Recently there was a post on the Rosemont Face Book page saying there was a fight at Rosemont High, and being very critical of the school and all its personnel.
The problem is that the event did not happen.
Now the school, and in fact our entire community, has, at least in the minds of those who do not have the facts, a very negative reputation that will take a long time to repair. No school or community should ever have to deal with that situation.
In the interest of all involved, whether it is a school, a business, an institution, a community, and even the author of the post or story, it is necessary to verify the facts before spreading rumors. That is the responsibility of good journalism, and whenever we post to the Internet, be it on Face Book or any other media, we are in effect being journalists. None of us would want rumors or untruths posted about us personally, much less disparaging comments, so why would any organization or community want that to happen to it?
So, please DO use our Rosemont social media to share information and ideas. But please be sure to verify the facts first. And if you are posting about something that is a crime or a danger, before you post to social media take appropriate action to report to the proper authorities such as law enforcement. Then when you post, say it has been properly reported, and provide enough information that readers know the nature of the concern, its approximate location and when it happened. To say there is a problem and not say where or when creates unnecessary concerns and makes the author look bad. Let’s always work to provide useful and accurate information that people can act on if needed. By doing so we can enhance the reputation of Rosemont and its people.