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Committee to Protect Journalists Reporters who work in the United States operate within an environment of freedom of the press. In the U.S., such freedoms are protected by the Bill of Rights ("Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."). In other developed countries, journalists have, to some degree, the same types of freedoms. However, in many parts of the world, there is no freedom of the press, and being a journalist with a conscience can be a dangerous job. This Web site, maintained by the Committee to Protect Journalists, reports on attacks against journalists around the world. Let us not forget that many reporters risk injury, prison and even death in pursuit of the freedoms that so many of us can take for granted. However, we live in a global community, and lack of freedom in one country often has a way of affecting us all when we least expect it. Any challenge to freedom of the press diminishes me because I am involved with Freedom; and therefore never send to know for whom the journalistic bell tolls; it tolls for thee. Web: Environmental Journalist's Resources This site is put together by the Society for Environmental Journalism, an organization devoted to helping journalists better inform the public about environmental issues. Expect to find links to environmental resources, environmental journalism organizations and newsletters. If you write about the environment, this is a Web site with which you should be familiar. Web: Gonzo Journalism In the tradition of Hunter S. Thompson, gonzo journalism is the method of reporting in which the journalist is a participant in the series of events or story being reported on. Follow the discussion about Thompson and the concepts of gonzo journalism. Usenet:
International Federation of Journalists I live in the United States, and it's easy to take freedom of the press for granted. But in many parts of the world, such freedoms are not always enjoyed. Repressive government regimes or warlike conditions will often censor and control news reporting. The International Federation of Journalism is a worldwide organization dedicated to the ideals of freedom of the press and social justice. They issue regular reports (in several languages) that monitor these issues around the world. The next time you think freedom is ubiquitous, go to this Web site and find out how repressed much of the world is. In my country, people more or less accept the idea of the press as a philosophical good, but that is not the case in a lot of places. However, I strongly believe the free flow of information has a civilizing influence on mankind and the synergy of the Internet and the International Federation of Journalists is a welcome one. Web: Investigative Journalism Investigative journalism has a long, mostly honorable, history. Many countries enjoy freedom of the press, and that freedom is used for more than supplying information. A free press serves as an important balance against the power and potential abuses of government officials. The investigative press is well represented on the Net: there is information for the curious (how do they find out all that stuff?), organizations for the professional, and a mailing list for the loquacious. Web:
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Journalism Grants and Fellowships You may not know it, but there are a lot of grants and fellowships available to journalists. If you have a special project you want to work on, it may be that someone has already set up funding for that type of work. So, the next time you need a break from feeling guilty about an impending deadline, give yourself a well-earned mental rest and use the Net to check on sources of free money. You may find a pleasant surprise. Web:
Journalism Mailing Lists Mailing lists are used for ongoing discussions. No matter what area of journalism you are interested in, I guarantee there is a mailing list for you. To help you find what you need, here are some Web sites with information about a wide variety of journalism lists. In addition, I have included two specific lists: spj-l, for general discussion among professional journalists; and guildnet-l, for discussion about working conditions in the journalism industry. Web:
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Journalism Resources Journalists spend their time collecting and publishing information, so it makes a lot of sense that the Net would be a wonderful tool for a working reporter or researcher. Here are some collections where you can find many, many resources. When you get a spare moment, I suggest that you explore, looking for those places that can help you. As you know, one of the most valuable possessions a journalist can have is a list of reliable sources. The time you spend creating such a list of Internet resources for yourself will be repaid many times over. Web:
Journalism Student Resources Are you young? Are you interested in journalism? Would you be willing to work long, impossible hours performing mundane tasks for little or no money? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you may be in line for a journalism internship. Web:
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Journalism Talk and General Discussion Throughout the Net, journalists of varying size, shape and paycheck are discussing every aspect of journalism. Join the discussion. If you know what you are doing, contribute. If you don't know what you are doing, ask. If you don't know how to ask, just sit there and read what everyone else has to say (so you can report on it later). Usenet:
