Workshop Searches for New Home

Rockhurst University in March ended its longstanding relationship with the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists Urban Student Journalism Academy.

KCABJ President Tracy Allen, however, was able to quickly get the program for high school and college students relocated to Penn Valley Community College.

The two summer workshop for students with an interest in journalism careers had been at Rockhurst University since 1992. Rockhurst officials late last spring announced that they wanted to start charging KCABJ for the use of a classroom for the workshop. But KCABJ officials were able to defuse that sudden change.

As a not-for-profit group, KCABJ has always enjoyed the use of classroom facilities at no charge. The workshop is free to students who are accepted for the rigorous print and broadcast training. The university benefited immensely from the good public relations generated from having the community-based program at Rockhurst University.

KCABJ officials began negotiations with Rockhurst University the winter before the 2004 summer program. Again, Rockhurst officials said charges would be assessed for the use of the space. They offered an alternative of co-sponsoring the program with KCABJ so no fees would be assessed. They wanted papers to show KCABJ was insured, which KCABJ member Glenn E. Rice was able to provide. But then after meeting each of Rockhurst University's new requirements, KCABJ was notified in March that the co-sponsorship arrangement wouldn't be possible because Rockhurst was unable to get anyone on its staff to take part in the workshop.

Tracy said at the March membership meeting that she had initiated discussions with two other Kansas City area colleges so the academy could continue. The journalism workshop started on the Pioneer campus of Penn Valley Community College. Back then it took place on five consecutive Saturdays. It moved to the Penn Valley campus in the early 1980s, and stayed there until 1992 when for three years it was a two-week residential program. Rockhurst University provided the classroom and dormitory space. KCABJ paid for the housing and meal costs for the students.

The program switched back to a commuter workshop in 1995. KCABJ stayed with Rockhurst University because it was conveniently located in the urban core of Kansas City on a main bus line. It was accessible to students particularly in the Kansas City School District. But KCABJ members were told at the March meeting that times have changed. Years ago most of the students who applied and were selected for the workshop were from the Kansas City School District. Now most of the students come from suburban school districts, and they either drive to the classes or their parents provide transportation. The change means that picking a college in the urban core and on a bus line didn't have to be a priority.

However, Tracy was able to secure a classroom and media equipment at Penn Valley Community College for the program. ``All we need are the students now,'' she wrote in an e-mail to members.

The brochures for the workshop were printed and distributed to members during the last week in March. They are being sent to high schools, colleges and churches with members making visits to schools to promote the academy. The application also is online at www.kcabj.org. The deadline for students to be considered or the program is April 24.

The academy has always been on a college campus to give students early exposure to higher education.

For this year's academy, KCABJ member Robyn J. King, also known as KPRS-FM D.J. Robyn Knight, got the membership's approval to include radio in the broadcast week. She said students this year will be able to visit the Carter Broadcast Group, make a 15-60 second commercial and newscast in one of the studios and receive promotional items such as T-shirts and key chains. The students will write the scripts ahead of the visit and then produce a CD at the station. In addition to the two-weeks of the academy, a mandatory student orientation meeting will be on June 19 at The Kansas City Star. The next KCABJ meeting will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 24 at The Kansas City Star, 1729 Grand Blvd.

Forum for Missouri Governor Candidates

KCABJ member Glenn E. Rice told the membership that a location has been picked for the upcoming forum KCABJ is co-sponsoring with the Black Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City for candidates for Missouri governor.

It will be at the Kauffman Foundation at 4801 Rockhill Road. A date is being worked out with the candidates. A panel of journalists will ask the candidates questions. One or two other journalists will serve as moderators.

NABJ News

Tangie Newborn, executive director of the National Association of Black Journalists said in a column in the NABJ Journal that full members now can get a discount on dues for multi-year memberships. ``Renew now for two years and pay only $150 (a savings of $10) or for five years and pay $350 (a savings for $50,)'' Newborn wrote. Members also will be offered a membership directory on CD. Newborn encourages people to fill out the form they will receive and get it back to NABJ as soon as possible to be included.

NABJ President Herb Lowe had this to offer in a Q & A article in the NABJ Journal.

Question: ``What can local chapters do to feel more connected to the national organization?''

Answer: ``Our chapters are going to have to become stronger locally. For NABJ to really get our name out, we have to do things that engage the community. I am too tired of us trying to prove how bigtime we are. Our rank and file (members) has something to say, and I want to make sure they get the chance to say it.''

Question: ``Are you wary of too many pursuits under your administration?''

