OFFICIALS RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS
By Dan Miller
March 14, 2008
There are many streams of lifeblood for good journalism... fairness would be one... attribution would be another.
Whenever we broadcast accusations, assertions or any important information, it's imperative -- in the name of fairness (and for our own legal protection) -- that we mention where the statements or accusations come from, or 'who said it.'
For example, if we report on someone linked to a crime.... unless that person has been convicted or confessed.... we should certainly attribute the source of that information.
You hear it all the time.... "police say".... "according to prosecutors".... "according to the White House".... "the governor's office says".... etc.
But I'm noticing more and more that -- in local and national news -- facts, figures and quotes are attributed simply to "officials."
I call it 'lazy attribution' because it's easy and meaningless, and really doesn't tell me anything.
Who are these officials?
Think of all the officials we hear about on a daily basis....
School officials....
Government officials....
Health officials....
Highway officials....
Automotive industry officials....
Military officials....
TVA officials....
In recent years I've heard mention of Taliban officials and, believe it or not, "terrorist officials."
In referencing trash pickup, a reporter once quoted "trash officials."
I heard a local reporter use "music officials."
Who would that be?
Who's officially an official?
Hmmmm ... if a reporter wanted to ask me about my industry, and I answered his/her questions, would they refer to me as a "television official?"
That would be nice.
Usually, when I think of 'officials' ... I think of those guys in striped shirts, calling the penalties on the athletic fields.
Now I wonder.... if a representative of the NFL Official's Union made a statement, would proper attribution go something like, "according to Officials officials"?
As you watch our evening newscasts, and others, I encourage you to count the times you hear something attributed to 'officials.'
I assure you, you won't hear it too often from me.
That's according to "Dan Miller's Notebook officials."
By the way, in case you're wondering, I ran across the photo accompanying this essay on the internet.... labeled Blaine County, Nebraska Officials, 1908.
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