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Did
Media Miss the Big Story on Women's Sports at the U of M?
The
group that requested this forum consisted of advocates of equality
for women in sports, for example at the University of Minnesota.
They wanted to discuss aspects of the University’s sports
budget and of the merger of men’s and women’s athletic
departments that they say have not been adequately covered by
the news media. The forum was a lively discussion with representatives
from most metro news outlets participating in the open conversation,
acknowledging some failures in the media to scrutinize the University's
decision-making, and advising members of the public on how to
better cultivate media coverage.
In
the Days Following
Tim
McGuire and Eric Black from the Star Tribune, Scott Libin from
KSTP-TV and Jane Kirtley from the Silha Center for the Study
of Media Ethics and Law participated in a discussion about how
the world changed, and how the jobs, responsibilities and roles
of journalists changed after September 11, 2001.
Native
Americans Make a Case for Sensitivity
The
News Council co-sponsored a public forum on racism in sports
and media, specifically addressing objections by American Indians
to the use of their religious rituals and symbols by sports
teams as nicknames, logos, mascots and entertainment. The goal
of the forum was to ask why sports teams and news organizations
continue to use Indian names and traditions when so many Indians
find the use offensive.
Is
Race a Factor in Sports Coverage?
This
forum grew out of complaints that news outlets had published
or broadcast reports about Clem Haskins and Dennis Green, both
of whom are black, that would have been different if the two
men had been white. The Minnesota News Council, with a grant
from The Ford Foundation, commissioned a report on the coverage
of Minnesota coaching scandals involving Haskins, a former Gophers
basketball coach, Green, former coach of the Vikings, Jim Dutcher,
former Gophers basketball coach, and Doug Woog, former Gopher
hockey coach. Dutcher and Woog are white. The News Council invited
the writers of the report, educators, reporters and members
of the public to discuss the specific cases of Haskins and Green
as well as the broader issues of perceptions of bias in coverage
due to issues of race.
Media
Coverage of the Raid on the Highway 55 Encampment
On
March 17. 1999, about 150 people met at Ann Sullivan School
in South Minneapolis to examine and discuss media coverage of
the largest police raid in Minnesota history: the December 20,
1998, raid on the encampment of people protesting the reroute
of Highway 55. Top on the list of concerns was media-police
cooperation and the perceived lack of investigative rigor applied
to statement made by politicians and police.
Third
Party Candidates Raise First Rate Issues
A
review of media coverage of the 1998 campaigns
Covering
the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Community
In
the summer of 1997, members of the GLBT community met with media
people to talk about the highs and lows of coverage of that
community in recent years, including coverage of the Cunanan
murders and DOMA legislation.
Words
Count
On
February 21, 1997, more than 50 people - journalists and members
of several community groups - met at our "Words Count"
forum to discuss perceptions created in the minds of the public
by the words we all use to discuss suicide, mental illness and
adoption.
Journalists,
Violence and the News
One
of the strongest criticisms of the news media concerns the way
they cover violence. The constant barrage of crime stories gives
people the impression that violence is on the rise, that people
are powerless, that minorities are likely to commit crimes and
young people are dangerous. Viewers and readers respond by feeling
more afraid and more discouraged about life in their community.
Many people say the media have little concern for the impact
of this kind of news. In May 1996 (and again in January 1997)
the News Council and the Minnesota Public Radio Public Journalism
Initiative held a workshop that brought 50 journalists together
with 50 community residents from around the state of Minnesota
to talk about crime, violence and reporting.
Private
Forum: Media on School Property
In
the fall of 1995, a group of educators, school officials and
media executives met to discuss problems schools were having
with reporter behavior on school property and when interviewing
under-age students. This is a recap of the primary points of
each side.
Media
Coverage of Religion
An
opportunity for members of the religious community to ask questions
of reporters and editors, held at United Theological Seminary.
How
Dare They Run that Ad!
A
discussion of advertising acceptance policies and how they may
or may not relate to community standards.
Who
Needs a Jury When You Have a Free Press?
An
examination of the Fair Trial/Free Press guidelines established
in the 1970's.
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