When it's Hard to Be Impartial

A lot of what they teach us in journalism school is not the nitty-gritty of reporting -- you only really learn that through practical experience. I can attest to that -- in one week interning at the Times-Picayune, I've learned far more in one week here about practical skills than a whole semester of mass comm classes.

But a lot of discussion in journalism classes you simply can't get in a newsroom is about the ideals and standards journalists are supposed to espouse. Among those, Impartiality (a.k.a. unbiased reporting, a.k.a objective reporting, although those are often up for debate) is pretty big.

A reporter is supposed to provide facts, not editorialize (that's what the opinion section is for.) A reporter is trying to get the truth, inasmuch as such a noble concept really exists, and that truth should be free of opinions and prejudices.

Sometimes that's a lot more difficult than it sounds.

Case in point -- today I was assigned to cover a panel discussion featuring a group of coastal Alaskans and Louisianans. These were community activists who had heart-wrenching stories about how erosion, oil spills, and climate change had devestated their livelihoods and shredded their way of life. They were railing against oil companies and government (obviously) and as I furiously scribbled notes my training kicked in.

These people have a vested interest. They are inherently biased against government. Proceed with caution.

I'm conflicted about just how appropriate this is.

In the end, the article I gave my editor was exactly what she had asked for. But it's easy for a reporter to shift perspective on an argument or subtly and indirectly argue for a side based on the quotes they pick. By picking out some of the angrier, more emotionally powerful quotes, my article could easily be interpreted as leaning against oil companies and those who don't believe in global warming (it wasn't, at least not intentionally.)

Is that not impartial? More importantly, is that bad?

Hard question. No easy answer. Happens every day in a newsroom.