Mark Eddington’s Nov. 21 story about Patricia Kent clearly required a great deal of research, which translates to taking a great deal of time — time to find information that’s not publicly available or easily accessible, time to get all the facts straight, time to follow leads, and time to ensure best practices in journalism are followed to the letter.
Reporters don’t stumble on something and think their work is done. They’re methodical. They track down everything they can when they cover an issue. They know how to synthesize, distill and present information. And they know how to report on issues responsibly.
The investigative journalism needed to contextualize individual elements that are part of a larger story requires professionalism, expertise, and a desire to do what’s best for the community by bringing to light matters of public interest and public concern.
Journalists aren’t trying to get vindication, stroke their own egos, or lord what they find over others as a form of currency or control.
Eddington’s coverage of difficult, important issues is journalism at its finest. Journalism isn’t having part of the story. Journalism isn’t sharing a link or a post and thinking that’s the whole picture. It’s not. I realize that now more than ever. That’s why social media — while important in many regards and problematic in many others — can’t supplant journalists or journalism.
I admire Eddington for doing the extensive work necessary to thoroughly and accurately bring essential stories into public view. Journalism still matters, especially when we have a newspaper like The Salt Lake Tribune and journalists like Eddington. Utah is fortunate to have The Tribune. Southern Utah is fortunate to have Eddington reporting on what happens in our part of the state.
Dana Martin, Toquerville
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/t0Fgvnf
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