Public Affairs Reporting

1
Public Affairs Reporting

• Gene Mustain
• Director, Reporting and Writing Programme
• gene_at_hku.hk

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Public Affairs Reporting

• We will examine the challenges and
  responsibilities for reporters as they cover the
  executive, judicial and legislative branches of
  government as well as other publicly funded
  agencies as they implement policies, provide
  services, settle disputes and enforce regulations
  and laws.

3
Public Affairs Reporting

• The main instructor is Gene Mustain, who will
  lead sessions on civil and criminal justice.
  Other faculty will assist John Young, on
  government and non-government sources David
  Plott, on government funding, taxation and
  budgeting Thomas Abraham, on public health, and
  Ying Chan, on cultural preservation and
  development.

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Public Affairs Reporting

• From John Young
• The HK government has more than 50 major bureaus,
  departments and offices. Each has its own units,
  committees and other subdivisions. Where and how
  do you get information about them?
• We also will look at alternative sources and
  perspectives on government policies. What are
  their strengths and limitations?

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Public Affairs Reporting

• From David Plott
• Governments impact peoples lives by how they
  raise and spend money. Their budgets are highly
  political documents, reflecting the priorities of
  those who govern, and shaping the way society and
  the economy develop. This section of the course
  will explore what reporters need to know about
  covering government funding, budgeting and
  taxation, and how to write these kinds of
  stories.

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Public Affairs Reporting

• From Gene Mustain
• Some of the most basic functions of government
  include providing for public safety as well as
  providing forums for the fair administration of
  justice and the resolution of private disputes
  according to legal codes and doctrines. We will
  examine the civil and criminal justice systems in
  place in Hong Kong and apply what we learn in
  stories of our own.

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Public Affairs Reporting

• From Thomas Abraham
• The quality and cost of health care services are
  major issues in society, and an important focus
  of government activity, in the delivery of
  services and regulation and monitoring of
  providers. Readers care greatly about all these
  matters. The health component of this class will
  look at some of these issues and how to report
  them.

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Public Affairs Reporting

• From Ying Chan
• Many factors have led to conflicts between
  developers and those who wish to preserve what
  they regard as culturally or historically
  important sites in Hong Kong. The conflict is
  being waged at several locations today, and
  sometimes the outcome is affected by what the
  public learns through the media.

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Public Affairs Reporting

• Weekly lecture.
• Class website http//jmsc.hku.hk/blogs/publicaffa
  irs/
• Beginning the third week, a weekly two-hour lab
  at Library Old Wing, Room 135.
• Readings newspapers and government websites (see
  syllabus).

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Public Affairs Reporting

• Course Assignments and Grading
• 1) Cover a publicly funded agency that is your
  beat. Weekly memos due beginning third week of
  semester. (This counts for 30 of the grade)
• 2) Mid-term story on a topic to be determined.
  (Also 30 of grade)
• 3) End-of-term story on your beat. (Also 30)
• 4) Attendance is required. (10 of grade)