Some time ago while attending an out-of-town board meeting a senior agency official declared a prominent local journalist would surely be available to write a “good” story that would mitigate some disturbing press.
The inference was clear; this journalist would certainly do this because there was a longheld notion this reporter would absolutely give them without reservation what they needed to advance their cause.
I was rather stunned. I have known this particular journalist for many years and have only the highest respect for the reporter's professional ability to be accurate, fair and balanced. But what was once again disturbing was that I was confronted with yet another example of a complete lack of understanding for the code of ethics we scribblers are duty bound to work by.
There are some things we always do when pursuing a story and others we never do.
We never allow a subject of a legitimate news story to ever read a finished piece before publication. No exceptions.
There are both practical and ethical reasons for this. If we started this practice for one person then in all fairness we would have to give everyone the same opportunity. If we did that we would never get a paper out in time. More importantly, we don't engage in this practice because it's handing over editorial prerogative to the subject of the story. That is our job.
But it's also our duty to be fair and balanced in every story we do. If we don't, then we fail time-honoured professional standards and the public has every right to complain. That is why we have a Letters to the Editor section in our paper, and why, through the Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association, we are accountable to the standards set by the Alberta Press Council. If those standards are not met we owe it to the public to admit we were wrong, and to make it right.
So why am I bringing this issue up now? Every community, including small ones like Innisfail, goes through issues that are emotional and can affect the lives of many citizens. We scribblers are duty bound to cover them to the best of our professional standards.
What is especially challenging for small town journalists is that we are far more a part of the community than those in large urban centres like Calgary or Edmonton. We are more recognizable and the demands to be available and accountable are greater.
But often there is an expectation, especially if there are friends involved in a contentious issue, that we should be an activist for their cause and even turn our backs on the other side.
I came upon this last week, nothing demanding but in a kidding sort of way. But the issue is a serious one – the town's current plan to move the waste transfer site close to the Westwood Court Mobile Home Park.
The town's position is that it wants to make a better Innisfail by creating a more modern, efficient and environmentally friendly waste and recycling depot centre for all its citizens. On the other side, residents at the park are upset at what they feel is a potentially diminished lifestyle and investment from living so close to the planned facility. Emotions are understandably high.
I have the highest degree of respect for the folks who work at town hall. I have friends who live in the park. But I still have to do my job as the story unfolds, while always respecting the principles of my profession.
In the meantime, I will just go on living in my community. At work, I will continue to listen, write the news, and once in a while offer my own opinion in print. Mostly though, I will always strive to be accurate, fair and balanced.
If I ever fail at that, it's your right to let me know.
