Forget Something?

Anyone who has taken a journalism course knows the building blocks of an effective, informative news story. Who, what, where, why and how. Remember?

 As I read an Indiana's NewsCenter story about a $4.2 million budget shortfall at IFPW, something seemed to be missing. Upon a second reading, it was clear. The writer of the story had neglected one of those building blocks, namely, the “why”. Why is there a $4.2 million dollar budget gap? The INC writer goes into detail in describing IPFW’s valiant effort to narrow the budget divide, but nowhere in the story are we told how this trusted institution could be so far off in their budgeting. INC quotes the school’s Vice Chancellor of Financial Affairs, but apparently never felt it necessary to ask the “why” question and the Vice Chancellor didn’t feel a need to explain why.

You can read the story here:  http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/IPFW-Cuts-Spending-Faces-42-M-Budget-Shortfall--174994871.html

So, why does IPFW have to cut expenses? Over optimistic enrollment forecasts? Budgetary malfeasance? Only those operating IPFW know for sure, and Indiana’s NewCenter sure isn't asking.