It seems to be the heyday to talk about how terrible the media is and how terrible newspapers are or flat out say that you will not find any truth in newspapers. Newspapers are often full of hard truths that people do not wish to tackle.
This makes me sad for journalism and newspapers. The first obligation of newspapers and journalism is to print the truth as well as its second and third obligation.
Frances McDavid was one of my Journalism Professors at Mississippi State University. She taught 3 simple points about journalism: accuracy, accuracy and accuracy.
Do all journalists get this correct every time? No. I don’t either, because I am human and therefore, I make mistakes and misunderstand things. Throughout my 30-year career as a journalist, I have had to run a myriad of corrections due to my mistakes. Yet, that does not overrule the fact that most journalists do aim to be accurate and provide information that is helpful to the general public’s knowledge.
Overall, journalism is a process that begins with assembling and verifying facts, then conveying a fair and reliable account of the meaning, knowing that further investigation may be required to present a full scope of the matter.
One of the main issues throughout history is that many people do not want to hear the truth or accept facts that differ from their worldview. The saying is true, “They always kill the messenger.”
So, when a newspaper prints an article that pushes against your worldview, check the facts behind it, contact the journalist or newspaper and inquire as to how they checked those facts rather than outright dismissing it and clinging to what maybe an incorrect world view.
The truth is poetry. Most people do not read it and many fail to understand it.
Editor’s note: Joseph McCain is the editor and publisher of the Choctaw Plaindealer and may be reached by email at newsroom@winstoncountyjournal or by phone at 662-803-5236.
