Journalism

I've lost a lot of respect for journalists these last so many years.  It begs the question as to what students are being taught at universities regarding the solemn obligation this profession holds.  And it isn't as simple as telling the truth.  It is as simple as telling both sides of the story. 

Have you seen the hilarious ad with the "French model"?  "Well, where did you learn that?"  "The Internet."  "They can't put anything on the Internet that isn't true."

All media have a captive audience.  Information flows one way (from the writer to the reader), and that information is supposed to be obtained in a specific manner, such as confirming a story with at least two sources.  Writing editorial comments in the body of a story is wrong.  Slanting a story by using quotes taken out of context is wrong.  Leaving out material from a story or not even reporting a story that the public has the right to know about is wrong.  Writing about trivial subjects to the exclusion of important stories is wrong.  Entertaining rather than reporting is wrong.  Becoming part of the story is wrong.

Journal is the root word of journalism.  Journals have become more popular of late, often as therapy.  A journal is a day-to-day record of what is happening, either on the micro level, such as one person's life, or the macro level such as the United States.  A lead story should be the most important thing that happened that day. 

Back in the day when I first wrote for, and then edited, The Signal Newspaper in Canal Fulton, Ohio, I used a book given to me by my boss, Dave Burkhardt.  It is called, "Community Journalism."  The basics of this book ring as true today as when it was written.  The freedom of the press, a hallmark of our free system, ought never to be abused or misused.  Again, it is a solemn obligation to do the job right.  And that applies to someone writing a blog or someone in the Washington press corps.

Why the basket photo at the top of the page today?  I'm going to try and make some that look something like the photo.  We'll see what happens.  If you want the baskets to mean a little more, we could tell a little story at this point.  The basket represents your life.  So what do you fill the basket with?  That's for you to answer, but God has some ideas.

The wind is dying down.  Thank goodness for that.  Keep warm, fellow life travelers.