Learning to write with compassion

When reading the quote from Joseph Smith, it made me stop and think critically. When I read Joseph Smith’s words about kindness and compassion, what stood out to me most was the idea that the closer we come to Heavenly Father, the more we feel moved to treat others with mercy. It made me think about how that same principle applies to news writing. News stories aren’t just lists of facts; they’re about people. And when you’re writing about people, the way you tell the story matters.

To me, this quote is a reminder that even when a story involves hard things, mistakes, trials, or tragedy, we can still write with respect. We can choose words that don’t tear someone down or sensationalize their pain.

Remembering kindness when writing means that we are thinking of our subject as a child of God. Every person we write about has a life, family, and struggles we don’t always see. When Joseph Smith talks about taking others “upon our shoulders,” I picture that as carrying their story with tenderness and love.

Good journalism isn’t about making someone look bad; it’s about helping people understand the world more clearly. And if we approach news writing with the same spirit of mercy Joseph Smith describes, our writing becomes more honest, more fair, and more like the way Christ would want us to see each other.