Chapters 1-3
The more I study journalism and 'act' as a journalist the weight of responsibility nearly sends me packing straight for the hills. I feel that the public does not fully understand the necessity of journalists in a democracy. My grandfather wakes up every morning, walks to the mailbox, and expects to find his daily copy of The Buffalo News. Appreciation towards the timeliness of his paper is not expressed. When he reads the paper, he does not glow with gratitude for a well written story. However, when he reads a story that is not in congruence with his point of view, you most definitely hear about it.
Ideas of truth and loyalty when working as a journalist seem standard and routine. The concept of Civic Journalism is one that brings light to my cynical view of the profession. The text chatters about how we must uphold a certain moral standard and are obligated to report stories that the people need to know about. Yes, attention must be paid to maintaining a reliable and credible means of news production, however I often feel that that journalists stop once the story is printed. Once the story is exposed that the mayor of the town has been taking vacations to Las Vegas at the expense of tax payers or once it is reported that the number of homeless mothers is increasing at an alarming rate, what is the responsibility of a journalist then? As a reader, I want to know how to change the news. Once a story is printed, there should not be a similar story to report if a journalist has done the proper job. I feel journalists have an active responsibility in helping change democracy. Tell me how to help the poor people suffering in New Orleans a year later. Who should I get in touch with to prevent another murder in my city? Is independence lost once the journalists steps out of the mold, and becomes an active citizen? I think not. I often hear people complain that they do not read or watch the news because it is depressing. If the world of journalism could just shine a single ray of hope on the often dark world of the average joe, wouldn't it be worth it? The concept of objectivity also forces me to smirk. I find it nearly impossible to remain objective and to compose a meaningful news report. I feel as long as the facts are clearly separated from opinion, what is the matter?
Media Convergence. Who thought of this? ahh Mr. McCorporate I suspect no doubt. Yes Yes newspapers need to make money... money is made by advertisements, I understand the rules of capitalism. My question is how can civic journalists be criticize for adding humanity as a bullet point under job description, when money hungry corporations are gobbling up news companies left and right? Independence is lost when the journalist offers suggestions? Independence is lost when a quarter of the countries dailies are published by the same company where the same CEO sits high atop his penthouse shouting the same standardized voice over the loudspeaker to his brainwashed peons below. I understand the overload of news sources out there and how converging different media outlets would help the overall operation, however was it converging that we saw when Walt Disney ate up ABC? No. That is corporate domination propelled by billion dollar denominations. bah. moving on.
In response to interviewing, I feel that it is an art that one crafts overtime. Interviewing is essential, however it is one component that I am weak in. It is difficult to teach interviewing and to read about techniques. The only way I will improve is by applying what I know. I would feel better about interviewing if I knew that many others become overwhelming with social anxiety like I do. The one tip that proves to be of some use is that it is okay to ask a source to repeat themselves. I need to remember time and time again.
You know you went to a New York public high school when:
1. the only African country you can locate is South Africa
2. you think an independent clause is what Mrs. Santa Clause feels like on Christmas Eve
3. comma placement only depends on if it looks good in a sentence.
The AP punctuation guide discusses punctuation I would never even know if I was using it correctly or not. As a NY high school graduate I did not learn grammar, punctuation, nor geography.
O Squared: Barack Obama and running mate Oprah
Oprah backing Obama for presidency is not current news. The star studded fundraiser Oprah held at her private estate in Montecito, California and the $3 million raised for Obama is news. I find no fault in Oprah lending Mr. Obama a golden hand during his campaign, especially if that means Hillary Clinton gets bumped out of the spotlight. If individuals support Obama solely on the advice of Oprah then there is a problem with the American people. Oprah in all reality has enough money to beat out all of Hillary's 'Hillraisers' (including Mr. Hsu). With Oprah's name now tattooed to Obama, I am curious to see if Oprah's stranglehold over America will prove itself again. When the Democratic campaigning comes to an end I am curious to see if how Oprah's support will affect the polls and if she will increase her support. Again, as long as Hillary Clinton gets the boot I'll be a happy camper.
NY Daily News
1 comment:
Ah, responsibility. It can be kind of overwhelming. When I hear criticism of "the media," I usually flinch -- and not necessarily because I agree with the criticism. I flinch because non-journalists don't seem to understand that the first time the news is reported, one person has made the decision to report it in a certain way. (Of course there is pack journalism, but each of those reporters is making his/her own decisions. And of course there are team decisions in which editors and other contributors get involved, but still there's often just one person on the front line.)
I like your description of your grandfather's response to the paper. That's typical. Journalists are not very popular.
You make some good points about civic journalism. One way we might offer solutions is to interview and include the thoughts of people who have solutions.
That said, I've written many dire environment stories that don't exactly have action plans. Sometimes it seems like I would be fruitlessly hitting people over the head. I just wrote a story on melting sea ice, and I think I managed to keep the term "global warming" out of the article altogether. I feel my readers just groan now when they see those words. But the melting ice is a real and sort of fascinating (if doomsday) phenomenon. Should I have used some of my 1,875 words (no more allowed) for tips on how to consume fewer fossil fuels? That's a rhetorical question.
"Convergence" has several meanings, I've discovered. It's a buzzword that I don't hear much these days -- though of course I want you to know about it and I'm interested in your thoughts on it.
On social anxiety: Sometimes I think I became a journalist in part to become brave in social situations. Now I can walk up to anyone and ask anything. I wonder if the trick, at least at first, is fear: fear of the editor, fear of not getting the story right. When I interview, I try to always keep in mind that my purpose is to serve the story/my readers.
We'll talk more about punctuation. If you haven't learned it before, now may be your last chance to do so.
Yes, it'll be interesting to see what the Oprah Effect is.
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