The Ruth DeDakis Rule of Journalism
Meet Ruth DeDakis. My mom.
I learned a lot from Mom. Not surprising -- she was a teacher, after all. She taught at Franklin Elementary School in La Crosse, Wisconsin for more than 20 years.
One of the many life-long lessons she taught me guided my 45-year career in journalism.
She was a Nixon Republican. I was not. She felt a biased news media ran Nixon out of the White House. I felt Nixon's political demise had more to do with his attempt to obstruct justice which was uncovered by journalists dedicated to holding elected officials accountable.
Even though our disagreements were lively, she would always say, "Now, John. We're not arguing. We're having a discussion." (Um.....for the record: they were arguments.)
As a result, my life trajectory pivoted away from becoming a lawyer and going into politics. Instead, as far as my mom was concerned, I joined the Dark Side when I decided to become a journalist. Even so, the advice she gave me at the beginning of my career is wise and, in my opinion, stands the test of time:
"If I ever hear your opinion in any of your news reports -- even if I agree with you -- you've failed. Just give me the facts and let me make up my own mind." I call it the Ruth DeDakis Rule of Journalism. I tried to live by it throughout my career.
There's an axiom in journalism: "If your mother tells you she loves you.......check it out." I did. She did.
Mom died 30 years ago this week of a massive pulmonary embolism, a month shy of her 80th birthday. I miss her, of course, but her lessons live on.
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My mother was a lifetime Republican, but she gave me the freedom to think for myself very early. A real gift. And lived a long life to 95, last year.
Ron