| Home | Blog | Ask This | Showcase | Commentary | Discussions | About Us | Contributors | Contact Us |
Relevant reporting wanted | It’s time to do more than just say the economy is the No. 1 issue ASK THIS If voters are to go into the midterm elections with any understanding at all, the press needs to get away from he-said, she-said reporting and look into the positions that candidates and the two parties are taking. Martin Lobel offers some vital questions. 
From Nieman Reports | Joining digital forces to strengthen local investigative reporting SHOWCASE ‘Our goal is to build online tools that the people can easily use to enhance their ability as watchdogs—whether they are citizens or journalists.’ (From Nieman Reports)
The 3rd annual award | Craig McCoy of the Inquirer wins the 2010 I.F. Stone Medal SHOWCASE The reporter has exposed injustice and corruption in Philadelphia for almost three decades; he is said to be persistent, able to penetrate the ‘official fog,’ and imbued with a strong sense of civic right and wrong. And all in all, he is said 'to bring to mind I.F. Stone.'
| The Nieman Foundation names its 2011 Fellows SHOWCASE Curator notes ‘extraordinarily diverse backgrounds and interests' as 25 American and international journalists are selected.
Embedded with killers | (Un) Covering the Death Squads in El Salvador SHOWCASE On the 30th anniversary of the brutal assassination of Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero, a veteran reporter looks back at some extraordinary and daring close-in coverage that was spurred by personal anger at the murder of the priest.
Invisible problems | The election nobody covered COMMENTARY Yale Law Professor Heather Gerkin, who was part of Barack Obama's 'election protection team,' writes that, contrary to media reports, precincts across the country fell apart as wave after wave of voters crashed down upon them. But reporters won't bother to investigate -- let alone report on -- problems that don't affect the outcome.
Panel transcript | 'Has the press become, less skeptical, less insurgent?' SHOWCASE A transcript of a panel discussion held Oct. 7 in conjunction with the presentation of the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence.
Panel trancript | 'Has the press become, less skeptical, less insurgent?' (Part two) SHOWCASE A transcript of a panel discussion held Oct. 7 in conjunction with the presentation of the I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence. (Part two of two.)
Toolbox | The History Commons -- an online tool for journalists SHOWCASE Individuals do research to create aggregated, searchable timelines for major events and stories, creating a resource for reporters and editors.
| A tribute to a journalism innovator, and a look at the Internet SHOWCASE On the occasion of the retirement of Phil Meyer, the University of North Carolina's journalism school holds a two-day symposium pondering what the Internet hath wrought.
Multimedia | An online version of 'Bush's War' SHOWCASE In addition to the current two-part, 4-1/2-hour documentary, Frontline has an extensive online component. Among other things, it presents 175 video clips and transcripts of more than 400 interviews.
Online investigative reporting | Key McCain, Clinton fundraisers lobby for foreign governments SHOWCASE A Q&A with Will Evans of the Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR). Evans gives a glimpse at how CIR works, and describes a joint CIR/ABCNews.com project pointing out that some of John McCain’s and Hillary Clinton’s leading fundraisers are also lobbyists for foreign governments.
Motivation | What really gets citizens to turn out to vote in elections? ASK THIS When it comes to getting out the vote, personal tactics work much better than automated ones – while microtargeting may not be all it’s cracked up to be. Yale Professor Donald Green thinks the two parties are evenly matched this year when it comes to outreach.
The 2006 agenda | Ten things this election should have been about ASK THIS It turned into one heckuva horse race, but University of Pennsylvania political scientist Donad Kettl writes that few of the candidates in the 2006 mid-term elections have talked about the issues that really matter most.
Voting security | What makes the media so confident that the election won’t be stolen? ASK THIS Seriously contemplating the idea that a small group of individuals could change election outcomes is terrifying -- but the alternative could be even worse, says an election-integrity activist who has some questions the press should ask itself.
