COMMENT | One of the many basic mantras drilled into the mindsets of reporters early in their career is: There are always two or more sides to a story. Get the other sides of the story - get comments and reactions from all parties.

Every journalist worth his or her salt will make efforts to seek comments and publish the comments from all parties even if they are mere one-line denials.

This is why readers often come across statements like “declined comment” or “did not respond to an e-mail with detailed questions about the issue”.

Editors usually do not publish until and unless the other parties are contacted, failing which, these rejoinders are used.

However, if responses come after publication, they too will be published subsequently on the principle that any aggrieved party has a “right of reply”.

Having said that, it is depressing to note that the government is going on a warpath with Al Jazeera despite having not taken the opportunities afforded by the TV channel to several government agencies to address issues raised.