Message Massage

   Journalists have an obligation to report truthfully, not only what someone says and the context in which it is said, but also whether a statement is actually true.
   Too often, journalists use fuzzy words to take any perceived sting off a description of a candidate, politician or office holder and his comments. Among these terms are such things as "demonstrably untrue, erroneous, factually inaccurate, questionable veracity" and other terms.
   However, the stinging falsehoods and outright lies spread by some candidates are themselves hurtful and should be labeled what they are. Too often, the question is not whether politicians lie, but what are they lying about today? 
   Rational, intelligent people recognize the cruel tactics used by demagogues. It is long past time that major news media call these comments what they are -- lies, and equal to the tactics of demagogues throughout history who demonize minority groups to advance their own partisan agendas and play on the bigotry -- however subconscious -- of their followers.
   This strategy, of course, belongs on the opinion pages of daily newspapers. Even so, there is space for appropriately labeled items on the main news pages, putting such phrases above the headline or in a box in the first column of the piece.
   A reporter's duty is to ask questions, especially tough questions that the candidate may not want to deal with. Politicians often try to reverse the roles, and instead of answering the question will say to the reporter such things as "Did you see it yourself?" or  "What do you think?" or "Who said that, and how do you know it's true?"
   Rather than fall for the trick of reversing roles, a better response from the journalist would be, "My opinions don't matter, and they are not relevant. It's my job to ask questions on behalf of the general public and voters. It's your job to answer the questions."
   This is especially true for anchors and interviewers on television news programs, which is where many people get most of their news and information. Otherwise, the program host becomes an accomplice to the candidate's attack mode.
   Meanwhile, it remains the responsibility of readers and viewers to recognize which publications and broadcasts are themselves partisan, and which are not.