AJR in the Classroom Discussion questions for the August / September 2006 issue, along with suggestions for further readings on the impact of technology on TV news, the status of a national shield law for journalists, coverage of the Bush administration and Hurricane Katrina. Story 1: "Hold That Obit" | Story 2: "Unshielded" | Story 3: "Going Easy on President Bush"  | Story 4: "The Ties That Bind" Katie Couric debuts in September as anchor of the "CBS Evening News." STORY 1: "Hold That Obit: The nightly network newscasts, often depicted as passé, face the future with a trio of new anchors and bold plans for the wireless world."  By Rachel Smolkin    MORE INFO FROM THE STORY:  Smolkin reports that anchor desk changes at CBS, NBC and ABC have brought buzz and new opportunities for innovation, in both news content and delivery. CBS Digital Media President Larry Kramer, for instance, says he wants to showcase "Evening News" anchor Katie Couric on the Web. "We want her to interact with people; we want her to interact with sources," Kramer is quoted in AJR. And despite some predictions that television is a dying form in this Internet era, others point to the vital role nightly news anchors play in historic, tragic moments -- including the September 2001 terrorist strikes and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.   CLASS ASSIGNMENTS: Individual journals: Ask each student to keep a diary of his or her news consumption for one full week, listing and distinguishing between every source--local, network or cable TV; commercial or public radio; Web news sites or blogs; magazines; podcasts; or other. They should include what stories they consumed, when and for how long. At the end of the week, students should do a quantitative analysis, tallying up totals for each category; and a qualitative analysis, summarizing what types of stories they consumed and what they remembered about them. Students should also note at the end of the week if they remember anything about the writer/reporter/anchor relaying the information for any of the stories. They should be prepared to discuss their findings with the class. Ask students to write a 1,500-word research paper on changing patterns of news consumption. How are Americans now getting their news? How does that compare to 30 years ago? What distinctions are there by age, sex or ethnicity? Are there changes in consumption during times of national crisis? What predictions are being made about news consumption in the future? The paper should include informal citations. RELATED STORIES, REPORTS, PRESS RELEASES AND BLOGS: "Nightly News Obituaries," by Andrew H. Vanacore, published in the August/September 2006 issue of AJR. "Up Close and Too Personal: Katie Couric, Center of Attention, Says She Just Wants to Do Her Job," by Howard Kurtz, published in the Aug. 15, 2006, edition of The Washington Post. "Sawyer Tops Poll of TV News, Talk Personalities," by the Associated Press, published Aug. 9, 2006, on msnbc.com "The State of the News Media 2006: An Annual Report on American Journalism," by the Project for Excellence in Journalism. "LostRemote," a blog that covers how technology is changing television. "Rocketboom!" by Paul Farhi, in the June/July 2006 issue of AJR. "The Daily Nightly," a blog on MSNBC.com by Brian Williams and others. "PublicEye," a blog on CBSNews.com designed to bring transparency to the news process. "6 Percent of U.S. Web Users Have Downloaded Podcasts, Says Nielsen Analytics," July 20, 2006, press release from Nielsen Media Research. "U.S. Broadband Composition Reaches 72 Percent at Home, a 15-Point Year-over-Year Increase, According to Nielsen//NetRatings," June 21, 2006 press release from Nielsen//NetRatings. "CBSNews.com Trying to Win as Tortoise in Online News Race," by Mark Glaser, in the Aug. 12, 2003, issue of the Online Journalism Review. STORY 2: "Unshielded: Anti-media sentiment could jeopardize a national shield law for journalists.” By Lisa Friedman   MORE INFO FROM THE STORY: Friedman writes: The congressional bill would set a national standard for journalists' protection of confidential sources. It would require journalists to reveal their sources or face contempt-of-court charges only when federal courts have exhausted all other sources of information, and when the public's interest in obtaining the information outweighs its interest in protecting confidential sources. The measure comes at a critical time: Friedman reports that in the past two years, more than 30 reporters have been subpoenaed or questioned by federal court officials about their confidential sources. But in late June, the Senate Judiciary Committee failed to vote on the bill. And that same week, the House passed a resolution condemning the press. Time may be running out for action on the bill this year. CLASS DISCUSSION / RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT: Court decisions and shield laws in 49 states and the District of Columbia offer reporters some protection for shielding confidential sources in local court proceedings. How effective is the shield law in your state? Invite representatives from the state bar association and the state press association to your class to discuss reporter protections and cases brought to court in recent years. Ask students to research one of the 30 cases from the last two years in which journalists have been questioned by federal court officials about confidential sources. These have included the high-profile cases of then-New York Times reporter Judith Miller and that of Wen Ho Lee, who had been under investigation for spying. Have students prepare a 500-word summary, noting the reporters and publications involved; background on the story; reasons for the federal questioning; and the outcome for the reporters and for the flow of information. The summary should include attribution and informal citations. Students should be prepared to discuss their case with the class.   