Disasters, Police and the Courts

   This week we'll discuss stories about disasters big and small, a police murder or assault investigation, and the courts. You're required to write a story on one of the three topics.

   You never know when a natural or man-made disaster will hit. Do you remember where you were when John Hinckley Jr. shot President Reagan? (Some of you may not have been born! ;) When the Challenger exploded? How about Oklahoma City? Or maybe you remember watching the World Series when the earthquake hit? A little closer to home, the tornado that struck the Arkadelphia truck stop also leveled my storage facility in Southwest Little Rock.

   Events such as these require a keen nose for detail. Readers grab the paper, and watch or listen to the news in an attempt to find out not only how things happened, but if possible, why things happen. Victims of disasters are also victims of unwanted exposure. Would they be considered a public or private figure? Though the best articles recount a victim's harrowing experiences, understand that you're dealing with someone who's had a life-changing event. Put yourself in their shoes before writing your article — people may say dumb things when bad things happen. You have an ethical responsibility not to add insult to injury.

   You may be interested in covering the police beat. You can go to Public Safety to pick up a copy of a police report and write a story from it. Public Safety Director John Kidwell will visit with us Thursday to discuss how we obtain information for news articles.

   Our readers will also be interested in news about Monticello. The city claims the Monticello Police Department, Drew County Sheriff's Department and the Monticello fire department. Both provide good information for a hard news or soft news story, e.g. how prepared is Monticello for a terrorist attack?

Check List

• Victim, identification
• Time, date, place of incident
• Weapon used
• Consequence to victim
• Police comment; motivation for crime
• Comments from neighbors, friends
• Name, identification of arrested person
• Exact charge
• Circumstances of arrest
• Motive
• Officers involved in investigation, arrest
• Arraignment; bail, if any

Caution

   Also, remember an arrest is only an arrest. When writing about the suspect, be sure to use the word "alleged" as not everyone who is arrested is charged with a crime (e.g. the off-duty officer at the 1996 Olympics).

   Accuracy is vital in the news industry. Inaccurate information will ruin your credibility, cause lawsuits and help you lose your job. On Friday, you will watch a televised court trial and write a news story. You'll then pass your paper to your neighbor and rewatch the tape to note mistakes.

• Campus crime data
• Arkansas Crime Information Center
• Student Press Law Center
• Covering Criminal Justice Vol. II (A resource guide for journalists) (sections 1 & 2)
• White House Briefing Room for Social Statistics: Crime
• Capital Punishment Statistics--(U.S. Bureau of Justice)
• Bureau of Justice Statistics
• List of U.S. States With/Without Death Penalty
• Death Penalty Information Center
• CopNet
• Coplink
• Law Enforcement Sites on the Web
• Justice Department Information Center
• Fugitive Watch Web Site
• Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
• WWW Virtual Library: Criminal Law and Evidence
• The Police Officer's Internet Directory
• Law Enforcement Agencies in Arkansas

If you don't understand something in this Web note, please e-mail Dr. Sitton.