Lesson 3 Wrap Up

 

Summary and A Final Thought

In defining journalism as “the independent act of gathering and disseminating information, in which the practitioner is dedicated to seeking the truth and owes first loyalty to the consumers of the information” we might be left to wonder if that leaves any room for journalists to be “human.”

In trying to address that question, consider the words of Rachel Smolkin, whose thoughts close out Chapter 4 of the text:

• “Your humanity—your ability to empathize with pain and suffering, and your desire to prevent it—… make you a better journalist.”
• “If you change an outcome through responsible and necessary intervention … so be it. Tell your bosses, and when it’s essential to the story, tell your readers and viewers, too.”
• “Remember, though, that your primary—and unique—role as a journalist is to bear witness.”

Check and Double Check

By the end of this lesson, make sure you have completed the readings and activities found in the Lesson 3 Course Schedule.

Looking Ahead

Next lesson, we will provide youy with a few more tools to incorporate intothe process  of resolving an ethical dilemma, such as rule-based thinking and ends-based thinking.