Papers, last bastion of ethical journalism

Dear Editor:

As I sit watching my evening fix of Global News, I can’t help but wonder if newspapers are indeed the last bastions of ethical and responsible journalism.

It’s not just the overused clichés such as : Police forces are “reeling” (violently staggering or lurching around) over accusations of systemic racism. See the newest “shocking video of .... ?”

Of course, this follows the recent highprofile events from American media. Also B.C.’s health system is apparently “reeling” over systemic racism based on a report of a game in the ER department of one hospital betting on the blood-alcohol reading of patients of which a majority are First Nations (although not exclusively).

Of course, then comes the innuendo that it must be systemic throughout the whole health system. Bring on the Royal Commission.

The entire town is “reeling” from (insert story here).

It seems that when the news crews do get hold of a sensational story, they attack the subject matter with the tenacity of a hungry pit bull reaching back to every similar story for the last 20 years.

Rather than accurately telling the story, broadcast news seems to be trying way too hard to titillate and shock us to pump up their ratings.

Although I do admit I enjoy the mental picture of the entire population of a group or town violently lurching and staggering through the streets.

I hope newspapers take the word “reeling” out of their thesaurus.

Andy Richards

Summerland