As a three decades plus journalist, I find myself disappointed in the popular news media in the U. S.. I frequently get better news about the U.S. from foreign outfits. I’m not referring to ideological positions but just the straight information that sometimes has to be slightly unpacked but contain enough verifiable facts to do that.
I see a tendency in which the medium or reporter has turned him/her self into the center of the circle and relies on vague adjectives that lead the reader down a path that may or may not be based in objective truth.
One example: when writing about the political tug of war (or maybe just war is a better term) between the Republicans and Democrats, much is made of the “Draconian or Machiavellian laws” that have been passed in 19 states to make it harder for certain people to vote. But, all too frequently, they fail to give you examples of what these laws are or do. Sometimes they will briefly mention that laws were created that imposed tougher identification requirements, but again, they don’t tell you what I.D. the laws require.
Opinion pieces are a different story and are very important but, I am not referring to those in this post.
The facts should push the story and not the other way around. Sometimes that takes a journalist in a direction he/she does not like (we are human) but, nonetheless we should give the reader those facts and let the story go in the direction that the information dictates. Without some level of detail the stories have a feel of talking points. And, I believe that is the last thing a journalist wants their audience to think of them—a political party mouthpiece.
My view from the office... 