Journalists continuously put their personal feelings aside to report on world-changing news. Despite feeling completely shattered by a headline on a TV, journalists are trained to provide thorough information quickly while providing unbiased updates, press releases and stories.
An aspect not often thought about by journalists is their exposure to hard-hitting news they report on often, sometimes even daily. Reporters are frequently on the ground after a massive natural disaster or the first to the scene of a terrible accident. Journalists have a responsibility to be the mouthpiece of the public and to place personal sentiments aside, even when they are covering intense and emotional events.
As the country is currently facing a divide, some journalists may be among the divisions and proving now more than ever that they can remain impartial when reporting. It is journalists' commitment to remain composed and in control of the news they are delivering.
Journalistic ethics suggest that journalists deliver information free of bias to allow the public to develop their own opinions on a topic. Besides word of mouth, most often the public first gets their news from an article or broadcast. The objectivity of journalism refers to separating personal opinions, biases and prejudices. This allows for the facts to speak for themselves rather than the journalist.
The Medium wrote, “The press is responsible for creating a conscious, awake citizenry that can respond accordingly to the system that governs it.” Journalists are trusted, and have the responsibility, by the public to provide news that can awaken and inspire the public to respond.
It takes a lot of skill to put personal opinions aside when reporting on life-changing events. A journalist’s main job is to deliver information to the people -- it is what they signed up for, it is vital to acknowledge that the job can be taxing on anyone first to the scene.
Arielle Teppert, a sophomore studying journalism and a reporter for WOUB, spoke about the integrity journalists must have when reporting.
“Integrity is very important,” Teppert said. “We have to know what we’re putting out there is true and factual and isn’t just opinion-based.”
Credibility is also extremely important and ties into the objectivity of a journalist. Journalists must be both credible and unbiased and both can be done while putting personal feelings and opinions aside to deliver news to the public.
Student journalists learn to put their personal feelings aside when reporting as well. In student-run publications and stations, students are reporting on hard-hitting news just as the professionals are. Especially as students learn how to be journalists, it can be difficult to learn how to remain unbiased while passionate.
Teppert spoke about what it means to put personal feelings aside when it comes to reporting as a student journalist.
“I don’t necessarily think that it’s something that we might want to do all the time if we’re feeling passionate about certain issues, but we definitely need to. I feel like it’s within our ethics to do so.” Teppert said. She also said that as she reports, she will stray away from news pieces that could potentially bring up her personal inclinations and emotions.
Journalists have the responsibility to deliver unbiased news to the public. While having to provide such news, they build their credibility with the audience. Yet a tasking job that some might not think of as such, journalists remain the mouthpiece.
Daphne Graeter is a junior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnist do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Let Daphne know by emailing her at dg422421@ohio.edu.
