Nieman Reports

Fall 1998

Serving the Poor

Cover for Fall 1998

“I think a strong argument can be made that the residents of [poorer] areas are severely disadvantaged—as citizens, as workers, as consumers—by the lack of serious coverage from television and the lack of local coverage of their neighborhoods by newspapers,” said Maxwell King former Editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The reason, of course, is that the media, regardless of their claims of serving all the people, aim for the affluent, the audience that advertisers seek. It would seem, then, that if newspapers want to expand readership they would be worried about the growing gap between the rich and the poor.

Download PDF

Serving the Poor

Fall 1998: Serving the Poor Introduction

By Robert H. Phelps• Journalist’s Trade• September 15, 1998

“I think a strong argument can be made that the residents of [poorer] areas are severely disadvantaged—as citizens, as workers, as consumers—by the lack of serious coverage from television and the lack of local coverage of their neighborhoods by newspapers,” said Maxwell King former Editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The reason, of course, is that the media, regardless of their claims of serving all the people, aim for the affluent, the audience that advertisers seek. It would seem, then, that if newspapers want to expand readership they would be worried about the growing gap between the rich and the poor. Read more

First Amendment

Watchdog Journalism

In Britain, Rottweilers Attack

By Jenny Lo• Watchdog• September 15, 1998

The timing could not have been better. Several days after I was asked, as a Nieman Fellow, to write an article on the apparent lack of civility by British journalists, the Local Government Minister, Hilary Armstrong, reacted furiously while being … Read more

1. National Security

Watchdog• September 15, 1998

The National Security panel was chaired by Daniel Schorr, who began the discussion. Discussion Who’s Who Berkes, Howard—Correspondent based in Salt Lake City for National Public Radio. Frankel, Max—Former Executive Editor, New York Times, now columnist for Times Sunday … Read more

2. State and Local Government

Watchdog• September 15, 1998

Joyce Purnick, the panel chair, led the discussion. Discussion Who’s Who Bauer, Charlotte—Assistant to Editor, Sunday Times, Johannesburg. Berkes, Howard—Correspondent based in Salt Lake City, National Public Radio. Berliner, Uri—Staff Writer, San Diego Union Tribune. Bradlee, Benjamin Jr.—Assistant Managing … Read more

3. Economics

Watchdog• September 15, 1998

Richard Parker, the panel chair, began the discussion: Discussion Who’s Who Burnham, David—Co-director of the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a data-gathering organization. Kovach, Bill—Nieman Foundation Curator. Mintz, Morton—former reporter, Washington Post. Parker, Richard—Senior Fellow, Shorenstein Center on Press, … Read more

4. Nonprofit Organizations

Watchdog• September 15, 1998

George Rodrigue, the panel chair, began the discussion. Discussion Who’s Who Crewdson, John—Investigative National Correspondent, Chicago Tribune. Delaney, Paul—Former Assistant National Editor, New York Times, now involved in planning “Our World,” a newspaper with a black perspective. Grimes, … Read more

The Journalist's Trade

Foreign Correspondence

Curator's Corner

Letters to the Editor

Technology

Books

Nieman Notes

Masthead

Publisher
Bill Kovach
Editor
Robert H. Phelps
Assistant Editor
Lois Fiore
Editorial Assistant
Molly Marsh
Technology Editor
Lewis Clapp
Design Editor
Deborah Smiley
Business Manager
Susan Goldstein
Cover Story
© Frank Van Riper from “Down East Maine/A World Apart.”

Nieman Reports issue archive