The things we are not allowed to report.
Being a journalist professionally for over a year now I am surprised to find out that there are still “rules” that I was not aware of. One being exactly what I am allowed and not allowed to put in the paper.
Ok now you are saying to yourself “What? She didn’t know what she could put in the paper?” Well yes and no. First of all when I encounter an issue there is always the question whether it is the papers policy or an actual law that prevents us from publishing certain information.
Here are examples of stories I have encountered that we could be held liable for and get in severe amounts of legal trouble.
A law suit against wal-mart
A law suit against a neighbor, a school and a teacher
A heated dispute between two people that I did not personally witness
and most of all political heads that keep butting heads.
Anyway the topics listed above concern private matters that like it or not, are just none of our business.
Now another type of situation that I only recently learned about was that there are certain issues that legally as in the “law” forbids it. One being, we are not allowed to cover modified sporting events. Why you may ask? I don’t know will be my answer.
I thought this was just company or paper policy up until two days ago. I was going to mention that a modified team had a good season. NOPE! The State education department does not allow it.
I would think that congratulating or at least publicizing that these children did good would be a good thing not something to hide. Since when is it a bad thing to say a team won.
So whether it be a modified sporting event, a law suit or a complaint sometimes there are things that like it or not the media does not have a say in. So instead of getting worked up at the reporters and the publication, look deeper and think smarter and see who is really at fault.
Sometimes the media can not decide what the media can report on.
