I would like to be a journalist. While I have a lot to learn in order to consider myself a true journalist, much less that of my peers. I think it is sad that there are those who are paid to report the news that do not do their job.
Sure it feels good to get a “scoop” or an exclusive story. I suppose I would feel proud that my editor slaps me on the back and says “hey, good job on that story Mike”. However, I do not have an editor to answer to. My editor is you, the one that is reading my articles, stories and news. The public are the only ones that I answer to, beside myself.
The problem that I see presented is that most of the journalist or news reporters of today are to caught up in just getting the story out. What happens is they have a tendency to rush, naturally, and the article suffers lack of facts. People read these articles and expect them to be factual or at least based on facts. They also expect or assume the articles to be complete and without omission of facts.
Unfortunately, most of the news today is not complete and/or not based on fact. Then you have the problem that many people read just one article and form an opinion based on their reading. Some, become so sure of themselves that they are willing to get into a word fight in a forum based on being misinformed by the article that they just read. “It was in my favorite paper, so it must be true”. Please, steer away from this type of behavior.
The news of today, if you want to involve yourself, has to be researched, researched and then verify that research.
If you are just a kitchen table reader that has a cup of coffee and reads the paper, that is fine. That is pretty much what the newspapers today are worth, a piece of entertainment while relaxing or waking up. This only works if you throw the paper aside and go on about your day. If you plan on reading the paper and taking it to heart as the truth and forming an opinion by reading one article you are headed for trouble. Especially if you plan on voicing that opinion in public, on a forum or blog.
An opinion about facts or an incident is not news, nor should they be mixed.
Most of today’s news papers are based on opinion and not facts. If you agree with the opinionated news that you read, it becomes your favorite paper. Once the paper has an article that you do agree with, you are compelled to do something about it. This is also unfortunate. At this point you either toss the paper in the trash and forget it until the next day or you find something else to read. Some will write to the editor and voice their disagreement and that is good. After all, that is what the letters to the editor section is for. The true problem with the news as it is, would be organization. Truth is that most of the items the papers want to refer to as news should be put in the opinion section. That is what the opinion section is for, opinion and columnist. Problem is that the opinion section seems to overflow into the news.
It is the journalist responsibility to report the facts and to include every amount of factual evidence that can be found on the item being reported.
The news is based on facts. Even in writing, it should be reported as though you are live, on the scene and have a camera in front of you. The news paper reporter has the luxury of not having to be “on the scene” and “reporting live” of having the time to do research into the facts. At times, I suppose, that it can also be a hindrance. If you do actually witness the news, it becomes easier to report. Even at that, there can be things that you did not see that someone did. This is where research comes into play. Gather all of the facts possible and then verify those facts.
I studied journalism in school, that does not make me a journalist. Also, remember, at the beginning of this article I said, I would like to be a journalist. I am, however, not. I am studying and researching the idea of becoming a better writer, possibly even a journalist. I would find it hard though to become part of any one particular news organization, because they all have their faults. So, for the moment, I will do my best, when I do report the news, to make it as factual and complete as possible. I only wish many of the reporter and journalist of today would do the same.
* This article is my opinion. It is about the delivery of news. It is not news nor is it based on facts. I did, however, put it in the news section because it is about news. OK?
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