Bona fide journalism – a curse or obligation!

Further to your call for feedback on the subject matter it is my submission that it is widely accepted that journalists are wiser and more trustworthy than politicians. I would agree with Thomas Jefferson who stated that a country is far better off having newspapers without a government than enduring a government without newspapers!
It is a basic fundamental tenet of democracy for the press to be free, and this means precisely that, rather than being subjected to the principle of prior restraint (a.k.a. censoring) which thankfully was long ago abolished – or so we are led to believe!
I venture to suggest that to accurately report news stories (however defined or distasteful) is intrinsically justifiable and correct, provided that this is done so in a free unencumbered and impartial manner and does not subscribe to the concept of when legend becomes fact – print the legend! It is indeed an onerous burden to report news stories in a responsibly unbiased manner as one can never truly relax, for it is similar to being in charge of a head of dairy cows!
However, there is a painful difference, often obscured by prejudice, between reporting such and making it up – rather drawing comparisons with making evanescent bricks with ephemeral straw I daresay. Factual reporting allows the reader to witness history. As it is an article of utmost good faith untrammelled by partiality and must be allowed to persist and flourish. For a journalist can do no more than recount events as they occur and unravel – thereby enabling the reader to determine their own decidedly individual take on such happenings. Without apportioning culpability to the bearer of such news – don’t shoot the messenger.
I will leave you with the immoral words of Humbert Wolfe (slightly altered): “You cannot hope to bribe or twist Thank God – The (Maltese) journalist. For seeing what the man will do unbribed – there’s no occasion to!”
You have my continued support in your relentless quest for the truth.

Peter Murray
Mosta