|
Whether it's in your reporting about Ukraine or public safety in your community, word choice can lead to othering by reinforcing unconscious bias
|
Email not displaying correctly?
View it in your browser.
|
|
|
|
|
Whenever Poynter hosts a training about word choice, record numbers of journalists enroll. I shouldn't be surprised! Language constantly evolves, and selecting the most precise words is fundamental to our profession.
As we watch and report what's going on Ukraine, my colleague Doris Truong implores journalists to stay attuned to word choices. How we refer to communities our audiences might not know much about or how we pronounce city names can engender compassion or lead to othering by reinforcing unconscious bias.
Read Truong's article for more considerations and guidance. You might also want to watch our most popular free webinar from 2020, Dignity and Precision in Language, led by Global Press Institute CEO Cristi Hegranes.
We can always rethink our approach, even if it's ingrained. This mindset is core to our newest training, "Transforming Crime Reporting Into Public Safety Journalism." Scroll to learn more and find concrete ways to improve your craft.
— Andrew DeLong, director of teaching operations
|
| Diversity Across the Curriculum |
In-person workshop, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 9
This intensive, one-day workshop at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, will empower you to examine your current teaching materials and curriculum with an eye toward inclusion and representation, and give you the tools and skills to diversify your lessons, examples, speakers and more.
Participation is limited to 20 people to ensure active participation and personalized feedback. If you allow it, this experience will be meaningful, personal and powerful. It might even change the way you work forever.
Cost: $499. Apply by Tuesday, March 15.
Let us know on your application if you want to attend both Diversity Across the Curriculum and Teachapalooza to save $100. |
| Transforming Crime Reporting Into Public Safety Journalism |
Online group seminar, May 10-Aug. 2
In many communities, coverage of crime amplifies existing inequity and harms underrepresented communities. Rather than focusing on sensational crime and disadvantaged communities, local newsrooms could invest existing resources in documenting trends and holding law enforcement accountable.
This new online group seminar from the Craig Newmark Center for Ethics and Leadership at Poynter will help local newsrooms fix crime reporting by embracing the best practices of public safety journalism.
Two people from each newsroom should participate: a frontline reporter or producer responsible for police and crime news and an editor or manager who can influence editorial policies. Together, they will analyze the newsroom’s existing habits around crime coverage. They will reconsider the purpose of their crime coverage and identify stories that accomplish that purpose. Working in two-week sprints, participants will build consensus in their newsroom for a new approach to crime coverage and propose improvements to practices and policies.
Cost: $500. Apply by Friday, April 15. Limited need-based scholarships are available. |
| How to Develop Stories from 2020 Census Data |
Self-directed course, start anytime
The U.S. Census Bureau released in-depth demographic statistics from the 2020 census in August 2021, with more releases still to come. This once-a-decade data dump is immense, detailed, highly technical — and massively influential in communities across the United States. Journalists from all beats will use this data in their reporting for years to come. This self-directed course will help journalists access and analyze census data to cover their changing communities, now and in the future.
Cost: Free. |
| Will Work for Impact: Fundamentals of Investigative Journalism |
Online group seminar, April 27-May 18
Investigative reporting can seem daunting. By definition, it involves uncovering a problem someone would prefer to keep secret. It requires critical thinking, persistence, courage and optimism. It can be lonely work. The good news is, there’s a roadmap you can follow.
Over the course of four weeks, award-winning investigative journalist Alexandra Zayas will break down the process to help you think about what kinds of stories to choose, how to build a bulletproof case and how to maximize the chance your work will create change.
Cost: $399. |
Congrats to Tayla Burney for her recent promotion to Director, Network Programming and Production at NPR! Burney participated in Poynter's Leadership Academy for Women in Media in 2021, and she told us that she "at least partially — and a large part!" credits her experiences with Poynter for the shift.
We're proud to be part of Burney's career journey. If we're part of yours, let us know! Send us a note at [email protected] to be featured in this spot. |
Essential Skills for Rising Newsroom Leaders
In-person, St. Petersburg, Florida, Dec. 12-16
The interactive, five-day workshop will focus on critical skills new managers need on their paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Cost: $1,500. Apply by Oct. 14. |
| |
REPORTING, WRITING & EDITING |
|
Covering Political Extremism in the Public Square
Online group seminar, April 4-13
Stay safe and produce ethical, excellent stories about voting, security and local issues leading up to the 2022 midterms.
Cost: Free Enroll now.
Follow the Money: American Rescue Plan
Online workshops, March 29, April 12 and April 26
Follow this once-in-a-generation influx of funds, hold local authorities accountable, and spur smart societal change through storytelling. Cost: Free. Apply now.
|
MediaWise en Español
MediaWise en Español teaches Spanish speakers over the age of 50 in the United States how to tell what is true and what is false on the internet so they can safely connect with the people and the topics they care about the most. Cost: Free. On-demand resources.
How to Spot Misinformation Online
Self-directed course, start anytime
This free, self-guided training from MediaWise is designed to teach simple digital literacy skills to help news consumers outsmart algorithms, detect falsehoods and make decisions based on factual information. Cost: Free. Enroll now. |
Teachapalooza: Front-Edge Teaching Tools for College Educators
Online or in-person program, St. Petersburg, Florida, June 10-12
This is a three-day event where college journalism educators catch up, power up and reignite their passion for teaching. Teachapalooza will take place both online and in person at Poynter’s St. Petersburg, Florida, campus. Cost: $199. Register now.
Professor’s Press Pass
Subscription
New classroom case study this week: There are about 50 Americans being held hostage across the world, several of them journalists. What if you were one of them? Subscribe now. |
|
|
Poynter relies on the support of donors like you. Invest in the future of excellent journalism.
|
|
|
|
| Looking for a new job? Poynter is hiring. And, if you're a student or early-career journalist, check out our internship database for paid opportunities. You can also search our job board for hundreds of opportunities. |
| • |
Deputy Editor, PolitiFact — The Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Florida |
|
|
|
|
|
Andrew DeLong
Andrew DeLong is the director of teaching operations at Poynter. He shares tips, training and resources to transform your journalism.
[email protected] |
|
© All rights reserved Poynter Institute 2022
801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
If you don't want to receive email updates from Poynter, we understand.
You can update your subscription preferences here or unsubscribe.
|
|
