My family, over the years, has been involved with newspapers and media, with several family members over the generations taking up their tasks as part of the fifth estate, myself included. We’ve owned newspapers, travel magazines, and print shops. We’ve sold advertising, written opinion pieces, and reported on events that were local, regional, national, and international.
We took money from nobody other than subscribers or advertisers, and we were all well-apprised of the golden rules of journalism, even though we were never sat-down and taught them. We didn’t have to be, because they were self-evident.
While the media landscape has changed dramatically since those times, those self-evident tenets remain the same, although they are demonstrably ignored by black-hat actors bent on causing trouble to democracy and to faith in government and government institutions. Nevertheless, independent journalism with integrity is still a thing, although eroded by the actions of some major players, major disruptors. No matter the efforts of these disrupters, independent professional journalism is guided by several core principles that help ensure the integrity, accuracy, and impartiality of news reporting. As it ought to be.
First among them are the notions of truth and accuracy. Independent journalists strive to report the truth to the best of their ability, seeking reliable sources, verifying information, and fact-checking to ensure accuracy in their reporting. In short, real journalists are under clear standards to ensure that what they report has veracity, that the report is based upon well-established facts, and that the requisite due-diligence is done to ascertain the credibility of sources. A real journalist would never open themselves or their organization up to legal liability for making false or unsubstantiated claims in their work. Plus, it’s important to note, that’s their job and responsibility. It’s about telling your audience the truth, popular or not.
Independence and objectivity are a key element to professional-grade journalism. Independent journalists work independently from outside influences, such as governments, corporations, or special interests, to avoid bias and maintain impartiality in their reporting. They strive to provide balanced coverage and present multiple perspectives on an issue or event. Sort of like the opposite to what Fox “News” is all about. They called the state of Arizona for Joe Biden on election night in 2020 and their audience of radicals would have none of it, howling with so much outrage that Fox personality Sean Hannity, despite knowing the truth, encouraged his network to backtrack on anything that might suggest Biden won the American presidential election for fear of the network being hurt in ratings. That’s not journalism, it’s naked chicanery. Fox News exists because its billionaire owner, Rupert Murdoch, would love to bring American democracy into disrepute. That’s not journalism, it’s sabotage. It’s sedition wrapped up in a bow with pretty ribbons.
In fairness, the local affiliates of Fox seem to practice the core elements of professional journalism, but at the national level, Fox breaks all the rules and therefore can’t be trusted.
Fox will argue that these prime-time shows featuring hosts who breed fear are not news, but entertainment. This is a network that considers crisis as entertainment, and is willing to initiate and perpetuate crisis for its own gain.
Fairness and balance is a big deal in journalism, and it’s important for journalists to take the middle ground of an issue and remain neutral. Independent journalists aim to be fair and balanced in their reporting, giving voice to all relevant viewpoints, and avoiding favouritism or prejudice. They seek diverse sources of information and provide an opportunity for all sides to be heard. What journalists aren’t are mouth-pieces for political agendas. That’s called propaganda and it’s dangerous.
Integrity and ethical conduct are vital characteristics of real journalists that separates them from the Side Show Bobs of the world, carnival hucksters harassing an audience as they pass by. Independent journalists adhere to a code of ethics that includes maintaining integrity in their work, avoiding conflicts of interest, and being transparent about their sources, methods, and affiliations. They also protect the confidentiality of their sources when necessary. If Tucker Carlson’s not the most reprehensible human being with a bully pulpit right now, we’re in big trouble. Sadly, he may not be, as Alex Jones is giving him a good run for the money, although the money’s not what it once was after losing a hefty lawsuit for claiming the Newhook shootings never took place. Geez, didn’t Fox just settle a lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for $787 billion? That was so guys like Murdoch, Hannity, and Carlson wouldn’t have to appear in court under direct examination to account for their egregious behaviour. But their day will come, make no mistake.
Recently, Carlson took footage gifted to him by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and produced a travesty suggesting that the January 6 event was just a bunch of sleepy tourists visiting the capital. He has encouraged America to invade Canada to protect us from the autocratic over-reach of despot prime minister Justin Trudeau. He talked to Rebel News, a right-wing media organization operated by the unhinged Ezra Levant, adopted Levant’s talking points, interviewed a couple of Alberta pastors that continued to operate in opposition to provincial masking and distancing rules, and other hotly discontented Canadians who have been influenced by bilious porridge offered up by Fox and Carlson over the years.
What about accountability and transparency? Independent journalists are accountable for their reporting and strive to correct any errors or inaccuracies promptly. They are transparent about their sources, methodology, and biases, and are willing to explain and justify their reporting to the public. When they get it wrong, they say so. They retract. They apologize.
Public interest is important. Independent journalists prioritize the public interest over personal or corporate interests, and their reporting is aimed at informing and serving the public, promoting democracy, and holding those in power accountable. What journalism isn’t is the purposeful driving of a political or corporate agenda.
These core principles form the foundation of independent journalism and should guide journalists in their pursuit of providing accurate, fair, and impartial news coverage to the public. That’s the partnership that exists between journalist and audience, one of trust and credibility.
Sadly, in today’s world, these core tenets have been blurred by assholes with a lot of money bent on causing trouble to further their own interests.
Fox, at the national level, is the very face of this.
NEWSMAGRENFREW 