05.00 Intro to the Writing Process

     Every day you read, whether you're conscious about it or not. Even if you don't read books or magazines every day, you probably read things like labels on food packages, or signs on the highway. Without a doubt, reading is a fundamental part of daily life. But I don't think we give as much thought to writing as we do to reading. Whether we think about it or not, writing is just as important as reading, if not more so. For what would we have to read if people didn't write?
     Think about the things you write down every day. Maybe you scribble a reminder to yourself that you have a lunch date with your friend on Friday. Perhaps you jot down a grocery list. It's likely you have to write all kinds of papers for school or work. I personally write all the time, not just for school, but creatively. To me, writing has a huge amount of importance in the world, and I don't know where I'd be without it.
     That said, there is a lot of faulty writing in the world. This definitely applies to journalism. Journalistic mediums such as tabloids and editorials often twist facts or include opinions. However, most journalists take a lot of precautions to ensure they don't present us with incorrect information, or information tainted with their personal biases. Codes of ethics, both company-wide and personal, help a lot. It is also beneficial to avoid reporting on situations that you're involved in. But there are some circumstances that a simple list of guidelines can't cover. For instance, imagine you are a journalist reporting on a natural disaster. Some would say that there is a chance you won't be completely impartial in your writing if you present a victim with a drink of water, or offer moral support to those who have lost their homes. Others believe that such small acts of kindness can't really sway the course of events.
     I believe that there is a fine line between being a credible journalist and being human. It is human to want to help people affected by a devastating tornado, but that can also lead to you jeopardizing your objectivity. However, I think if there is any way to help victims, even in small ways, and preserve your impartiality, then there isn't really anything wrong with that. At the same time, is there such a thing as preserving impartiality? Can human beings ever keep their biases completely out of their work? Isn't there some differences in the way people see the same event unfold, just because of past experiences, age, and gender? I believe that maybe there isn't a way to keep biases on that level out of your work, but such small influences can't do much harm.

References

School, Florida Virtual. (Copyright 2010). Ethos and Credibility. Retrieved October 17^th, 2013, from: http://learn.flvs.net/educator/student/frame.cgi?jwelsh15*mhead12*mpos=1&spos=0&option=hidemenu&slt=bpcz055Ik4AUY*3493*http://learn.flvs.net/webdav/educator_journalism1_v11/index.htm 

School, Florida Virtual. (Copyright 2010). Intro to the Writing Process. Retrieved October 17^th, 2013, from: http://learn.flvs.net/educator/student/frame.cgi?jwelsh15*mhead12*mpos=1&spos=0&option=hidemenu&slt=bpcz055Ik4AUY*3493*http://learn.flvs.net/webdav/educator_journalism1_v11/index.htm