Better Broadcast Writing, Better Broadcast News

Part   VI

Being the Right Kind of Journalist

19

Holding onto Your Sources

 

What You’ll Learn_________________________

Thanks to the First Amendment and various state and local laws, you have a thick coat of protection against frivolous complaints about what you write and report. That doesn’t mean you won’t be the target of complaints; arguably, if you’re not, you’re not doing your job. But aside from your employer, there is little to hold you to account for the kind of job you do, except your adherence to the ethics of the business, and your own self-esteem.

In other words, your greatest fear might be losing your job, which should be incentive enough to behave honestly. But even worse might be losing the public’s trust, because without that, ...