Balance

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In pursuit of fairness and balance, journalists are encouraged to obtain “both sides of the story,” particularly on controversial subjects. Reporters attempt to present enough information so that readers can decide if the story is credible, begin to understand the complexity of the issues, and perhaps draw their own conclusions.

While it is admirable to cover more than one angle, there is the danger of going overboard.

Usually issues are not simply two-sided. Reporters and their editors must constantly judge how many angles there are, how many to cover, how many sources are out there, and which ones to use.

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Producers face the reality of shifting grain price expectations

Significant price shifts have occurred in various grains as compared to what was expected at the beginning of the calendar year. Crop insurance prices can be used as a base for the changes.

With a growing number of special-interest groups, each demands attention and expresses factual knowledge or legitimate viewpoints it feels the public should be given.

There are usually personal or political agendas behind groups and individuals. Obviously there isn’t always consensus in views, and facts conflict.

The role of reporters is to sift through these views, but is it fair for journalists to judge the credibility of the source?

Journalists examine sources from various perspectives:

What is the source’s background or education, and how informed about the issue is the source?
How respected is the source?
If the source is an organization or political group, how representative is it of the industry or the public?

Sometimes groups with low memberships, whose viewpoints are held only by a small segment of society and whose views are factually questionable, are given higher profiles by newspapers and broadcast media than probably they deserve.

However, they have freedom of speech. Hopefully, readers, viewers and listeners will keep open minds and find themselves presented with a balanced perspective and enough information to decide who or what to believe.