Monday, September 1, 2008

PROTECTION OF SOURCES: A LAW OR AN OBLIGATION


This is the introduction I wrote for me and my partner's term paper. It took me about half an hour to put the ideas together.. hindi ko pa xa naiipproofread baka may grmmatical flaw rush kasi eh.. I'm the guy wearin yellow, the guy in red is my partner



At the CoC Library

“Stories do not grow on trees. They have to be wrenched out of reluctant and secretive society.” –Paul foot

News is absolutely essential in a community. It involves the masses; people of all diverse lifestyles and social status. We must accept the fact that news will affect and alter our lives in a certain aspect. The news provokes the listeners, audience and readers to take part and have an opinion towards the issues that matter.
it is able to persuade or influence the public in terms of thinking and living. Another fact is that the news helps us to be intact with current occurrences within the premises of the country. Without the facts the news supply us, we will all be living in a world where deception, dishonesty and confusion are inevitable.

Bottom line is, whether we like it or not, we cannot rebuff the fact that news is definitely vital.
News must always be certain, accurate, valid, compelling and truthful. The journalist must be able to sustain and support the story he or she wrote. The story is considered invalid if of course, the reporter is incapable of supporting and justifying it.

Let us say that a news reporter is investigating and developing a story about a rape case. Being a responsible newsman, he should never be contented with blotters and other mediums that are obviously shallow. A responsible journalist must uncover and go beyond the shallow details to find deeper sources. Sources or informants are persons who posses important and richly valued knowledge about the particular case.

Sources are indeed fundamental to journalists when it comes to developing a massive, striking, revealing and eye-opening story. Writers tend to avoid limited and narrow truths for such aspects decreases a person’s interest. Therefore, they explore and dig the real content behind the messages.

Sources indeed hold sensitive information (it depends on the situation) that if made known, it can alter the flow of situation. In fact, the validity of an essential truth that may surface will change the society itself.
There the impediment begins. I

n intricate situation like these, witnesses are threatened, abused and are harassed by suspects. Because of this they become reluctant to impart their knowledge about the situation, causing it to remain as a mystery.


The confidentiality of a witness is a major issue in interviews especially if the public’s welfare is at stake. Question is; where does the protection of such sources rely: the law or the journalist himself? Laws have been established to ensure the safety of valued informants, but are these decrees to general, to specific or simply useless?

Truth shall always prevail. It is a piece that will complete the puzzle of confusion, A key that will unlock and open a broader and immense perception and a potent agent that will transform the society’s way of stimulating thoughts. Lastly, it is able to destroy, establish or reestablish a founded institution.

The public has the right to be informed especially if their welfare is concerned. But, how will they be aware or gain consciousness if they eye-opener is held back by an abusive superior or person? If we will take another look on a different angle, how will the informant speak up when he or she isn’t confident about his safety as a witness?


The researchers would like to give emphasis and once again mention the puzzling question: Does the protection of witnesses, sources and informants rely on the law, or is it an obligation for the journalist? Both sides have consequences difficult to fathom, they both have fated aspects (both good and bad) that are completely foreseeable. But which of these two have the heavier and deeper side? One must outweigh the other.