Peirspictiochtai Ar An Saol
Zero-Based News
Part Eighteen
Cherry picking information is not new and is not a technique limited to journalism.
When implemented by journalists, cherry picking involves the purposeful selection of items that may each be factual, but are not truthful in context. When practiced in reporting the news, cherry picking only provides a slice of the truth.
Truth is a series of facts placed in context.
One of the key techniques used by a number of people who present the news today is to first determine the end of the news story they are preparing for dissemination. Then, selectively include only facts that back up the premise of the ending of that news story.
Cherry picking can be designed to provide a negative slant on the news or a positive slant on the news, depending on the goals of the individual or the entity producing the news coverage.
An example of cherry picking to highlight negative news:
The headline of a news story: "Crime Ravages Our Neighborhood"
A news story focuses on how serious crime exists in a specific neighborhood of the community. This news story details a series of three separate acts of violence in the specific area of the community. Each example cited includes specific details of how individuals suffered at the hands of criminals.
No mention is made that the criminal activities cited were each individual acts aimed at family members of the perpetrators; that none of the criminal activities involved the general public. No mention is made of how common or uncommon these specific criminal acts are within the community overall. No note is made of how often these specific criminal acts occur in the specific section of the community or in the community overall.
The reader, listener, or viewer is left with the impression that crime is out of control in their community.
An example of cherry picking to highlight positive news:
The headline of a news story: "Crime Down In Our Community"
A news story focuses on how crime has decreased in the community. This news story details a drop in a specific type of criminal activity: Car thefts decreased 3.5% from the year before in the community. The news story includes quotes from governmental officials heralding the drop in crime in the community. The news story includes quotes from individual citizens explaining how they avoid being a victim of car thefts: "I always lock the doors to my SUV"; "I never leave valuables where they can be seen in my car"; and "I park my pick-up truck in a well-lit area at night."
Not mentioned in the news story is that the time period highlighted – the Christmas shopping season from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day – included fewer days this year as compared to last year. The news story does not note that the actual number of cars stolen this year is actually higher – not lower – than the number of cars stolen last year when the actual number of days is compared year-to-year.
The reader, listener, or viewer is left with the impression that crime is decreasing in their community.
The next news column in this series will focus on how advocacy impacts the reporting of news.
Peirspictiochtai Ar A Saol – Gaelic – Irish – for "Perspectives On Life" is a column focused on aspects of accountability and responsibility as well as ways people look at life.
Contact Richard McDonough at
© 2025 Richard McDonough
