may think — “Well, another one of those sailors from
Yet, when the story is published, a civilian reader
the base killed himself today. I wish something would
be done about their reckless driving habits. It is not safe
to drive the highways anymore.”
In a story of this type, the circumstances should be
carefully explained. It might also be pointed out in the
was involved in five or six months, if that is the case.
Try to wrap up your story with some positive
information.
It must be emphasized, however, that under no
circumstances should facts be distorted or sugar-coated
to put an accident in a favorable light. If mitigating
circumstances exist, they should be reported. If they do
not exist, tell the story straight and stick to the facts. You
should strive to treat all stories as impartially and as
objectively as possible. Never give a newspaper, or any
other medium for that matter, less than your best effort.
story that this was the first auto accident in which a sailor
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