Recent land use bylaws, sporting rinks, RCMP activities and environmental disasters has me wanting to talk about the guidelines journalists go through when reporting on events in and around our community.
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One of the primary components of any journalism course is ethics. Knowing what you can write, what you should write, and how to write it, while maintaining moral principles, are key.
Truth, accuracy, fairness, impartiality and independence are pillars of our industry.
In an era where many organizations shy away from being critical, I’d like to think our organization isn’t afraid to tell it like it is.
What that means, though, is a little different. It means that when organizations, businesses, municipalities and individuals do great things, we report on those achievements.
However, it’s also a double-edged sword. Scrutiny of government, corporations and public institutions must also be conducted.
For every good thing we report on, we can’t be afraid to report on the bad. Those individuals who like us for shining a positive light on something should also appreciate when we shine a light on the darker side of issues.
Ethical journalism means reporting with integrity, even when it may be awkward to do so.
It means asking hard questions, pushing past rehearsed answers and sometimes standing alone to ensure people take responsibility for their actions. It means recognizing that journalism isn’t public relations — it’s a public service.
And yes, it means we will sometimes upset people. However, ethical journalism isn’t about keeping everyone happy. It’s about telling the truth, even when it’s hard to hear.
Our goal is never to sensationalize or to tear people down. It’s to illuminate facts, provide context and enable readers to form their own informed conclusions.
When we celebrate a local hero or spotlight a successful initiative, it’s done with the same care and scrutiny we apply when exposing corruption or holding officials accountable.
That balance and honesty is what ethical journalism demands. It’s what our readers deserve. And it’s what we aim to deliver every day online and every week in print.
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