Being honest and trustworthy is vital for any journalist as a simple means of getting the public on your side. In fact, for any part of societal life these ideas will get you far. Principles. Morality. Combining the two together to make you a well-rounded individual and friend to the people. Consequently chain reacting with any journalists desires. A balanced mix of high readership and publication sales.
I like integrity because of what it stands for. Honesty. And as I believe that in many senses the media needs reclaiming, highlighting this word to people seems to be about the only way I can define what I think a journalist should be. In my eyes and I’m sure in many others, an honest journalist is a good journalist.
Imagine you are a reporter working for a local paper. News comes in that a teenage boy has committed suicide in your area and it is your job to speak to the family in order to produce a story for the paper. After a traumatic conversation with the boy’s inconsolable mother, she asks and confirms with you that his means of death are not to be described in any story.
Now for me, your integral duty after confirming that you will not publish the information would be…not to publish the information. But for others, including the boy’s method of death could be considered completely okay. And although I do not see these journalists as the definition of bad, (maybe I could consider this as gutsy or brave) I can’t help but think that my morals would no longer be intact. I think it’s just the promises. In the sense of, “I gave you my word.” For me I would be breaking all of my ethical beliefs.
So I guess I’ll have to stick with the assumption that an honest journalist is a good journalist. But then again, maybe I’m still a little naive at the moment? I’m sure brains combust with considerations time and time again.
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Just thought I’d pop this in. Somewhat sassy and a little off topic, but I do love this quote…
“The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers.” ― Thomas Jefferson
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