credibility

1. credibility Can you believe everything you read?

2. Do you believe… …what you read in the newspaper?

3. Do you believe… …what you see on the TV news?

4. Do you believe … …one network more than another?

5. Do you believe… …what you read on the Internet?

6. Do you believe… …what you read in the National Enquirer?

7. “Credibility” “The degree to which the public believes what it reads & hears.”

8. How do you achieve credibility? • Be accurate • Be unbiased • Avoid apparent conflicts of interest

9. Accuracy • Get facts right • Name (spelling) • Age • Hometown • Numbers—scores, dollar amounts, credits, grades • How do you make sure your facts are right? • Double-check • Two sources

10. Unbiased “Bias” – a tendency that prevents unprejudiced consideration of an issue To be unbiased is to be fair, balanced, objective • fair = honest reporting • balanced = both sides of an issue • objective = without preconceptions

11. “Objectivity” A lack of personal feelings or bias

12. Avoid apparent conflicts of interest Conflict of interest = when one of a person’s interests is advanced or improved at the expense of another • Journalists shouldn’t write about people/events they can’t be objective about • When necessary, journalists should reveal their conflict of interest/lack of objectivity