by Varsha Kadamandla

CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta speaks on the principles of journalism.

Sixty-two percent of Americans believe the news in printed papers, television and radio is biased, according to a 2018 Gallup Poll.  It’s quite evident that the media is struggling to stay afloat as trust levels between the media and the people continue to plunge.

The day after the 2016 presidential election, Kyle Pope, of the Columbia Journalism Review, wrote the media’s failure to understand and accurately cover Donald Trump’s rise to the highest office was the “anti-Watergate” moment. Responsible reporting is most needed in journalism, and we as reporters need to uphold the integrity of the profession.

For a medical and health reporter like CNN’s Chief Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, evidence-based journalism is constantly in mind when reporting a story. In 2017, Gupta reported from the front lines of a breakdown in the medical infrastructure of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island. Gupta, who’s been a medical health reporter for nearly 19 years, understands the importance of gathering facts, data and evidence in reporting a story.

“Your reporting needs to be objective, fact-based. That’s responsible,” said Gupta.

But with responsibility comes accountability, and Gupta knows that first hand. One of the fundamental principles or “something journalists always swear by” is not to let their personal opinions influence a story. It is an established fact in the profession that there cannot be room for bias.

“Ultimately you have to interpret things and convey certain messages to the viewer or the reader or the listener,” Gupta said, “You have to make sure that your own personal bias does not enter into that.”

Reporting as objectively as possible is the key to responsible reporting, according to Gupta.  Despite being accurate with the facts, the data and the sources, we live in a world where “fake news” and “alternative facts” are constantly making headlines and the truth can be difficult to find. How do we, as media, fight those labels?

One of the first things to do as media when we are called out as a fake news institutionis to address the root cause of fake news. Having that conversation with that person or group of people helps journalists dig deep into the problem. In the words of my own dad, “Rectification is always better than justification.” Though he means it on a very general level, it certainly does apply in such situations.

“If they are right and they say that you got something wrong, then you need to fix it and apologize,” Gupta said. That acceptance reminds people of the very purpose of “journalism,” which is accountability in governing bodies and in the journalists themselves.

But what if it is the other way around? What if people are wrong and are only trying to undermine you?

“When you did not make a mistake and everything you’ve reported is accurate and yet people are just set on demeaning your work by calling it fake news, then nothing works better than ignoring it.” Gupta said.

“You have to actually ignore it because otherwise you’ll be paralyzed. You’re probably saying something they don’t want to hear, and they prefer if you don’t continue to report,” Gupta said.

In the midst of all this, the nature of journalism is changing too. For example, a journalist gains credibility when they have expertise in a particular subject area like politics, crime or sports.

If there are areas within journalism that one is very passionate about, then make it known, Gupta advised for reporters starting their career. In reality, you don’t become an expert in a day or two, it takes time. Gupta also said that if there is a beat or a specific area that you really want to cover, then spend time becoming the expert at that.

“This is one of the best jobs in the world. And the reason is that we don’t have to be beholden to anyone,” Gupta said.

 

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