Reality Check featuring Criminal Justice Reporter Christina Carrega

Dr. Nicholas Hirshon, assistant professor of communication at William Paterson University, interviews Christina Carrega of ABC and former news editor for the Brooklyn Daily Eagle and Queens Daily Eagle, as part of the "Reality Check!" guest speaker series sponsored by the William Paterson University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Discussion Topics: 2:57 - Why Christina became a journalist 6:07 - The importance of networking, having diversity in the newsroom, and the National Association of Black Journalists 11:11 - Christina's reporting on Dejean Gathers / the process of developing sources 15:09 - Interviewing grieving people for a story 16:00 - Reporting on Sundhe Moses 20:23 - Reporting on Jahmal Lightfoot / Yvette Cruz / traumatic crime victims 28:56 - Responding to Ms. Cruz's assertion that the media misdirected the audience's sympathies in its reporting 31:25 - The value of reaching out to unsympathetic sources for comment 34:08 - Christina's current work for ABC / the online reporting process 40:42 - On-air reporting (broadcast journalism) 47:13 - The importance of self-care to condition one's mental health Audience Q&A: 52:15 - What do you like most about reporting on criminal justice? 53:18 - Do you think your sense of compassion led you to become a criminal justice reporter? 54:38 - Do you prefer reporting or editing? 56:10 - What moral code do you follow as a reporter? 1:00:42 - What are the risks involved in your reporting? 1:02:35 - How do you pitch a story that will impact the reader? 1:03:04 - What has been the most memorable story you've covered and why? 1:05:10 - What skill can print reporters learn from broadcast journalists? 1:06:15 - How do you decide whether to share graphic or sensitive information in your stories?