It is important for a journalist to get information from more than one source because there is more than one side to every story. Journalists need to strive to not show bias and to present an objective opinion. In most cases, the greater the variety of sources a journalist uses, the less biased their piece will come across to their audience.
Also, predictably, the more individuals a journalist interviews, the greater the pool of information from which the journalist is able to select what they wish to include in their piece. By interviewing only one source, a journalist has a very limited amount of information they can use. If, by any chance, a journalist is confused by what one source says, perhaps talking to another source can clarify it for the journalist.
No matter the number of sources a journalist has interviewed for a piece, it is crucial that all of the sources be trusted and reliable. The validity of a journalist often rests on the validity of the sources they have used, so using sources that people trust is something that every journalist should strive to do when interviewing for a piece.
A journalist's credibility is a very important aspect of their career and they should strive not to jeopardize it. If a journalist continually produces stories that sound very much one-sided, the journalist's credibility can consequently suffer along with their validity. Journalism is all about examining stories and that examination entails many different sides and angles, not just one narrow viewpoint. More sources are needed for a broader view of a journalist's subject.
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