What are the potential problems with only relying on police, prosecutors, and criminal legal officials as sources?
Police Sources - BiasSourcing
Discussion Question
Are police and other criminal legal system actors, like prosecutors and correctional officers, neutral sources? Are judges? Public defenders? Why or why not?
Should journalists ever rely on sources that have provided false or misleading information in the past?
Police Sources - AccuracySourcing
Discussion Question
How does relying on sources with a history of dishonesty impact journalists’ trustworthiness?
Police Sources - AccuracySourcing
Discussion Question
If using a source with a history of dishonesty is unavoidable, what are some ways that journalists can be transparent with readers/viewers about the source’s history? Is it always necessary to make a disclaimer?
Police Sources - AccuracySourcing
Discussion Question
How can using vague group phrases such as “analysts” or “experts” potentially mislead readers/viewers?
Source AnonymitySourcing
Discussion Question
What do readers/viewers to know about a source so that they can assess motivations and credibility?
Conflicts of InterestSource AnonymitySource PerspectivesSourcing
Should journalists include the perspectives of people who support alternative approaches to addressing violence and other types of harm in their reporting? Why or why not?
Arrests and AllegationsCausal ClaimsCrime vs. HarmPolice StatementsSensationalism and AnecdotesSource PerspectivesSourcingStory SelectionVerificationPractice change