Author

Melissa Ludtke

@MelissaLudtke

Melissa Ludtke was editor of Nieman Reports from 1998 to 2011.

“Latino Voices: Journalism By and About Latinos” Introduction (Summer 2001)

How is the rapid increase in Hispanic American population affecting communities? What are the economic, social, cultural and educational benefits and hardships brought about by this significant demographic shift? Will…
June 4, 2001

Spring 2001: Introduction

Reporting on Colombia’s war is extremely dangerous for journalists. For what they publish and broadcast, reporters are threatened and harassed, kidnapped and beaten, driven into exile and murdered. Only in…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Tapping New Sources Introduction

Richard C. Harwood teaches journalists strategies for finding valuable new sources. He describes how perspectives of people from various layers of civic life often go untapped by reporters and how,…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Reporting on the Economic Underbelly Introduction

Lynda McDonnell, political editor for the St. Paul Pioneer-Press and former poverty reporter, finds much “ingenious, committed reporting” on the lives of the poor but also sees “missed opportunities.” Why?…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: “The Elements of Journalism” Introduction

In a seminar with reporters new to Washington beats, Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, co-authors of “The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect” (Crown…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Book Reviews Introduction

Robert Jensen, a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin, reviews “Drive-By Journalism: The Assault on Your Need to Know,” by Arthur Rowse. Anil Padmanabhan, a 2001 Nieman…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Race and Content of News Introduction

In a series of interviews with staff members of network news, former broadcast executive Av Westin uncovered ways in which racial bias impacts decision-making about the content of news. He…
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Political Journalism Introduction

Steve Nordlinger, a former reporter and editor at The (Baltimore) Sun, uses a Maryland example to illustrate how the media all but ignore coverage of Congressional races when incumbents run.
March 15, 2001

Spring 2001: Youth Journalism Introduction

Mark Goodman, director of the Student Press Law Center, laments the lessons about journalism and the First Amendment that young people are learning as adults censor what they write. “Professionals…
March 15, 2001

Winter 2000: Financing News in the Internet Era Introduction

Figuring out how to make quality online journalism a financially viable proposition is consuming vast amounts of brainpower. The answer, so far: have very deep pockets. Mark Sauter, cofounder of…
December 15, 2000