Independence in Journalism

What does it mean to practice independence in journalism? A lot of it has to do with the journalist's integrity, like avoiding the picking and choosing of facts to frame a story, or the turning down of bribes. The ethical choice should always be made when independence is jeopardized, especially as ambassadors of BYU and the Church. What comes harder is remaining independent when perceptions are altered due to predetermined bias or opinion. 

Journalistic integrity is a huge factor for remaining independent, but becomes a moot point if the perception becomes subconsciously skewed. Journalists have to be close enough to the story to understand the major issues and characters, but far enough away to see the facts without emotionally tinted goggles.

Take sports for example. Here is the final play of this year's BYU--Utah football game. There's five seconds left and the Cougars need a touchdown to tie the game. Taysom Hill rolls left and heaves a desperation throw down field where there's apparent contact between receiver Mitch Matthews and defensive back Reginald Porter.

What happened? It depends on who you ask. Most BYU fans will say that Matthews was undoubtedly  tackled by a defensive player as the ball was in the air, and that a 15-yard penalty and untimed down should have been assessed to BYU. Most Utah fans will say that Porter was obviously pulled down by the receiver as the ball was coming down, and that  (and, naturally, that must have been what the officials saw). 

That's why those covering the event need to remain independent of personal bias; otherwise perception becomes opinionated. Does that play draw a pass interference call 99% of the time? Yes. Would another hail marry from the 37-yard line have changed the outcome of the game? Probably not. The controversy surrounding the final play shouldn't become the focus of the story because emotional reporters let their biases get in the way of their independence.

So, even as hard as it is being a BYU student, I have to agree that the non-call was probably the best call.   

But the 2010 Holy War? Brandon Bradley's knee was DOWN!

 

       

Religion and the media

For a profession that is all about reliable sources, verification and facts, religion can be a tough beat for journalists to cover. But that doesn't mean that it can't or shouldn't be covered; religion is too intertwined within the fabric of American life to be ignored. 

Here's a list of the Huffington Post's top religious news content of 2012:

1. The Sandy Hook shootings and the presence or absence of God
2. 20% of Americans identifying themselves as affiliated with "No Religion"
3. The creation of the anti-Muslim film "The Innocence of the Muslims"
4. The Vatican scolding American Roman Catholic nuns over social justice issues
5. A mormon running for president
6. The first Hindu and Buddhist in American Congress
7. The negative effects of religion mixing with government
8. The gay equality movement
9. The shooting of six Sikh worshipers in Wisconsin
10. Vatican and Pope controversy 

At least six of the top stories are either negative or controversial, which isn't surprising. Journalists will always rush to jump all over the negative and controversial, the same way shoppers rush to jump all over over Black Friday deals at Walmart. But with the thousands of churches in America, there's got to be some positive, uplifting human-interest stories--right?

No matter what faith journalists claim--or don't claim, there is a whole lot of good that is done in the world because of religion. Every denomination deserves to be covered fairly, without their beliefs being misunderstood or ostracized. Indeed, the age old adage applies even in the cold hearted world of journalism: cover other religions as you would have them cover you.