JCCFNews Summary
November 27, 2013

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On the Beat: "
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Eleven months after the Sandy Hook shooting, Connecticut police released new details of the tragedy. A 48-page report released on Monday by the state's attorney in Danbury offers a portrait of gunman Adam Lanza's troubled life, but does not offer a motive.
 
The Washington Post's Eli Saslow was among the reporters sent to cover the tragedy. He turned the story around in two days and wrote a number of follow-up pieces, but knew he wanted to focus on one grieving family. In June 2013, "Into the Lonely Quiet" was published. The taut, carefully constructed narrative follows the Barden family in the months following the death of 7-year-old Daniel. 
 
"Reporting, sometimes in the beginning, is like a funnel and there are so many possibilities of what the story could be and who it could be about and when it could happen," Saslow said. "Your job, in the beginning, is just to make sure that you drill down on the right family at the right time in the right place."

Series Spotlight: WNYC's In Harm's Way


From the end of August 2012 through August 2013, WNYC profiled 10 children who died of gunshot wounds in New York City. Listen to the complete series: In Harm's Way

Series producer Kathleen Horan discusses the project here

News
News of Note

 

Nation's Largest School Police Force, in L.A., Will Stop Ticketing Kids 12 and Younger

The Center for Public Integrity, Susan Ferriss | Nov. 27

Los Angeles Unified School Police Department officers will stop issuing tickets to students 12-years-old or younger for minor infractions allegedly committed on or near campuses during school hours. The policy, which goes into effect in December, comes in the wake of community demands to "decriminalize" minor school disciplinary matters and use more discretion when involving law enforcement personnel.

 

A Taste of Thanksgiving at a Juvenile Detention Center

Capital News Service, Natalie Kornicks | Nov. 26

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the few times of the year that juveniles at Maryland's Alfred D. Noyes Children's Center share a meal with their family outside of structured visitation hours.

 

Few Studies Explore Unique Impacts of Brain Injury on Women

WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, Shannon Heffernan | Nov. 26

Attention to brain injuries has increased in the past decade, with particular focus on male veterans and football players. Over 30 percent of brain-injury patients are women, but little research has focused specifically on them -- which could have big consequences for their recovery.

 

The Changing American Family

The New York Times, Natalie Angier | Nov. 25

The American family has become multilayered and full of surprises in recent years.

 

Evidence Mounting That Poverty Causes Lasting Physical and Mental Health Problems for Children

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, David Templeton | Nov. 24

Three recent studies add to a growing body of evidence that poverty can exact a lasting toll on a child's mental and physical well-being.

 

Sandusky Legacy: New unit to investigate child sex abuse

USA Today, Kevin Johnson | Nov. 23

A new Pennsylvania investigative unit is among the latest in a series of efforts by state attorneys general to bolster child sexual abuse protections.

 

Arizona Child Abuse Not Investigated

The Arizona Republic, Mary Jo Pitzl and Mary K. Reinhart | Nov. 21

A total of 6,000 child abuse allegations were never investigated by Arizona's Child Protective Services division. The abuse allegations were made to the state's child-abuse hotline and "misclassified" as "not investigated," meaning a staffer in the agency's call center determined the situation did not warrant formal investigation.

 

Workers Vote With Feet, Leave Home-Based Child Care

New Hampshire Public Radio, Sam Evans-Brown | Nov. 21

Home-based child care is increasingly hard to find in New Hampshire as more and more parents opt to place their kids in child care centers. Centers offer flexible hours and parents may perceive that centers better prepare kids for schools, according to a family demographer.

Save the Date

Big News about Little Kids: Virtual Press Briefing on Cutting-Edge Research from Zero to Three's National Training Institute.

Thursday, December 12 from 12:15 pm - 1:15 pm ET.

 

This JCCF co-sponsored briefing will give reporters exclusive access to top researchers who will share their findings about:

  •             Positive Influences on Brain Development
  •             Helping Dual Language Learners Succeed
  •             Signs of Autism in Infants and Toddlers

And, we'll discuss ways of translating this science into stories. Coming soon: details on how to register for this unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of what is going on in the minds of children and how to share this emerging knowledge with a curious public.  

 

Zero to Three's National Training Institute brings together over 2000 researchers, advocates and practitioners working to improve the lives of children and their families. This first-time Virtual Briefing gives members of the media a rare chance to glean the highlights of this event and get great story ideas without ever leaving your desk.

Events
Events

Dec. 2, 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. ET
American Enterprise Institute
Washington, D.C. or webcast
A Conversation with Gov. Daniel Malloy (D-CT), who has made K-12 school reform a centerpiece of his agenda. 

Dec. 4, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. ET
Sentencing Project
Webinar
A provision of the 1996 welfare reform legislation subjects an estimated 180,000 women in the 12 most impacted states to a lifetime ban on welfare benefits. The webinar will review the research and tactics for challenging such policies. 
Opportunities
Opportunities

Deadline: Dec. 1
John S. Knight Fellowships at Stanford
Twenty fellowships to support the new models, tools and approaches to journalism.

Deadline: Dec. 20
PBS POV and Storyhunter
POV and Storyhunter are commissioning a series of short web documentaries about the challenges and achievements of young black males. 

Deadline: Jan. 31
Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
An annual fellowship offered to a journalist who is committed to the role of the community press. 

Deadline: Early 2014
Data Driven Journalism and European Journalism Centre
A free 5-module online introductory course with five leading experts. 
Journalism Center on Children & Families1100 Knight | University of Maryland | College Park, MD 20742
www.journalismcenter.org