Executive Summary

The organization that I selected for my formal research report was The Republic Newspaper. I have a strong opinion about the biased nature of their reporting, but I wanted to see if this was a fair opinion. Therefore, I did a lot of research on the subject of perceived bias from an overall perspective as well as conducting my own survey. The results were overwhelming.

As I expected, reporters are put in a squeeze between the truth and sensationalism. Let's face it. Sensationalism sells papers. However, if you put the wrong slant on your story or rely on unsubstantiated sources to sell newspapers, you will hurt your reputation and eventually your newspaper won't sell too many copies. Journalists are the watchdogs of our society. Their job is to hold the fire to the feet of those who have power.

In seeking facts and answers, make a conscientious and determined effort to be equally aggressive whether the public officials involved are people you admire or distrust. Efforts to sensationalize will discredit your investigation in the long run. Deal straight across the board with your sources and investigate subjects alike. Reporters, journalists, and editors need to use direct evidence when writing a story that reflects adversely upon anyone. They need to give that person an opportunity for a full response to the questions raised. Ultimately, this procedure will bring credibility back to The Republic, which, in turn, will increase their profits.

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