ADVERTISEMENT

In Case You Missed It

Facebook Julia Bain and Beth Loyd,

How publishers are using Facebook Live

"We’ve seen that people comment 10 times more on Facebook Live videos than on regular videos."

Staff The Hollywood Reporter

Ben Affleck called out for censorship during 'Accountant' press junket

"During the interview, Rubin had veered into a conversation with Affleck about being constant tabloid fodder, when 'the PR dope who is in the room actually interrupts us.' The representative is heard asking him to 'stick to the film' for his interview."

Nieman Lab Ken Doctor

NYT's Dean Baquet on calling out lies, embracing video, and building a more digital newsroom

"I think that [Trump] challenged our language. He will have changed journalism, he really will have…We didn’t know how to write the paragraph that said, ‘This is just false.’ We struggle with that. I think that Trump has ended that struggle."

Nieman Lab SHAN WANG

Want to sample the BBC's early-stage projects? Try Taster

"What’s unusual is not the concept of piloting ideas, but the fact that the BBC was willing to show the public projects in a half-baked state, glitches included."

The Washington Post Erik Wemple

Opinion: Donald Trump is devouring Fox News

"This is an outlet that has thrived by offering a variety of programming strains, the better to build out its own expansive tent."

The Washington Post Kathleen Parker

Do commas still matter?

"...I have a confession: I’ve begun to forget the rules. What used to come naturally has become a test of recall. Does a comma go here? Should I use the Oxford comma?"

The Huffington Post Andree Lau

Journalist Ken Pagan ID'd in beer-tossing incident

"'I contacted Toronto police earlier this evening, around 7 p.m., and identified myself as the person in the photo,' Ken Pagan wrote in an email to The Canadian Press on Wednesday night, adding he 'cannot say much else.'"

Digiday Lucia Moses

These news organizations are staying off Facebook Instant Articles

"Bloomberg Media, The Wall Street Journal and Vice News are among those that have all but opted out of it."

The Huffington Post Michelle Fields

Is The Blaze going up in smoke?

"Glenn Beck’s The Blaze was once the envy of other right-leaning sites. Not anymore."

Politico Peter Sterne

Independent fires U.S. news editor

"The Independent's U.S. news editor Rob Crilly was let go by the British paper following complaints about his aggressive management style, POLITICO has learned."

Politico Jack Shafer

Is 2016 the year of disinformation?

"...in campaign 2016 these disinformation efforts have become rampant, and they are gaining currency as never before thanks to the pick-up they’re getting from traditional media."

BuzzFeed Jessica Testa

The media and Malia Obama

"For the past eight years, the Obamas pushed hard to maintain their eldest daughter’s privacy. How that’s changing now that Malia is an adult and making her own rules."

AAJA Paul Cheung

O'Reilly segment sparks ire from Asian American Journalists Association

"The segment was billed as a report on Chinese Americans’ views on the U.S. presidential election but it was rife with racist stereotypes, drew on thoughtless tropes and openly ridiculed Asian Americans."

Recode Peter Kafka

Disney isn’t going to bid for Twitter

The next entrant? Salesforce.

CNN Money Brian Stelter

Social media snark brews feud between Fox News hosts

"Megyn Kelly and Sean Hannity, who have back-to-back shows on Fox News, have a sharp difference of opinion about Donald Trump."

In case you missed it

Facebook Julia Bain and Beth Loyd,

How publishers are using Facebook Live

"We’ve seen that people comment 10 times more on Facebook Live videos than on regular videos."

Staff The Hollywood Reporter

Ben Affleck called out for censorship during 'Accountant' press junket

"During the interview, Rubin had veered into a conversation with Affleck about being constant tabloid fodder, when 'the PR dope who is in the room actually interrupts us.' The representative is heard asking him to 'stick to the film' for his interview."

Nieman Lab Ken Doctor

NYT's Dean Baquet on calling out lies, embracing video, and building a more digital newsroom

"I think that [Trump] challenged our language. He will have changed journalism, he really will have…We didn’t know how to write the paragraph that said, ‘This is just false.’ We struggle with that. I think that Trump has ended that struggle."

ADVERTISEMENTS

Training

Seminars and classes about journalism

Coffee Break Course

A two-minute course from News University

What to look for in covering Hurricane Matthew

For today's Coffee Break Course, I asked my Poynter colleague Al Tompkins for some tips on covering Hurricane Matthew. His recommendations fall into several categories.

Understand these three numbers

  • Barometric pressure. The lower the number, the stronger the storm.
  • Distance. Nautical miles are less than land miles.
  • Speed. Storm speed is typically measured in knots per hour, not miles per hour.

