Coming From Project

A Journalistic Exploration by NYU Studio 20

Marcello Corrêa

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‘I’m concerned about people getting lost in the news’: Marcello Corrêa explains what drives him

Marcello Corrêa is a 32-year-old Brazilian journalist. Before moving to New York, he worked for O Globo newspaper as a Business and Economics reporter for nine years in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia. He’s a graduate student at New York University and has a communications degree from Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. In his own words, Marcello tells us where he is coming from.

I decided to become a journalist because I like to write. That happened back in 2006, when I needed to choose what I wanted to study in college. Since then, my list of reasons to explain my career choices got broader and more complex. I learned about journalism’s role in helping people to make sense of the world and giving voice to those who are not usually listened to. I also got familiar with the struggles of the news industry to fulfill this mission. Figuring out how to solve those problems is one of the main drivers of my work today.

Image of Marcello Correa sitting in a park in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Marcello Corrêa tells his story from a park bench in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. Photo by Carla Nudel for ComingFrom.org.

Most of my worldview and opinions about journalism were shaped while working in the field. Before moving to New York to study, I covered macroeconomics and economics policy at O Globo, a major newspaper in Brazil, my home country.

The way I see journalism today is strongly influenced by my years in a traditional and national news organization. I was able to learn from some of the best professionals in the field and also do some work that I’m proud of. I’ve also seen new challenges arise in a fast-changing world, where it’s important not only to do great journalism, but to rethink your strategy to make sure you’re reaching the public where they are.

I noticed some of these challenges when I was covering a pension reform proposed by the Brazilian government in 2019 that would completely overhaul the pension system for both private sector employees and public workers. By then, I was working in Brasilia (Brazil’s capital) and could explain to anyone the details of how that bill would change people’s lives for decades. I wrote a lot about it, but I remember how lost in the news cycle some of my non-journalist friends and family members were during that coverage. My job was to keep up with the issue. But it was hard for them to follow what was going on and sort the reliable reporting from misinformation.

So that’s one big thing that you should know about me: I’m worried about people getting lost and finding it hard to understand the world around them. When that happens, democracy is in danger. I believe we should do a better job maintaining and improving the press. That’s why I’m at NYU studying new ways to build trust, innovate and adapt the industry to better serve communities.

But it’s not only professional experiences that shape how I see the world, so I’d also like to share some personal background here. I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro. When asked about the city, I tend to talk more about issues like public security and inequality than about beautiful beaches (they are really beautiful and free, but pretty far from the majority of the population there).

You should also know that I’m a Black man and I’ve been reflecting a lot about my racial ancestry for the last few years. I’m coming from a country that was one of the latest to abolish slavery. It has been shaped by a false notion of racial democracy, which says that in Brazil there really is no discrimination or prejudice against non-whites, especially as compared to the U.S. That idea has blocked a deeper conversation around racism for years. Recently, authors such as Silvio Almeida and Djamila Ribeiro have overcome that block and become popular voices in Brazil. Their work inspires me to find ways to use my role as a journalist and informed citizen to collaborate in the fight for racial justice.

To learn more about Marcello and his work, follow him on Twitter.

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‘These values are like a constitution’: Axel Springer expects all employees to commit to its political view

Axel Springer is a German media and tech organization founded in the 1940’s. The company, which owns such brands as Bild and Insider, is named after a journalist who was once called “Germany’s Rupert Murdoch.” Springer died in 1985, but his worldview is still the baseline for the company’s principles and values, internally known as The Essentials. The mission statement includes the support of causes such as the right of existence of the State of Israel, a united Europe and the transatlantic alliance between the U.S. and Europe.

“These values are like a constitution, they apply to every employee of our company.”

Mathias Döpfner, CEO of axel springer

The Essentials were originally written in 1967 by Springer himself. The guidelines were in the media industry conversation in the fall of 2021, when the German company bought Politico – a U.S.-based media company focused on politics – for more than $1 billion. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Axel Springer’s CEO Mathias Döpfner told the newspaper he expects Politico’s journalists to adhere to the company’s principles, although they won’t have to sign a commitment letter – something demanded from German employees.

