A writer’s adherence to the journalistic principles of accuracy ✓ Solved

A writer’s adherence to the journalistic principles of accuracy, brevity and clarity will ensure that the reader is receiving the correct information in a manner that will not waste his or her time. The Associated Press online news article “AP Acquires Historic British Movietone Archive” demonstrates a writer’s discipline in communicating his story to the audience using the three tenets. The journalist is particularly skilled at using brevity and clarity. The writer begins the article with a first line statement of what the article is about. The second and third sentences describe why the event is significant.

This type of brevity and clarity helps the reader decide if he or she wants to read further. I was interested in the topic and had assurance of what I could expect to learn. In the second paragraph, the AP writer (2016) discusses why Movietone was significant, and he highlights its historical ties. The journalist then uses bullet statements to illustrate what types of events the Movietone collection highlighted. There is an embedded video accessible in the center of the article that dovetails nicely with the narrative.

The reader can then continue with the article which the original author wrote in the inverted pyramid style. The article is about three paragraphs too long. The paragraph third from the bottom discusses the AP in Australia and New Zealand referenced in the last line of the preceding paragraph (AP, 2016). The last two paragraphs provide organization descriptions of the AP and Newsreel Archive. All three paragraphs detract focus from what is otherwise an interesting story.

As Stovall (2014) says in the textbook when discussing brevity, writers need to recognize when they are “letting the sentences run on far after their thoughts have run out” (p. 33, para. 8).

Journalists in the United States are held to a high ethical standard because they are accountable to their readers to be accurate and truthful. Journalists are inherently privileged. They have access to newsworthy events not available to non-journalists. The First Amendment of the Constitution protects journalists. With the latitude and protection afforded to journalists, there is a public expectation that journalists will be ethical and accurate. If a reporter is discovered to be dishonest, he or she will lose credibility with those to whom he or she is accountable. Fareed Zakaria has taken liberties with the freedom and privilege granted him through his profession. He has selected words and phrases that are not his intellectual property and fraudulently made them his own (Uberti, 2014., para. 7). Writers live by the thoughts and words they produce. Stealing an author’s words is akin to taking food off of his or her table. Jayson Blair took intellectual theft and deception to a nearly unheard of level, using deceit and false reporting to pedal news articles.

Blair’s infamous conduct brought discredit upon the reporter as well as the newspaper (Barry, et al., 2003, para 1). In the news business, credit is everything because if the reader suspects the information of being false, he or she will go somewhere else for their news rather than spend time digesting material that is potentially untrue. Journalists, through training and experience, carry bona fides that the new-age citizen journalist does not. Therefore, the art and science and ethical responsibility that professional journalists contribute are critical to maintaining journalism as a proud and important part of our national heritage (Hogg, 2009, para. 4).

At first glance, the blog written by Zachary Toliver for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals “Pig Truck Crashes in Ontario, Animal Defenders Rush to Save Lives,” appears to be written as a news article, not an op-ed piece or an expose. Toliver’s article is written clearly in easily understood sentences and is a reasonable length. However, it is easy to recognize that Toliver has an underlying agenda. Concerning PETA propaganda, readers can quickly discern what Toliver is promoting – the ethical treatment of animals, and the conversion from meat-eaters to veganism.

Through his commentary, Toliver seeks to bring attention to animal cruelty, to promote public outrage, and to encourage activism against animal rights offenders. Toliver does not adhere to the inverted pyramid in his first paragraph and does not include specific details (such as what kind of truck was involved, who was driving, or where the accident happened, etc.). He also incorporates inflammatory details in his opening paragraph, such as “A truck headed to the notorious Burlington, Ontario,” and “Bloodcurdling screams from the pigs could be heard from the toppled trailer as firefighters worked to open the crumpled wreckage.” Such remarks put the accuracy of Toliver’s writing into question, as it is clear that he is not so much reporting details of the truck crash as he is promoting the welfare of pigs.

Toliver uses direct quotes from three different sources on his blog, but only identifies one, the president of PETA. Other sources include “a concerned bystander,” and “a former pig transporter.” The word “concerned” is a definite AP style no-no, as it is considered editorializing and is an unnecessary adjective. In the last two paragraphs, Toliver veers from the “news” and involves the PETA organization on a personal level, with the use of the word “we.” Toliver then addresses the reader directly with his “What Can You Do” final guilt-trip-of-a-paragraph to end his blog post. If the reader is familiar with the PETA organization, then this type of article is what they would expect, and is typical PETA. If unfamiliar with PETA, the reader might confuse this “news story” for an op-ed or expose piece.

