(LOUISVILLE, KY) With help from the Associated Press Managing Editors Association, newspapers around the country are discussing journalistic credibility with their readers, and a survey released today shows that such discussions are prompting them to make changes to improve their accuracy, broaden their pool of news sources, and increase the diversity of their coverage and their newsroom staffs.
The survey, released at a national conference of the Associated Press Managing Editors Association (APME), follows a report earlier this year (from the Project for Excellence in Journalism) that reported 15 years of declining trust in newspapers. Newspapers, most prominently The New York Times and USA Today, also have been dealing with an outbreak of plagiarism and fabrication incidents.
The APME survey looked at the results of the first two cycles of public discussions held as part of APME's National Credibility Roundtables Project. Launched in 2001, the project trains and coaches newspapers in how to have dialogue with their communities around issues that influence readers' trust in what they read. Approximately 10 percent of American daily newspapers have held or are scheduled to hold roundtable discussions as a result of the project.
"The survey results clearly show that newspapers that have forthright conversations with their readers realize they need to make some changes if they want to increase their credibility," said Carol Nunnelley, project director and former managing editor of the Birmingham News. "The changes most often relate to a renewed focus on accuracy, a broader and more inclusive approach to news sources, and an increased sensitivity to diversity issues - both in news coverage and in the composition of the newsroom staff."
The survey reported on 94 newspapers that held roundtable discussions in a 2001-2003 period. In responses to a series of questions, 92 of the 94 newspapers said that engaging in the community discussions had influenced their practices or policies or both. The topic for each roundtable was specific to that community, but the three top categories of topics were diversity and minority issues, special issues of local concern such as the reporting of certain crimes, and general credibility of the media. These are examples of the actions that newspapers reported resulted from their roundtable discussions:
"We're more sensitive to corrections. We decided to start putting corrections on the front of each section instead of in the middle."We are periodically auditing our news articles on content issues such as sensitivity to racial issues that were raised at the roundtable.""Trying to improve accuracy in headlines. We now have writers write a suggested headline for their stories since they know their story better than the desk editors.""Paper became much more aggressive and confident dealing with differences in ethnic conflict. Increased cultural awareness. Now have broader source index.""Adopted a policy regarding use of photos that are graphic in nature.""Adopted a new style and practice for covering suicides based on recommendations from the U.S. Surgeon General.""Expanded our contacts in the African American community which has broadened the range of perspectives found within our coverage.""More emphasis on stories being comprehensive and having depth. Story assignments and daily news budgets include more discussion about consequences of stories and their placement.""Ensure that any arrest we report is followed through to final disposition of the case.""For too long newspapers were insular and inbred. Editors were talking to each other but not talking -- or listening -- to their readers," said Stuart Wilk, president of APME. "APME Credibility Roundtables have provided a platform for a candid, vigorous dialogue between editors and readers. This survey shows that when these roundtables take place, newspapers invariably become more aware of and responsive to reader concerns.
"It's not about abdicating our responsibilities as editors," he added. "It's about editing our newspapers with a clearer sense of what our readers really care about."
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An 8-page executive summary of the survey is available on-line http://www.apme.com/credibility or by request, by email from credibility@ap.org