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Focuses on the work of reporters in small newspapers in U.S. Work-related challenges experienced by newspaper reporters; Skills learned by reporters from working in small papers; Role of small papers in honing future great reporters and editors.

Reports on the decision of editors of the "Aspen Daily News" not to cover the sexual assault case involving basketball star Kobe Bryant in Eagle, Colorado on October 9, 2003. Reaction of the newspaper owner, Dave Danforth, to the editors' decision; Reason for not covering the case according to a front-page editorial of the paper; Support received by the paper after announcing the decision.

Reports on the challenges being faced by "The Daily News," Zimbabwe's independent newspaper, in a fight to keep its operations without registering with the government as of December 1, 2003. Readership in Zimbabwe; Impact of the paper's conflict with the government; Establishment of a Web site in an effort to combat government restrictions.

This article presents the author's claim that small newspapers are a way to lay career foundation for journalists in the U.S. In our culture, the biggest is automatically assumed to be the best. But when it comes to laying the foundation that you ultimately will need to be a good journalist, smaller might be the best. I am talking about the small newspaper, the weekly or the daily newspaper with a circulation of less than 20,000. Unless you are a brilliant writer, already shaped and formed with no flaws, this is where you will most likely get your first job out of college. And, in many ways, this is where you will learn the skills that will determine if you have a place in the business. I graduated from Drake University in 1977. During my final journalism class, Professor Robert Woodward told us that the real learning for us was about to begin. At the time, none of us knew what he really meant. We were just ready to finish up finals and hit the tavern. During that last week in school, we talked about what we wanted to do with our careers. But now, decades later, when I look back at the seniors who graduated with me, I realize that only a handful of us remain in the newspaper business. What got in the way for many of my peers was not a lack of talent, but the first real job at a small newspaper.

The article discusses whether there is a need for fact checking at U.S. newspapers. The problem is that journalists who plagiarize from other reporters may go undetected for a long time, especially if they plagiarize from someone not likely to read the offender's paper. Similarly, reporters who make up sources from whole cloth don't have to worry about those sources calling up editors and complaining about being misquoted. The longer the problem goes unchecked, the bigger the hit to a newspaper's credibility when it all finally comes out, as recent high-profile cases have demonstrated. That can also have an effect on readership, and, in the end, on profitability. Starting in April 2004, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has decided to follow the trust but verify dictum when it comes to journalists and their stories. Its news research department will conduct Lexus-Nexus searches looking for possible plagiarism. They will also double-check facts and verify information in an effort to help spot any potential fabrications. The Star-Telegram already uses a follow-up questionnaire, which is a popular way for newspapers to gauge the accuracy of their questions. As a result, the paper's reporters aren't completely unfamiliar with the sensation of having someone looking over their shoulder as they work.

The article presents the author's reflections on the history of the New York Times newspaper. While publication of the Pentagon papers by the New York Times had profound consequences, I doubt that anyone fully understood the extent of the leap that we were about to take into the journalistic and legal void, it was an epic legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court of the U.S. and, in the end, the government was forced to yield to the freedom of the press. Punch Sulzberger, my father and the publisher of the newspaper during that period, once recalled both the pride and apprehension he felt as the decision to publish these extraordinary documents was being made. Even so, Sulzberger gave the go-ahead to publish what may have been the most controversial leak in the 20th century and, as a result, transformed the relationship between the news media and the government. But perhaps newspaper's beliefs were never challenged more openly than during the McCarthy era in the 1950s when Senator James Eastland of Mississippi, the chairman of the Internal Security Subcommittee, took up the cause. He alleged that communists had infiltrated the newspaper industry. And finally, it must be stated, that even an organization with a noble core purpose and solid beliefs such as the New York Times, will eventually have to confront a basic law of human nature-some individuals will inevitably go astray. An unfortunate example of this was the revelation that a Times journalist, Jayson Blair, had violated our readers' trust by admissions of plagiarism and fabrication of stories.

