MY STORIES:
- Homeless outreach brings Volunteers of America’s resources to the streets
- Nonprofits’ motivation brings ‘credibility’ to the community
- University Neighborhood Partners aims to widen access to education for west-side residents
- Volunteers of America’s detox center helps men and women get back on two feet
MY BLOG:
This semester has given me a whole to challenge to the practice of ethical journalism.
After riding alongside a homeless outreach team and walking the halls of a drug and alcohol detox center, I have become better acquainted with the inner workings of nonprofit organizations and the roles they play in the lives of individuals less represented in society. By immersing myself in these specific communities, guessing about them became learning from them. Hearing rumors of their daily lives became engaging in their daily life.
Though an incredible experience, I noticed that in situations where you are reporting on less-represented populations, it’s easy to let your personal sympathy or personal vendettas smear objectivity. It’s easy to instantly want to be their advocate. After all, you have a pen, paper and recorder, and you have the opportunity to publicize their situation in a positive, heart-wrenching light. It would be easy to turn journalism into a catalyst for provoking an emotional response in audiences.
As journalists, we’re not lobbyists. We’re not paid to be public relations specialists or to advertise. We’re not paid to take sides — no matter how tempting or universally popular. We are impartial storytellers. We are paid to seek truth, disseminate information, critically analyze arguments and present all sides of an issue without preference. Yet, we also have the duty to give a voice to the voiceless. So, with an assignment of covering populations that are difficult not to identify with on a personal level, what does this mean, bias-free, even when all emotions tell you otherwise?
I’ve had professors tell me bias is a lie; objectivity is dead. But, no matter how many times those teachings ring through classroom halls, I must respectfully disagree. I agree that all people (including journalists) have inherent beliefs, biases and maybe even agendas. I definitely have my opinions.
However, true objectivity and lack of bias doesn’t have anything to do with opinions. It is an academic, ethical discipline. It is intentionally putting aside your own viewpoints and actively seeking to understand and present truth — unemotional, unadulterated reality. It takes more creativity and nuance of thought than any relaying of opinion or advocating of a cause.
So, I’ve entered into the bias battle of journalism on an even deeper level. I’m learning the discipline of viewing everyone, everything, every cause on an equal footing. I’m learning to lay down my pride, opinions and agendas, with the belief that all people have minds and hearts of their own. Our audiences get to have the opinions. Journalists are simply the messengers.
ABOUT ME:
Filed under: Blogs & Bios, Student-Journalists
