Brook Inez Fuller
Nov 1 · 3 min read

When looking at the need for sources, it is evident that each source must contain credible and factual information. If sources are not accurate within the Journalism world, a Journalist could quickly loose his or her career.

In the movie, Shattered Glass, a clear example is shown through the character of Stephen Glass that creating false content is an extreme offense. Stephen fabricates around 27 false quotes, and stories through magazines over his entire time at his company.

The end of the movie portrays what happens when wrong sources are used, plagiarized, or falsely claimed. It resulted in Stephen glass loosing the trust of loved ones, coworkers, and even eligibility for a future job within the Journalism realm.

Public trust factor is so crucial in Journalistic writing. If the public deems a name untrustworthy, their work will not be taken seriously, and their future career will be at jeopardy.

Once a name is tarnished it is nearly impossible to re-build public trust. This is why credible and reliable sources are the most influential aspect of journalistic writing.

A quote from Relentlessly local says, “If you’re lucky, your editor will give you suggestions. But don’t rely on that. In fact it’s really not mentally healthy to expect to be spoon-fed story ideas; it deadens your curiosity. As journalists, we find curiosity to be our main strength we have to know where to look”

It is important for a writer to supplying credible sources but cultivating curiosity through asking critical questions and remaining open to a new story that could present itself are extremely important.

Finally the most important and critical aspect of writing is overall accuracy, if the story is inaccurate it is the equivalent as curating false information. This further demotes public trust and creates a wedge between a Journalists name and the audience.

“While a concerted quest for accuracy is seen by many journalists as central to their professional identity, informal rules of practice for achieving news accuracy are elusive and highly nuanced”. This being said

Keeping a story accurate and truthful is one of the most crucial things a Journalist can do. Curating public trust is a way to not only maintain a respectful reputation, but to assure all facts are accurate and all stories are true.

With the increasing usage of social media within culture today, assuring accuracy and brevity is specifically important because According to the Pew Research Foundation, “Getting news from social media is an increasingly common experience; nearly three-in-ten U.S. adults do so often”

The article, the verification as a Strategic Ritual, how Journalists retrospectively describe processes for ensuring accuracy, it says “About six-in-ten (62%) say social media companies have too much control over the mix of news that people see on their sites, roughly four times as many say that they don’t have enough control (15%). Just 21% say that social media companies have the right amount of control over the news people see.”

Therefore, even within Journalism there is an element of what media may choose to show on their sites. That being said it makes it even more important to choose wisely what is written about and where sources are coming from.

If a site chooses to share your name and content, the content and accuracy should be high in priority, because as a Journalists name is publicized, there are more chances for their name to be criticized.

Overall, plagiarism is a topic that is discussed not only in the journalistic world but in the Journalism classroom. It is one of the most important discussion.

These studies overall have taught me the personal importance of using accurate and relevant sources. I learned from the movie Shattered Glass, that plagiarizing, and fabricating sources can detrimentally effect my career as a writer. I want to ensure that all sources I use are cited correctly, and highlighting truthful and factual information.

I want to earn and maintain public trust through cultivating curiosity and maintaining overall public trust.