Make sure of actual facts when reporting news items

It depends on how you define 'fact'. Bare facts rarely make news stories.

It rained today isn't much of a story, but is a fact.

Huge disappointment as rain stops play and Hometown loses chance of a place in local championship is a story, but so is Delight as drought ends with heavy rain in Hometown bringing hope of a good harvest , and both could be published on the same day. Neither is a lie, but they tell very different stories. Which one is factual?

Just wondering how much news is factually correct? How do we know ? How do the reporters know ? Depends which country you live in I think.

Ah, true Casdon. But that poster explained and apologised. Having a hard time, when she posted.

That’s not what I think it’s about, my immediate thought was that it was about the insensitive post yesterday about emergency services having their time wasted responding to the incident at the lake before the full facts were known - the post was subsequently taken down.

I think there is a big difference between "judgements" and " considering perspectives".

There is also a big difference between "looking at all the facts available and asking questions relating to those facts" ...and "making judgements!"

IF this links to the arrest of a 15 year old boy and a 13 year old who forgot his Oyster card then as Gagajo says, plenty of facts are available. More will probably be available as time goes on if a review of the incident takes place.

Pity if it is. Because the basic facts were in several media sources. Easy to verify.

GagaJo

Is this about the wrongful arrest of a 15 year old boy? Who was unarrested because it was wrongful arrest?

I suspect it is.

I think it may be so Gagajo. We are all entitled to our opinions on any subject, but if judgement is made without, or worse, despite knowing the facts as posted by others, then we must all expect to be challenged.

Facts can be difficult to verify though. Two people can witness the same incident, see it very differently and tell different stories, but neither of them is lying. The old cliche about the terrorist and the freedom fighter is right.

Often those with a particular agenda will present their views as 'facts' - in fact as soon as I see someone claiming to have the facts I dig a bit deeper .

Is this about the wrongful arrest of a 15 year old boy? Who was unarrested because it was wrongful arrest?

Yes I was talking to the OP. The post is rather confusing to me.

i cannot understand what the OP is about.
care to expand ?

It doesn't matter if a majority of people are genuine.

Some aren't.

All the while there are those in positions of power abusing their authority, it doesn't matter how many genuine there are. It matters that some will be too afraid to report violence against them and some will be arrested or mistreated who are innocent.

That is not good enough and never will be.

'Who', even

Wo are you talking to,imaround? The OP?

I am confused. Are you talking about when people form opinions on what they hear in the media, share that opinion and are judged? That is what upsets you?

Sound advice, Allsorts. It should apply to all statements made on this forum, not just news items.

Preferably with a linked source

You’re right Allsorts people on social media often rush to judgement and I’ve read some real corkers.If it fits with their own agenda they’re over the moon, they don’t bother to check things first.