Covering the Police Beat in Journalism

Covering the Police Beat in Journalism The police beat can be one of the most challenging and rewarding in  journalism. Police reporters get to cover some of the biggest breaking news stories out there, ones that land at the top of the front page, website  or newscast. But it isnt easy. Covering the crime beat is demanding and often stressful, and as a reporter, it takes time, patience and skill to get the cops to trust you enough to give you information. So here are some steps you can follow for producing solid police stories. Know The Sunshine Laws Before you visit your  local police precinct in search of a good story, familiarize yourself with the sunshine laws in your state. This will give you a good sense of what kind of information the police are required to provide. Generally, any time an adult is arrested in the U.S., the paperwork associated with that arrest should be a matter of public record, meaning you should be able to access it. (Juvenile records are usually not available.) An exception might be a case involving national security. But Sunshine Laws vary from state to state, which is why its good to know the specifics for your area. Visit Your Local Precinct House You may see police activity out on the streets in your town, but as a beginner, its probably not a good idea to try to get information from cops at the scene of a crime. And a phone call may not get you much either. Instead, visit your local police station or precinct house. Youre likely to get better results from a face-to-face encounter. Be Polite, Respectful - But Persistent Theres a stereotype of the hard-driving reporter youve probably seen in a movie somewhere. He barges into the courthouse, DAs office or corporate boardroom and starts banging his fist on the table, shouting, I need this story and I need it now! Out of my way. That approach may work in some situations (though probably not many), but it definitely wont get you far with the police. For one thing, theyre generally bigger than we are. And they carry guns. Youre not likely to intimidate them. So when you first visit your local police precinct to get a story, be polite and courteous. Treat the cops with respect and chances are theyll return the favor. But at the same time, dont be intimidated. If you sense a police officer is giving you the runaround instead of real information, press your case. If that doesnt work, ask to speak to his or her superior, and see if theyre more helpful. Ask To See the Arrest Log If you dont have a specific crime or incident in mind that you want to write about, ask to see the arrest log. The arrest log is just what it sounds like - a log of all the arrests police make, usually organized in 12- or 24-hour cycles. Scan the log and find something that looks interesting. Get the Arrest Report Once youve picked out something from the arrest log, ask to see the arrest report. Again, the name says it all - the arrest report is the paperwork the cops fill out when they make an arrest. Getting a copy of the arrest report will save both you and the police a lot of time because much of the information you need for your story will be on that report. Get Quotes Arrest reports are very helpful, but live quotes can make or break a good crime story. Interview a police officer or detective about the crime youre covering. If possible, interview the cops directly involved with the case, those who were on the scene when the arrest was made. Their quotes are likely to be much more interesting than those from a desk sergeant. Double-Check Your Facts Accuracy is critical in crime reporting. Getting the facts wrong in a crime story can have dire consequences. Double-check the circumstances of the arrest; details about the suspect; the nature of the charges he faces; the name and rank of the officer you interviewed, and so on. Get Out of the Police Precinct So youve got the basics of your story from arrest reports and interview with the cops. Thats great, but in the end, crime reporting isnt just about law enforcement, its about how your community is being affected by crime. So always be on the lookout for opportunities to humanize your police stories by interviewing the average folks who are affected. Has an apartment complex been hit by a wave of burglaries? Interview some tenants there. Has a local store been robbed numerous times? Talk to the owner. Are local schoolkids being confronted by drug dealers on their way to school? Talk to parents, school administrators and others. And remember, as the sergeant in TVs Hill Street Blues said, be careful out there. As a police reporter, its your job to write about crime, not get caught in the middle of it.

Machine Hands essays

Machine Hands essays My sister collects butterflies, you name it and she probably has it when it comes to them. She has butterfly wallpaper, little ceramic sculptures of butterflies, books, little dead ones pined up for display, and of course little glass sculptures all over. About a month ago I was in search of a new butterfly to give to my sister for her birthday. I found myself in this little shop in of all places main street Disneyland. This little Asian man was behind the counter holding these clear rods of glass with this beautiful blue flame shooting out strongly from in front of him. He was melting and manipulating the glass that he had in his hand to look like a dolphin, it was one of the most amazing things that I have ever seen in my life before. This story is why I picked Hans-Godo Frabel to do my paper on. Hans-Godo Frabel is a very well known Torch artist; in his time he was known as one of the founders of modern torch-work art in America. However he didnt always live here. Born in Germany during the Second World War, Frabel was brought up in one of the harshest environments in the world at the time. Frabel was joined with a Glass artist started his apprenticeship and was a part of Germanys Master Craftsman program. The master craft program is the legal basis for admission into a craft. Only a natural or legal person listed in the Register of Craftsmen is allowed to independently operate a craft enterprise; registration requires qualification as a master craftsman (Meister) in the respective craft. This is also an entitlement to train apprentices. In limited exceptional cases, master craftsmen can work in other crafts for which they are not registered. Along with his title of master craftsman he also got the nickname Machine Hands, because of the precise movements of his hands and how quickly he works. After reading up on Hans-godo for a while and looking at his work I rea ...

Moonsnail Strategic Management Accounting Essay

Moonsnail Strategic Management Accounting - Essay Example The next section will deal with an internal and external analysis of the company based on which strategic recommendations have been set out. Â  Having gained a brief overview of the company and the history of the company, it is also essential to study the internal and external forces that create an impact on the company. Hence to gain a better understanding of the same a SWOT analysis of the company and Porter’s five force analysis of the company has been provided below (also, see Appendix). This helps in the development of the strategic direction and recommendations for the company. Â  The first most essential aspect of the company that needs to be understood is the strengths. As understood, the company deals with handmade products and this helps in ensuring high-quality products with least defects. Also, the unique selling point of the company is the individualized and unique products that it develops and sells in the crafted shops. The simple processes and modest working environment of the company also permit to ensure that all processes are value based and the customers are not overcharged for any of the products, unlike the competition. The brand name and image is strong and well recognized across the country. In terms of weaknesses, the company deals with handmade products which limit products that can be developed. Also, the lack of machines in the production leads to increased processing time and increased need for human resources to meet market demand. The main markets and sales are from the tourist, which is based on seasonal markets hence leading the company to deal with the seasonal changes. High costs for advertising and marketing expenses. Â  In terms of the opportunities, Moonsnail has a number of opportunities that it can use for its growth and improvements.