This article presents several stories from the reporters involved in the crisis brought by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast. Each day the reporters told something new, whether about death, destruction or the importance of journalism in times of disaster. Newspapers has become a lifeline in times of devastation. People who had lost their homes, possessions and other family members, rushed for the paper, wanting to read about the rest of the world and stay connected to their community.

Acknowledges the efforts exerted by the staff of 'The Boston Globe' newspaper in their 2002 report on the sexual abuse scandal involving Reverend John J. Geoghan in the U.S. Origin of the sexual abuse investigation; Description of the paper's coverage; Challenges faced by the paper during the coverage period.

Focuses on the work of journalists with small-town papers in the U.S. Significance of small papers to communities; Resources in small newsrooms; Implications for large papers.

This article deals with how endorsements of political candidates by newspapers affect news coverage. Most newspapers make endorsements in political races. But there is a basic conflict at newspapers between editorial writers who strive to make opinions and reporters who are expected not to let opinions color their writing. For reporters, who ideally are supposed to be objective, editorial page endorsements can be a problem. Some politicians are convinced that if a newspaper endorses their opponent in an election campaign, they are not going to get fair treatment from that paper. In January 2004, the Pew Research Center for People and the Press released a survey of public attitudes toward political coverage. Among its findings was that 83 percent of respondents said endorsements by their local newspapers make absolutely no difference in their voting-booth decisions. Voter indifference toward newspaper endorsements is more pronounced at the top of the ticket. Presidential endorsements are of interest primarily to historians and communications theorists. But lower down on the ballot for candidates with less-prominent offices, that is where endorsements can really influence a voter. Some observers see a trend away from endorsements as more media outlets become part of large conglomerates. Newspapers are also losing their influence. As newspaper endorsement is losing ground, it becomes less of a problem for reporters who worry that their newspaper's editorial policy conflicts with their ability to report objectively.

Announces the formation of the organization, Committee for a Two-Newspaper Town. Information on papers filed by the organization on July 1, 2003 in King County Superior Court; Legal conflict between "The Seattle Times" and the "Seattle Post-Intelligencer"; Purpose of establishing the organization.

The article presents news briefs published in the September 1992 issue of "Quill." Spokane, Washington's paper, "Chronicle," closed on July 31. "Tulsa Tribune" published its final edition on the September 30 at which time its joint operating agreement with the "Tulsa World" dissolved. According to Reuters, Fox Broadcasting Corp. decided not to renew its contract with CNN.

This article emphasizes the need of newspapers to attract youth readers. For the past few years, many people and newspaper publishers have lamented that younger people tend not to read newspapers. Average daily circulation of the 836 newspapers reporting to the Audit Bureau declined 0.1% in 2004, according to the Newspaper Association of America, and only 37% of those newspapers reported circulation gains. According to the Columbia Journalism Review, the declines in newspaper readership are greatest among young adults and the younger segment of the baby boom generation. With many papers losing circulation, many wonder where the next generation of newspaper readers will come from. Most young people tend to get their news from the Internet or television. Teenagers are more likely to name Comedy Central's Jon Stewart as a primary source of news rather than The New York Times. In the last few years, some newspapers have made specific attempts to reach out to this younger demographic group. In November 2002, the Chicago Tribune started publishing a special tabloid newspaper geared toward younger readers called RedEye, which has 280,000 daily readers. Newsday has a weekly New Voices feature, which encourages college, high school and middle school students to submit opinion-editorials. The Boston Globe just started a teen publication called Boston Teens in Print that is written by teens. It is important to engage Generation Next in newspaper reading because they will be the next thinkers, leaders and voters. Also, there is a great deal of difference between the quick information you can get on the Internet and television compared to the in-depth information you can get by reading the newspaper. If newspapers can address relevant topics and include younger voices, it is possible that young people might reach the conclusion that newspapers are not just for their parents and grandparents.