What to publish? What not to publish?

In a journalist’s normal day, many hours go into simply gathering information.

There are emails and whatsapps with ‘point persons’ - those people who know everyone in their country and act as our eyes and ears. 

There are hours of reading statistical reports, to inform better questions for interviews. Or following parliamentary debates and press conferences to understand what the hot debates are in a certain region of the world.

[destacate]One fear is publishing information that unintentionally harms the people involved[/destacate]Frustratingly, much of the information collected is never published. But why is it “unpublishable”?

Well, some information is simply too long. The content is interesting, but it is too exhaustive for the average reader. It often happens to me with specialists (theologians, academics, researchers): I send them a couple of questions and I get back... a Word document with 3,000 words! It is practically impossible to summarise all that, especially if the news piece I am preparing must also include the views of others.

Then there is the fear of publishing information that might unintentionally harm the people involved. When reporting on conflict zones, or places where there is no religious freedom, it has happened to me more than once that even when it has been carefully agreed with the people affected on the ground what to publish and in what form (e.g. anonymously), that story can still be used on social media to attack the people involved. And it would take another article to analyse how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be maliciously used against the interests of individuals or groups whose information was in unnoticed corners of the internet (discussion forums, recordings of preachings, internal documents of organisations...). Fear of being exposed and hurt often prevents good stories from being published.

Perhaps most difficult is when information about a scandal arrives to us: in a phone call, in an email, through sources who share trustworthy evidence. Especially, when it is about a church or Christian entity that is near and dear to us, and valued by other Christians as well. What to do: to publish or not to publish? I’ve been asked at times: What good does it do to report on this mess? Doesn’t it harm the Christian witness? The answer is not simple and will vary according to the vision of the journalist. But most media with a Christian perspective would conclude that the truth about injustices should be published, although our Christian ethics will shape the form, timing and focus of that reporting.

[destacate]It is a privilege to be given the confidence to deal carefully with the experiences, opinions, and stories of others[/destacate]Anyone who is a Christian and takes faith seriously, cannot avoid that struggle over how to channel or not channel information that comes their way. The journalist’s job adds yet another layer of complexity.

And still it is a privilege to be given the confidence to deal carefully with the experiences, opinions, and stories of others. As humans, we are made in the image of God, and we should treat information with that dignity that every person deserves.

Joel Forster, journalist in Spain and director of EvangelicalFocus.com.

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