Laserfiche WebLink
Order of a Council He aring Who may appear at a <br /> iearing> <br /> 1. Video or audio presentation, if relevant. <br /> 2. Complainant states position(10 minutes). This period includes The complainant. In some <br /> statements by witnesses. instances (such as illness or <br /> 3. News organization responds to complaint (10 minutts).This period legal incompetence) the <br /> includes statements by witnesses. complainant may have a <br /> 4. Complainant and then the news organization may make rebuttal representative speak. <br /> statements. The news outlet. Should the <br /> 5. News Council asks questions of both parties to illuminate the news outlet choose not to <br /> issues. participate, the hearing will <br /> 6. News Council members deliberate among themselves in public. The proceed anyway, without <br /> complainant and respondent may ask to speak if they think additional prejudice to the news outlet. <br /> information is needed for clarity, but Council members will not ask Neither party may be <br /> further questions. represented by an attorney <br /> 7. Recess for reconsideration of the question. except under extraordinary <br /> After hearing the discussion that has taken place, either or both circumstances. <br /> parties may ask for a recess to reconsider their position. The news Expert witnesses called by <br /> organization may choose to acknowledge the merit of all or a the Council. <br /> portion of the complaint. If it does so, there will be no vote on that . Other witnesses: Tell Coun- <br /> portion of the complaint, but simply a Council affirmation of the cil staff at least a day in <br /> news organization's admission. advance who will be attend- <br /> You may choose to drop all or a portion of your complaint, based ing the hearing. <br /> upon what you have learned at the hearing. <br /> 8. Resumption of the deliberation if Council members feel they need Also attending:further time. <br /> 9, Complainant and then news organization may make a closing <br /> statement of approximately two minutes if they feel significant News Council hearings are <br /> errors have been introduced into the discussion. open to the public. Journalism <br /> 10. Council members vote on signed ballots. The Executive Director students and faculty frequently <br /> announces the final vote. Council members may vote to uphold or attend, as well as reporters <br /> deny the complaint, or may abstain. A simple majority of the votes from the news organization in <br /> cast yes and no will prevail. The vote of each member is public question and other news <br /> information included in the written Determination and press organizations. <br /> releases. You may invite guests. <br /> How will the hearing be reported? opinions will be posted to the Council's web site. <br /> A shortened version of the Determination will <br /> The Council's Executive Director will prepare a appear in the News Council's newsjttter (circ. 5,000). <br /> news release immediately following the hearing and With the permission of the parties, a case may be <br /> will fax it to you and the news organization first, chosen for inclusion in the News Council's mock <br /> then to all state news organizations and the wire hearing handbook, used by high school and college <br /> service. teachers to help students consider the ethical ques- <br /> A formal Determination containing highlights of tions raised by Council cases. <br /> the hearing, the final vote and any dissenting <br />