One of the tenets of journalism is reporting the truth. There are, obviously, multiple ways of reporting said truth and much of that is in how you phrase things. There are also certain things that are illegal in journalism. One of those is intentionally reporting something inaccurately, implying or even outright saying something that isn’t true and causes damage to the person.
For example, if my next door neighbor’s house burns down, the report might say that “fire engulfed a two-bedroom home last night. The cause of the fire is not yet known.” What you can’t say is “fire engulfed a two-bedroom home last night. It is suspected that the owner was an avid smoker and liked to smoke in bed. So it’s likely that caused the fire.”
There is one cop out, however, when it comes to reporting like this and that is a simple word, “allegedly.” A journalist can use this word when they want to report a person is a murderer, but can’t legally say they are because they haven’t yet been convicted. “John Doe, arrested Tuesday on suspicion of murder, was allegedly seen stabbing the victim 200 times shouting ‘die, die, die’ for over 20 minutes.” Listen, we ALL know John Doe is a murderer, but journalistically you’re supposed to say “allegedly.”
I’ve always thought this was pretty cowardly – especially in this climate. There are bad people out there. People whom, by any measure, are bad. These people should be reported to be bad. School boards that are banning books aren’t “allegedly protecting readers” they’re just bad people who are applying their values to others because they can.
Politicians who are found to be “allegedly responsible for rape” are “rapists.” Politicians who are found to have said “inaccuracies” are “liars.” Politicians who say they should rise up against the government aren’t “stating bold choices,” they are “insurrectionists.”
Obviously, for legal reasons, I’m not pointing at any one orange politician, but if I say that rapists, liars, and insurrectionists shouldn’t hold office, and someone happens to pop into your mind, then that’s on you.
This is beyond political correctness. This is journalistic cowardice. If someone is a criminal, they are a criminal. If someone is known to take bribes, they are crooked. A rose by any other name is still a rose. A douchebag by any other name is still a douchebag.
This past week, the Baltimore Ravens honored one of their former football players. This player holds many Ravens’ records and was known for his tenacity and is a 2012 Super Bowl champion. This player is named Ray Rice. Ray Rice is also a domestic abuser. He was never convicted of the crime as the charges were dropped; but the entire nation witnessed him slam his girlfriend into an elevator wall so hard that she was knocked unconscious. This effectively ended Rice’s career, rightfully so. Yet, the Ravens felt it necessary to bring him back as part of their “Legends of the Game” series. Journalistically, Ray Rice will not appear in any sentences with the phrase “abuser” or “domestic violence” he will only be celebrated for his Super Bowl win, and that, my friends, is cowardice.
It’s time we start calling people out. It’s time we start calling a spade a space. It’s time to start canceling those who lie, cheat, abuse, corrupt, and profit illegally.
It’s time we call stupid what it is, journalistically — stupid.
Allegedly.
(Find Chris Kamler on X as @TheFakeNed)
