Journalism, Fairness, and Soapboxes

Journalism has a standard that has been recently blurred News on the news pages. Opinions on the editorial pages. Honest people who are vigilant would like to restore this kind of reporting.

Stating opinion as fact and especially controversial opinion as fact undermines fairness. When I taught MPA courses for FDU, I extended this doctrine of distinction as follows:

• When the Bible says x it is a source. When you use a spin or interpretaition then label it such and do not pass it off as source but as spin/interpretation.

• Illustration: the 2 eldest sons of Aaron were burned to death for introducing an alien fire into their service. This appears in the Pentateuch at least 4 times. The first in Leviticus 10:1

Someone once used this source as a proof text to not add to the service of God in general.

It violates both fairness and honesty:

1. Fairness because it's a spin on the text and many commentators do not see it this way at all.
2. Honesty because it uses the Bible as a source instead of honestly citing the commentator that originated the spin.

If my student did this I would have pointed it out as such. Using interpretations was fine but I would fine them a grade for passing it off as source text.

Illustration:

• So if for example the Hertz commentary had this particular spin then cite Hertz and not the 5 Books of Moses else one is playing fast and loose.

Partial quotes can be harmful in removing context. So one ought to b e thorough.

Regards,
Rrw