Question 9.
- Encourage the editorial team to evaluate stories and their sources using the CRAAP test.
Currency: Check if the information is current.
Relevance: Check if the story relates to the current events.
Authority: Check if the story has a subject and if the subject has approved publication of the news.
Accuracy: Check if the story has supporting evidence. Also check is the author is credible, and if the information they are providing is verifiable.
Purpose: Confirm the purpose of the story. Check if both the author and the subject have a hidden agenda.
- Check social media to see if one can find more information on the story.
- Check from other news sources.
- Be keen and watch for red flags from the sources.
- Make sure the story passes through the right procedure from author to Chief Editor for approval.
Question 10.
The solemn responsibility as journalists means that journalists should strive to maintain the highest possible standards of journalistic ethics. Journalists should treat their readers and audiences fairly and openly as possible. They should ensure that all the stories they publish are truthful. They should also uphold ethics such as nor paying for interviews or doing coverage that is biased or in turn, favours them materially or in any other way.