Read the full statement

Why did we select this example?

This case study is significantly different from others we present in this space. Axel Springer’s approach is unusual and extreme. The company is willing to let employees go if they are not committed to its principles. As Döpfner told the WSJ, if people have a problem with any of the values the organization stands for, they “should not work for Axel Springer, very clearly.”

In the Coming From project, we analyze the contrast between the “view from nowhere” and the alternative, that journalists and media outlets do have some points of view. This is an example that goes in the very opposite direction of denying an agenda. The company not only has some topics of interest, but those causes inform how the organization manages its staff.

In September, New York Times media columnist Ben Smith asked an Axel Springer spokesman if they would fire a Politico employee who thinks Israel should be a binational state. The response was: “of course not.”

“The Essentials is by no means a call for our journalists to push a political agenda with their reporting or to report uncritically on certain topics. Editorial independence is one of our unshakeable principles.”

Malte Wienker, Axel Springer Spokesman

Transparency with readers

It is not totally clear what happens if someone disagrees with The Essentials, but it is important to notice that Axel Springer could be more transparent with the readers of its brands about those principles.

By the time this article was published, the company had ownership of more than 50 publications. We browsed some of the more famous: Bild, Politico and Insider. None of them had clearly stated The Essentials on their own pages. It could be a better approach to let readers know what is seen as an internal code of conduct to increase trust and transparency.

Notice: Axel Springer was in the news around the time of this publication because of an investigation into sexual misconduct by Julian Reichelt, a high-level Bild editor, with a junior employee at the German tabloid, the flagship brand of the company. Reichelt was removed in late October 2021.

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Voice of San Diego pursues journalism with purpose

Voice of San Diego (VOSD) was launched in 2005 after founders Neil Morgan and Buzz Woolley “felt the region desperately needed more reporting, analysis and journalistic competition.” It is considered the first digital nonprofit news organization created to serve a local community.

In its “What We Stand For” piece, the outlet provides mainly two things: a clear definition of what it’s trying to achieve and what values and concerns guide reporters in this mission. As NYU professor Jay Rosen wrote in a recent essay, that’s a way to say: “here’s where we’re coming from with our journalism.”

“Journalism is best when pursued with purpose. It is easy to take stances against small problems but we want to tackle San Diego’s big problems. When we do that, reporters and editors should be clear about what they’re trying to achieve.”

voice of san diego
read the full statement

Here is what stands out from the VOSD statement:

A clear set of values and concerns

How does a newsroom decide what is newsworthy? It’s not that easy for a reader to figure out why some topics are news and others aren’t. That’s why it’s interesting to see VOSD clearly state its main topics of interest, based on what it considers to be the community’s concerns. This is the list:

  • Government transparency, open meetings and accountability.
  • A well-informed, well-educated community ready to participate in civic affairs.
  • Government agencies that are just, efficient and excellent.
  • High quality education for all children.
  • Quality housing that is affordable to all residents.
  • World class infrastructure that supports free enterprise and job creation.
  • A robust and inclusive arts and culture scene.
  • A clean environment, healthy ecosystem
  • Preparations for the long-term challenges of drought, energy supply and climate change.

A guide for staff

It’s not just the audience that benefits from a Coming From statement. In this excerpt, VOSD explains that the list of shared values help reporters and editors to guide their work.

  • VOSD: “Voice of San Diego’s staff and trustees adopted this list of shared values to help illuminate what we’re pursuing and give reporters the mandate to pursue them aggressively and irreverently.”

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‘Journalists are not bystanders’: Shasta Scout rejects objectivity with real examples

In September 2021, Shasta Scout – a news organization serving Shasta County, in California – broke a story about how the Redding City Council was planning a closed session to discuss selling parcels of riverfront land to private investors. As other outlets jumped in, the nonprofit decided to give readers some context: why Scout’s coverage was different from other local media.

Usually, institutions that decide to be more open about where they’re coming from do that through a permanent statement. Shasta Scout does have an About page, where readers can find information about funding and editorial standards. That is important, but it’s not what we’re highlighting in this summary. This case is all about how a news site can walk its audience through an ongoing coverage plan and build trust by explaining its intentions and process.

