Why verification is important to good journalism.

1. Verification
The essence of journalism is a
discipline of verification

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvKIWjnEPNY
stop clip at :30

4. Objectivity:
A method of testing information
• Methods of testing information
▫ Scientific Method
▫ Computer simulation/diagnostics
▫ Search, ponder, and pray
▫ Debate
▫ Due process

5. How do you test for truth?

6. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98byasMpEqU

7. Objectivity:
A method of testing information
• Rumors become leads
• Show people your story
▫ Don’t tell your readers what you discovered; let
them make that discovery for themselves.
• Multiple Sources
• Eyewitness/ personal accounts

8. Neutrality ≠ Objectivity
• Neutrality is a voice used to
persuade one’s readers of the
truthfulness of a work
• Neutrality is often a form
of deception
• Objectivity is a method of
gathering information, not a
way of presenting material

9. New Definition of Objectivity
• Thoroughness
• Accuracy
• Fairness
• Transparency

10. No established rules for verification in
Journalism.
Journalists provide information for
public discussion, not the discussion
itself

12. Comms 239 Classroom Feud
Welcome to the show!

13. Do not add
• Time’s up!
• Invent events
• Alter time lines
• Add drama
• Inflate or invent numbers
• Jump to conclusions

14. Do not deceive
• Time’s up
• Free advertising
• Alter meaning or context of quotes
• Reconstruct quotes
• Misinterpret confusing stats

15. Transparency
• Time’s up!
• Take a side
• “Experts say” or “Sources say”
• Use a quote like a fact
• “Thought” or “felt”

16. Originality
• Time’s up!
• Plagiarize
• Use quotes from other news organizations
• Wikipedia
• He said/she said

17. Humility
• Time’s up!
• Not admitting fault
• Not asking for clarification
• Not being flexible
• Trying to confound the topic

19. Edit with Skeptism
• Prosecutorial editing
• Ask questions about you own work
▫ How do we know? Who suggested that?
▫ Find your own assumptions

20. Keep an Accuracy Checklist
• See handout
• Check homonyms and other easily made
grammar mistakes
• Always check your math
• For BYU
▫ Is it in line with the honor code?

21. Assumptions

22. Assumptions
• Always double-check names. Even “Smith” can
be spelled differently.
• Tom French’s Red Pencil
• It’s always better to ask. Better safe than sorry.

23. Anonymous Sources
• On handout
• Scooter Libby
• Use at appropriate times and with discretion,
and only when there is no other way to get the
information
▫ Don Meyers

24. Working under Cover
• The information must be sufficiently vital to the
public interest to justify the deception
• Journalists should not engage in masquerade
unless there is no other way to get the story
• Journalists should reveal to their audience
whenever they mislead sources for get
information, and should explain their reasons
for doing so
• Watergate

25. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aZ8vNagvks

26. How far are you willing to go to get a
story?
Avoid split decisions. Make your
decision now.

27. A good rule of thumb:
When in doubt, leave it out.