Paper For Above Instructions

A writer’s adherence to journalistic principles like accuracy, brevity, and clarity is critical in providing readers with quality information. The ability to convey a news story effectively not only respects the reader's time but also builds credibility for the journalist and their publication. In light of this, we can analyze and evaluate various articles and perspectives based on these principles, including the analysis of the Associated Press (AP) piece on the acquisition of the British Movietone Archive, ethical concerns regarding journalistic integrity, and the propagation of specific agendas through Slanted journalism.

In the realm of journalism, the principle of accuracy serves as a cornerstone. Journalists have an obligation to report facts truthfully, avoiding embellishment or misinformation, to maintain public trust. The acquisition of the British Movietone Archive by the Associated Press is an event that is both significant and newsworthy. The AP article exemplifies clarity with its straightforward headlines and succinct opening that informs readers about the crux of the story from the outset. The AP's bullet points highlight critical historical events attributed to the Movietone collection, engaging readers by summarizing its historical relevance without delving into unnecessary details.

Following the inverted pyramid structure, the AP writer successfully prioritizes information by discussing the historical significance before delving into ancillary details about the organization. Stovall’s (2014) observation on brevity highlights a common pitfall where unnecessary elaboration distracts from core messages. The AP article, however, remains focused, allowing readers to gauge their interest in the historical footage without being lost in extraneous information.

Moving beyond accuracy, ethical considerations impose a paramount responsibility upon journalists. The interplay between freedom and responsibility often emerges, especially when one considers the ethical degradation exemplified by reporters such as Jayson Blair, who exploited journalistic freedoms to fabricate stories (Barry et al., 2003). Such incidents erode trust, illustrating how crucial it is for journalists to adhere to ethical standards that uphold truthfulness. Ethical lapses are not just personal failures; they impact entire news organizations and ultimately, public perception regarding the trustworthiness of journalism.

In examining the ethical implications of journalism, it is important to understand the generational shift toward citizen journalism. While the proliferation of social media has democratized news dissemination, it poses a challenge to traditional journalism’s ethical standards. Unlike seasoned journalists, citizen journalists often lack formal training involving ethical guidelines, which can render their reports high-risk and potentially misleading (Hogg, 2009). It poses the question of whether mass communication students and potential media professionals have a similar responsibility to mirror industry standards and report truthfully.

This responsibility also reflects ethical violations that can occur within educational contexts, causing dissonance between academic integrity and journalistic ethics. Conway and Groshek (2009) note how journalism ethics align with academic integrity principles where plagiarism, fabrication, and deceit manifest in student behaviors, highlighting a concerning trend that requires mission-driven educational approaches promoting high ethical standards.

Additionally, when assessing various articles, we encounter challenges related to propaganda in journalism. For example, PETA's blog entry regarding an animal cruelty incident portrays a passionate agenda that appears misleadingly journalistic. While readability and clarity in Toliver's writing engage audiences, they juxtapose with the lack of adherence to impartial reporting standards (Toliver, 2016). The use of emotionally charged language weakens the article’s factual credibility and places ethical journalism under scrutiny.

This dilemma underlines the notion that a writer’s agenda, when clouded with personal convictions, can influence journalistic integrity. Toliver's blog, while effectively engaging the reader, illustrates how propaganda can overshadow truth in media reporting, drawing attention to the dual responsibility of informing the public while maintaining unbiased reporting.

In concluding, the principles of accuracy, brevity, clarity, and ethics serve as foundational bedrocks for the craft of journalism. Journalists must navigate the complex intersection between storytelling and truth, with ethical responsibility guiding their narratives. As we evaluate varying examples of journalistic methods, it becomes clear that while the pursuit of information is noble, it must coincide with a steadfast commitment to integrity and ethical standards to ensure quality journalism thrives in its environment.

References

• AP. (2016, September 27). AP acquires historic British Movietone archive. Retrieved from [link]
• Barry, D. et al. (2003, May 11). CORRECTING THE RECORD; Times Reporter Who Resigned Leaves Long Trail of Deception. The New York Times.
• Conway, M. & Groshek, J. (2009). Forgive Me Now, Fire Me Later: Mass Communication Students’ Ethics Gap Concerning School and Journalism. Communication Education, 58(4).
• Hogg, C. (2009, May 13). Is there credibility in citizen journalism?. Digital Journal.
• Stovall, J. G. (2014). Writing for the Mass Media, 9th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions.
• Toliver, Z. (2016, October 5). Pig Truck Crashes in Ontario, Animal Defenders Rush to Save Lives. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.
• Uberti, D. (2014, November 8). Journalism has a plagiarism problem. But it’s not the one you’d expect. Columbia Journalism Review.
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