as a of joumalism that j-schools tend to should not regard going back 10 school reponer three weeks after completing overlook. an internship Last summer al the Sun· as a handicap, because they have the same opportunities that young people "\Ve train these kids to be relentless, Times. She says she was so elated that and then we send them out there- have. she could not stop screaming. these bloodhounds who are after the ( '\. ''Th i.s was a real job, it was not an She is comfortable at CC because, "Students are very tolerant of each Pulitzer in their second year-and internship," she says. "l received a they're just not prepared for the after- other. 1 do not feel strange because I press pass, business cards and a mail effects following a story's appearance. am 4 1 and the person sitting next to me box." Once the story hits, that's really only is 22." Johnson got her suut with the Sun the beginning." Although her Life may seem compli Times when she was named the first But Lyons. along with Terry Brun cated, Johnson says her goal for the recipient of that paper's Minority In ner, executive director of the BGA, has future is very simple: "I want lo be a ternship Scholarship Program award found a way to change that and show great African-American journalist!" after being recommended by j-instruc students that investigative reporting is tor and Sun-Times reporter P.J. Bed - Denise Nelson not always praise and Pulitzers. narski. They will co. teach a new course lhis At the time of her internship, which spring entitled, "Oiicago Politics: Be, provided a paid salary for 13 weeks, the hind the Investigations," available for Sun-Times was shoo-staffed and let junior and senior Columbia j-students her do what the very best reporte~ do: Monday evenings. hit the streelS and start covering news. This course will look intensively at "'l'he staff was eager to give me a every phase of an investigative opera chance, put me at ease and share their tion, from the hatching of the idea to skills with me," Johnson says. weathering the storm aftec the story One of her most memorable front hiL5. page stories was a news feature alx>ut "A key component in this class is the eviction of the homeless at O'Hare going to be how to respond to auacks Airport She was excited about going on your credibility," Lyons says. "And out and doing a story that had social what you = do to protect your in relevance. tegrity when they come after you." The story had an emotional impact "The class wiU also look at case on her that she struggled with while on studies of actual investigations," Lyons the assignment. says, "dissecting the investigation from ( l Toe heart of her story consisted of beginning to end, looking at all the the aftermath of the eviction and decisions duu go into it." Johnson had to "separate myself from Mary Johnson Such controversial cases as the Mirage Tovem case, in wltich under that means only about three years.

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