News journalists, do you pick the stories or do the stories pick you?

Question

Eg. Lets say your "beat" is the Middle East and you are a supporter of the war. If there is an usually bloody day of fighting in Iraq, many many causalities, do you have a responsibility to report it? Or do you feel thats entirely your decision?

Answer 1

Well, not many are on the Middle East beat. So let's be a little more general.

If the reporter is assigned to a specific area, he (assume it's a man for now) is keeping an eye on matters. He makes a judgment about what is worth a story and what isn't, but then he talks to his boss -- usually some sort of editor. The two of them will talk about the situation and reach a decision. The editor does have an idea about what's going on, but more importantly he knows what is a worthwhile story or not.

Complicated stories get kicked up a ladder at times, and there are obviously some tough calls every once in a while.

To use your example, practically any reporter who is covering the Mideast wouldn't be allowed to take sides on the situation, and it wouldn't (shouldn't?) affect his viewpoint on what is news. If a pro-war reporter constantly came up with ideas supporting that position and his stories reflected that, most places would move him to another beat.

Answer 2

No.

Don't think so.

Star attraction.

Passing by in time.

Put the jigsaw puzzle together.

Will have the news.

Living example.

Like "The dog that bite it master"

Was from the TV sometime ago.

In kicking the butts of children of a Rudeness tribe.

Led back to tribe of a  Rudeness tribe themselves.

At loss and blurr out there.

Luke 8.10,17

What do you think?

Answer 3

As a reporter it is your obligation to your employer and the public in general.

Answer 4

As someone who's been in a reporter, I can tell you that it works both ways. I had a regular beat and I was responsible for covering any news within that beat.

But other times, people would contact me personally and ask me to write a story. Sometimes it was because they liked my reputation for accuracy. Other times it was because I was the guy who happened to be in the office when someone walked through the front door