This semester, the Andersonian staff has been diligent in delivering important news to the student body. We have covered a wide range of topics, finding leads and following the stories where they take us.
Some have voiced their concerns over sloppy reporting or one-sided coverage, or even just a cry of “fake news.”
These accusations are far from the truth, and we stand firmly beside our reporters and behind their stories.
For us, the facts matter. Our stories are written fairly and objectively, and we do not take the use of anonymous sources lightly. We carefully vet stories and sources for credibility and reliability.
We spend hours editing each issue for accuracy. We do this not only because it is our job, but also because it is our obligation to our readers.
We recognize that not every reader will accept this truth.
Our job is to cover important news thoroughly, fairly and objectively. Our job is not to make people look good. There are always new stories to discover.
We have sources who dodge and avoid or refuse to answer our questions, and we must move on.
We bear our criticism with an iron pen.
We strive to be ethical journalists who uncover the facts and report them with fairness, honesty and integrity. But when you dig, you’re bound to get dirty.
People don’t always like our questions or the stories we cover, but we won’t let that stop us. Good journalism will always ruffle a few feathers.
Good journalism is responsible.
It our responsibility as a news organization to question those in positions of power to hold them accountable to those over whom they hold authority.
Our role is to keep students informed about anything happening in their community that might affect them. Past examples include random room searches, changes in SGA president and social issues on campus.
We are not journalists because we want to instigate drama or damage a person’s reputation. We are journalists because we believe in the freedom of knowledge and information. We believe in sharing stories that highlight positivity and still voice criticism where it is warranted.
When news happens to us, we instinctively dive deeper, ask hard questions and print the facts.
It’s not about you. It’s about the truth.