News Quiz

Last week, Professor Padwe reminded us that we need to be prepared for a weekly news quiz in which we're given a list of names or places or things and have to identify them and their news significance. Here's the quiz we got today:

1. Hugo Chavez


2. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani


3. Byron Calame


4. Plan B


5. Leslie Crocker Snyder


6. Betsy Gotbaum


7. Groton Submarine Base


8. Emmett Till


9. Alan Greenspan


10. Miss America

I got 9 out of 10. (And I'm mortified about the one I missed.)

We also had two different news drills, making for a rather intense morning.

In our seminar later in the day, we had our first guest speaker: Pulitzer Prize-winner David Barstow of the New York Times. Barstow gave us chapter and verse on protecting our sources, our news organizations, and ourselves. (He sits next to Judy Miller at the Times -- when she's not in jail for protecting a source, that is.) He basically scared the crap out of us, which I imagine was the point. On the heels of seeing All the President's Men a couple of weeks ago, it was a pretty chilling afternoon.

After Barstow left (he was on deadline, of course), Professor Padwe returned to the topic of sourcing and verification, and we hashed that out a while longer. I have to say, the word morass came quickly to mind. Apparently, it never gets easier.

Oh, and the day ended with an evening panel on Local Political Reporting featuring Melissa Russo (WNBC) and Evelyn Hernandez (El Diario/La Prensa) and moderated by Dominic Carter (NY1). Highlights included clips of local politicians' and pundits' gaffes and missteps, including an absolute free-for-all between Liz Holtzman and Ester Fuchs on NY1 in 2001. After hearing the panelists talk for a couple of hours, it seemed safe to conclude that politics really, truly is a circus.

Quotes of the day:

Journalism is in real trouble right now. -- David Barstow

Have fun, but don't let up. -- Sandy Padwe

The only thing I trust anymore are my former students. -- Sandy Padwe

9/11 has changed the climate of reporting in New York City. -- Melissa Russo

Rule number one: A camera is always hot. -- Dominic Carter

You're not always going to be liked. --Dominic Carter