“Journalists are not bystanders. The words we use, the people we choose to seek comment from, the history we choose to retell, and the subjects we focus on are just some of the ways we actively participate in shaping our reader’s understanding of their community. This is a responsibility we don’t take lightly, but it’s real and it’s inescapable. Bias is unavoidable. Objectivity is a false goal. Everyone is telling a story through a lens. And we are too.”

shasta scout
read the full statement

Here is a breakdown of how Shasta Scout does this:

A disclosure about objectivity

Before delving into the details on how their values influence their coverage, Shasta Scout’s journalists acknowledge that they are not seeking objectivity, but fairness and truth. It’s a powerful statement that puts everyone on the same page right at the beginning of the text.

The power of real examples

After disclosing what some of their core beliefs are, Shasta Scout’s statement guides the readers through some aspects of how the organization is covering the land development deal. For example, the text explains why the news outlet chooses to cover the “climate” instead of the “weather” – an analogy about focusing on the big story, rather than on events and immediate consequences.

This point is supported by the coverage’s angle:

  • Shasta Scout: “We prioritize stories that look at systems, not just symptoms. Is the way the city agendizes real estate information working for the public? Should past precedent or policy be the driving factor in how the city discusses such information in future? Does Redding have a pattern of engaging in land deals that are less than fully transparent?”

Explaining why it is important to add context

Shasta Scout stands for adding more depth to the coverage with historical background, commentary and context. That is another way to guide readers about what they can expect while reading their coverage.

  • Shasta Scout: “We’re not interested in shallow reporting. Repackaged press releases aren’t real journalism.  That’s why we take the time to examine the historical, societal, and political forces and events that shape the news we share. And it’s why we’re focused on reaching out to feature diverse and representative voices as we find ways to share it. Context deepens the news, commentary broadens it, and analysis takes a magnifying glass to current events in a way that provides greater benefit to the reader. All are essential to strong, democracy-building journalism.”

Note: We’d like to thank Marc Dadigan, Contributing Editor from Shasta Scout for recommending this example for consideration in the Coming From Collection.

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‘I hate abuse of power’: Journalist Rob Pegoraro explains his relationship with tech companies

Rob Pegoraro is a seasoned American journalist who writes about tech for media outlets like The Washington Post, USA Today and Yahoo Tech. After reading the disclosure statement on his personal website, the reader will know his views on some key technology issues, who pays for his work and even what gadgets he uses on a daily basis.

READ THE FULL STATEMENT

Here’s what we like about this statement in the context of ComingFrom.org:

He shares his views on the tech industry and politics

As super-powerful companies play a central role in the tech conversation, Pegoraro openly shares his point of view on these industry giants:

  • Pegoraro: “I hate abuse of power and control freakery, whether it’s Microsoft choking off browser competition in a prior decade, Apple dictating what gets into its App Store in this one or big entertainment companies’ ongoing insistence on customer-hostile usage restrictions on digital media. The computer is among the most amazing general-purpose tools ever invented; why would you artificially constrain its utility?”

Pegoraro adds that he voted, according to his worries about the abuse of power by corporations, by choosing Democratic candidates in presidential elections since at least 2000:

  • Pegoraro: “My history in recent presidential elections: Gore, Kerry, Obama, Obama, Clinton, Biden. I don’t regret those choices, aside from wishing I could have written in somebody else for vice president in 2004.”

He explains how he interacts with technology

If the reader is wondering what makes a good tech product in Pegoraro’s eyes, he is open about that: he prefers usability over perfection.

  • Pegoraro: “I can be more tolerant about aspects of technology besides usability. I’ve never qualified as an audiophile or videophile and in general, will accept a good-enough product that’s cheaper or available now over a more expensive or not-yet-shipped ideal version.”

He discloses what gadgets he uses

Pegoraro has a straightforward statement to inform readers that the gadgets he uses do play a relevant role in what he covers. He mentions that he is a Verizon client and prefers streaming services over traditional TV providers, for example.

