Journal Entry #6 Caught In Lies

Have you ever considered that the news you read (or watch or hear) may be factually incorrect or even fabricated? Explain why or why not.

• Yes I have considered that news I had read could be fake or incorrect because some stories seem very unrealistic and people could be just doing it for the attention. Journalist also can exaggerate to make the story more entertaining and get more views. 

What is your reaction to the two articles? Were you surprised to find out that professional journalists have fabricated news?

• My reaction to the two news articles was that I wasn't very surprised, and did not shock me that journalists have fabricated news because I think a lot of stories seem unrealistic.

Journalist Jack Shafer writes “most liars make things up for the simple reason that they don't have the talent or the ability to get the story any other way.” Do you agree with Shafer's assertion? Explain.

• I agree with Shafer's assertion because liars do make things up and convince themselves that what they are telling others is true news and that it is what they heard, but really it is what they have made up themselves in their head believing it's the truth. 

Given what Shafer says, do you think that colleges and universities should make sure graduating journalism students can handle the responsibilities and pressures? Discuss your thoughts in your entry.

• I  believe that colleges and universities should make sure graduating journalism students can handle the responsibilities because they will need to use the skills in the real world when they go out to be a real journalist.

Do you think when issues of ethics arise that a newspaper ombudsman helps? An ombudsman is a professional journalist whose sole responsibility is to respond to reader complaints and provide an independent critique of the paper's performance. Explain why or why not.

• I agree that a newspaper ombudsman helps when issues of ethics arise because they allow people to give their opinion without giving theirs or getting offended. It allows access for many to express their thoughts.