To run or not to run?

Editors face many ethical decisions with a newspaper - especially the photos. Through happiness, anger and sadness, photos have the ability to activate a lot of emotion and thought. But how far is too far? Readers sometimes accuse newspapers of selling their papers through emotion. Editors must make careful decisions when evaluating a photo. Although there are ethical considerations, there is not always a single, correct answer.

1. I chose to run the first photo of Bud Dwyer (1a). This photo gives the readers a clear enough image of what was happening. I believe the last two would be too graphic for readers to see. The second photo is OK. I like the first photo better, because it is not only more dramatic, but it is also a better picture. We discussed this photo in my J250 class (Ethics and Diversity) class last semester. A photographer also had a picture of Dwyer spinning the pistol around in the air. My ethical limit would be when he puts the pistol in his mouth and fires.

2. I debated a lot about this photo. The photo shows a little boy mourning the loss of his dog. I think this invades his privacy and would also play too much off the reader's emotions. However, the picture of the dog is clean; there is no blood, and the audience cannot see its face. I would only consider this photo if there was a situation that caused a car to hit the dog. For example, maybe the highway needs improvement.

3. This photo does not need to be published in a paper. If the picture with the dead dog was invasive, this picture is ten times more dramatic and intrusive. This picture shows too much emotion. Readers would not get much out of the photo either, besides tragedy.

4. This photo adds nothing to a paper. A story about a shooting in a newspaper plant would be more than sufficent. The readers do not need to see a picture of a dead man to believe there was a shooting.

5. This photo could be run, but only because the boy ended up being OK. I thought he had died at first, but after I saw he was OK, I think it is acceptable. I admit it is a very intesting picture, but it may not be for everybody. If I had to take a chance, I would run this.

6. No. This picture would not run in my newspaper. The upside to running this picture is that perhaps the perpetrators could be indentified. However, I believe this is the lesser of the good now. I'm concerned for the victim's privacy. Most likely, the only person who'll recognize the girl is her. Many readers would also be offended for such a graphic photo.

All editors have their own opionions and ethical standards. Editors must know the audience but also respect the subject's privacy and emotions. Whatever choice editors make, they must be able to back up their reasons when readers complain about a certain picture - or else it can come back to haunt them.

Fun with Words!

Every now and then I like to learn a new word that I can use to impress my friends with; afterall, I would not want to come off as anserine (silly, foolish, stupid). I came across a web site devoted to people who have similar interests as me - having fun with words! Some people would say that learning new vocabulary is boondoggle (an unnecessary activity). In case you would like to know, the web site is http://www.rinkworks.com/words/funwords.shtml.

I enjoy spending time with my editing friends in lab and critiquing the DI each day. But there is one thing I wish I would remember - food! When I get home from my long day, I eat rather edaciously (consuming, voracious, devouring). After eating so much at once, I find myself in a long, rejoiceful pandiculation (the stretching that accompanies yawning).

I can only hope each of you visit this web site so you too can become immersed in the epeolatry (worship of words) of words! Have fun and be sure to use a new vocabulary word today! Maybe you could even become a neologist (one who makes up new words).

Lincoln Hall Closing Down?

Let me just say that I love the Daily Illini. I depend on reading it in class, to catch up on campus events and maybe even around the world if I'm lucky. However, there are times when I read something that I have to do a double take. As we have seen in JOUR 420 lab, words in headlines are sometimes misspelled, and typos are present. This is not to say that any newspaper is perfect. I think the reporters and photographers do a great job in bringing information to the public. One story, however, will always stick out in my mind.

At the beginning of last semester, as students were arriving back to campus, a story was written on Lincoln Hall's renovations. The article was great and very informative. But the picture really confused me. It was a picture of the two main doors of Lincoln Hall with a piece of notebook paper that had "Closed for the year," or someting of that sort, written in black marker. Walking to class one day, I had seen this and thought it was strange. I assumed a sign like that would be more authentic looking. After seeing the picture again in the D.I., I thought the same thing, but didn't pay much attention to it.

One day, in my JOUR 250 class - Ethics and Diversity - we were talking about misleading photos. My professor brought up the Lincoln Hall story and the confusing photo. A student in the class worked at the D.I. and knew the story behind the photo. According to this student, The student photographer had made that sign himself and taped it on the doors.

Isn't this "illegal" in photojournalism? I knew something didn't feel quite right when I saw the picture. As an editor, I think I might have followed up on my "gut feeling" and done some more research or at least ask the photographer about the picture. Because from my understanding, Lincoln Hall is not completely closed - there are still classes, exams and meetings held in some rooms. This information I received may or may not be true, but I at least know the photo was fishy, and many students felt mislead. Just putting up a simple sign on notebook paper put a dramatic effect on the picture.

If anything, this is a reminder at how observant editors must be. If something does not feel right, you should always check it out. Our job is to give the readers the straight facts and not mislead them.

Accelerated Reader Fan

"You're crazy," my roommate said, during an inevitable all-nighter our freshman year. Molly had just finished a term paper and needed to revise it. She had spent hours writing and was in no mood to read any further. "I'll do it!" I said as I sprung off our not-so-soft futon. Ever since freshman year, random papers and homework assignments appear on my desk with a note asking me to read it. However, I developed a love for reading and writing at a much younger age.

In grade school, I was the girl who thought the Accelarated Reader program was "the thing." I would do anything to see my picture advance to the next point level as I scored more points. Yes, I'll admit - I competed with one other girl in my class. I still have that picture today. I will never forget one of my most vivid grade school memories - when I read a book to the principal - Betty Spaghetti, to be exact. Miss Garret, my principal, gave me a blue ribbon that said, "I read to the principal today."

In middle school, my next big thing was the spelling bee. It was something that got my blood pumping and my heart beating. I laugh now, but I would make myself physically ill since I got so worked up. Preliminaries would come around. I would make the final cut to compete at regionals, which meant I got a big book full of words to...study! And I did. I never really won a major award at a spelling bee, but the memories are very present today.

High school made me realize my true passion for writing. I enjoyed my advanced composition classes - they were my favorite classes in high school. The front desk was my seat, as I eagerly waited to receive my grade for the previous papers I had written. For some reason, my communication skills are at best when I write. Small details are like spices in a recipe - they add so much substance that makes a piece enjoyable to read.

As a junior at the university of my dreams, I am able to fully realize my potential as not only a writer, but also a communicator. I would like to say I'm not as big of a "writing nerd" as in the past, but some of my friends would beg to differ. But hey, I have also discovered another passion of mine - dancing! This wouldn't be related to editing...or would it?