A weekly feature where Western Producer editorial staff respond to readers’ questions, explain what’s behind our news coverage, and comment on issues in journalism.
Reporters are biased and can be manipulated by the government.
But how can the media avoid flawed coverage and serve the public better?
Here’s a few pointers gathered from the Canadian Association of Journalists conference held in Edmonton:
- Radio/TV reporters should make extra phone calls, and educate themselves with the background to issues. Don’t just stick a microphone in front of someone. Ask the right questions and get the best clips.
- Develop a network of unbiased experts. Author Kevin Taft said reporters should take graphics, government statistics, etc. to experts who can examine and analyze the numbers.
- Before criticizing or praising a certain government change, find out more about the real situation. For example, are health-care costs really soaring out of control now? Check what costs were 10 years ago, look at population growth, and include inflation.
- Examine the impact of a government announcement. Is home care really that great? Who provides it? As Catherine Ford from the Calgary Herald noted, women end up doing the care. She said if a woman is caring for a dying husband, she needs to stay home and can’t work. This volunteer labor and monetary sacrifice are why home care is inexpensive to government but hurts the family who can’t afford it, financially and emotionally.
- Take the time to investigate effects. Regarding hospital cuts, Ford said newspapers “don’t send reporters to go sit in an emergency ward to actually track how long did it take a doctor to see you.”
- Check if the effect is nonexistent, or just invisible. There are thousands of homeless people in Alberta, but people don’t see them, Ford said.
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