When you go looking for a news story to read or a news program to watch on television do you prefer to read or watch those types of organizations that are 100% impartial and only report the facts and nothing else? Or do you enjoy catching some of those that share a little of their point-of-view on the story while also sharing all sides fairly?
The most recent MOOC I have begun studying is part of a specialization on CourseRA called Report the News! in conjunction with Michigan State University.
The course is titled What Is News?
One of the recent lessons that I have been looking at talks about the difference between Impartiality and Point-Of-View journalism.
Most of us understand that impartiality in journalism is when a reporter writes or covers a story without sharing their own opinion. Reporting the facts and giving all sides their fair share of coverage.
With point-of-view coverage it is a little bit different. It is NOT an opinion piece. What happens is the reporter makes known their position or stance on a particular subject and then reports on it.
For example I am believer in God. I practice Christianity. I can state that openly, but also report on other religions both fairly and accurately.
I also love books and to read. Say a library is being shut down for one reason or another. I could actively pursue that story and make sure that the story is told as to why it this library should stay. I also should make sure though that I give fair reporting on those who are trying to have the library removed. That sort of thing.
One thing that Tom Kent pointed out in a piece that I read was that you must be careful about how you share your point-of-view because we don’t as journalists want to look as if we have given an endorsement to a certain side.
In the lecture series Joe Grimm shared these five principles of POV journalism.
Five Principles of Point-Of-View Journalism – from Joe Grimm
- Declare your point of view
- Be accurate
- Stay fair
- Be accountable
- Credibility builds trust
The best part about this section of the course was that it challenged me to think about the type of journalist that I want to be. As have some of the lectures since this one. More to come on that subject.
Impartiality or Point-of-View? Which do you prefer?
Caleb Graham TV 
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