Be aware of two kinds of damage

  • Wind. After the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1993, building codes in Florida were changed to make roofs and mobile homes safer.  You might see less wind damage because of the number of newer buildings.
  • Storm surge. Wind damage typically is covered by homeowners' insurance, but water damage isn't. Flood insurance is offered through the National Flood Insurance Program run by FEMA and is capped. You'll see stories of people who don't have insurance to replace what was damaged by water.

Covering the storm

  • Don't race out to cover the storm if you are not prepared. You can put yourself, and others, at risk. There are plenty of other ways to tell good stories.
  • Be global. Other places have been affected by the storm. People in Haiti are still rebuilding from the 2010 earthquake, and many are still homeless. Ask relief agencies and politicians about efforts there.
  • Check the charities. Before you report on any relief work, check an organization's track record. (You can see 990s on Guidestar.) Find out where their money has gone in the past and if they do what they said they would do.
  • Be skeptical of user-submitted photos. Check the meta-data or do a reverse image search through TinEye, RevEye (a Chrome add-on) or Google.
  • Choose your words carefully. Avoid subjective adjectives such as "monster" or "storm of the century." Be factual and inform your audience with objective nouns.
  • Think social first. Online is a great way to connect with your audience before the storm hits. Then they can find you while the power is out. Be active now with social channels and blogs. Point your viewers to tools that can help them stay in touch with one another, too, such as Facebook’s Safety Check.
Other resources

Looking for more reporting techniques? Sign up for How to Cover Big News as It Breaks, a webinar replay with Christal Hayes at Poynter NewsU.

Take the full course

Have you missed a Coffee Break Course? Here's our complete lineup. Or follow along on Twitter at #coffeebreakcourse.

Poynter's News University

Poynter's News University is the world's most innovative journalism and media e-learning program. From mobile tools and social media strategies to writing and reporting techniques, we've got more than 400 free and low-cost courses to build your career. Whether it’s an interactive program or on-demand video teaching, our online training lets you learn on your own schedule, anytime, anywhere. Put the power of NewsU training to work in your newsroom, your classroom and your organization.

On Campus & Around the World

Join Poynter faculty and the industry’s brightest minds and most accomplished journalists and educators for several days of intensive learning on our campus in St. Petersburg , Florida or at locations around the world. Our seminars are designed to sharpen your skills, elevate your career and ignite your imagination.

Upcoming Seminars & Events

Private Programs and Training Partnerships

Poynter faculty teach in newsrooms, classrooms and conference rooms all around the world. Since 2014, we have forged training partnerships with more than 20 major media and educational organizations including Gannett, McClatchy, Google, AP, National Geographic and Univision. From training programs for your entire organization to individual coaching, we can create programs to focus on your specific training needs.

Learn more

Get Poynter Prepared

Get a personalized training experience with our Poynter Prepared Membership Program. With each membership level, you will have access to instant perks, services and benefits that will help you on your way to career success. Available benefits include exclusive invitations, free courses, discounts on all Poynter training and private coaching by Poynter faculty. We will help you be a better journalist. And you'll help Poynter advance journalism and support democracy on a global scale.

Become a member

About Poynter

A global leader in journalism. Strengthening democracy.

The Poynter Story

Since its founding in 1975, The Poynter Institute has had one goal: to elevate journalism. More than 40 years later, our role in strengthening democracy has never been more important.

Each year, Poynter reaches thousands of journalists around the world through a combination of seminars in St. Petersburg and around the globe, e-learning courses through News University, our news and information site on Poynter.org, and much much more. Last year alone, we trained journalists from 126 countries and have forged training partnerships with more than 20 major media organizations, including Gannett, Google, National Geographic and Univision.

Learn more

Our Communities

For 40 years, The Poynter Institute has had one goal: to make journalism better. Whether you’re a journalist working in a newsroom, an entrepreneur looking to scale your startup, an educator looking for resources to help you and your students, or a media organization seeking a training partner, Poynter can help.

Let Poynter connect you with the community to meet your unique training needs.

Looking for other ways to connect with Poynter? Visit Poynter's Facebook page and join our Linked-In group.

Learn More

Events

Poynter offers a variety of events that help members of the community better understand issues surrounding journalism and the people who produce it. Speakers have ranged from political contributor and strategist Ana Navarro, to satirist and author Andy Borowitz, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski, and a number of Pulitzer Prize winners including David Barstow of The New York Times, Tim Nickens and Dan Ruth of the Tampa Bay Times, and David Maraniss of The Washington Post.

See our lineup

Thought Leadership

Poynter regularly brings together media executives, journalists, technologists and academics to share ideas and expertise focused on the future of news. From audience engagement and mobile newsgathering to issues of sustainable news models, you’ll hear robust discussion around the intersection of journalism, technology and the public interest.

Support Poynter

The Institute’s role in strengthening democracy has never been more important. Your support makes a difference in the lives of journalists and the citizens they serve. Please consider making a gift to the Institute to advance journalism and democracy during this age of profound change.

Support Poynter