Think back to some of the best news stories you've ever read or watched. What were they? Most likely, those stories exposed something that wouldn't have been known if it weren't for the media organization that worked to bring it to your attention. In-depth stories that create change and shift public opinion are not made overnight. A journalist could put in weeks, sometimes months, of work on a story that just doesn't pan out. The only way to produce ground-breaking news is to work at it, and hard.
When I got my start in journalism I wanted to make a difference. A positive difference. Media more than a decade later is a much different landscape which includes media organizations that are more concerned about promoting its news and attracting viewers and readers rather than letting the news quality speak for itself. A good product, no mater how little it is promoted, will eventually get the kind of attention that will carry years if not decades. That's why in many markets, TV stations that rank #1 usually keep that rank for years to come. The media organization proves itself and the public not only takes notice but keeps coming back for more.
As a news "customer", what do you expect from your news? Do you know what to look for in a fair and ethical media organization? In the fast-paced information world we live in today, sometimes you have to force yourself to ask the tough questions of the media you are exposed to.
WHAT CAN YOU DO
First, take a sheet of paper out. Figure out what kind of media gets your attention. Do you like news on sports, entertainment or politics? Do you prefer to get your news from national outlets as opposed to local? Further, do you find yourself getting most of your news online or through traditional platforms like print, radio and TV? Once you have identified what kind of news grabs your attention and which platform it comes from, you can better determine what kind of ethics those organizations adhere to.
Second, once you have identified your news niche, take note of the kind of stories that your media organizations are covering. Do they provide background information? How much are those stories promoted or teased? Are all sides of the story equally reported? If there is overbearing self-promotion, sensationalism (through the description of events, not the reporting of them) or one-sided angles, you know right away the promotion and shock value of the news story is more important than the story itself.
Third, did the media organizations try to get to the root of the issue the story addresses? Maybe the story is about a murder. But what was the motivation? What drove the people in the story to do what they did? In every story, even features, there is always a root that the story is attached. An ethical news organization will not only cover a story, but also keep it in context with how the story came to be.
Finally, how well does your news niche do at following-up the stories it covers. If a media organization is going to cover a story on a crime and suspect, that media organization also has an ethical responsibility to provide updates as the case moves forward.
A BIG TASK AT HAND
As a single news "customer" you may not think you have a lot of influence over the way the news you get is covered. That is why it is important to start taking notes of the news you are watching. Collectively, society is always in a position to drive the ethical nature of media. The more the public's demand for ethical news erodes, the more media will follow suit giving its audience what they want or what they can accept.
Jason Lanning Tampa is a journalist operating his own website addressing his experience with irresponsible media and the consequences.
Published articles and Jason's website not sponsored by or affiliated with any media organizations.
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