William Coté shares his insight as a journalist and a teacher in his new book “Covering Violence.”

“It’s a nonfiction book written especially for journalists, students or anybody in the public who’s concerned about media coverage and victims,” said Coté, who has coordinated MSU’s Victims and the Media Program since 1991.

Coté, co-author and MSU professor of journalism, visited Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 5132 W. Saginaw Highway in Lansing, last Thursday to discuss and sign his first book.

Joining Coté’s discussion panel were Hugh Leach, a reporter from the Lansing State Journal, and Jeff Mittendorf, managing editor for WLNS-TV.

The three spoke of the book’s significance as a media guide and its goal of promoting ethical reporting of victims. Coté said this is the first book in the nation that focuses on victims and the media.

Paul Tarr, a governmental and human services consultant in Lansing, said the book is a great idea.

“Reporters need to understand that victims have rights and are suffering and they need to be sensitive,” Tarr said. “This is not a play or a drama. It’s people’s lives.”

Ten years ago, a reporter knocked on Tarr’s door to get a story.

“I had a reporter at my door at midnight asking for an exclusive,” he said. “We had a daughter who was murdered. I told the reporter I couldn’t talk about it tonight and I wasn’t ready to talk to the press.”

Tarr said the reporter, from the Lansing State Journal, was insensitive and began talking about losing her job if she didn’t get the story.

“The people who were pushy, we just cut them right off,” he said. “We respect people who respect us. If they were sensitive to that then they could’ve gotten an exclusive.”

“Covering Violence” presents ways that journalists can interview and photograph victims and their families with sensitivity and respect. The book explores topics such as covering rape and interviewing children, and uses the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing as a case study.

The book’s publisher, Columbia University Press, is sending information on the book to journalism faculty across the country.

“This was designed deliberately as a professional book for working journalists and as a supplemental book for students,” Coté said.

Stephen Lacy, director of the MSU School of Journalism, and Coté decided to schedule a course next fall that addresses victims of the media. Although MSU does not encourage class instructors to use books written by MSU professors, Coté will instruct the course and use “Covering Violence” as one of his course books.

Pat and Dan Anderson, who are included in the book, were also subjected to questionable treatment by the media after a traumatic experience. More than 15 years ago, Dan Anderson was shot at about 1 a.m. outside of his family’s previous home in Lansing.

“That day a reporter tried to sneak into the ICU to get the story,” Pat Anderson said while shaking her head.

“Dan had a respirator in his mouth, and he was out like a light and they were going to ask him questions.”

The Andersons are now active in the education process of journalism students and the Victims and the Media Program at MSU. For five years they have presented their story to MSU students in hopes of bringing light to victim’s needs.

“It’s interesting to see how young people are so compassionate,” Pat Anderson said of the students she and her husband speak to.

Roger Simpson, a journalism professor at the University of Washington, co-wrote the book with Coté. Simpson is promoting the book at the University of Washington and surrounding areas in the West.

The book is available in area bookstores and at www.amazon.com.