UNITY 2012 Convention

Social media and blogs have made it easier for the public to learn about a journalist’s personal life. The public can learn whether a reporter is affected by the issues they cover, if they serve on a board, own stock or socialize with elected officials or community and business leaders — or married to people who do. It’s a complex and complicated world and journalists need to pay attention to maintain credibility. We’ll walk through some of the issues on separating personal from professional information and offer guidance on what to do when you can’t.

Journalists and other communicators are taught to avoid libel and invasion of privacy in reporting, but in the age of the Internet, sources and consumers are turning the tables on the press. Blogs criticize reporters. Journalists are investigated. Readers’ comments get out of hand. Journalists are now plaintiffs in defamation and invasion of privacy cases. And journalists can also expose themselves online —when questionable photos on social media sites are seen by potential employers. This workshop gives concrete ideas on how journalists and other communicators can protect and repair their own reputations and maintain privacy, while also learning how to be more ethical and legal in their own work.

Pictures are worth a thousand words. Adding audio can make those images more powerful. This workshop will teach you how to marry pictures and sound to create dynamic stories.

Indian Country has laws that many reporters do not know about and issues that can be confusing to non-native on how to go about reporting on it. We will also discuss ways on how not to report in Native American stories. Topics will include the Indian Child Welfare Act and how to address the story. Gaming issues, attending meetings on tribal lands, environmental issues and do the tribes have a freedom of press law? The why and how to address these issues will be explored.