Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Straight reporting? Wow!
This piece of reporting jumped out at me — not because of its sensationalism, slant, or bias — but precisely because it lacked all of that. It's almost a textbook example of straight reporting. There are no characterizations of the players involved. There is no backhanded editorializing (a James Travers specialty). There is no attempt to influence readers one way or another. An important story is told to a reading audience with facts they need to know. Nothing else.
It just goes to show you that even reporters like Tim Harper can play it straight if they really, really try. I just wish more journalists would do it more often. They say they do it, but I believe Harper's piece is more of an exception than it is a rule.
(Oh, and just in case the link above fails to work, Harper's piece is about the rules being established for the new passport card being issued by the US. Canada will likely have to do the same.)