  • Pegoraro: “The limited range of software, hardware and services I use every day is likely to inform my coverage, in one way or another, and you should keep that in mind as you read my work.”

He provides a comprehensive list of companies he has worked for

Pegoraro lists dozens of clients he has worked for since he became a freelance reporter in 2011. He also mentions that he has taken fees from companies like Google and details who is paying for his travel.

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‘We do not intend to be neutral’: Why a Paraguayan media outlet chooses honesty over neutrality

Based in Paraguay, El Surtidor is a non-profit media company that covers topics such as the challenges of being a woman in one of the most Catholic countries in Latin America and the impact of oligarchies on regular people’s lives. Its name is Spanish for “The Provider.” They directly acknowledge how important it is to be transparent to provide precise and reliable information in a better way.

“Let us tell you where we’re coming from to inform you.”

El Surtidor
READ THE FULL STATEMENT (SPANISH)

Here are some highlights from the El Surti statement for ComingFrom.org:

They reject the ‘view from nowhere‘

El Surti journalists are straightforward when addressing how they see the world. They reject the idea of objectivity, but they promise to be transparent and honest.

  • El Surti: “We assume ourselves, like all people, with biases, convictions and contradictions. We do not intend to be neutral or objective but rather transparent and honest. That is why we share the process and sources of our work so that you can understand and verify the information we publish. And when we mess up, we own it.”

They tell readers who funds them

The website is a project created by Memetic Media, a non-profit organization controlled by communications workers in Paraguay. The statement highlights that, by organizing themselves like this, they are independent. However, El Surti could look to Talking Points Memo for how to better detail its sources of funding and how the money is used.

  • El Surti: “We are an independent media managed by its workers. Our journalistic independence is key to inform you better and monitor power. Reporters, editors, illustrators, designers discuss as a team and agree on what, how and when to publish. We don’t answer to any patrons or political parties.”

They highlight the people behind the project

Presenting its staff is an important part of El Surti’s statement. Readers can browse through 15 well-designed cartoons that portray editors, reporters and illustrators who work at the website. Each of the mini-bios has small nuggets of information that tell something about their backgrounds. For example, some of the reporters present themselves as feminists and human rights activists.

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Casey Newton shares his views on tech and is aware they might change

Casey Newton is an American journalist who covers the intersection of technology and democracy. Newton thinks social networks have failed to reduce political polarization and may be accelerating it. Since 2016, he’s been analyzing whether social networks are undermining democracy.

All of this and more were written by Newton himself as the Silicon Valley editor at The Verge and later as the founder of Platformer to make sure readers know how he sees the world.

As Newton told us for our research on this project, his guide is a useful tool to better articulate his outlet’s mission and increase reader trust.

“Writing a ‘where I’m coming from statement’ was enormously useful to me as I started my newsletter. It forced me to articulate an editorial mission, my values, and my editorial process. I send it out to everyone who subscribes when they sign up, and many readers have told me that they trust me more because of it. I strongly encourage more journalists to write one of their own. The benefits are real!”

Casey Newton
Read the Full Statement

We decided to include Newton’s guide in the ComingFrom.org collection for several reasons.

His views are clearly stated

A list of your conclusions about specific topics is a straightforward and efficient way to disclose your point of view. That is exactly what Newton does in his statement.

  • Newton: “We ought to put at least as much pressure on the government to make change as we do on tech companies.”

He admits that his POV can change

Newton chose to disclose his views by answering a simple question: “How do you see the world?”

He explores how his perspective on tech companies changed after the events of 2016, when it was revealed that foreign actors weaponized social media during the U.S. presidential election. It is good to know that a journalist is open to changing his mind and is constantly evolving as the world changes.

  • Newton: “After 2016, my concern shifted from a business concern to a more patriotic one: are social networks undermining democracy?”

He explains his editorial process

Being transparent about how you work is always a good call when you want to increase trust. Newton does this well by dedicating a space in his statement explaining the sources of information he relies on to write his newsletter.

  • Newton: “I’m in regular, direct communication with most of the companies I write about, and that perspective informs my reporting and analysis.”

To learn more about Newton’s work, follow him on Twitter and check out Platformer News on Substack.