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
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