Intro to Media Writing
As CNN’s
Jethro Mullen writes a follow up story on the crash of the Russian Metro jet
Flight 9268 that occurred on October 31, 2015, killing two hundred twenty-four
passengers, he does not report as if he knows all the answers. Even though this
is a follow up story to an event that has already been reported, the journalist
acknowledges that CNN does not yet hold all the hard facts and causes of the
crash, and the need to report predicted causes of the crash are to be reported
as such. As Mullen writes, “There are a
wide range of theories on what made the passenger jet plunge to the ground,
killing all 224 people on board, but Russian officials say it's too soon to
speculate on the cause.” He is following the SPJ Code of Ethics to inform
readers that portions of this story are merely speculation and gathering
possible causes of the crash, instead of reporting definitive causes. In one
portion of the story where Mullen accredits the website Flightradar24, he cites the source and also describes the reliability
of the site by describing to readers what they do. He states that the cite “tracks
aircraft around the world”, which according to the SPJ Code of Ethics is important
and is showing that Mullen is identifying sources clearly, while providing a
sense of reliably. Because this story covering the crash of Metro jet Flight
9268 isn’t over yet, and there are no absolute facts known concerning the cause
of the crash, CNN is continuing to follow up the story. This is displaying a
follow up in the life of a story, paying special attention to ensure readers
that CNN is committing to find the facts to a story until there is nothing left
to report. In the broadcast of this
story, the anchor is conscious of citing anonymous sources, and even though it is
a broadcast, citing every source that is a part of this story. In one portion
of the story she says, “Citing an anonymous source, the cockpit voice recorder
reveals a nonstandard emergency coming through.” Instead of just spitting off
information, going for speed and to just name theory after theory and fact
after fact, the anchor is showing how important it is that viewers know where
CNN obtained the information of the story. Some broadcasts do not take the time
or effort to cite every piece of information in a story and accredit each
source where they gathered the information. This is very important in elements
of Journalism because it is not only showing a commitment to reporting relevant
information, but also giving the viewer “access to source material” as it says
in the SPJ code of ethics. What impresses me about the broadcast to this story,
even more so than the written piece to it, is that while CNN has access to the
many causes of this crash, they do not just report one or two of them as fact,
but rather go over everything they have found may be responsible for the crash.
They do not just rush through the broadcast in order to get it finished, as
well as show less of a sense of importance than any other story where they know
all the facts. Even though this story is far from finished, it still receives
the attention and a sense of urgency to report and follow up with it as any
other story. While not all the facts are known, the anchor makes sure she
states “what may have happened” or “what could have happened” to ensure
accuracy and do not report simple theories, as facts in a story. This story,
both in broadcast and piece formed revealed to me how careful CNN is about
their work, and to following the SPJ Code of Ethics, that they do not excuse
accuracy for speed of a broadcast (or written piece), that they always attribute
the sources, and they are committed to correcting and updating a story during
its entire life until there isn’t new information to report. And as a side
note, I realized how CNN is a precedent in the area of media, and follows to a
tee the SPJ code of ethics, and reports stories as they should, revealing
commitment to every story to find the facts, and report them in an accurate
way.
Story- http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/03/africa/russian-plane-crash-egypt-sinai/
Jethro Mullen CNN November 3, 2015 CNN, Turner Broadcasting INC all rights
reserved
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