Empathy In Writing.

08/03/2026

Quote by Joseph Smith: “When persons manifest the least kindness and love to me, O what pow’r it has over my mind. . . . The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more are we dispos’d to look with compassion on perishing souls—[we feel that we want] to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back . . . if you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.

This quote connects deeply to the ethical core of news writing by reminding us that behind every headline or controversy is a real human being. 

Journalism requires commitment to objective fact. The quote suggests that this shouldn't come at the expense of empathy. When reporters cover tragedy or personal failure, the “perishing souls,” it is best to frame their stories with compassion. This prevents news from devolving into clickbait and sensationalism. Furthermore, extending kindness during the interview process builds a foundation of trust, which allows subjects to share a more authentic version of themselves. Applying mercy to news writing means reporting the truth with dignity, recognizing that the subjects of our stories are flawed and deserving of grace.