No matter the source, news today is never ending and rarely not available. It leaves journalists like myself scrambling for balance. How do we report the news with both integrity and swiftness?
Earlier this month, the Internet was abuzz with rumors that the New York Times was preparing to unleash some dirt about New York Gov. David Paterson and an extramarital affair. In this Huffington Post article, the author aggregates an article from the New York Magazine about the brouhaha. The article never confirms the allegations, but, at the very least, it does keep the rumors going.
Turns out, the New York Times published an article that focused on issues surrounding questions about the rise of the Governor's top aide. The storm surrounding Gov. Paterson fizzled into a lame flurry of scrutiny focused on the promotion of one of his aides.
The whole debacle underscores the need for good judgement and, in my opinion, organizational oversight when reporting news. Traditional journalists have an obligation to report truth--no matter if its via Twitter or for the 10 p.m.
Bloggers, like good 'ol Perez, also should strive for truth, although clearly their gig is largely based around unsubstantiated claims. And, to their credit, bloggers have certainly uncovered some worthwhile news.
Still, it is a delicate balance.
Ultimately, my goal is to report aggressively, but err on the side of truth--even if that means getting scooped from time to time.
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Sounds good.
ReplyDeleteA Journalist who reports the truth, now thats a scoop. Keep up the good work.