APME National Credibility Roundtables Project
"What You Learned" Roundtable Report
California State University, Fullerton & Orange County Register - Santa Ana, CA
Dr. Nancy Snow, Asst. Professor of Communications, nsnow@fullerton.edu
Chris Meyer, Deputy Editor, cmeyer@ocregister.com
3/10/05 OC Register, Santa Ana, CA- 10 upper-division senior and graduate students participated.
What were the key issues discussed at the roundtable?
Media bias was the main topic but we also discussed objectivity; perception; press accountability; spinning the truth versus telling the truth; the role of newspapers to just share the facts or move the needle on an issue; as well as the function and role of readers in building a bridge between the newspaper and community.
Were some issues more important to readers, viewers, story subjects and sources? If so, what were they?
The participants seemed upset with the level of opining and ideologizing going on in today's news. They just want the facts but don't know how to separate the facts from the news analysis. The readers noted that newspaper layouts are changing and that editorials can often be found in a number of places in the paper, not just the op-ed pages. Readers want to know the sources of all information they come across or at least get direction like arrows "for further reading" that can help guide their judgement.
Were there important points of agreement on coverage approaches or news philosophy that would improve the newspaper's content and its credibility? What were they?
Yes, fairness is more possible than total objectivity. Readers realize that newspapers don't have a magic wand to take away all their suspicion of the news media's role today. They do want papers to be fair with them and treat them like they have common sense and good intellect. A reader who feels condescended to is not a happy reader.
Were there points on which roundtable participants agreed to disagree? Where were they?
Yes, we agreed to disagree on how far newspapers need to go to address bias. Bias is still at times in the eye of the beholder. Some perceive bias whereas others might see perception or an angle to a story.
Will the newspaper consider changes in its coverage of the roundtable issue, or in its news philosophy, as a result of the discussions? What changes? (Professors should consult with their key editor contact to answer this and other questions referring to the newspaper's actions.)
How has the newspaper informed its readers of the roundtable, what happened there and what may occur because of the discussion?
Yes, I believe so. The Orange County Register is planning to do a follow-up dinner in June with the March participants and is also planning to write about the experience. It is likely to make changes to the newspaper format resulting from the two media bias roundtables. [Note: because of the late date for the second roundtable, I'm not able to get detailed information from my key editor at this time.] We would be happy to report back after June in a final report.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CLASS AND THE STUDENTS:
What did your students learn from putting on a roundtable?
My students were requested by the OC Register to participate first as observers and then the night of the roundtable were encouraged to participate directly. The OC Register thought it was better to organize the roundtable due to the sensitive topic of media bias. It turned out that the student participants were the hit of the evening. Just seeing young people there interested in journalism inspired many of the community readers to have a restored hope in the future of journalism. I had to tell them that many of the students participating were advertising, entertainment studies and public relations students from the College of Communications at Cal State Fullerton, but nevertheless, the community seemed impressed that students would give up an evening to address the topic of media bias. The students offered insight into how much they prefer alternative and new media sources like the Internet or Jon Stewart's Comedy Central. They read newspaper headlines more than an entire paper from beginning to end.
What worked well in having the students organize and facilitate the roundtable?
From the professor's viewpoint?
n/a
From the newspaper's viewpoint?
n/a
What would you do differently if you had another class work on a roundtable?
I would have a more detailed plan of action that I could get pre-approval from the newspaper and work more closely with the OC Register staff.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEWSPAPER:
What was important for the university to offer to gain the newspaper's cooperation?
We offered eager and enthusiastic student participants whose insights were very much needed among this much older community crowd.
What was important for the newspaper to provide to help the university and the professor?
The newspaper has already agreed to allow me access to their notes, the video of the roundtable, and other materials to write a journal article about the experience that I can publish and distribute to my writing and media classes.
Do you have any other advice for professors who would like to do a roundtable? If so, please include it here.
Yes, work as closely as you can with the newspaper editor and newspaper partner. I lucked out by getting such an easy-going, good natured editor in Chris Meyer. I would have preferred a more active role for my students to play in the roundtables, but then again, the subject of media bias might have intimidated them.