So You Want To Be an Author

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What We Write Does Make a Difference

I’ve read that many in the national media claim their job is to get the right quote or sound bite to get the reader/viewers’ attention, but that it is not their responsibility to check out the accuracy or fairness of the quote.

This is a far cry from responsible journalism and a far cry from what we as Christian writers should expect from ourselves in our own writing endeavors.

Let’s examine a real life situation. Would you like to lose your right to chose, your right to confront those living with you when they pose a danger to themselves or others, and the right to be responsible for your own actions? Due to a series of stories in a large Nebraska newspaper, a whole group of young men lost these rights.

That's right. The Positive Peer Culture (PPC) program as run by the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney, NE got a hatchet job that made the institution seem like it was run by Neanderthals bent on sadism. Practically every accusation made was false. Most were deliberate falsehoods with one agenda in mind, to destroy a program that had worked and had turned around the lives of any number of juvenile delinquent young men.

Unfortunately, instead of checking the facts, the governor took the newspaper articles as proof of a problem and implemented changes that took self-determination away from the teens and instituted policies that put both the teens and the staff at more risk. How do I know? My husband, a very caring man, has worked at the institution since before PPC was brought in. I know the quality and the education of those who work there and know many of them also volunteer to work with at risk kids outside of their job.

The stories written were inaccurate and highly inflammatory, using great sounding, but unsubstantiated rhetoric and quotes. Many quoted had good professional titles, but little or nothing to do with the situation. Others spouted what would not be allowed in a court of law—2nd hand testimony. They totally ignored those with positive things to say.

In fact, I was one who wrote articles in the defense of the employees since, as state employees, they were unable to answer the charges laid against them, their program and the institution. I was furious at how the media became a force for evil.

Fair? No. Right? Absolutely not, but it happens all the time. Ethics have become almost a thing of the past while agendas rule the national media and drive much of secular publishing. But, we don't have to fall into that trap. We can aim for something higher—ethics, truth and honesty in our writing.

Writers, in fact anyone in the business of communication--and that is each one of us, need to learn to communicate clearly, honestly and effectively. We need to do our research, check our facts and write accurately. If we don't we we lose time, money, effort and influence—and our witness.

Pretend you are a reporter on a busy paper on deadline. You're writing a story on the newest speed limit law, but are having trouble finding out just what was passed. One source tells you that it was now okay to travel 70 MPH on the back roads. Great! You now have the last piece of information you need to write your story. So you run with the story What difference can a boring little story make?

But what if someone reads your story, believes it, travels at high speed on country roads and causes a death. Are you responsible? You're the one who didn't double check the facts. You're the one who wrote the story someone believed and acted on. Even today, people tend to believe what they read. That means as writers our responsibility for getting it right, is great.

Let’s return to those stories put out by the large Nebraska newspaper. The truth came too late. The changes had been made. Now teens have less motivation to be responsible, to deal with their problems, and to learn behavior that will help them succeed once they return home. The newspaper snagged readers, but was the cost in damaged lives worth the bump in readership? Not when you factor in the loss of their influence as far as accuracy and truthfulness is concerned. They have yet to regain that position.

Note: The newspaper ended up losing influence and causing problems for YRTC. Though things have changed significantly at YRTC, they still offer a positive alternative for at-risk juvenile male teens.

Ethics do matter. Proper research does make a difference. In some cases, it can save lives.
How can we make sure our communications are balanced, accurate and fair?

You may not understand why solid research matters even when writing fictional stories. It makes a difference in what people learn about your subject and how diligent you are about truth. If you aren't truthful in one area, can you be trusted when you deal with another area? This impacts us not only as writers, but also as Christians.

How can we dig up truth?

1. Check living sources. Are they primary sources (historical or contemporary) who’ve seen or been involved with the situation? Or, are they merely in it for attention? What is their point of view (POV), their world view? How do their (and your) preconceived ideas and viewpoints color the story?

2. Be fair. Several years ago, a media source wanted to do a story on the pro-life debate using opposing viewpoints. This is good. However, their biases were revealed in how they set it up. They interviewed the pro-abortion representative behind a large desk against a backdrop of an impressive library of books. (What would this convey to you as the viewer?)

They interviewed the pro-life representative on a windy day in front of an abortion clinic looking somewhat harried. Both representatives were equally intelligent, yet how would you view this scenario?

The first question to the pro-life representative revealed the scam. “What are you doing here in front of this abortion clinic?”

The representative, looking somewhat confused, said, “But you told me to be here.”

As communicators we are to report, not make or color the news. As writers we need to be diligent to present truth, not a twisted version of it.

3. Be balanced. Balance one POV with another, seeking to put them on a level playing field, if possible. Let the truth speak for itself. An example of unbalance comes from another attempt of the media to clash the pro-life with the pro-abortion positions.

The media outlet set up a debate with two equally intelligent organizations. However, at the last minute they uninvited the spokesman for the pro-life side in favor of a radical off-shoot. Made fireworks all right, but showed the viewer the news source had no intention of offering a balanced debate. What happens when viewers or readers lose confidence in their source? They change vendors, turn off the TV, put down the newspaper or book.

4. Be accurate in research. Check primary sources. If you are looking at historical facts, check for original sources. Do not rely on just one source. Make sure that your sources don’t have a mutual original source. Keep digging.
Check out the depth and clarity of the evidence as well as the credentials of those presenting it. How balanced and fair and accurate is the information? What biases are evident? Is it logical? Does it make common sense? Double and triple check your facts, your figures and your sources.

5. Watch your words. What you say and write does make a difference. Try growling at everyone one day, and the next greet everyone pleasantly. Do your actions make a difference? Of course. Most words are not neutral, they bring with them a whole suitcase of feelings and meanings and emotions. Words chosen can inform, influence or inflame. There is no place in a news for words other than those that inform. There is a place for other writing, but the news story is not the place. And there is no place in writing, even fiction, where the author should be less than honest with his/her audience.

What you say and do does make a difference. What you write does influence others? So, when you communicate take the time to do your research, and seek to be balanced, accurate and fair. In the long run, you will not only gain respect, but you will also respect yourself.