Media News In his 1964 book, "Understanding Media", Marshall McLuhan observed that how we perceive information depends greatly upon how that information is received. "The medium is the message," said McLuhan, in the Sixties. Well, we now live in the twenty-first century and I say, "The medium is the story." Web:
Media Watchdogs Here are the Web sites for two of the principal media watch organizations in the United States. One group is Accuracy in Media (AIM), a conservative media watch organization. The second group is Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), a liberal media watch organization. The goal of each group is the same: to monitor and criticize writers, broadcasters and commentators who expound viewpoints with which the group disagrees. Web:
Newslink Newslink is a Web site featuring many resources related to journalism and the news. Read about news sources, hot news sites, links to newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, other journalism resources, and much, much more. There are also feature articles reprinted from the American Journalism Review. Web: Online Journalism Review The Internet offers a much different distribution system than the ones used by traditional broadcasting and print publishing. Moreover, the rhythm of the Net is much faster and more dispersed than that of television, radio, newspapers and magazines. As such, journalism on the Internet is a new human activity. The Online Journalism Review casts a critical eye on journalism endeavors on the Web. Somewhere on the Net is the new frontier of journalism. Maybe you'll find it and maybe you won't, but it sure couldn't hurt to keep up on what's happening where and how and to whom. Web: Photojournalism Every day, you see pictures in the newspaper, but for every picture you see, probably more than a hundred were taken and discarded. A photojournalist -- someone who specializes in taking pictures for newspapers and magazines -- has to be trained in photography and modern technology, and must conjure up immense amounts of patience and endurance to produce that one picture that may make it onto the page. Web:
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Press Photographers A press pass is a license to barge right in where non-journalistic angels would fear to tread. If you are lucky (and you have your camera with you), you'll be able to snap pictures of famous movie stars and world leaders. If you are not lucky (and you have your camera with you), you'll end up taking pictures of the winners of the Blizzard County 94th Annual Chili Cook-Off. Regardless, when it comes to journalism, press photography is where it's at (if you have your camera with you). The mailing list and Usenet group are forums in which photographers, photo and graphics editors, designers, teachers and students discuss this noble profession. When you get a chance, visit the Web site, which is sponsored by the National Press Photographers Association. (Don't forget your camera.) Web: Usenet:
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Pulitzer Prize The Hungarian-born, American publisher Joseph Pulitzer (1847-1911) was not only a highly successful businessman, he was also a visionary. Before he died, Pulitzer endowed the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University, as well as an annual series of prizes (awarded by Columbia University) for achievements in American journalism, letters, drama and music. Over the years, the Pulitzer Prizes have become some of the most prestigious and certainly the most well-known awards for American writers. (I myself had to turn down several such awards, as I was too busy working on this book to attend the ceremony.) Here is the official site for the Pulitzer Prizes, where you can look at a list of current and previous winners, and a history of the prizes. Web: Radio and Television Companies Here is a huge collection of links to the Web sites of broadcasting companies around the Net. When you need to find a particular media company, radio station, television station or network, this is a good place to start. Web:
Scholastic Journalism One of the best and most satisfying ways to get journalism experience is to work on your school's newspaper or yearbook. When you are not writing feverishly to make your deadline, these Web sites can provide you with helpful information, including reference material, links to resources and contest notices. Moreover, if you need a jump start with your own investigative writing, you can get some ideas by looking at what other people are doing. Web:
Television Journalism Any worthwhile job in the entertainment industry is going to be subject to immense competition, demanding conditions, and -- for the very few people who manage to make it to the top -- great rewards. The same holds true for television journalism, a unique hybrid between entertainment and reporting. Here is lots of information about the television news industry: TV stations, career strategies, newscast production, and more. Hint: If you become a television journalist, always remember the old "remains to be seen" signoff. It is used to end a piece quickly when there is no time for real insight or analysis. ("...whether or not the negotiators will be able to defuse a tense situation that may lead to war at any moment remains to be seen...") Web: |
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