Selecting Sources

Vetting story sources

Ensure that your sources reflect the composition of the general population, including those who have experience of the issue as well as experts offering academic knowledge or professional insight.

When seeking sources for constructive journalism, the basic requirements are the same as in traditional journalism. Pay attention to the source’s:

• Credibility

• Special interests or motives for participating

• Status, such as party affiliation, experience or expertise

• Posture as a representative of an organization or position

• Special bias by virtue of profession or particular personal experience

Avoiding false balance

When selecting sources, it is important to include voices that represent all sides of a story, that point to solutions, and that might add nuances.

However, if we lend equal weight to sources whose argument is not supported by data or relies merely on opinion, then we run the risk of endorsing “false balance.” We must avoid this. Instead, we must identify the strongest evidence and reveal the complexities of any story for our audience. These tasks are among the most important for a journalist.

We face another risk in coverage of certain communities, countries or regions. For example, if our stories about a particular minority group focus on specific issues — such as crime or religion — and reduce people to stereotypical characters, we fail to convey the successes and subtleties of their communities. When “parachute journalism” adheres to a particular editorial agenda, such coverage may reduce entire regions to convenient, key themes like war and poverty, and thereby fail to convey the range of experience in those places.

Be aware of framing

As we develop our story — by identifying problems, formulating questions and finding sources — we can nudge it in a constructive direction.

However, we should remain aware that an unconscious process occurs at the same time: This is known as framing. When we choose our angle, our sources and our words, we are being subjective. Someone else might make different choices.

Journalism is the filter between reality and people’s conception of reality. The language and context we choose will influence our audiences’ understanding of the world. Therefore, it is important to choose language carefully and accurately.

When we frame in a constructive perspective, we avoid presenting our sources as helpless victims; we do not seek out an extreme or worst case. When deciding on the sources we will consult and cover, we look for examples of courage and determination that might inspire others to solve issues. We counter lazy, simplistic stereotypes by challenging the default framing of a story, of individuals, or of a community.

Let your audience know you want them to help drive where you prioritize coverage.

You can collect their ideas using social media, surveys, newsletters or any platform where you engage with your audience. Ask people in person at live events for specific groups or the general public. Or decide on a particular theme, then prompt your audience for input on what they’d like to see covered.

Questions to ask to avoid framing:

In our approach to the story:

• How are we framing the story or the actors?

• Are we aware of our own bias?

• Do we ask questions without prejudice?

In our approach to cases:

• Is the case representative of a group?

• Is the case a helpless victim or brave and energetic?

• Do we select our case based on a sought objective or on neutral criteria?