What do you stand for?

I stand for honesty, credibility, integrity, family, justice and many other things that were either said or indicated in our class discussion just last week. I stand for these things in my life and somewhat expect the same from the people who surround me. In this post, I will only address honesty and credibility, not to decrease the importance of the others listed.

Mark Twain once said something along the lines of "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything." This stands true to this day; one lie is only the beginning of a series of lies. And lies can be the root of a small catastrophe. I personally just avoid them at all costs, knowing the end result will only cause me to have to clean up my mess (Besides, I'm pretty awful at lying).

As a journalist, the last thing I want is for a source to lie to me or to find out my government is lying to me. And that is what journalism is about, seeking and publishing the "honest" truth (redundant) about issues that concern journalists and the people who surround them. It's important to keep people "in the know" whether it's for their own safety or just for general knowledge.

My word is my bond. In other words, credibility is everything. My credibility is tied in with my honesty. I could never publish a story knowing that I didn't gather all of the facts. I could never even think to change a direct quote or use false sources. It would never enter my mind to do such a thing. Why? Because I will not be labeled as unreliable. I will not be seen as a liar. I will not be known as a bad example of a journalist.

I can truly say that what I stand for has a lot to do with the "who, what, where, why, and how." In other words, what I stand for is influenced by how I was raised, where I was raised, who raised me, and what they raised me to be. All of these elements are strong influences in my life and my character that I am extremely proud of.