Databases provided | Tracking the rise of the political consultants SHOWCASE In a helpful bit of journalism, the Center for Public Integrity reports that some 600 political consultants got paid $1.78 billion by candidates for election in 2004. A lot of it went to TV ads—but there was a lot left over, also.
Why no news stories? | Some might consider the Iowa GOP platform a little extreme COMMENTARY Corporal punishment, no IRS and no income tax, teacher-led school prayer, concealed weapons, creationism. Should a group with a platform like that have a key role in picking presidential candidates?
Extra! Extra! | American watchdog reporting roundup SHOWCASE Exposing the hidden history of racial expulsions, questionable policies at the Federal Air Marshal Service and organic food standards
Whose national security? | Hey, hey LBJ, got any secrets to give away? SHOWCASE Personal history: Veteran military affairs reporter George Wilson tells how Lyndon Johnson used classified information for PR purposes, and how, in a secret court session, Wilson thwarted attorneys for Nixon who were trying to block release of the Pentagon Papers.
Elections | Is it time to do away with the undemocratic Electoral-College system? ASK THIS Advocates of electing the president through a direct, popular vote have come up with an ingenious way of doing so without a constitutional amendment – and they may be marching on a statehouse near you.
Elections | Ask your election officials: Are you following e-voting issues in the news? ASK THIS A blogger who has been obsessively tracking the growing number of electronic voting horror stories around the country -- stories largely ignored by the national media -- offers an annotated list of questions to help election officials learn from others’ mistakes.
Elections 2006 | Candidates: do you want to extend the 2003 tax cuts? ASK THIS The House and Senate elections aren’t far off; reporters should be preparing basic questions. On taxes, the fate of the 2003 tax cuts is a main issue right now.
A series of reports | TRAC offers helpful data on immigration SHOWCASE Syracuse University research center is a powerful resource for journalists to define and deal with complicated issues.
At issue in 5 states, maybe more | Will 2006 be a repeat of 2004 in gay-marriage ballot items? ASK THIS In 2004, voters in 11 states passed bans on same sex marriages and helped re-elect George W. Bush. In November, voters in some states will decide whether to amend their state constitutions to prevent such unions. Reporters may want to focus on what effect that might have on control of the House and Senate and perhaps some governorships.
Expense breakdown | How much do localities spend on elections? ASK THIS Estimated costs: $10 per voter (in year 2000); of every dollar 35 cents is for voter registration, 35 cents for equipment and Election Day expenses, and 30 cents for administration.
A tutorial | Think paper trails will make elections secure? It’s not that simple ASK THIS Roy Saltman, a longtime expert, explains the views of those who insist on a paper trail to record votes, and also the views of those who, in good faith, say there is no need for a paper trail—and that paper trails might not be useful, anyway.
Election rights and wrongs | In some cases, it's not the voters who count, it's the counters ASK THIS As author Tracy Campbell tells it, regardless of the voting method—from paper ballots to absentee voting to electronic machines—there is a long history of election cheating in the U.S., and it is not disappearing. Campbell, an expert on the subject, offers reporters suggestions on what to look for.
Religion and politics | How about looking at the Democrats' 'secular' problem? ASK THIS A poll conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says that only 29 percent of Americans believe the Democratic Party is 'friendly toward religion.' As Laura Olson notes, that's a good starting point for reporters.
Elections 2006 | Start asking questions now about vote-counting in your area ASK THIS Do the citizens in your area have good reason to be confident that, if they make it into the voting booth, their votes will actually be counted? Don’t wait until the next election is upon us. Here are some important basic questions to which the public deserves answers.
'Identifying up' | Yes, there are lots of blue-collar Republicans. But why? ASK THIS Before moving on to the 2006 and 2008 elections, let's understand 2004 a little better. Sociologist Arlie Hochschild has some questions that need to be addressed.
