Unethical by Omission

       Ok, here I am back on the ethics soapbox again. . .

   It's the responsibility of every reporter to include everyone in the community int heir stories. 

   Andrew Seaman, chair of the Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee, presented a session titled "Unethical by Omission" at the national convention in September that addressed the communities that aren't often covered.

   These may be communities that haven't often produced the policymakers or leaders. All the more reason the press must include them and must add depth to these communities, to dispel both positive and negative stereotypes.

   We should allow people to discover more than one story but including them in the stories we write.

   Before we can do that, the wise-beyond-his-years Seaman noted we need to take an audit and find our blind spots?

   Who do you overlooks? It's not always, or even often, the obvious: women, minorities.  Is it the young? Do you only look for a source with years of experience? Do you only want to talk to the PIO who used to be a newspaperman? Do you get locked into using the same sources?  Well, you're not alone. I'd venture to say we all do that way too often. 

   It's taken me a while, but I've learned as I cover agriculture, that sometimes the young farmer who is willing to take chances, is a very good source. 

   Sometimes we need to step out of our comfort zone. Sure, use official sources, but sometimes an unofficial source is really the expert.

   I've done stories on floods and droughts and snow emergencies and found the official line is often inadequate. Someone who lives or works in the area of damage and knows it well can often provide the real story.

    We can't allow social media to trap us, either. We need to get out in the communities we cover and talk to the people who are not posting nonstop.

    A tweet or a Facebook post can provide a starting point, but is may not lead anywhere.

    Seaman reminded his audience about the parents on playgrounds and small business people who tend to see everything that does on in their community.

    The services that do reach out to the underserved often know what's going on as well.

    Another tip, read the ethnic media.  In New Jersey, The Italian Tribune often has stories traditional papers don't have and perspectives they don't offer. 

    The bottom line, find out what is really going on.