To the Editor:
When I was younger, I used to watch Nick News hosted by Linda Ellerbee — a news show geared towards children that aired on Nickelodeon in the early 2000s that discussed things such as the environment, politics and entertainment. That program sparked something in me: a passion for journalism. I didn’t quite understand it then, but listening to stories about people with different struggles and backgrounds than my own made me realize that the world is bigger than Belle, Missouri.
As I got older, I learned to respect journalism and the utter importance it has on a well-functioning democracy, that the media truly is the unnamed fourth branch of our government.
However, in order for a democracy to function well, the people need to get their information from a well-organized,unbiased collection of ideas, facts and events, then evaluate and make their own decisions. A good journalist is responsible for such things: objectivity, truth and accuracy. The recent ‘A New Adventure’ articles have shown the opposite, that the integrity of journalism has been lost.
You have the power that people want — to help shape the community for the betterment of itself, however this narrative will only harm. Respect your readers and give them unbiased information so they can come to their own conclusions, instead of perpetuating this echo chamber and egregious disrespect to the art of journalism.
Because, if the standard isn’t met in the editor’s own article, why should we believe it’s made in the rest of the paper?
Respectfully,
Kelsie Bethune, Belle
