A panel of local reporters came together at The Westward Ho on Sept. 14 to discuss “Covering Elections in the Age of Misinformation” and how it is crucial for journalists now more than ever to prioritize accountability and objectivity.
Jessica Boehm, a reporter for Axios Phoenix, was joined by reporters from 12 News, The Washington Post, KJZZ-FM, and ABC 15 at the Westward Hotel to discuss public distrust in the media and how journalists can work to stop the spread of misinformation, especially during election season. The workshop was hosted by the Valley of the Sun pro and ASU campus chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists and the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona.
A 2022 investigation by NewsGuard found that when searching for a “prominent” news topic on TikTok, about 20 percent of the results that appeared from the search contained misinformation.
The panel said that misinformation spread on social media has made it difficult for journalists to report accurately on elections. In spite of this, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, a reporter covering voting issues in Arizona for the Washington Post, advised that journalists uphold their ethical values, including accountability and objectivity.
“Taking those few extra steps can really go a long way in helping us to build back up the trust and not get stuck in a web of misinformation,” Sanchez said.
The spread of misinformation is something that not only harms the public, but also increases distrust in the media and in individual reporters.
“It is your byline, your reputation that gets harmed in the long run.” Boehm said.
Some of the ways in which the panelists said journalists can regain credibility is through fact-checking and avoiding anonymous sources. Additionally, the panelists advised journalists that if they cannot get in contact with a source, they should explain in the article that they made the necessary attempts to get an interview, but were declined.
The journalists also emphasized objectivity, especially when they are interviewing political candidates or other public figures.
“You have to ask the question, that is of the moment, and that viewers and voters expect you to ask,” Panelist Brahm Resnik of 12 News said.
Some of the attendees of the workshop included aspiring journalists and seasoned professionals that shared similar opinions with the panelists.
Alissa Firestone, an ASU senior studying journalism and mass communication, said workshops like this provide valuable resources for preparing for a career in journalism and gaining knowledge of proper journalistic ethics.
“It’s really important to hear from professionals in the industry that have been doing it for a long time,” she said.
Ethics is just one aspect of the many skills modern journalists must be equipped with in a continuously changing world of media, according to Brenda Lepenski, a reporter for 12 News
“As journalists, we’re constantly learning.” Lepenski said. “We can all learn from each other.”
Edited by Shi Bradley
