Editorial Comment: The Elements Of Journalism

Published by Jimmy Oldsun, NDRIRSRWRAFTC & Editor

According to 'The Elements of Journalism', a book by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, there are nine elements of journalism. In order for journalists to fulfill their duty of providing the people with the information they need to be free and self-governing, they must follow these guidelines:

1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the significant interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.

Each of us rely upon certain news media sources for our daily news information.  We read newspapers, online news sites, and news magazines.  We watch televised news reports and news analysis.  We listen to broadcast news and political talk shows on our car radios.

How do the news sources which we habitually rely upon measure up to these "elements of journalism"?

1. Are our news sources truthful?  Have we checked them out to make sure they are truthful?
2. Are our news sources loyal and faithful to the citizens who consume the information they distribute?  Or are they loyal and faithful to others?  Do others influence their reporting?
3. Are our news sources absolutely fanatical about the discipline of verification?  Do they check information with multiple sources?  Do they faithfully report the facts vs. their own personal or corporate viewpoints?
4. Do our news sources maintain strict independence from those they cover?  Or are there conflicts of interests?  Conflicts of interest may arise from financial relationships, friendships, political associations and affiliations, and "You scratch my back; I'll scratch yours." relationships.  Watch for conflicts and see if any of the news sources you rely upon are guilty of this serious fault!
5. Are our news sources serving their intended purpose as a check against "power", where "power" means government "power", corporate "power", political "power" and special interest "power"?  Are our news sources standing up for the common man?  Are our news sources standing vigil against those who would weaken or strip away our fundamental rights as guaranteed under the U. S. Constitution?
6. Are our news sources providing an open forum for a variety of opinions and viewpoints?  Are our news sources tolerant of different viewpoints?  Or do they argue with you and censor your comments when you voice your personal opinion?
7. Do our news sources report complex but important issues in a way that can be understood by most people?  Do they report otherwise boring or tedious information in a way that is both interesting and informative?
8. Do our news sources do a good job of prioritizing their coverage of the news?  Are our news sources providing broad, comprehensive coverage or are they limited in their scope?
9. Are the reporters we read, watch and listen to truthful and passionate?  Are they allowed to exercise their personal conscience or are they excessively controlled by their editor, publisher or producer?

Hermann Hearsay encourages readers to hold your news media sources to high standards of professional journalism.  Don't put up with shoddy, biased, one-sided reporting nor siren-chasing, yellow journalism.  Demand professionalism, balance and accuracy!

At Hermann Hearsay, we rely upon The Hermann Advertiser-Courier and HermannNews.com for truthful, accurate, comprehensive, independent, fair and balanced reporting of the local news.  We recommend both to our readers without hesitation or reservation.  Read them both.  For local news reporting, don't settle for anything less!

Performance Metrics:

Total # FREE Subscribers: 000,343

Total # Premium Subscribers: 000,028

Total # Ultra Premium Subscribers: 000,003

Total # Platinum Lifetime Subscribers: 000,003

Subscribers Currently Online: 000,087

New Visitors Currently Online: 000,032

Alexa U.S. Traffic Ranking: 292,185

Total # Subscriber Telethons, Raffles & Bake Sales: 000,000

Reciprocal Websites:

www.bergerbaloneywithmayo.blogspot.com/ (Berger News)

www.dschaefer.vemma.com/ (Ultra Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.heart2heartlyrics.blogspot.com/ (Song Lyrics)

www.hermannhookups.blogspot.com/ (Social Networking)

www.mid-missouri-mule-rides.blogspot.com/ (Family Fun)

www.ngnn.com/ (Hermann, New Haven and Owensville NEWS)

www.rivertownrecipes.blogspot.com/ (Food & Drink Recipes)

www.vemmadrinker.blogspot.com/ (Premium Nutritional Drinks)

www.watkinsonline.com/richardhschaefer (Watkins Products)

Non-Reciprocal Websites:

www.dorasspinningwheel.com/ (Embroidered Caps, Shirts, Etc.)

www.hermannadvertisercourier.com/ (The Hermann A-C)

www.hermannchamberofcommerce.com/ (Hermann C of C)

www.timeforpie.com/ (Pie, Rolls, Scones, Coffee, Lattes & More)