2008 Woodie Awards
The View From Here
If I had known then what I know now, then I may have never known what there is to know...I think.
Neill Herbert
Date created: 10/11/04 Section: OPINION
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Deceitful misinformation. Authority figures scandalized. A public misled. Sounds like the credibility of the news media suffered another boot to the head.
But I'm not necessarily talking about a certain large network. I'm actually referring to your beloved student newspaper, the one and only Skyline View.
On Sept. 27, the "Voice of Skyline College" cracked like that of an adolescent male trying to figure out puberty. That week's edition of the paper included an opinion piece that made some strongly-sorded yet weakly-researched statements. (For specifics, see the corrections on page 2 and Letters to the Editor.)
Prior to the publication of that issue, I had always wondered what it must be like to be that ubiquitous editor that all those people write all those letters to. During the week or so following publication, I began to find out. The cliché "the buck stops here" seems appropriate, except for the disappointing fact that there was no money coming to me whatsoever.
Truth be told, the design and look of The Skyline View was getting so much attention that content ultimately suffered, especially the opinion section, which went largely unchecked. But that's OK, right? I mean, it's an opinion and it doesn't need editing, right? At least the newspaper looks good, right?
Picture this: Dan Rather speaks to the press, saying, "But the theme music for the Evening News is so good, can't you just let this one go?"
Uh, lemme think. No.
Granted comparing The Skyline View to CBS or "60 Minutes" is not fair to the student newspaper. Spreading false information about the President of the United States is a bit more consequential than printing an uninformed opinion that could mislead a student about two to five percent of their English grade. But inaccuracy is still inaccuracy, and it's rarely a good thing.
Some people like to call the news media the "fourth branch" of the federal government. It is a valid nickname. Journalists can influence public policy by telling the public what to think about and when to think about it. They can also provide checks and balances by doggedly chasing after the truth, even when it will cost someone.
But I'm not necessarily talking about a certain large network. I'm actually referring to your beloved student newspaper, the one and only Skyline View.
On Sept. 27, the "Voice of Skyline College" cracked like that of an adolescent male trying to figure out puberty. That week's edition of the paper included an opinion piece that made some strongly-sorded yet weakly-researched statements. (For specifics, see the corrections on page 2 and Letters to the Editor.)
Prior to the publication of that issue, I had always wondered what it must be like to be that ubiquitous editor that all those people write all those letters to. During the week or so following publication, I began to find out. The cliché "the buck stops here" seems appropriate, except for the disappointing fact that there was no money coming to me whatsoever.
Truth be told, the design and look of The Skyline View was getting so much attention that content ultimately suffered, especially the opinion section, which went largely unchecked. But that's OK, right? I mean, it's an opinion and it doesn't need editing, right? At least the newspaper looks good, right?
Picture this: Dan Rather speaks to the press, saying, "But the theme music for the Evening News is so good, can't you just let this one go?"
Uh, lemme think. No.
Granted comparing The Skyline View to CBS or "60 Minutes" is not fair to the student newspaper. Spreading false information about the President of the United States is a bit more consequential than printing an uninformed opinion that could mislead a student about two to five percent of their English grade. But inaccuracy is still inaccuracy, and it's rarely a good thing.
Some people like to call the news media the "fourth branch" of the federal government. It is a valid nickname. Journalists can influence public policy by telling the public what to think about and when to think about it. They can also provide checks and balances by doggedly chasing after the truth, even when it will cost someone.
