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'Perspective':Reporters, columnists use different rules
By Suzanne Penna
in OpinionIssue date: 2/19/09 Section: Opinion
Iam surprised at how many people have no idea what the job of a reporter entails. After last week's column, I thought people would have a greater understanding of the reporter's role in society. After reading this week's letter to the editor, I realize that is not true.
First, and perhaps foremost, a good reporter is impartial. There is no opinion in the reporter's writing. A columnist, however, has the luxury of being able to interject opinion, preferably opinion based on fact. When a reporter covers an event, such as a meeting, his or her role is not to be an active participant.
Asking questions can help to clarify statements made by the active participants, but it is not the reporter's job to steer the conversation in any one direction. It is also a reporter's job to give all the important known facts and allow readers to come to their own understandings.
When editors receive articles written by a reporter, the editors can use those articles and the facts contained therein to construct editorials. Editorials are purely opinion and may be reactions to specific newsworthy events.
Good editorials will not only elicit reactions, but also often are written in hopes of eliciting change. There are times when editorials do not elicit change, but instead cause a defensive mechanism to be set off. When a defensive mechanism is set in motion, those people involved try to justify their own actions instead of taking an introspective look into their actions.
People in society find it easy to blame the media for a multitude of sins. First, some call the media liberally biased. (If anyone knows me, they know I am quite the opposite).
Second, some say all the media ever report is negative "stuff." That is perhaps the funniest allegation of all because the public controls much of what gets reported by buying or watching the media. As a result, people are declaring all they care about is the negative side of life.
There is an important function, though, in reporting the negative. When people's evil acts are brought to light, they can be reproved. That is the ultimate goal of good reporting-changing evil to good.
First, and perhaps foremost, a good reporter is impartial. There is no opinion in the reporter's writing. A columnist, however, has the luxury of being able to interject opinion, preferably opinion based on fact. When a reporter covers an event, such as a meeting, his or her role is not to be an active participant.
Asking questions can help to clarify statements made by the active participants, but it is not the reporter's job to steer the conversation in any one direction. It is also a reporter's job to give all the important known facts and allow readers to come to their own understandings.
When editors receive articles written by a reporter, the editors can use those articles and the facts contained therein to construct editorials. Editorials are purely opinion and may be reactions to specific newsworthy events.
Good editorials will not only elicit reactions, but also often are written in hopes of eliciting change. There are times when editorials do not elicit change, but instead cause a defensive mechanism to be set off. When a defensive mechanism is set in motion, those people involved try to justify their own actions instead of taking an introspective look into their actions.
People in society find it easy to blame the media for a multitude of sins. First, some call the media liberally biased. (If anyone knows me, they know I am quite the opposite).
Second, some say all the media ever report is negative "stuff." That is perhaps the funniest allegation of all because the public controls much of what gets reported by buying or watching the media. As a result, people are declaring all they care about is the negative side of life.
There is an important function, though, in reporting the negative. When people's evil acts are brought to light, they can be reproved. That is the ultimate goal of good reporting-changing evil to good.
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