Journalism Reporting on the Courts

So youve gotten a handle on covering a basic police story, and now you want to follow a case as it winds its way through the criminal justice system. Welcome to the courthouse beat! Covering the courts is one of the most challenging and fascinating beats at any news operation, one rich with human drama. The courtroom, after all, is very much like a stage in which the actors - the accused, the attorneys, the judge and jury - all have their roles to play. And, depending on the severity of the alleged crime, the stakes can be enormously high when the defendants freedom - or even his life - are at issue. Here, then, are some steps to follow when you decide to visit your local courthouse to cover a trial. Pick the Right Courthouse to Visit There are courts of varying jurisdictions scattered across the country, from the smallest local court that deals with little more than traffic ticket disputes to the nations highest court, the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. It may be tempting to get your feet wet by visiting a small local court, sometimes known as a municipal court. But, depending on where you live, these very small courts are often fairly limited in scope. It may be interesting to watch people bicker over traffic tickets for a few minutes, but eventually youll want to move on to bigger things. Generally the best place to start is a state superior Court. This is a court where trials for serious crimes, otherwise known as felonies, are heard. State superior courts are where most trials are heard, and are where most court reporters ply their trade. Changes are theres one in the county seat where you live. Do Research Before You Go Once youve found a state superior court in your area, do as much research as you can. For instance, if theres a highly publicized trial thats been covered in the local media, read up on it before you go. familiarize yourself with everything about the case - the accused, the alleged crime, the victims, the lawyers involved (both the prosecution and the defense) and the judge. You can never know too much about a case. If you dont have a specific case in mind, visit the court clerks office to see what trials are being heard on the day you plan to visit (this list of cases is sometimes known as the docket.) Once youve decided which case you want to cover, get as many of the documents associated with that case from the clerk as possible (you may have to pay photocopying costs.) Remember, a good portion of the story you write will be background material: the who, what, where, when, why and how of the case. So the more of that you have ahead of time, the less confused youll be when youre in the courtroom. When You Go Dress Appropriately: T-shirts and jeans may be comfortable, but they dont convey a sense of professionalism. You dont necessarily have to show up in a three-piece suit or your best dress, but wear the kind of clothes that would be appropriate in, say, an office. Leave the Weapons At Home: Most courthouses have metal detectors, so dont bring anything thats likely to set off alarms. As a print reporter all you need is a notebook and a few pens anyway. A Note About Cameras Recorders: Laws can vary from state to state, but generally are pretty restrictive about bringing cameras or recorders into a courtroom; check with the court clerk before you go to see what the rules are where you live. Once in the Court Take Thorough Notes: No matter how much pre-trial reporting you do, chances are youll find courtroom proceedings a bit confusing at first. So take good, thorough notes, even about things that dont seem that important. Until you understand whats really going on, it will be hard for you to judge whats important - and whats not. Make Note of Legal Terms You Dont Understand: The legal profession is filled with jargon - legalese - that, for the most part, only lawyers fully understand. So if you hear a term you dont know, make note of it, then check the definition online or in a legal encyclopedia when you get home. Dont ignore a term just because you dont understand it. Watch For Moments of Real Drama: Many trials are long period of relatively boring procedural stuff punctuated by brief moments of intense drama. Such drama could come in the form of an outburst from the defendant, an argument between an attorney and the judge or the expression on the face of a juror. However it happens, these dramatic moments are bound to be important when you finally write your story, so take note of them. Do Reporting Outside The Courtroom: Its not enough to faithfully transcribe what happens in the courtroom. A good reporter has to do just as much reporting outside the court. Most trials have several recesses through out the day; use those to try to interview the attorneys on both sides to get as much background as you can about the case. If the lawyers wont talk during a recess, get their contact information and ask if you can call or e-mail them after the trial has ended for the day.

