A police officer Ferguson, Missouri fatally shot an unarmed teen. Was race a factor in the death of Michael Brown? Or has the framing of the story by local and national journalists made it one? Also, keeping reporters safe during violent protests, the role of citizen journalists and hashag activism in the aftermath.
David Hunn, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “Attacked on the Job: A Post-Dispatch photographer’s tale”
Kristen Hare, Poynter: “St. Louis photographer on scene at riots: ‘This is my job’”
Trymaine Lee, MSNBC: “Eyewitness to Michael Brown’s shooting recounts his friend’s death”
Kia Makareschi, Vanity Fair: “FBI opens investigation into Mike Brown’s death, as police fire rubber bullets at Ferguson crowds”
Wesley Lowery, Washington Post: “Police use tear gas on crowd in Ferguson, Mo., protesting teen’s death”
A line of police cars with high beams on greats anyone trying to enter #Ferguson. It's shut down. No media allowed. pic.twitter.com/pPE2m4G0UQ
— Antonio French (@AntonioFrench) August 12, 2014
Editorial, New York Times: "The death of Michael Brown"
#IfTheyGunnedMeDown: True media criticism?
This trending topic is another act of hashtag activism. How does the media's choice of a photo impact the public's image of someone after their death?
Yesha Callahan, The Root: “#IfTheyGunnedMeDown shows how black people are portrayed in mainstream media”
James Poniewozik, Time: “#IfTheyGunnedMeDown and what hashtag activism does right”
Ernie Suggs, Atlanta Journal Constitution: “#IfTheyGunnedMeDown: Ferguson shooting sparks debate”
Bill Chappell, NPR: “People wonder: ‘If they gunned me down,’ what photo would media use?”
PJ Vogt, On The Media: “If they gunned me down”
Kyra Kyles, Jet: “If they gunned me down sad commentary on society"
Remembering Robin Williams
The untimely death of actor-comedien Robin Williams came as a shock to many. While is battles with drug and alcohol abuse had been known for decades, his on-going treatment for depression wasn't -- until now.
Jack Mirkinson, Huffington Post: “Robin Williams honored in powerful media coverage”
Lara Salahi, Boston.com: "Robin Williams' death reminds us about misconceptions surrounding depression"
Linda Carroll, Lisa Tolin & Gil Aegerter, NBC: "Robin Williams: The funny face of depression?"
Jessica Firger, CBS: "Robin Williams' death highlights challenge of treating severe depression"
TMZ Staff: "Robin Williams tried cutting wrists before hanging"
Josh Levs & Alan Duke, CNN: "Offcials: Robin Williams apparently hanged himself with a belt"
Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times: "Details of Robin Williams' death generate backlash on social media"
Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post: "Suicide contagion and social media: The dangers of sharing 'Genie, you're free'"
Fighting for diversity
A group of minority journalists are fighting to bring more diversity to American newsrooms, journalism conferences, panels and classrooms. The Journalism Diversity Project is designed to make it easy for hiring managers and event organizers to find qualified experts who are journalists of color.
Benet Wilson, alldigitocracy.org: “New project launched to help diversify journalism”
Heben Nigatu & Tracy Clayton, BuzzFeed: “13 top editors on how they think about diversity in their newsrooms”
Heben Nigatu & Tracy Clayton, BuzzFeed: “39 pieces of advice for journalists and writers of color”
Paul Fahri, Washington Post: “Pundits drive the sports news industry, but women’s opinions are almost totally absent”