RELATED DOCUMENTS AND BACKGROUND STORIES: The Library of Congress' Thomas site offers the text of the "Free Flow of Information Act." Sen. Richard Lugar is listed as chief sponsor; Sen. Arlen Specter a co-sponsor. The American Bar Association has voiced its support for a national shield law, while the Justice Department has opposed it. "Special Report: Reporters and Federal Subpoenas," an in-depth guide from The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. "A Guide to Journalist Shield Laws," an interactive map with information about laws in the 50 states and the District of  Columbia, on poynterextra.org. "Waivering," by Rachel Smolkin, in the February/March 2006 issue of AJR. "Reporters and Confidential Sources," by Rachel Smolkin, in the December/January 2006 issue of AJR. "Uncharted Terrain," by Rachel Smolkin, in the October/November 2005 issue of AJR. "Survey Shows Many Newspapers Never Permit Use of Anonymous Sources," by AP's David Crary, published on Associated Press Managing Editors, June 2005. "Under Fire" by Rachel Smolkin, in the February/March 2005 issue of AJR. STORY 3: "Going Easy on President Bush," a book review of Eric Boehlert's "Lapdogs: How the Press Rolled Over for Bush." By Carl Sessions Stepp    MORE INFO FROM THE REVIEW: Stepp says that Boehlert's book succeeds at cataloguing many instances in which the media have failed to ask tough questions of President Bush's troubled administration. But, he says, the book fails to adequately explain why. Stepp asks, for instance, if new media "favor the emotionalism of extremists ... over more moderate voices associated with print?" And, he asks, if "intensified competition made media afraid of offending audiences through tough reporting."   RESEARCH / CLASS DISCUSSION: Ask students to do a content analysis of one local or national paper's coverage of the Bush White House over a three-month period, cataloguing whether stories and headlines are generally positive, negative or neutral in tone; whether stories are breaking news or features or analyses or investigative in nature; whether stories originated with the local staff or with a wire service; the length of each story; and where each story is played in the paper. After students have compiled their information, they should summarize their findings in a paper of no more than 1,500 words and be prepared to discuss it in class. Invite local political reporters to class to discuss their coverage of county executives or governors. How tough is it to get access to the officials? To lob out effective questions at press conferences? (See the Chip Scanlan piece, below.)  To write stories that take in-depth, behind-the-scenes looks at the workings of government? What tips can the reporters offer fledgling journalists on reporting meaningfully on a political beat?    RELATED STORIES: "Increasingly, Bush Escapes the Media Pack," by Peter Baker, in the Aug. 12, 2006, edition of The Washington Post. "Double-Barreled Questions: Gifts to the President," by Chip Scanlan, in the July 14, 2006, issue of poynter.org. "Critic: War Coverage Tougher But Still Lacking," by Bill Kirtz, in the Nov. 3, 2005, issue of poynter.org. "Are the News Media Soft on Bush?" by Rachel Smokin, in the October/November 2003 issue of AJR. "Presidential Secrecy and Reporters' Efforts to Breach It," by Sam Donaldson, in the Summer 2003 edition of Nieman Reports (.pdf format) STORY 4: "The Ties That Bind: The local media's heroic performance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina profoundly altered and deepened the relationship between the news organizations and the people of New Orleans. But can this close connection be sustained without added resources and new blood?" By Mark Lisheron MORE INFO FROM THE STORY: Lisheron reports that "like the city they are covering, news people in New Orleans teeter daily, hourly, between optimism and despair." Staffs of the major news outlets have been decimated. The Times-Picayune, for instance, lost 35 editorial staffers, some through burnout. Meanwhile, daily circulation at the paper is down by nearly 70,000. Officials at Newhouse, which owns the paper, have told the publisher they do not plan layoffs, yet only one of the 35 open jobs had been filled by mid-July. Lisheron says, "Nowhere in the country right now are the stories that are being covered as intertwined with the health of the news organizations themselves." The disaster's impact on staffers has been profound, with some seeking therapy to ease depression. Yet what has emerged is an incredible appreciation by the community of their local media. CLASS DISCUSSION / RESEARCH PAPER: Invite in for a class discussion local broadcast, newspaper or Web reporters who have covered major disasters: floods, fires, train or plane crashes, bombings, school shootings. How difficult was it for the reporters to get accurate, timely information while the story unfolded on deadline? Logistically, how did they get their stories back to their editors or producers? As the reporters pursued follow-ups, did their relationship with those affected and with the broader community change (for better or worse)? How did covering the tragedy affect the reporter personally? Did their newsrooms offer counseling or other coping mechanisms?   Ask students to research and write an 800- to 1,000-word piece on post-traumatic stress disorder: what it is, how it can be eased and how it has affected reporters covering the police beat, wars or disasters. Students should attribute their information and provide informal citations. RELATED STORIES AND RESOURCES: "To Love This City Back to Life," by Brian Thevenot, in the August/September 2006 issue of AJR. "Covering Tragedy and Trauma: Help for Journalists," resources from poynter.org. The Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, a global resource for journalists who cover violence. "Myth-Making in New Orleans," by Brian Thevenot, in the December/January 2006 issue of AJR "Apocalypse in New Orleans," by Brian Thevenot, in the October/November 2005 issue of AJR. "Essential Again," by Marc Fisher, in the October/November 2005 issue of AJR. "Playing Big," by Rem Rieder, in the October/November 2005 issue of AJR. Top of Page  |  Index Page Teachers' guide written and produced by Chris Harvey, online bureau director at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism and a former managing editor of AJR. First item for this issue published Aug. 14, 2006; second item added Aug. 15, 2006; third and fourth items added Aug. 16, 2006.  Copyright © 2004, 2005 and 2006 Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Permission is granted to freely print, for classroom use, up to 100 copies of the most up-to-date version of this document, as long as the document is not modified.