評論
打印
The study of law has been recognized for centuries as a basic intellectual discipline in European universities.
幾個世紀以來，有關法律的研究一直被看成是歐洲各國大學的一門基本的知識學科。
However, only in recent years has it become a feature of undergraduate programs in Canadian universities.
不過，只是在最近幾年有關法律的研究才成為加拿大大學教育的一門學科。
Traditionally, legal learning has been viewed in such institutions as the special preserve of lawyers, rather than a necessary part of the intellectual equipment of an educated person.
傳統上在加拿大的高等學府里，學習法律一直被看作是律師的專門工作，而不是一個受過良好教育的人所必須具備的知識素養。
Happily, the older and more continental view of legal education is establishing itself in a number of Canadian universities and some have even begun to offer undergraduate degrees in law.
幸運的是，加拿大的許多大學正在樹立法律教育更傳統、更具有大陸特性的觀念，有些甚至已經開始授予法律學士學位.
If the study of law is beginning to establish itself as part and parcel of a general education, its aims and methods should appeal directly to journalism educators.
如果有關法律的研究正在開始成為普通教育一個不可缺少的學科的話，那么它的目的和方法應該會即刻吸引新聞學教育家。
Law is a discipline which encourages responsible judgment.
法律是一門學科，這門學科鼓勵進行有責任的判斷。
On the one hand, it provides opportunities to analyze such ideas as justice, democracy and freedom.
一方面，它分析提供了分析如公正、民主以及自由概念的機會。
On the other, it links these concepts to everyday realities in a manner which is parallel to the links journalists forge on a daily basis as they cover and comment on the news.
另一方面，法律又將正義、民主和自由這些觀念與日常生活中的實際聯系在一起，其方式就如同新聞工作者在報道和評論新聞事件時，以日常生活為基礎，使這些觀念與實際情況相結合一樣。
For example, notions of evidence and fact, of basic rights and public interest are at work in the process of journalistic judgment and production just as in courts of law.
比如，有關證據和事實、基本權利和公眾利益這樣的概念在新聞判斷和新聞制作過程中起作用，就像在法庭上一樣。
Sharpening judgment by absorbing and reflecting on law is a desirable component of a journalist's intellectual preparation for his or her career.
通過學習并且反省法律來強化判斷是一名新聞記者為其事業進行知識準備時渴望實現的。
But the idea that the journalist must understand the law more profoundly than an ordinary citizen rests on an understanding of the established conventions and special responsibilities of the news media.
但是，新聞工作者對于法律的理解應該比普通公民更加深刻，這個觀點是建立在對新聞媒體的既定規范和特殊的社會責任有深刻認識之上的。
Politics or, more broadly, the functioning of the state, is a major subject for journalists.
政治，或者更廣泛一點，國家的職能，是新聞記者報道的一個主要方面。
The better informed they are about the way the state works, the better their reporting will be.
他們對國家運作的方式了解越多，他們的報道就越優秀。
In fact, it is difficult to see how journalists who do not have a clear grasp of the basic features of the Canadian Constitution can do a competent job on political stories.
實際上，很難想象那些對加拿大憲法的基本特點缺乏清晰了解的新聞工作者能夠勝任政治新聞報道的工作。
Furthermore, the legal system and the events which occur within it are primary subjects for journalists.
此外，法律體系以及其中發生的事件是新聞記者報道的主題。
While the quality of legal journalism varies greatly, there is an undue reliance amongst many journalists on interpretations supplied to them by lawyers.
雖然與法律有關的新聞報道的性質差別很大，但是，許多新聞記者過分依賴律師提供給他們的詮釋。
While comment and reaction from lawyers may enhance stories, it is preferable for journalists to rely on their own notions of significance and make their own judgments.
律師的評論和反應當然能夠提升新聞報道的價值，但是記者們最好還是依靠自己對于事件重要性的認識來做出判斷。
These can only come from a well-grounded understanding of the legal system.
只能通過對法律體系的深刻了解才能得出。
