Role of journalism - Opinion not always fact

THE controversy surrounding the Wikileaks claim that Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams and the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness knew in advance about the Northern Bank robbery in 2004 goes to the heart of a debate on the role of journalism.

At issue is a question on the difference between opinion and fact when reporting the news. The revelations of Wikileaks are certainly fascinating and in many instances probably close to the mark. Broadly speaking, it is a force for good.

But it is important to keep in mind that these leaks are invariably based on opinion.

In the Adams case, the opinions are attributed to former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. In another recent example, diplomatic cables opined that Vatican diplomats were angry because queries on child sexual abuse concerning priests in the Dublin diocese had not come through proper channels. Perhaps we will learn the truth if Mr Ahern and the Vatican reveal the facts.

Whatever the veracity of such allegations, Wikileaks is no substitute for good journalism based on sound research and accurate reporting. Just because something is wikileaked does not mean it is fact.

The fundamental role of journalism is to inform the public. However, the role places heavy responsibility on the media to report the news accurately, fairly, and with integrity — ever mindful of the difference between fact and opinion.