Quote:
Originally Posted by dscabra
Came across this news article this morning and as tragic as it is that four people died, how can a journalist even make a statement like this?
"It is unclear if speed was a factor in the accident but authorities say that the investigation into what caused the crash is ongoing."
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Because that's what a proper journalist does. They state fact and not opinion. The journalist does not work for NHTSA. The journalist is not a highway patrol officer. The journalist has no experience in determining the cause of the accident and even if he did, it's not his job to let that experience enter into his story. His singular job is to report the facts that are known at that point and at the time of reporting the cause of the accident had not yet been determined. The one interviewee account of the accident theorized that speed was a factor and the journalist did the right thing by cautioning that had yet to be established. Because it has not. the interviewee expressed an opinion, a theory, and the reported stated the fact.
You may look at the photos and think you know beyond a doubt that speed was a a factor (Hell, I do too!) but until its proved to be a factor by those investigating, it's just an opinion and opinions dont have a place in proper journalism.