Journalistic integrity a lot more than just getting the facts straight
Ever since I was 20, I've always ended each interview with the same question: "Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?"
The relationship between interviewer and interviewee is a tricky one. George Orwell once said that "journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations." There is definitely some truth to that. From how the defeat of Motion M-312 has galvanised pro-life voters, to why some church-raised young people walk away from their faith, ChristianWeek often covers stories that are challenging—and from a perspective not everyone is going to like.
But should the nature of the story we're covering affect how we approach the people we interview? No. It shouldn't. In fact, I pray that it doesn't.
When I was 20, I wrote my first major newspaper feature. One of the people I interviewed was really upset with me after the article ran.
"You made me sound stupid," she said.
I was really indignant. I had faithfully written what she had said to me word for word. It was not my fault she had misspoken, hesitated and capitulated. I hadn't made her sound stupid. She did that herself.
But as I saw the hurt in her eyes, I found myself realizing that I could have done more. I could have given her a chance to restate her point more elegantly. I could have double checked what she meant. I could have been considerate of how nervous she was.
Realizing that changed the way I interviewed people for good. So now, if I call you for an interview I'm likely to start with, "Is now a good time?" and end with "Is there anything more…?" Whenever deadlines permit, I'll even tell you to e-mail me if you realize there's something you'd forgot to say.
To me, the biblical command to not "bear false witness" goes way beyond not lying. It means taking the time to truly understand what someone is trying to say and doing my best to represent that fairly.
Within ChristianWeek's writers there's a wonderful array of political and theological viewpoints. We have different opinions. We have different heartfelt convictions.
But, when we pick up the phone to interview someone, it is their opinion which matters in that moment—not ours. Whether we agree with them with every fibre of our being, or would fight with all our might against that point of view—as journalists, we will bear truthful witness to who they are, what they believe, and why they believe it. Our goal is to listen with integrity and to represent them fairly.
It's one of the things which makes me proud to be part of the team at ChristianWeek. And it's our ongoing promise to you.
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