As a journalist, I tend to be skeptical about everything. OK, I’m more than skeptical, I’m downright cynical.
I have interacted with hundreds of journalists coast to coast in my career, and I see their point. Even as I study news reports in today’s political arena, I see that style — and I don’t blame them. I see NBC News’ Hallie Jackson, Chuck Todd, Katy Tur and Kristen Welker or ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Cecilia Vega or CNN’s Anderson Cooper regularly reporting on current political news. Pick any news station and any reporter at that level. All solid. Professional. Balanced in their reports.
But if you were to ask if they are a bit skeptical about things they hear, I would bet their answer would be “Yes!” (which makes it hard for fun dinner conversation but totally appropriate for their job.) They would probably agree because they hear a boatload of false and slanted statements from those they interview every day.
And in today’s political circus, that’s incredibly easy to discern.
Lesson to apply? When dealing with the media (or ANYONE), shoot straight. Tell the truth. Don’t exaggerate or falsify. It’s unbecoming. It’s not who you want to be at your core (is it??).
What more, even though I’ve found it’s hard for some to think through this reality check, not telling the truth is the wrong approach and will only send you down a path of more headaches and trouble.
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