Communication and truth

Keith Woods is the dean of faculty at The Poynter Institute, and while what he talked about – communication -- should be common sense, he really changed the way I react in confrontational or uncomfortable situations. Asking someone what a comment means or why he or she feels a certain way is a great tool because it helps you understand where the person is coming from. This, in turn, makes it easier to connect with that person. These tools are important in everyday life, but they are priceless in the journalism profession. The way Woods connected these issues of communication to our most primal survival instincts emphasizes the harm that can be done if we fail to pause and ask these questions. By asking these questions, I will be able to write more comprehensive stories that represent a situation in complete truthfulness.