Verification

Today’s situation poses an issue journalists have never before dealt with. Social media and youtube present news seconds after it occurs. This tempts professional reporters to publish news immediately because it could be corrected later. But, we must refrain from publishing until our sources are verified because that is what makes us credible.

As stated in the presentation, verification is the beating heart of credible journalism in the public interest. A quote I especially liked from the reading says, “Improving the discipline of verification may be the most important step journalists can take to improve the quality of news and public discussion.” Verification is what sets professional journalists apart from news on online written by anyone. Frankly, verification is the only reason there are jobs for professional reporters.

Journalists must be active finders of the truth. As the book stated it, “Journalists must be truth seekers and truth presenters.” It is important to be open with the audience, and to be as transparent as possible. From the presentation I learned that it is okay to explain how you learned something and why you believe it.  

There are five key rules to the techniques of verification: edit with skepticism, keep an accuracy checklist, assume nothing, remember Tom French’s pencil, and of course be careful with anonymous sources. Using anonymous sources can be a disaster waiting to happen. The best plan of action with anonymous sources is to use them to find information that can direct you to other sources.

http://journalism.about.com/od/reporting/a/anonymous.htm

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/100292/Toward-a-New-Journalism-With-Verification.aspx

http://zombiejournalism.com/2011/09/b-s-detection-for-journalists/

Worldview

Worldview is a persons philosophy of life and conception of the world. Each persons worldview is different, dependant on the life experiences that person has had. As reporters our worldview deides what is news on a given day. Because the  responsibility to inform society lies on our shoulders, we must be in touch with all of the important issues going on around us. What we decide as news, goes to shape the worldview of the general public.

As stated in the reading, “Worldviews provide us a means of protection from confusion, and an ability to focus Worldview influences.” Worldview encompasses how facts are gathered for a story, the mood of the story, how the story is presented, and the effects the story has on the reader or viewer. Worldview influences each individual, as well as the people they associate with.

An article I found sums up how each person’s worldview affects society and their lives. “What we need is a framework that ties everything together, that allows us to understand society, the world, and our place in it, and that could help us to make the critical decisions which will shape our future. It would synthesize the wisdom gathered in the different scientific disciplines, philosophies and religions.” I think it is important we are aware of our worldview, and we actively create it into what we want it to be. 

http://worldview.unc.edu/

http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/WORLVIEW.html

http://www.world-view.org/