Of nuts and bolts: A break from journalism’s big questions…

Not every question that comes the Reader Rep’s way has to do with weighty journalistic subjects such as what goes on the front page, whether to use anonymous sources or whether to use “affect” or “effect.”

Occasionally readers wonder about other aspects of the operation. Perhaps you do, too, so here are the answers to a few questions that came my way recently:

Why did you start putting Channel 5 meteorologist Mark Johnson next to the forecast at the top of your weather page? Why him and not one of the other TV weather …

Earning people’s trust daily — or not…

We were doing so well.

In November, the Star-Telegram had published 36 corrections, a record low compared with the previous five Novembers (51 in 2005, 49 in 2004, 70 in 2003, 47 in 2002 and 57 in 2001).

December’s correction count is growing slowly, but a couple of errors this month were hair-pulling tumbles from the wagon — not that all errors aren’t, but these were basic lapses that leave staffers and readers blinking in disbelief and are worth noting for at least a couple of reasons.

Granted, we publish millions of accurate facts, …

Keeping kids’ names out of the paper…

To some readers, the news staff never appears more heartless than when it focuses on children caught in traumatic situations. Whether the child is a victim of violence or accused of crime, the questions are: Why do pictures have to be published? Why do identities have to be revealed?

But the intent of a responsible news staff is not to exploit children. Most of the time, the intent is to inform the public about situations that threaten children.

The Courant’s policy is to name victims, except in the case of a sexual assault or when …

Homework…

It is desirable that the newspaper cover public educational policies critically, but it should do it more appropriately

The Chamber of Deputies on Dec. 6 approved the Fund to Maintain and Develop Basic Education (Fundeb), created to replace its predecessor Fundef and finance, starting in 2007, basic public education. The project had been working its way through Congress for a year and a half.

Folha reported passage of the measure discreetly on the front page Dec. 7 (“Fund for basic education is approved by Chamber”) and gave it a little more than a …

Paper’s e-edition fun to surf and easy to read…

Some of you are loyal fans of the print edition of The Salt Lake Tribune, others love the Web edition at www.sltrib.com, still more of you have discovered The Tribune’s e-edition – an exact replica of the day’s edition without the paper.

The e-edition is perfect for readers who want to get their news online, but want the news to look like a regular copy of The Tribune. And, it’s great for subscribers who want to check the paper when they are on business trips or vacations.

The e-edition is easy to use. Just …

Police case…

The Base School scandal buried the idea that it is sufficient to attribute information to authorities. The press also has responsibility.

It is hard to imagine a more dramatic case. On the day her one-year, three-month-old daughter Victria, died on Oct. 29, Daniele Toledo do Prado, 21, was arrested by the police in Taubat (So Paulo), accused of killing her baby with a dose of cocaine mixed in her bottle. Victria, according to information in Folha, had cerebral vasculitis from an undetermined cause. Her arrest was based on a preliminary report that detected …

Civil war? The Bee’s readers have their say…

A week ago, I wrote about The Bee now calling the war in Iraq a “civil war” and how, of equal interest, readers didn’t seem to notice or care.

There were no calls, no letters, no e-mails, no nothing.

But that, of course, didn’t stop the masticating and kneading in the nation’s media and on the Internet over the subject as several other news outlets, from the Los Angeles Times to NBC News, also adopted the terminology.

And the questions flowed freely: Was it the right thing to do? What are the political implications in …

For brewers like you…

In the midst of a really big news week for all Americans, including the release and reaction to the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group Report, came one of the weirder bits of news involving PBS.

On Dec. 6, it was announced that the Public Broadcasting Service and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters had formed a partnership to launch a new organic coffee blend known as PBS Blend. The press release (http://www.pbs.org/aboutpbs/news/20061206_GreenMountain.html) says the new blend will be offered in “whole bean, 10-oz. packages and single-serve K-Cups for use in Keurig Single-Cup brewers,” also owned by Green Mountain.

The …

Taking sides in the semantic battle over ‘civil war’…

A new front has opened in the linguistic battle over coverage of the war in Iraq. The debate centers on this question: Should the news media come right out and call it a “civil war”?

Over the last few months, the Los Angeles Times and Sacramento Bee have said yes. NBC did the same with an announcement in prime time. Others are sure to adopt the wording.

So I have been asked: Should The Chronicle? At first glance, the answer seems simple. Sure. Why not? Yet I’m resolutely ambivalent even though my fence-sitting has …

Photo unfairly linked teen to dad’s crimes…

The caller identified herself as the mother of Jay Smith, the Lake Taylor High School football star, and she was steaming. The Pilot, she declared, had no business running a photo taken at her son’s press conference to announce his decision to play at North Carolina State next year.

The photo ran five columns wide on Page A15 of the Nation & World section Nov. 19 and showed Jay pointing to a jersey held by his father, Mordecai Smith. His mother, Dorothy, and his sister and brother also were shown.

The reason for Dorothy Jones’ anger: …