The industry standard is that a reporter must continually aim for is the truth. Any information being presented in a journalistic context must contain validity as well as maintain objectivity about the matter being reported. It is important for reporters to continually utilize pieces of information that can be contained in statements made word for word by a variety people and organizations. News sources like the Huffington Post and the New York Times,each have their own way of documenting events that have happened. Reporters from each source all vary in how unbiased their versions of the truth turn out to be.
The article, "Iran Sets Bail For Two Jailed Americans," in the Huffington Post covers the recent bail amounts posted for two imprisoned American hikers. Writers Patrick Walters, Jeff Baenen, and Matthew Lee who contributed to the article analyzed the circumstances in which the two hikers are to be released. Their observations of Iran's diplomatic behaviors helped create convincing reasons as to why President Ahmadinejad had decided to spontaneously release these men. In the second paragraph of the articles, the writers assume that the Iranian President is releasing these men as a political strategy to appear as a more humane country at an upcoming UN General Assembly session. Even though this political strategy is not Iran's reasoning behind their actions, the writers cleverly insert words such as, "appeared" in order to allow readers to search further into the article for reasons to believe why this is Iran's motives for their brief benevolence. In that same paragraph it is mentioned that another prisoner had been released around the same time last year. The writers also continually bring up certain valid pieces of information about the purposefully distant diplomatic relationship between Iran and the US as well as addressing reason for the hostility being shown by both nations. By providing contextual information about the general political behaviors of both nations, an educated objective view can be generated without relying on empty and biased assumptions. The coverage of factual motivations for bitterness between these two countries made it appear more believable that this had been some sort of ploy by the Iranian government. The piece frequently brings up how grateful the families of the two hikers are for the return of their two boys. By utilizing direct quotes from representatives of the families, the writers are able to express a truthful happy response to the events that had transpired.
NY Time's writers Alan Cowell and Rick Gladstone covered the hikers story in, "American Hikers to Be Freed in 2 days, Ahmadinejad Says." Throughout their reporting Gladstone and Cowell utilize implicating words in relation to the actions carried out by various parties. Within the third paragraph of the piece the non partisan aspect of journalistic truth starts to fade. Without validation to this claim at any point in the article, the third paragraph opens with writers asserting that the hikers punishment was, "unusually harsh," and was viewed as, "an increasingly tough public relations problem for Ahmadinejad abroad." It is unfair for these writers to assume that it can undeniably be stated that the punishment was extremely harsh, and that the Iranian President was in a crisis without collecting proper sources to legitimately assert this claim. The writes wrongly attached the word, "cautious," to an optimistic brief statement made by Hillary Clinton regarding the US relations with Iran following the release of the two writers. By applying a verb such as cautious to a brief statement that clearly didn't carry that sentiment made Hillary's words appear as if they were implying something that had not been quoted in the article. Throughout the article maintain a subjective tone of hostility towards the actions carried out by the government of Iran. Animosity in the writers words most strongly take place when the bail amount posted for the two hikers is referred to as, "…a ransom payment for their freedom." This assumption by two writers is changing a factual name for bail and addressing it as a much aggressive notion.
Both articles have a goal of reporting the truth about what is transpiring regarding the release of these American hikers. The Huffington Post contains a story that allows readers to observe factual quotes and information without words or phrases that would suggest a bias or contentions point of view. However, with application of certain negative sentiments the article of the NY Times presented itself as a story trying to coat the truth with unnecessary aggression.
Interesting observations about the Times story. It's always wise to pay close attention to language - like the difference between bail and ransom. And you're right, the authors need to justify their use of such language. I didn't see that article, but it may well be that Times position on Iran, a country Americans hate and fear, belies their claim to be neutral.
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