Handling Damaging Information — Include It Or Shelve It?
I’m not a professional researcher, but as a writer I do research various topics to help form the backbone for many of my articles. Oftentimes, I’ll come across something online worth quoting or get information directly from a source (e.g., a press release) and use that as the basis for what I write.
Occasionally, I’ll find something that’ll raise my eyebrows, details which can have serious repercussions if I choose to include it. The fall out from damaging information could be far-reaching — negative news which might impact a company’s earnings, lower employee morale, and bring about a whole host of unimaginable consequences.
If I do choose to go with negative publicity, there is certain personal criteria that must be met before I will include that information:
1. I must be able to verify the news through at least two sources.
2. The quality of those sources has to be reputable — I’ve come across claims on a message board that while likely containing an element of truth, isn’t always posted without malice.
3. I need to ask myself — “Am I including this information to benefit my career or to inform the public?”
Lest you think that I’m being completely altruistic by not including something that might benefit my career, I’m not. However, if building up my career to bring down others is my motivation, then I’ve lost sight of the reason why I’m sharing what I know — to inform the public.
Yes, the basis for this article stems from recent experience where I chose to shelve damaging information instead of sharing it. While some people might have been helped by what I discovered, the first two of my personal criteria were not met. However, instead of tossing the information away I have saved it in the event additional veriable details eventually surface.
I don’t shy away from sharing potentially damaging information, but my personal reputation trumps the public’s so-called “need to know.”
Matt,
Staying true to your personal ethics is essential to your reputation … and to being able to sleep well at night. You did the right thing - if the information can’t be reliably verified, including it in your article is gossip, not reporting.
I come across your post and read your post. Yes, the point you give here those are logical. You must think about your post since all the post will read by people. So, if you do not post a good post then your post will not effective. Anyway, I like your post and like to give you thanks.
Very well put Matt & Lillie. Leave the damaging stuff to the gossip rags unless you can be pretty darn sure.
There could very well be two livelihoods at stake if it’s wrong.
Thanks, all. Yes, there is a tendency with some to try to “scoop the news” without verifying all sources. Unfortunately, the gossip rags aren’t the only ones guilty, some of the more reputable print dailies have been caught too.
Hi Matt
I agree that the important thing is to have your own criteria and benchmarks.
You have to be true to yourself as Lillie said.
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“I’m i going to include it or shelve it?”
Handling damaging information is not easy and this is just one of the most critical or sensitive decisions every writer should made. And as an essay writer it’s normal to have this kind of questions in your mind: “Am I including this information to benefit my career or to inform the public?”. You are the only one who can answer this question. You have to think the possible output or consequences of your action which might affect you career or love ones.Some writers include false information to attract readers. Just make sure you have enough evidence to prove it.