1 Corinthians 13: 1 & 13

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

6 January 2011

Honesty of reporters. Trust of readers(6A Frankie Chan)

As we all know, reading more current news is important for both students and people from all walks of life. We will totally lose the track of the world if we do not know about the news. Therefore, reading newspaper every day is a necessity for us. In order to make profit for their companies, the local reports are trying hard to dig out more news that readers seldom heard, even ignoring the credibility of newspapers which is, in contract, very important to the society. Let us discuss the issue in the following.

First and foremost, ignoring the accuracy of the reports is serious especially in the entertainment session of the newspaper. They all know that the readers attention can be drawn if they report some news the readers rarely know. Thus the commission for them will increase and so thus their profit. It is the main factor for them to write the reports without any evidence. Money looks as if the ‘delicious food’ in their eyes and they just want to get it in any methods both legal and illegal. Everyone who buys newspaper will be misguided in these ‘horrible’ reports. The credibility of the newspaper reports will be decreased although the ‘goal’ of them are fulfilled.

On the other hand, ‘paparazzi’ style of reporting is also serious among Hong Kong newspapers. Staying out the buildings that the ‘target artists’ lived is just a tip of iceberg. Following them and taking photos in the private places are also common among Hong Kong newspapers. The main reason for the reporters is to satisfy the curiosity of readers. Reporters caught up their curiosity and thus chasing the ‘targets’ that readers want to know. Effective though the method that reporters used, the freedom of artists or the victims will be ignored, as they are not invincible, stress comes to them and the pressure is harder to deal with.

After discussing the problems with Hong Kong newspapers, we can dig out that the credibility of reporters will be decreased eventually. But better late than never. If we want to save their credibility, the ways for them to improve is essential and urgent.

First of all, as the accuracy of reports are doubted by people, we can focus on it and find out some solution. I strongly believe that inviting some victims for the interview is an effective method to prove the truth of news. It does not only increase the accuracy of reports but also preserves people to trust the news and the newspaper companies.

Furthermore, as we discussed before, money is the main reason that attract reports to abuse the reporting press. To address on this problem, the companies of newspaper can join together for setting up some rules to save their credibility. To illustrate, the salaries of reporters will be lowered if the news they wrote is fake and the proof can be shown. After establishing this rule, the companies who jointed can post it to their own brand of newspapers and show it to the public. This does not only control the style of ‘paparazzi’ but also improves the quality of newspapers.

Having, ‘trust’ is important in the society by all parties. When the readers trust what reporters wrote, the reporters need to behave themselves, ‘Honesty’ is the essential part to maintain a harmonious society. If the readers can write the reports honestly, the readers will trust them and keep buying their newspapers I strongly believe that those a cycle. Start doing it from this moment is the only way to improve the credibility. Please take it as a serious problem and solve it right now!