If you could sit down and talk frankly with a journalist what ... please see details below ...?

Question

If you could sit down and talk frankly with a journalist ( you being truthful and the journalist willing to listen and properly assess your comment ) what would be the most important critically constructive suggestion you could give.

Please remember this is Constructive criticism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructive_criticism

Answer 1

A journalist must always remember that he is in no way a commentator but rather a sort of anthropologist making a scientific record of our current history. It is not enough to be impartial, one must rather be totally disinterested but for the facts of the moment at hand. There is no room for forecasting if one is to truly respect his role as a chronicler of the events of our times.The pundits can ponder affect and effect. The journalist is bound by 6 little laws of exactitude: who, what, where, when, why, and how and that is as it should be.

Answer 2

I would suggest that a journalist be a journalist and not an activist. My opinion is that a journalist should journal. I think that many people feel that allot of journalist are creating news instead of reporting it.
If news happens get the who, what, when, where and why. When you get the why get it from people who are directly involved in the situation. For example if someone like Rush Limbaugh came out and said "I hate black people..." Don't ask the why from someone who has never listened to him. Ask from people who listen to him but are not "Rush Zombies"
If the subject of war comes up don't ask a 20 year old English teacher about the "hell" of war. Its like learning to water ski in your living room with a book in hand.

Answer 3

As a former newspaper editor, I am aware that opinions should be restricted to editorials and not included in articles. If I was the subject of an article, I would keep my comments 1) brief...2) to the point...and 3) knowledgeable. I would ask for a copy of the article before publication, mainly, because sometimes, people are often misquoted.

Answer 4

1) Report facts, not opinions.

2) Have a third party analyze your work for possible bias on a fairly regular basis (its often unconsience.)

3) Report good news also, even if it isn't as sensationalist as bad news.

4) (related to #3)- If you haven't talked about an important topic for a while (ie the economy), it is probobly because it is too stable to be "big news". Economic stability IS big news.

Answer 5

1) Follow the money.

2) Don't let the powers that be intimidate you.

3) Dare to examine the facts behind stories that are being widely ridiculed.

Answer 6

When you are reporting on a story try to give as much factual detail on the story. Try to deliver the story in a way that flows as smoothly as possible. Try to deliver the story in such away that that makes the listener feel as tho they are listening to a friend....a friend that wont deliver the story in such away that reflects the story tellers political slant.

Answer 7

i would like to know why journalist's more often then not give their opinion and don't just report the facts. remember just
who what when where why and how

Answer 8

I kno u gotta eat so u have to keep ur job but on the side never give up writting about the turth.people have a right to kno

Answer 9

I would ask why they feel they must put our nation at risk.