ISSUE

Winter 2016

Beyond the “Coming Out” Story

Transgender people—models, actors, musicians, authors, athletes, soldiers—have increasingly entered the public consciousness. With this increased visibility has come increased media coverage. But despite this progress, the general population still knows relatively little about the transgender community. Our cover story explores how journalists can cover a community, which has been for so long maligned and voiceless, in ways that are considerate of that community’s needs as well as those of readers, some of whom need basic concepts explained.

Articles

The State-by-State Approach to Getting National Data With FOIA

The State-by-State Approach to Getting National Data With FOIA

When an investigation into military equipment distributed to police departments stalled at the national level, going local helped free the data
What Nicki Minaj Can Teach Newsrooms About Credibility

What Nicki Minaj Can Teach Newsrooms About Credibility

One profile brings to light many issues challenging journalism, including diversity, authenticity, and cross-generational competence
Johanna van Eeden, NF ’15, directs a South African news platform built to keep up with the speed of news

Johanna van Eeden, NF ’15, directs a South African news platform built to keep up with the speed of news

December 3, 2015. We all knew it was going to be a busy day in the newsroom. The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein, South Africa, was to rule on whether…
Why Journalists Shouldn't Be Blinded by Bad Science

Why Journalists Shouldn’t Be Blinded by Bad Science

"A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age” argues that journalists must better understand how science works in order to separate real breakthroughs from hype
Culture critic Chris Vognar, NF ’09, discovers new talents in a multimedia cross-disciplinary approach to his beat

Culture critic Chris Vognar, NF ’09, discovers new talents in a multimedia cross-disciplinary approach to his beat

since my return to the Dallas Morning News in 2009 following my fellowship year, I have been a culture critic. Trading in my old title of movie critic formalized my…

Raquel Rutledge, NF ’12, and her colleagues at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigated unfair property tax assessments—and worked to engage readers

Coefficients of dispersion. Chasing the sale. Maintenance years.Three things I knew almost nothing about when I got a tip from a software engineer that something was gravely wrong with the…
An AP Correspondent Examines Why Foreign News Matters

An AP Correspondent Examines Why Foreign News Matters

Why do we focus so often on the negative? And what stories do we miss when we do?
Covering the Transgender Community

Covering the Transgender Community

How newsrooms are moving beyond the “coming out” story to report crucial transgender issues
Fifty Years of FOIA

Fifty Years of FOIA

As the Freedom of Information Act turns 50, journalists are innovating new ways to use the law
Revitalizing Journalism in Brazil

Revitalizing Journalism in Brazil

Despite a fraught political and economic environment for journalists, new outlets in Brazil are experimenting with fact-checking, longform, and citizen media
Melissa Bell of Vox Media: "Give People the Start of Understanding"

Melissa Bell of Vox Media: “Give People the Start of Understanding”

On the online publisher's embrace of Snapchat, its spirit of collaboration, and its determination to create a better advertising experience
How Newsrooms Handle Graphic Images of Violence

How Newsrooms Handle Graphic Images of Violence

Are images of violence and death too distressing to publish—or too important to ignore?