A recent study profiles the American journalist as young, male, white, educated, and coming from a solid middle- or upper-middle-class background. Women and minority groups are grossly underrepresented in the field of journalism. Other studies present parallels between the topics that are selected as newsworthy and the characteristics of those who gather and edit the news, revealing that the selective perception of the reporter does influence what becomes news. Other factors that color the individual reporter's approach to the news include reasons for entering the profession, motivation for staying on the job, personal values and professional ethics, mood, intelligence, imagination, and the competitive, self-protective atmosphere of the newsroom. Fearing a loss of credibility with the public, today's reporter faces problems in verifying all information, defining an ethical position toward sources and the public, deciding a personal role as a private citizen, and guarding relationships and affairs from conflict-of-interests charges. (MAI)