It’s not anchoring.  It’s not tracking down the story and convincing someone to talk to us. It’s not even the deadlines we face all day and all night to get it first, get it right, and get it on the air and the web.

The hardest part of broadcasting and webcasting news is not giving our opinion; not revealing our take on things; not showing our bias; not advocating.

There are only a couple instances  in our newscasts and webcasts when it’s okay, it’s safe to let you know where we stand, how we feel, what we’re thinking. .. the only acceptable time to show our hand.

Have you guessed yet which times that would be when we would be beyond reproach?  When we ourselves, or you our viewers and readers, would give us a pass to let our guard down?

Yeah, you’re right.  When we’re rooting for the hometown team.  Like the Red Wings in their quest for the Stanley Cup. Now that’s a safe bet.  And another safe bet, of course, when we push hard and pull together to help people in need in this community.  Like we all did for Christmas in May when we collected tons and tons of items to give away to families who don’t have the money to buy them.

Those are the rare instances when we can show on air and on the web a side of ourselves that otherwise we would keep under wraps.  And that’s as it should be.