Finding a balance as a news reporter

Some of you know me as Annie Wooden, daughter of

Barb and Gene. Some of you know me as Annie Wooden,

cake maker, golf partner and dog mom. Some of you

know me as Annie Wooden, publisher of The Sanders

County Ledger. And some of you don’t know me at all –

you only know the words I write here each week.

I wear a lot of hats, like most people do. We can play

the role of parent, student, son, daughter, co-worker, boss

or friend, and we can play multiple roles simultaneously.

Sometimes it can even be difficult to turn off those roles.

I’m always a daughter, and I’m always a friend. That’s easy.

The role that’s a bit more complex is that of a journalist,

which is rarely nine to five.

Family and friends generally know when I’m not on

the clock. I don’t attend birthday parties with the hopes

of doing some investigative reporting, and pictures from

game night with friends don’t end up on the front page.

These are private functions in people’s homes, where we

expect a high amount of privacy.

Where things get tricky is in public, especially when

I’m working. When I or one of The Ledger’s reporters

is on the clock and in a public place, people’s privacy

rights change. In the age of cell phones, a person can

be expected to be filmed or recorded anywhere: on

the street, in a school hallway, at a Friday night football

game, attending a public meeting or taking part in a local

festival.

The same is true at public meetings, protests, sporting

events, political party gatherings and any other activity

open to the public. Media outlets have a duty and a right

to be in attendance and record what happens. Anybody

at any public gathering should know that their words

and actions are not private. Additionally, citizens should

never approach members of the press to try to coerce

them into changing or withholding things that were said

or done.

So regardless of how we know (or don’t know) one

another, if you see me or one of The Ledger’s reporters out

and about, we are doing our job. Be aware that the things

you say and do in a public place are just that: public. Be

mindful of your words and actions. My reporter role does

not mean I should sensationalize or dramatize events,

but I am obligated to accurately convey what took place

with as many appropriate details as necessary. Help me

ensure that those details shed the best possible light on

everyone involved. —Annie Wooden