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Perhaps the most powerful people
on earth are news reporters
and writers. They're also
the ones with the greatest responsibilities.
People are more likely to
believe what they read than believe what
they only hear.
People are always in search for the truth, and these news reporters and
writers
are one of the best sources of truth. They dig for facts, more often poke
their
noses into other people's business, and try every means just to come up
with the
truth. Then using the information he acquires, he strings them together
to produce
a truthful story told in a straight and factual manner. Cold, hard facts.
This is the truth about news
-- it can pull down or push up a person; it
can destroy
or build a person's reputation;
it can help advance a cause
or water it down; it
can ignite a revolution or dampen
it. That's how
powerful it is. A news writer,
or any journalist
for that matter, is
grounded first on ethics because
of this very nature
of news and the
responsibility that the news
writer carries with him.
Napoleon Bonaparte couldn't have been more eloquent when he said,
"A journalist
is a grumbler, a censurer, a giver of advice, a regent of
sovereigns, a tutor of
nations. Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared
than a thousand bayonets."
As a responsible news writer, before submitting that news article to
your editor,
you should first ask yourselves these questions:
Was
the confidentiality of my source(s) not violated? In cases where
a
news story
you're covering is of high importance (i.e. involving national
security, political
threats, etc.), your source of information would never
want to go on-the-record.
Meaning, your source would only disclose
information if you
agree not to use the information.
This could be
difficult on you. Knowing
what you know but
not being able to report it.
However, gaining the trust
and the confidence
of your source could
work to your advantage. The next time around, your
source might agree to be
quoted by attributing the information as having come
from "a reliable source."
You're also honor-bound to never disclose your sources. Most reporters
and news
writers are willing to take the risk of being held in contempt
of court and spend
time in jail rather than disclose the name(s) of his source(s)
if the news he wrote
ever became big, controversial or ruffled
some feathers.
Was I objective and factual in writing my news? By being objective,
it simply asks you if you
have been detached, unprejudiced and
impersonal in
writing your news. By factual,
ask yourself if you
stuck to the facts.
Was I
fair in reporting the facts? Did you seek other reliable sources?
Did you present the other
or opposing side? Did you attempt to get facts
from the other side of the fence? Did you present a true picture or did
you just
choose to report only the facts that you want your readers to read and
believe?
If you have assessed that indeed, you did not break your source's confidence,
that you were objective, factual and fair in writing your news story, you
were
able to successfully produce a balanced news story.
Read Excerpt 2 - News Doesn't Grow On Trees
Read Excerpt 3 - From Drab To Glamour
Read
Excerpt 4 - C Is For Creativity
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Copyright 2000 Shery Ma Belle Arrieta.
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