What do you do with a BA in English?
When a reporter turns to bias, does he continue to be a reporter or does he become part of the problem he writes about? It is true that journalists, reporters, free lancers, editors, and anchors can get tired of a topic. Perhaps it is a topic that is of great interest to them, becomes close to their heart, and suddenly, when they take up the pen they have a "cause" and not a story.
Should personal opinion be used in a news story? Does it not become an editorial at that point? What standards to editors use in determining who on their staff has the authority to use his opinions and biases in the work he submits? Is it seniority? Is it the fact that if they allow such reporters to write and the people buy papers then the end justifies the means? Even if the reporter is racist?
When a newspaper allows such opinions on the page as fact, then they are a part of the problem. When a reporter takes his feelings to the story and inserts them as truth, he is no longer a reporter. He is becoming one of the people he should be writing about, not the one who should be doing the writing.
Read carefully what you look up on the net from "reputable hometown newspapers". Sometimes the "news" isn't fact. Look to the words used by the author. If he uses judgmental words, he is part of the problem and not looking for a solution.
Very sad.
Should personal opinion be used in a news story? Does it not become an editorial at that point? What standards to editors use in determining who on their staff has the authority to use his opinions and biases in the work he submits? Is it seniority? Is it the fact that if they allow such reporters to write and the people buy papers then the end justifies the means? Even if the reporter is racist?
When a newspaper allows such opinions on the page as fact, then they are a part of the problem. When a reporter takes his feelings to the story and inserts them as truth, he is no longer a reporter. He is becoming one of the people he should be writing about, not the one who should be doing the writing.
Read carefully what you look up on the net from "reputable hometown newspapers". Sometimes the "news" isn't fact. Look to the words used by the author. If he uses judgmental words, he is part of the problem and not looking for a solution.
Very sad.