The General Theory Of Employment, Interest, And Money

In the renowned work, The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money John Maynard Keynes breaks down his general theory of mercantilism and free trade into seven different section. Each section talking about his opposition to economic theorists and his views on the advantage of having an adaptable and well prepared system to maintain an efficient economy. In his first argument he starts off by explaining how â€Å"for the past one hundred years there has been a remarkable divergence of opinion† between practical men and economic theorists (Chapter 23, I). Unlike the economic theorists the practical men favor mercantilism, an economic system set around strict government regulations in order to unify a nation in hopes to increase monetary†¦show more content†¦Which states that most new investments are either home investments, which can eventually be governed, or foreign investment, which is determined by balance trade. The two investments together make up aggregate investment, which is the sum of all expenditures on investment. As he moves on he argues that â€Å"If the domestic rate of interest falls†¦the increase in the domestic level of costs will begin to react unfavorably on the balance of foreign trade† (Chapter 23, II). Causing an influx in a country’s increasing costs and falling rates leads to another country’s fall in cost and rise in rates. Mercantilists who were accused of opposing trade restrictions later realized that favorable balance of trade was more efficient. However, Keynes makes a great argument in that he states that â€Å"the fact that the advantage which our own country gains from a favorable balance is liable to involve an equal disadvantage to some other country† (Chapter 23, II). So it is important that economists and government officials make better and educated decisions that helps maintain a nations economy. The third and fourth section of Keynes’ argument brings up multiple references to other economists and professors on their views of mercantilism. In his reference to an article from Professor Heckscher, who believes that the mercantilists policy â€Å"killed two birds with one stone† (Chapter 23, III). Keynes saw the flaw inShow MoreRelatedThe General Theory Of Employment, Interest, And Money.1653 Words   |  7 PagesThe General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money Background information about the Author John Maynard Keynes was born in Cambridge, England in 1883 (Bateman, Toshiaki, Maria, 2010). He was the first born in a family of three children. He spent most of his toddler years in Cambridge where he attended kindergarten. In 1889, he attended his first kindergarten lessons at Perse School for Girls where he was supposed to attend lessons for five days a week. 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The Quantity Theory of Money is an economic theory that states that the money supply is an economy is directly proportional to the general price level. This theory is commonly ass ociated with neoclassical economics. Milton Friedman, a famous economist, modified this quantity theory of money by formulating a theory called the general theory of asset demand, where money demand is a function of wealthRead MoreJohn Maynard Keynes s Economic Theory And Policy After World War II1307 Words   |  6 Pagesfull employment. John Maynard Keynes came up with a theory as a counterargument: that aggregate demand is the single most powerful force in any economy. Keynes explains that free markets are not able to balance themselves out enough to lead to the full employment everyone was waiting for. 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Some of the main concepts covered during this time included the division of labor, theories of rent, value, and distribution, theories of market â€Å"gluts† and population, and opportunity cost, competition, and trade. These classical economists believed capitalism was the foundation for an efficient economy where little to no government intervention was recognizedRead MoreJohn Maynard Keynes Transformed Economics In The 20Th Century1507 Words   |  7 Pagesthe postulates that underpinned their theories. Keynes disagreed with the laissez faire attitude of the classical thinkers, and argued for greater government intervention due to his belief that the focus should be on demand side macroecon omics rather than supply side. This belief transpired because of the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent depression that highlighted the shortcomings of the traditional theories, especially in regards to employment that remained excessively high for a prolonged

