Credibility

Ennis discusses the importance of the credibility of sources. He talks a little about academic/printed sources. But he talks more about the credibility of individuals in an interview or a testimony situation. The ideas he presents are pretty obvious. Credibility comes from expertise developed from experience or training. Credibility comes from direct experience – as in a witness who actually observed an event. Credibility comes from a long reputation of being trusted or accurate. Credibility comes from having the information checked out.

He also points out that we accept information from sources all around us every day. We accept credibility in many different forms. Why do news anchors wear suits? Credibility. We are more inclined to believe someone who is wearing a suit than a shirt and tie or a polo shirt. Grave an serious information should be delivered by a person who is dressed in a serious manner. Notice that the news anchor must wear a suit, but the weatherman and the sports caster can dress down to shirt and tie. Their news is less serious. They are reporting information that comes from nature or entertainment.

Credibility comes from neighbors we trust, coworkers that we have observed, family members who raise us. There needs to be some reason to believe the person. In daily contact there is no opportunity for double-checking information. The checks come from the relationship, history, or a nice suit.

Once lost, credibility is a tough thing to earn back. How many times can a source be wrong before they are totally discounted … 1, 2, 3? Not many more than that. How many times does a source have to be right before they are trusted … 5, 10, 100?

Anonymity is a great eraser. In a small town everyone has you pegged. In a big town, you can just move your operation a few miles and start with a clean slate. Hence people moving to New York, LA, or Nashville to start with a new name and a new chance at something different. In the new mobile society, the more people move, the more opportunities they have to take another shot at their dreams or ambitions. Staying in the same old town brands you with the same old reputation. You have to leave, become an unknown, reinvent yourself, and build a new reputation if you want to move up. Credibility comes from anonymity.

America is full of fresh starts. Maybe that is what makes us different from other countries. You can leave Europe, move to America, and become a new person. You are not son of-son of-son of, going back generations. You are a new and fresh individual. I would expect the same in Australia.