Video explores importance of transparency and credibility

Alicia Shepard, former NPR ombudsman, recently discussed journalism transparency and credibility for the News Literacy Project. The independent journalist used the fallout from “60 Minutes’” mishandling of a Benghazi-related story from 2012. Through the 15-minute video, Shepard laid out the importance of transparency in journalism and how a lack of it can lead to diminished credibility.

“Transparency is key to believable journalism,” Shepard said. “No one likes to find out that a news organization hid information.”

She went on to add that mistakes in journalism lead to false information being provided to an audience, which damages the public’s faith in news media.

“Journalists rely on the public’s trust … it is essential that they earn and keep that trust.”