People who publish newspapers or put news on TV have serious responsibilities. People depend upon them to tell the truth and be fair. This is difficult to do when you have a newspaper to publish or a TV program to put on each day.If you don't report the news accurately, people won't believe you and they won't buy the paper or watch your TV news. You will lose your job.
If you report something that is not true or you are unfair to a group, you may be sued for libel. Libel is writing something untrue about a person or group and it damages their reputation.
Being fair and objective is difficult. Sometimes you will have strong feelings about a story and those feelings will affect how you write the story. Sometimes you simply have to rush to get a story done to meet the deadline to get it on TV or in the newspaper. Haste makes for mistakes.
To prevent mistakes, there are certain rules to follow.
Rules
- Always make sure your facts are correct. Make sure they come from a very reliable source or double-check the source by asking someone else.
- Always make sure that you try to cover all sides of an issue. If you quote one side, make sure you quote another side, or sides.
- If you have a strong opinion about a story, don't put it in. Save it for an editorial page. This is where a newspaper or program puts its opinions.
- If you make a mistake, be sure to correct it in the next issue.
- Be careful of your own opinions or prejudices in writing a story.
ASSIGNMENT 1: Directions
The story below is unfair. Underline the words and phrases that make it unfair.
The bungling Giants lost another close game yesterday as George Lopes dropped a fly ball in right field to allow the winning run to cross home plate. The Giants lost to the Dodgers 9 to 8. Earlier in the game Lopes hit a three run home-run to maintain his reputation as an "all hit and no field" ball player. Last year Lopes dropped a fly ball that helped lose the championship game.
It is rumored that Manager Gene Staub, who has repeatedly demonstrated his incompetence, will be fired if the Giants don't start winning. The loss, their third straight, dropped them into second place.
ASSIGNMENT 2: Directions
You receive an anonymous tip about a local politician. You check out the story to see whether or not it is true. As a reporter you must report the truth. You must get confirmation from a reliable source and, preferably, two reliable sources. Printing lies may subject you to a libel suit.Check over the notes you have collected below and decide whether or not you have enough information to write a story.
The Anonymous Note
You should check out Councilman Slayton. He got a $10,000 bribe from George Hannan to support that big development Hannan wants to build on the south side.
Interview With Councilman SloanReporter: Councilman Sloan: Is there any truth to the rumors that Slayton received a $10,000 bribe?
Sloan: I've heard that. It's hard to say. You know that no one trusts Slayton.
Reporter: Do you know anyone who might know for sure?
Sloan: Well, aside from Slayton and Hannan, no. At least, not anyone who'd be willing to talk except maybe for Slayton's wife. She kept his business books up until about a week ago when she walked out on him.
Interview With Slayton's WifeReporter: There's a rumor going around that your husband took a bribe from George Hannan. Do you know anything about that?
Wife: With him anything is possible. I know he's taken money in the past, but how much and who from, I have no idea. I will tell you how he handles it. He has a safe deposit box in a bank in some other town. I don't know where, but he takes his money and puts it in that box. Then what he does with it is anybody's guess. I know it's not reported on our tax forms.
Reporter: How do you know he's taken money?
Wife: Oh! He's said things like "I got a nice gift today," but never says how much or who gave it to him.
Interview With SlaytonReporter: There is a rumor going around that you received a $10,000 bribe. Do you have any comment on it?
Slayton: Yes. I think it is vicious slander, and if you report that, I'll sue you for everything you have.
Reporter: You deny it, then?
Slayton: Of course I do. I judge the issues on their merits. This town needs Hannan's development.
Reporter: But isn't there a question about an old toxic waste dump where he plans to build the development?
Slayton: Sure, there was a dump out there, but no one has ever produced any evidence that toxic wastes were dumped there.
Interview with the District AttorneyReporter: I'm following up on an anonymous letter I received about Councilman Slayton taking a $10,000 bribe. Do you know anything about it?
District Attorney: We received a similar note, and we investigated, but we couldn't turn up anything.
Reporter: You don't think there's any truth to it?
District Attorney: There may be, but there is no evidence. Without evidence, we can't do a thing about it. It could also be that someone just wants to create trouble for Slayton. He's got a lot of political enemies.
Reporter: His wife says he has a safe deposit box in another town.
District Attorney: Yeah, she told us that too. Slayton denies it and she doesn't know where it's located. She hates him because he ran off with his secretary. I'll tell you, if you turn anything up, let us know.
Interview with George HannanHannan: I've heard you're going around asking questions about a bribe I'm supposed to have given Jack Slayton.
Reporter: That's right. Do you have any comment on that?
Hannan: You bet I do. It's not true. I don't have to bribe Slayton to get his support. He believes in my project. I'll tell you what's going on here. The people who are against the project have started this rumor by writing these anonymous notes.
