In search of truth - no easy task

Page 6

Journalists are supposed to be constantly in search of the truth. Sometimes it is difficult to tell what the truth is...and even more difficult to determine who's telling the truth.

When we encounter a situation in which the parties involved make settlements which are directly conflicting with each other we must, of course, present both sides.

But our responsibility doesn't end there, however, we must also do our own independent research to find out what the truth really is.

This quest for "truth" becomes difficult when it involves situations which are inherently conflicting, such as negotiations between government and Native groups. In these cases, each side takes a position based upon its mandate and objects, and thus their perspectives and perceptions are necessarily influenced.

While all of those considerations must be taken into account to ensure fair and balanced reporting, we must also remember our own mandate - that we are a pro-Native newspaper serving the Native community.

In the final analysis, you, the reader, must decide how successful our search for truth is.