Truth is Reality, Even When It Hurts
At the Hall School of Journalism and Communication's annual "M. Stanton Evans Symposium on Money, Politics, & the Media", environment and investigative journalist for the Tampa Bay Times and former writer for the Tropolitan (Trop), Craig Pittman, discussed how his work as an investigative reporter for the Trop in 1981 brought controversy to campus.
His "truth may set you free" quote references - whether intentionally or not was unclear - John 8:31-32*, which says, "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free**.”
Truth is reality, whether people agree with you or not. When exposing, proclaiming, or standing up for hard realities you will inevitably face hardship in the public eye. This applies to not only journalistic practices, but Christian living as well.
Christians are called to keep God's commands, even when people criticize or mock you for doing so.
During the 1 p.m. Q&A session following the main event, he emphasized to students that their highest responsibility is to the story itself and not the people reading it.
Which, again, mirrors the theological point that Christians should not alter or change the truth for the sake of those hearing, but proclaim what is factual for the sake of objectivity.
This is such an applicable point in today's society when so many claim Christianity, but do not live according to the commands and principles laid out in Scripture.
*Bible verse translated from ESV **bold mine
"In an era when anyone with a smartphone and a camera can call themselves a journalist, Pittman is the real deal," said Tom Davis, executive assistant to the chancellor and fellow 1981 Trop journalist.
During Pittman's undergraduate career, the Troy University administration had a number of scandals that no one knew about - until Pittman followed paper trails, did the research and exposed the issues.
He reported the details of the ethics investigation of the university president and a yacht that the university was misusing to name a couple examples of his work.
During Pittman's undergraduate career, the Troy University administration had a number of scandals that no one knew about - until Pittman followed paper trails, did the research and exposed the issues.
He reported the details of the ethics investigation of the university president and a yacht that the university was misusing to name a couple examples of his work.
He wasn't doing this out of spite or malice, but to simply fulfill the journalist's calling.
"You're not doing this for glory," Pittman said. "You're doing it because your calling, if you will, is to report the truth and let the chips fall as they may."
One of his major pieces of advice to student journalists was to "follow the paper trail" which means to look at public records. receipts, documents, etc. to find out where the university is spending money and look into how and why the money is being spent.
This investigative reporting naturally brought him under much public scrutiny.
The truth he exposed caused so much controversy and public relations hassles that the former J-school dean Merill Bankster called Pittman the most destructive force on campus.
"The truth may set you free, but don't expect everyone to like it," Pittman said during his speech.
As a Christian, one of the first things that came to mind was a particular Bible passage that parallels this message about truth.
"You're not doing this for glory," Pittman said. "You're doing it because your calling, if you will, is to report the truth and let the chips fall as they may."
One of his major pieces of advice to student journalists was to "follow the paper trail" which means to look at public records. receipts, documents, etc. to find out where the university is spending money and look into how and why the money is being spent.
This investigative reporting naturally brought him under much public scrutiny.
The truth he exposed caused so much controversy and public relations hassles that the former J-school dean Merill Bankster called Pittman the most destructive force on campus.
"The truth may set you free, but don't expect everyone to like it," Pittman said during his speech.
As a Christian, one of the first things that came to mind was a particular Bible passage that parallels this message about truth.
His "truth may set you free" quote references - whether intentionally or not was unclear - John 8:31-32*, which says, "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free**.”
Truth is reality, whether people agree with you or not. When exposing, proclaiming, or standing up for hard realities you will inevitably face hardship in the public eye. This applies to not only journalistic practices, but Christian living as well.
Christians are called to keep God's commands, even when people criticize or mock you for doing so.
During the 1 p.m. Q&A session following the main event, he emphasized to students that their highest responsibility is to the story itself and not the people reading it.
Which, again, mirrors the theological point that Christians should not alter or change the truth for the sake of those hearing, but proclaim what is factual for the sake of objectivity.
This is such an applicable point in today's society when so many claim Christianity, but do not live according to the commands and principles laid out in Scripture.
*Bible verse translated from ESV **bold mine
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