While researching data journalism, time and time again, I was
reminded of how important it is for journalists to communicate the truth. I
came across the PewResearch Journalism Project website, http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles-of-journalism/ which included in its list of nine
core principles of journalism an obligation to the truth which was thus
described:
‘Democracy depends on citizens having
reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. Journalism does not
pursue truth in an absolute or philosophical sense, but it can–and must–pursue
it in a practical sense. This “journalistic truth” is a process that begins
with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then
journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, valid
for now, subject to further investigation. Journalists should be as transparent
as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own
assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, accuracy is
the foundation upon which everything else is built–context, interpretation,
comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The truth, over time, emerges from
this forum. As citizens encounter an ever greater flow of data, they have more
need–not less–for identifiable sources dedicated to verifying that information
and putting it in context.’
In the pursuit of truth, the article
went on to state that the essence of journalism is a ‘discipline of
verification’ which calls for ‘a consistent method of testing information–a
transparent approach to evidence–precisely so that personal and cultural biases
would not undermine the accuracy of their work. The method is objective, not
the journalist. Seeking out multiple witnesses, disclosing as much as possible
about sources, or asking various sides for comment, all signal such standards.
This discipline of verification is what separates journalism from other modes
of communication, such as propaganda, fiction or entertainment. But the need
for professional method is not always fully recognized or refined. While
journalism has developed various techniques for determining facts, for
instance, it has done less to develop a system for testing the reliability of
journalistic interpretation.’
In the light of this information, I
have come to the decision (notwithstanding the last two sentences) that that if
I ever am in need of legal representation where the outcome of the case depends
on verifying and establishing the truth, instead of hiring a lawyer to prepare
a case for the barrister, I shall avail myself of the services of a journalist.
Amen.
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