Writing With Mercy

February 10, 2025

For as long as there has been news to tell there have been biases to frame the telling. Sometimes these biases are unconscious, sometimes they are not. Either way, bias is a barrier to truthful communication. This doesn't mean people who harbor bias can't report on facts. They can. It's the narratives rooted in bias, woven around the facts that more often prove untrue; the judgment statements about those involved with the facts that may hurt or ruin innocent lives. With the rush to be the first to share breaking news people often share unfounded accusations or vindictive gossip. The mantra for too many news writers, professional or hobbyists, seems to be 'publish first verify last.' Thorough research, examining personal bias, and striving for factual reporting from a neutral angle isn't just writing with mercy, it's writing with ethics, and we need a return to it soon.