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From: KWILCOX@AUVM.BITNET (ken wilcox)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.politics
Subject: Re: Just the facts Ma'am....
Message-ID: <90039.0243.KWILCOX@AUVM>
Date: 8 Feb 90 02:43:28 GMT
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In-Reply-To:  Message of Sat, 3 Feb 90 12:50:00 CST from <UCC_PEM@SHSU>

On Sat, 3 Feb 90 12:50:00 CST <UCC_PEM@SHSU> said:
>>I believe also it is a journalists duty to check up on facts to
>>see if they are truthful.  When Bush says he knows nothing (That
>>was terminal in Ronnie!) is a fact in him saying it.  However, it
>>is also a fact if the President is not being truthful in his statements.
>>I believe a problem with reporters is that they have not been willing
>>to question statements of people.  It is easier to take people's statements
>>at face value than check up on them
>>
>>Ken Wilcox
>
>Careful!!  There is a difference between reporting the facts and editorializing
>them.  The fact that he said it is news, the fact, assuming that you can prove
>it, that he lied in saying it is news, BUT, reporting that you THINK he is
>lying is editorializing.  I would have just the facts and make my own decision
>on what I THINK IS THE TRUTH.  I despise the editorializing on TV that follows
>ANY political happening, speech or whatever.  If it is on TV you will get a
>dozen people telling you what they thought he meant.  I like to chew my own
>food, thank you.

The point I am getting at is the danger of journalists being coopted into
the political system by relying on the words of politicians only.  It
is a credibility question of the reporter and what is reported.
My experience is newspapers is the op/ed section. True that is where
the TRUTH is discussed. However, a statement that is misleading or
wrong by a politician is a fact, untruthful fact.  I prefer too have
truthful facts to make judgements on TRUTH.

Ken Wilcox
Chew chew munch munch...
>
>Paul E. Mason