'Welcome to Doomsday' | Understanding religious fervor is a key to reporting politics ASK THIS Bill Moyers writes in a New York Review essay on political religion: 'The delusional…has come in from the fringe to influence the seats of power.'
Regression analysis | Berkeley sociologists say odds are 999 to 1 that electronic machines gave Bush far too many votes in Florida. ASK THIS By itself, switching these votes still wouldn't make Kerry the winner. But it's two presidential elections in a row that appear to have been messed up in Florida. Can the press help avoid a trifecta?
A failed system | Some good reporting now could bring integrity to voting and help make it more tamper-proof ASK THIS Follow the lead of Keith Olbermann and The New York Times editorial page. Go over this year's vote count, and consider making election systems a beat to help bring about reform for next time.
Buying loyalty, maybe | Senators and House members dole out lots of cash. What's that about? ASK THIS Through so-called "leadership PACs," Tom DeLay, Hillary Clinton and others in Congress raise money and pass it on to colleagues. What do they get in return?
Abdication to cable | Rosenstiel laments the decline of broadcast TV COMMENTARY Media analyst Tom Rosenstiel says network TV is tossing away its prestige and influence, and that its owners act as though they don't even care.
Looking ahead | Questions for a wartime president ASK THIS| August 31, 2004 In a Washington Post op-ed, columnist David Ignatius poses three big questions for the Bush administration.
Politics as farce | Record turnout — more than 100% — looms as a possibility for the Afghan election in October ASK THIS You say that doesn't add up? Can't have more than 100% without the election being rigged? Somebody tell Bush, who's boasting about high voter registration.
My Lai, Tiger Force, etc. | If we have to cover the Swift-boat controversy, let's at least get it right ASK THIS You say there are other, more important campaign issues? Oh.
Campaign finance | How soft money gets dirty in a way no one can trace ASK THIS Some political campaign groups play by the rules, registering their activities with the FEC, the IRS or both, writes freelance journalist Frank Smyth. Others, including ones that run vicious attack ads on TV, may skirt the law — or rely on lack of oversight by the IRS — to find ways of keeping secret the names of their contributors.
The electorate | Is the Culture War a myth? ASK THIS Most Americans stand in the middle of the political landscape, asserts Stanford Professor Morris P. Fiorina. He encourages the media to cast a skeptical eye on the activists – he suggests calling them blowhards - who would tell you otherwise.
Election 2004 | A matter of stenography at The New York Times COMMENTARY After the election will The Times have to apologize for some of the reporting it's doing now?
Elections | What about campaign finance at the state level? ASK THIS| June 14, 2004 In Maine and Arizona, candidates for state office now have the option of receiving full public financing for their campaigns, in exchange for voluntarily refusing to raise private money and agreeing to abide by strict spending limits. Shouldn't other states be exploring alternatives to the current system?
No sound bites | Get candidates to talk seriously about terrorism ASK THIS| April 25, 2004 Terrorism has changed life on this planet. It's time to recognize that, and ask tougher questions
Multimedia | Now on video: Editorial board interviews SHOWCASE| April 11, 2004 Some newspapers have been posting editorial board interviews with political candidates on their Web sites – an excellent multimedia enhancement for people who'd like to follow politics closely.
Ballot fraud? | Will your vote be counted in November? Maybe not. ASK THIS Electronic voting systems may be subject to manipulation. How would you know?
Calling all readers | Wanted: Tough questions for the presidential debates ASK THIS The Internet can make the presidential debates better. NiemanWatchdog.org will make it happen – with your help.
Foreign policy | 10 tough questions for Thursday's debate ASK THIS The first batch of winners in NiemanWatchdog.org's debate-question contest.
Presidential debate | Questions for Bush and Kerry keep coming in (mostly for Bush) ASK THIS "Why are death penalty juries okay but civil case juries flawed?"
|
|
|
TWITTER
Telecoms charging more to do nothing
Prosecute those leaks
A broad array of massive financial crimes |
© 2010 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
