Minnesota SPJ

Minimizing Harm

Posted on 28. Apr, 2007 by scott.theisen.

Thoughtless actions by the press, intentional or not, can cause distress for victims of violence or other tragedy. That’s the caution from Linda Walker, mother of Dru Sjodin, a university student murdered in 2003. Walker spoke along with four other panalists as part of the Ethics in Journalism Week event organized by the Society of Professional Journalists Minnesota chapter and the University of Minnesota’s Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law. The theme of this year’s event was “Minimize Harm”

Walker offered the example of placing photos of victims and suspects side by side “as if they’re a couple” on a page or a television screen as a decision that needlessly causes harm to family members.

AP reporter Amy Forliti didn’t cover the Sjodin case, but revealed she wears a bracelet in Sjodin’s memory after visiting the memorial Dru’s Garden in Pequot Lakes. “I wear it every day,” Forliti said. In covering tragedies, Forliti said her “first responsibility is to the public. But it’s important to balance that with how what I report might affect the victims” and their families. Silha Center Director Jane Kirtley organized and moderated the event that asks what the media’s role is “When Tragedy Strikes”. Other panelists included WCCO-TV reporter Sue Turner, Bemidji Pioneer reporter Molly Miron and Nancy Sabin, Executive Director of the Jacob Wetterling Foundation.
View 4 photos from the event.

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MN SPJ and Silha Center Partner to Host Ethics Week Event

Posted on 02. Apr, 2007 by sarah.bauer.

The Minnesota Pro Chapter will partner with the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law to present its 2007 Ethics in Journalism Week program, “When Tragedy Strikes, What is the Media’s Role?” This panel discussion will examine how the media cover high-profile criminal incidents and the impact their coverage has on victims and their families.

Panelists include:

Linda Walker, mother of the late Dru Sjodin
Sue Turner, WCCO-TV
Nancy Sabin, Executive Director – Jacob Wetterling Foundation
Amy Forliti, Associated Press – Minnesota
Molly Miron, Bemidji Pioneer

The event will be held on Tuesday, April 24 from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Ski-U-Mah room of the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. This event is free and open to the public (no reservations are required).

For more information, visit the Silha Center Web site.

This event is made possible in part by a grant from the Society of Professional Journalists and the Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law.

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