Journalist’s Trade

Using Documents to Report on Mountaintop Mining

By Ken Ward Jr.• Journalist’s Trade• June 15, 2004

When coal industry officials and business leaders complain about coverage, ‘the only way to counter such pressures is with good, solid reporting.’ Read more

Summer 2004: Journalist’s Trade Introduction

By Melissa Ludtke• Journalist’s Trade• June 15, 2004

Watchdog reporting resides at the core of what journalism does. Its roots dig deeply into the common ground uniting the muckrakers’ unearthing of public and private scandals a century ago with what investigative reporters are illuminating today. Though reporting and distribution of this news is very different in the digital era, unfortunately the human conditions requiring press scrutiny are not. These include patterns of corruption and malfeasance among those holding powerful positions of public and private trust. – Melissa Ludtke, Editor Read more

The Language and Culture of the Energy Beat

By Elizabeth McCarthy• Journalist’s Trade• May 15, 2004

The first time I communicated in French and actually understood the response, I was elated. Those foreign syllables really did mean something, and as my misunderstandings and mispronunciations decreased, my fascination with the new world opening up to me increased. Read more

A Political Reporter’s Toolbox

By The Committee of Concerned Journalists• Journalist’s Trade• March 15, 2004

The Committee of Concerned Journalists suggests campaign coverage strategies based on the advice of veteran political journalists. Read more

Tracking Money in the California Recall Election

By Dan Morain• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

‘Newspapers miss a major element of campaign coverage if they give short shrift to campaign money.’ Read more

Covering the Recall for a Spanish-Speaking Audience

By Pilar Marrero• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

The political editor of La Opinión found herself being interviewed by a lot of other reporters. Read more

Campaign Coverage Without the Candidates

By Marjie Lundstrom• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

A Sacramento Bee reporter and photographer discover the anger of California’s voters. Read more

Celebrity Transforms Political Coverage

By Dan Walters• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

The Schwarzenegger campaign capitalized ‘on his celebrity to make ordinary journalism so marginally relevant to the outcome ….’ Read more

The Anger Journalists Never Fully Understood

By Jim Bettinger• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

We must figure out ‘how to reach growing numbers of disillusioned citizens without pandering to them or jettisoning our core values.’ Read more

Winter 2003: Journalist’s Trade Introduction

By Melissa Ludtke• Journalist’s Trade• December 15, 2003

With its unusual purpose and Hollywood celebrity, California’s autumn recall election became an archetypal mix of entertainment and news reporting. Lessons from its reporters shed light on some of the changing realities of political coverage. After a 13-year break from … Read more