Journalists - Responsible observers of the Worlds events, or pariahs?
By p1kef1sh
@p1kef1sh (45681)
March 4, 2008 3:54am CST
Responding to another post today got me wondering just what the general view is of journalists. There have been many great ones, even Churchill was one, but there are also those that appear to revel in the doings of the gutter. Apparently not caring who they hurt so long as their story is sold. Personally the jury is still out for me and I find it difficult to generalise, but what's your view?
1 person likes this
4 responses
@paid2write (5201)
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4 Mar 08
I think it depends on the type of newspaper, magazine or journal they are writing for. I agree some of the news stories about celebrities or sensational items about someone else'e misfortune are often written by journalists who are looking to benefit from other people's misery. On the other hand there are many admirable intelligent and hardworking journalists working for national and international publications and networks.
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
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4 Mar 08
I think that that is my take on it too. I admire some journalists and political commentators but I have seen for myself the effects of muckraking on someone's life just to make a few sales one week and it is not pleasant. That week cost a good man his job, his reputation and ultimately his home. But there is no denying that we do want to know a little something about our heroes and heroines too. As Donovan wrote "even the greatest heroes have to sh*t and pee" and great chunks of the population want to see them do it.
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@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
4 Mar 08
Hummmm, being one of these people. LOL, I found something that surprised me today. I am going to do a write up on it and make a satire out of todays words.
I find that most journalist can not stand up to what the standards of true journalism is.
I am a true journalist, hold the journalist creed close, and use my 1st Amendment rights. I only wish the others could do the same before they were bought and sold.
Ainge
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@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
4 Mar 08
I think there are both.
I honestly don't think much of what the journalism schools are putting out these days, they are actually being taught that they SHOULD try and bias the news rather than just report it.
That doesn't mean that there aren't still some people that do a good job, just a lot fewer of them.
I think the biggest problem with television news is that sometimes the guy standing infront of the camera starts "becoming" the news and gets a big head and trys to become a "personality." Heraldo Rivera comes to mind...
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@p1kef1sh (45681)
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5 Mar 08
I agree. Interestingly my nephew, who is the Press Officer for a major UK soccer club was told not to do a journalism degree. He was writing sports reports for his local paper from the age of 16. His editor told him that he put little credence in journalism as a subject and that he would be better doing something that honed his writing skills. he ended up doing History. he must be doing something right, he's 22, already with a major club and his father told me earlier in the week that Chelsea (one of the biggest clubs in the the UK) had invited him to a dinner to talk to him about his future.
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@bonansa2008 (219)
• Indonesia
16 Mar 08
Journalist is a professional. You are entitled with moral responsiblities to serve societies. With that moral responsibility, journalist will prepare his reports with care. In this case, journalist treat the news not as commodity to be sold, but as an information that is needed by his readers to whom his moral-responsibilities are intitled. White House also need the role of journalists, especially those posted in the White House, or Capitol Hill. Every presidents need them them to win the campaigns or even to win the war.
