Nov. 5, 2002

Kalb Report Draws the Link Between Good Journalism and Good Citizenship

Sniper Investiagtion Discussed at Latest Forum

Less than 12 hours before Conrad Johnson became the final victim of the Washington-area sniper, the leaders in local and national coverage of the three-week siege joined Marvin Kalb for a discussion about how the media has covered the incidents. The discussion, “Media Coverage of the Sniper Shooting: Good Journalism, Good Citizenship” on Oct. 21, was the second installment this year in the “The Kalb Report,” and the 30th since the show began in 1994.

Joining Kalb, executive director of Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center and a 30-year veteran journalist, were CBS Radio News National Correspondent Dan Raviv, WUSA TV’s Vice President of News David Roberts, Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief of CNN Katheryn Kross, Washington Post columnist Marc Fisher, and WTOP Radio’s Vice President of News and Programming Jim Farley.

Among the topics was WUSA’s decision to release information regarding the tarot card left at the scene of the ninth shooting, drawing sharp criticism from Montgomery County Police Chief Charles Moose.

“I’ve spoken to Chief Moose several times since his emotional tirade,” said Roberts, “and in the heat of battle I can understand his point of view.” He added that the reporter who broke the story had been in contact with police throughout the day and at no time was WUSA asked to hold the story.

“As far as this story is concerned, I have no regrets,” Roberts said.

The Kalb Report Series is funded by a grant from the Knight Foundation.

 

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