Telling the Tough Story

As much as the media comes under fire for the stories they tell, and the stories they don’t, and how they tell them – no one can argue that they are often faced with telling a truly tough story that impacts them exponentially more than it impacts their audience.

We can choose to read or view or listen to a particular story. It is their job to report the information – no matter the heinous nature of the crime – and see the entire story and judicial process through.

This was brought home to Idaho journalists with the case of killer pedophile Joseph Duncan. I will not touch on his crimes here and the extent of his depravity which led jurors to sentence him to death.  The evidence and testimony those jurors were exposed to has the court now offering them counseling. We still haven’t heard yet how the journalists who covered every minutiae of the case have been impacted.

But the Idaho Press Club is shedding light on the case coverage with a panel discussion on the tough decisions reporters dealt with and the long-term impacts of reporting on the most horrific crime in Idaho’s history.

Hear firsthand from journalists who covered the Joseph Duncan trial on what it was like to report on one of the most horrific crimes in Idaho’s history– the legal challenges and media access issues, the ethical choices of balancing the truth with potential harm and the challenge of balancing personal trauma with professional responsibilities.
Panelists:
Rebecca Boone, Associated Press
Betsy Russell, Spokesman-Review
Alyson Oüten, KTVB News Group
Moderator: Todd Dvorak, Associated Press

Thursday, September 25, 2008 – 6:00 p.m.
Boise Water Cooler – 1401 W. Idaho
Open to the first 45 to RSVP to
(208) 389-2879 or email@idahopressclub.org
$5.00 members and students, $10 non-members

The Spokesman Review’s Betsy Russell did a great job with constant blog updates on the case on Eye on Boise. But she also shared insights into how the case was impacting her - 
“It was a difficult and distressing day in court, but one that, on balance, makes sense in the context of this horrific crime, for which the government is seeking the death penalty. In our system, the death penalty is not handed down lightly. We’re seeing what happens when it’s in play; the stakes are as high as they get in any court proceeding.”

KTVB senior reporter Alyson Outen had covered the case from beginning – the 2005 murders. When I asked her for some thoughts following the conclusion, and what she would discuss at the panel, she shared the following…

“The conclusion of this 3-year long story was the most difficult assignment I’ve ever had.  My professional choices had personal consequences.  I did not want to watch a child be physically, psychologically and sexually tortured.  There is no way to prepare for that.
And then, to have to rush out of the courtroom after seeing those tapes and go straight on air, live, was truly an emotional challenge.  I can’t cry on camera.  I have to be professional and find words to describe something that defies description.”
That brings up another point…how much detail do we reveal?  We have a responsibility to filter information that is so heinous, but, we also have an obligation to accurately express the severity and savagery of these crimes.  Did we make the right decisions?  That’s subjective.  We tried.  We put a tremendous amount of thought into each day’s coverage, while never knowing what would be revealed minute to minute.
The Duncan death sentence provided challenges at every level on every day.

It is set to be a powerful panel.

Props to the stellar Southwest Chapter of the Idaho Press Club who pulled this together - Sydney Sallabanks, Patti Murphy, Todd Dvorak, Shea Andersen.

See you there
-Jess