The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.

-Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)-

Honesty is a fundamental virtue for those who follow the Lord, and the Bible speaks extensively about honesty. Honesty in journalism exemplifies our faith and commitment to God’s principles.  The demand for transparent and integrity-focused journalism has reached historic levels. This is because misinformation spreads more quickly than ever, sensationalism frequently overshadows substance, and public trust in the media continues to wane. Nonetheless, those in this profession are charged with the duty of seeking truth and maintaining integrity.

Truth is a stabilising force in a world inundated with half-truths and clickbait headlines. Honest reporting equips readers to make informed decisions, exposes injustice, and holds power to account. Ethical journalism doesn’t just tell stories; it builds trust and strengthens communities. Honesty in news reporting means reporting the truth accurately, fairly and without deception. It involves a commitment to facts, transparency, and integrity. It helps build trust between the media and the public if news reporters champion truth:

1. Truthfulness: Verify facts and avoid spreading misinformation, gossip or rumours. Misleading readers erodes trust over time.
2. Fairness and balance: While headlines should grab attention, they must reflect the story’s substance. Present multiple sides of a story, especially in controversial topics.
3. Fact-Checking: Commit to rigorous fact-checking processes. Do not invent quotes, sources or details. Proverbs 14:25 reminds us, “A truthful witness saves lives, but a false witness is deceitful.”
4. Transparency: Mistakes happen, but owning them is crucial for maintaining credibility by taking responsibility for one’s reporting.

Sensationalism may draw temporary attention, but it erodes long-term trust. Misleading headlines and exaggerated claims misinform audiences and tarnish the credibility of those who publish them. Worse, they can perpetuate harm, especially when vulnerable communities or individuals are the subjects of such stories.

CASE STUDY: THE NEWS24/KWASIZABANTU MISSION COVERAGE

In the book, A Journey to the Truth: The Case of KwaSizabantu Mission, Potgieter demonstrated how News24 and some other mainstream media outlets, which copied its narrative without proper investigation, relied on unverified information to unfairly portray the KwaSizabantu Mission in KZN as a cult. Lies, fabricated stories, gossip, and third-party accounts were used to tarnish the reputation of the Mission’s founder and the image of Africa’s largest Mission. News24 claimed that its comprehensive onslaught against the Mission was based on six affidavits. An independent panel scrutinised these affidavits, rejected them. These affidavits would not hold up in a court of law.

(Source: A Journey to the Truth: The Case of KwaSizabantu Mission, by Gerda Potgieter.

LINK: https://open.substack.com/pub/ethicaljournalism/p/journalism-that-champions-the-public?r=53e4iy&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true