Answer: ``I am very wary. There are some things that we want to do that we're already excited about that I'm wondering if we should leave to our successors. Five years from now, I want it to be said that during this administration we relieved ourselves of the perception that we are a one-week-a-year association and became a year-round association. That we once again began fighting for black journalists and shining a light on black journalists. That we celebrated out legacy and made it clear that we are the bellwether organization for journalists of color at UNITY. I want to be able to say that NABJ 30 years later is a stronger, more powerful entity in the industry and that we can look back at those 30 years with pride and be passionate about our next 30 years.... we're not going to be able to do everything, but we're going to try to make a difference.''

The State of Journalism: Poor

The Project for Excellence in Journalism released its ``State of the News Media 2004'' study, and the findings were not good. Some of the highlights were that the audience for most news media outlets is shrinking or stagnant, and the investment in news-gathering among most traditional outlets is down, the Chicago Tribune reported in a March 15 article.

The study found that English language newspaper circulation dropped 11 percent since 1990 while network newscast ratings were down 34 percent in the same time period. The median cable news audience has not grown since 2001. However, Spanish language newspapers have tripled their circulation to 1.7 million since 1990. The study found a declining amount of airtime devoted to news vs. other content such as commercials and promotions. For example, 30-minute nightly newscasts average 18 minutes 48 seconds of actually news, down 11 percent from 1991. Network morning news shows average only 15 minutes and 6 seconds of news per half-hour.The study found that newspapers employ 2,200 fewer people than in 1990.

However, between 1991 and 2000, newspaper profits increased 207 percent. Newsroom jobs only went up 3 percent. The study found a similar trend in television. Morning news show revenues were up 37 percent from 1999 to 2002, but the number of overseas bureaus has been cut in half. The number of correspondents employed by the evening newscasts also is down more than 33 percent since 1985.

The study said 62 percent of airtime on cable news consists of live broadcasts, which are often cheaper than prepared, packaged reports. In one 16-hour broadcast day, the study found that only 27 percent of the stories were new reports while 68 percent were segments that repeated the same information without any new reporting. The study noted that overall, trust in news stories is down dramatically. The percentage of people who believe what they read in newspapers has declined from 80 percent in 1985 to 59 percent in 2003. The percentage giving high marks in credibility to network news dropped from 74 percent in 1996 to 65 percent in 2002.

Ethics Under Fire

The University of Missouri-Columbia News Bureau reports that a new study by MU researchers has found that changes to journalism codes of ethics have played a significant role in the negative perception the public has of today's media.

Two MU School of Journalism professors, Bonnie Brennen and Lee Wilkins, analyzed and compared two early codes, the 1923 American Society of Newspaper Editors code and the 1934 American Newspaper Guild code with the 2003 New York Times code of ethics. They found several significant changes.

``The ASNE code set out to maintain the rights and dignity of the profession and tried to establish ethical standards for journalistic conduct,'' Brennen said. ``For example, the ASNE code says that invasions of privacy should be avoided unless the public warrants such intrusion, and editors are asked to not publish unofficial charges without giving the people the opportunity to defend themselves.''

The ANG code, insists that reporters respect the rights of individuals by crafting factual and fair news reports that accurately represent an unbiased account of the news. It gives reporters little room for exceptions or extenuating conditions. But the researchers found that The Times code was strikingly different. It focuses mainly on conflicts of interests, economic health and financial success. Staffers, for example, are prevented from free-lancing work that competes with The Times while noting that The Times sphere of influence is larger than ever.

Also, according to the code: ``Staff members may not appear on broadcasts that directly compete with The Times own offerings on television or the Internet.... As the paper moves further into these new fields, its direct competitors, clients or potential clients will undoubtedly grow in number.'' Brennen and Wilkins said The Times code interprets the conflict of interest aspect broadly, linking conflict of interest to perception of the newspaper's impartiality, neutrality and integrity of news reports. Accuracy, and tough-minded evaluation of both sources and the information they provide are not mentioned in The Times code.

The researchers found that sections of the code based on economic and financial success of The Times are fault lines in the profession: It amounts to the tension between economic goals and the traditional view of journalism as a public service something emphasized in earler codes. The Times has placed its economic health on an equal footing with the public trust. ``If the recent Jason Blair incident is any indication, management's financial concerns -- as articulated in the ethics code -- have their parallels in real life,'' Brennen and Wilkins said. ``The emphasis reveals something central about the profession: Concerns about financial profitability do remain on an equal footing with journalistic duty and service.''

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