BY RUSSELL TURNER
STRAIGHT AS AN ARROW
I have never been a great archer but I do know that when you pull back the bow and turn the string loose the arrow will start to fly and you have no control of it from that point forward. It is essential that you take the time and aim the arrow at the target; if you fail to do that there is a good chance that you will hit something that you never intended to. The same concept should apply to the words that we use in our everyday lives; once we say something or make an accusation it is impossible to take it back. Too many times reputations and friendships can be lost because of someone spouting off before they know all of the facts. The same thing applies to the news media; sadly many in the main stream media seem to have not learned that simple lesson.
It is a sad fact that many Americans’ only source of information is the local newspaper or watching the six o’clock news. Many Americans have the misguided belief that if something is in the paper or on the news it has to be true. From personal experience I know that truth is an elusive animal, and just because it is in the paper doesn’t make it true. The reporting of the riots in Ferguson, Missouri is a classic example of reporting a story when all of the facts are not known. The catalyst for the riots was caused when a police officer shot and killed an eighteen year old male. I guess it is only natural for any news reporter to want to get the story our first, but many of them start reporting only one side of an issue. The problem is doing that causes public opinion to be formed without the benefit of hearing both sides of the issue.
The initial report led the public to think that the police officer assassinated the young man without any justifiable reason. Over the past few days there has been more information brought to light that the young man was involved in a robbery and was resisting arrest. Just like an arrow that is out of control, words can cause injure as well. We humans have a bad habit of stampeding like a herd of cattle; whenever some reporter doesn’t take the time to tell the whole story and only tells part of the story that may be all it takes to sow the seed of creating a mob.
I have talked to some good reporters and I have had to deal with some that are nothing short of being a jerk. A good reporter doesn’t impose his beliefs into the story, but the poor reporter cannot keep his personal opinion out of the news. Poor news reporting may not be the only cause for the riots in Ferguson, but shooting off words like an arrow that has not been aimed properly can be just as disastrous.
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