Effects of Divorce on Childre free essay sample

With divorce rates increasing by more than over the past 100 years, there have been countless studies on the effects that these family changes have on children (Furstenberg 1990). Researchers agree that there are indeed consequences to the nuclear family being separated; however, the extent of the aftermath is still ebated. Some areas of discussion are: 1. What are the short-term effects of divorce on children? 2. What are the long-term effects of divorce on children? 3. What are the factors that make divorce easier on children? The research conducted here will focus on these three questions, and break the first two questions down into cognitive, biosocial, and psychosocial arenas to examine them further. Are there short-term effects of divorce on children? Short-term effects of divorce in the case of children are probably the most studied because the results are easier to gather for obvious reasons; its much harder to tudy a single individual over the course of years than it is months. Researchers have found plenty of areas that are affected by the splitting of the nuclear family setting. We will classify these findings into cognitive, biosocial, and psychosocial findings. cogniTlve short-term effects Much of the research conducted on divorce and children is inconclusive. On one hand, Amatos research found that when it comes to cognitive development children who place part of the blame for their parents divorce on themselves are more poorly adjusted which lead to the children showings signs of psychosocial issues which will e discussed in detail shortly (Emery and Kelly 2003). Emery and Kelly point out another important part of the cognitive development of children who experience divorce. Their research indicates that most children arent informed about the separation the parents are about to partake in which leaves children confused, and with no one to blame (2003). Berger confirms, only 56% of children live with their nuclear family so issues like these are important (2008). Foulkes research adds to this egocentric nature contribute to their guilt when their parents get divorced (2001). This indicates that their understanding could result in acting-out or other negative behavior. From the cognitive standpoint much of the effects depend on age and the current cognitive ability (Foulkes 2001). biosocial short-term effects The biosocial effects are perhaps the easiest to identify. Furstenbergs research affirms, The most obvious effect of divorce is that it typically brings about a sudden reconfiguration of the family (1990). This reconfiguration usually results in the female gaining custody of the children while the male is left to his own devices. According to Furstenbergs research this leaves the female at a double disadvantage because not only do they solely bare the responsibility of the children, but also research shows that the male leaves with the highest economic capability (1990). In addition to economic conditions worsening, divorce causes one parent to usually be left out in the childrens lives and so this results in a feeling of parental loss in children (Hughes, 2009). Either of these biosocial situations could lead to socioeconomic situations that are lacking compared to people with two parents in the home. These factors could all contribute to psychosocial issues, which we will discuss now. psychosocial short-term effects Amatos research concludes that the blunt psychosocial effects that can be measured in the short-term are the effects that come from the initial breaking up (2003). He says, The uncoupling process typically sets into motion numerous events that people experience as stressful (2003). These stressors create an environment where emotional, behavioral, and economic downturns are more likely (Furstenberg 1990). As is the nature of psychosocial diseases effects of divorce are usually more measurable in the long-term. re there long term effects of divorce on children? There are plenty of factors and even personal experiences that tell us why divorce has an impact on children (Hughes 2009). Divorce has damaging effects on children that extend long after parental separation. (Laurance 2003). Jaysons article says, My line on this is that most children are not seriously affected by divorce in the long-term, but divorce raises the risk that a child will have problems so how do all of these things add up? What really are some effects that divorce brings about? cognitive long-term effects Research shows that long-term effects do not nclude self-guilt and blame as early effects show, but rather 80% of college students studies said they believed their parents getting divorced was the right thing (Emery and Kelly 2003). Foulkes says, Children of divorced families tend to have long-term adjustment difficulties when there is ongoing conflict between their parents (2001). There are also relational consequences to divorce. Research indicates that children from divorced homes experience less satisfying sex lives, and marriages. From the standpoint of cognitive development, children whose parents got divorced are usually more inclusive (Furstenberg 1990). The Oklahoma Marriage Initiative even concludes that children from broken homes are more likely to end up divorced Biosocial long-term effects Researchers agree that the key risk factor for children coming from divorced homes is poverty (Laurance 2003). This stems from less parental contact, and thus less accessibility to better schools, higher education, and even business relationships (Furstengerg 1990). In relation to the short-term effects, long-term effects include the areas associated with only one parent being involved in the childrens lives: parental loss, support loss, lack of parental competence (Parker n. . ). In addition to these areas, Furstenbergs research shows that divorce could lead to earlier marriage, earlier sexual activity, and different views of marriage as compared to those who grew up in a nuclear family (1990). There are also psychosocial factors to divorce. psycosocial long-term effects The psychosocial effects that researchers show to exist in the lives of some victims of divorced families seem to be the most harmful. Psychological damage in the form of depression, personality disorders, and, anti- personality traits are exhibited in some children who experience divorce (Amato 2000). Though these effects may take time to manifest, Furstenberg indicates that these effects rarely last beyond adulthood (1990). One psychological disorder does remain beyond adulthood though, and it leave adult children feeling as if ever since their parents were divorced they had no control over their lives anymore (Kelly and Emery 2003). This leads to people who experience divorce to never really lose that sense of pain when considering the other parent that they lost (Emery and Kelly 2003). Psychosocial long-term effects are the most prevalent, and also the most debated when it comes to divorce and children. What are the factors that make divorce EASIER on So what can parents do to negate the effects of divorce? Obviously, not everyone who experiences divorce comes out a psychological wreck, so what went well in these cases? Amatos research says, Protective factors act like shock absorbers and weaken the links between divorce related events and peoples experience of stress (2000) What shock absorbers can ensure a smooth transition through a divorce situation? Amatos research suggests that besides the uncontrollable factors such as age, race, and ethnicity other moderating factors nclude economic welfare, and the ability of the child to build good interpersonal, and intrapersonal relationships (2000). According to Foulkes research other factors include not relying on your child to meet your emotional needs, and not arguing with the other parent in front of the child (2001). In conclusion, research is inconclusive as to who is affected by divorce more, but it seems that the most damage is done to younger children who dont understand what is going on. There are deficiencies in the research as well as to whether or not the effects seen in these children can be blamed on divorce. In my personal experience with divorce, moderators played a key role in my psychological development.