by Bob Strong

The news media makes a big deal out of the situation when law enforcement entities want to know the source of the media’s information. I think the news media has a right, and an obligation to protect their source of information. At the same time they have an obligation to the consumer, their audience, reader and listener who have a right to expect them to report nothing but the truth -- the complete and verified facts.

With the instant world wide communication technology we have today, rumors, untruths, anything less than absolute facts that are reported can be devastating to an industry, markets or reputations. There is an obligation to make absolutely certain the information being dispersed is correct.

One-sided, bias opinions are not the “news.” The news is what actually is happening. Reporting the facts, the real state of things, that’s the news, not something made up or exaggerated to attract attention.

News presentation should not be a show with sex thrown in. It’s what happened, not what could happen, if, etc. The regurgitation of scary possibilities is not news, it’s a use of fear tactics to get your attention and keep you watching. Granted, you can refuse to read, not listen to, or watch. You can turn it off. We have that option. But for people who don’t know what the truth or facts are on a given subject such as BSE, “they assume it’s true” just because it comes under the guise of “news.”

To quote a prominent new commentator Robert Novak, “misrepresentation of the truth is not news…it’s the editors responsibility to sort it out.”

It is the old “the buck stops here,” and that should be the same for the B.S. when a ‘reporter’ can fabricate and distort to serve his own benefit. It’s like shouting fire in a crowded room. It’s not only unethical, it’s dangerous. It should be against the law. That may sound like I am for suppressing the media, I’m not. I just want the truth, the real facts.

The demand that reporters get out and find something to put between the ads no doubt is there. The ‘good’ news of which we get very little, is still out there and it’s refreshing to have it reported.

It all comes down to responsibility. Editors are ultimately responsible for all the news reported. Reporters/writers should not be motivated by their own ego trip, but paid to report the truth.

Nothing gets done by the non complainers. Have you written your news source editor lately? I guarantee if you do, it will have more effect than just turning it off, not reading it or not listening to it. ©