Yesterday was very inspiring in the blog-about-truth-in-journalism department. It began with some unusually unpleasant letters to the Daily Universe http://universe.byu.edu/opinion.
The opinion page for 2/17/11 caused me to ponder, with some concern, the tendency of some BYU students to (and I quote my American Heritage professor, Dr. Kimball) "be so focused on the perfect that they miss the good."
I also attended a lecture by Dr. Shane Reese, who used statistics to "bridge the gaps in knowledge created by science," allowing science to operate amidst "uncertainty." This seemed to link back nicely to the video that we watched in class on Tuesday.
http://www.youtube.com/user/browncoat4077#p/a/f/0/ZH28G0_vTpg
Anyway, all of this reminded me of journalism. A journalist does not know all of the facts because they are constantly developing and changing. However, unlike these unfortunate letter writers, a journalist has to accept that, without knowing everything, she must use the "good" she does have. Like Dr. Reese's statistician example, she must operate amidst "uncertainty," using the scientific process of verification to "bridge the gaps between what we know and what we need to know."
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Verification in Journalism #4
I am going to begin with a favorite quote from a favorite book, "If we act the truth, the people who really love us are sure to come back to us in the long run," (Forster, A Room With a View). http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/2103.E_M_Forster
I have determined that this is probably not a bad motto with which to begin a journalist's education. In contrast to the previous week's discussion, the presentation on verification in journalism was refreshingly clear. Several principles guide the journalistic method; the journalistic method is what separates journalists from, well, those other people. The principles are as follows:
Never add anything to the story that wasn't really there; never try to deceive the audience; be as transparent as possible; rely on your own reporting and notes; exercise humility
In the in-class survey, I selected "Never deceive the audience" as the most important principle. This stemmed from my previous experiences in journalism. I wrote bimonthly movie reviews for the local newspaper. http://www.paysonroundup.com/search/?q=Lucy+Schouten+movie+reviews&sortby=date&x=0&y=0 I quickly learned that honesty was an important facet of reviewing. I lived in a small town, and people appreciated the fact that I was level with them. If I thought a movie was frightening, stupid, or overly graphic, I admitted it in print, and I was able to establish a relatively credible reputation because of it.
My view broadened throughout the presentation. I now agree with the book that transparency is the primary tool in creating credible journalism. Although some people take a "we can't get rid of bias so why even try?" attitude, I believe that is an unprofessional approach. Through honesty and scientific verification, journalism can, in the best sense, reach that hazy horizon: objectivity. In short, long-term, scientific verification can produce truthful journalism. The internet may evolve and media conglomerates may conspire, but if we as journalists "act the truth," the American audience is "sure to come back to us in the long run."
I have determined that this is probably not a bad motto with which to begin a journalist's education. In contrast to the previous week's discussion, the presentation on verification in journalism was refreshingly clear. Several principles guide the journalistic method; the journalistic method is what separates journalists from, well, those other people. The principles are as follows:
Never add anything to the story that wasn't really there; never try to deceive the audience; be as transparent as possible; rely on your own reporting and notes; exercise humility
In the in-class survey, I selected "Never deceive the audience" as the most important principle. This stemmed from my previous experiences in journalism. I wrote bimonthly movie reviews for the local newspaper. http://www.paysonroundup.com/search/?q=Lucy+Schouten+movie+reviews&sortby=date&x=0&y=0 I quickly learned that honesty was an important facet of reviewing. I lived in a small town, and people appreciated the fact that I was level with them. If I thought a movie was frightening, stupid, or overly graphic, I admitted it in print, and I was able to establish a relatively credible reputation because of it.
My view broadened throughout the presentation. I now agree with the book that transparency is the primary tool in creating credible journalism. Although some people take a "we can't get rid of bias so why even try?" attitude, I believe that is an unprofessional approach. Through honesty and scientific verification, journalism can, in the best sense, reach that hazy horizon: objectivity. In short, long-term, scientific verification can produce truthful journalism. The internet may evolve and media conglomerates may conspire, but if we as journalists "act the truth," the American audience is "sure to come back to us in the long run."
Monday, February 14, 2011
Rise and Shout
I would be remiss in my duties as a BYU student if I did not comment on the BYU Basketball situation. My favorite signs from the game:
"I love badminton"
"Every time a bell rings, Jimmer gets a three"
Also, my favorite from the posts is John Weymouth, near the bottom.
http://dreamcatchermedia.com/jimmered
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed screaming my brains out at the Marriot Center on Saturday. Go Cougars!
"I love badminton"
"Every time a bell rings, Jimmer gets a three"
Also, my favorite from the posts is John Weymouth, near the bottom.
http://dreamcatchermedia.com/jimmered
Well, I thoroughly enjoyed screaming my brains out at the Marriot Center on Saturday. Go Cougars!
To Play or Not To Play
A Letter to the Editor in Response to the Words of Michelle Peralta on Jimmer Fredette:
Let me begin by stating that I am aware of the phenomenon to which Mrs. Peralta alluded in her recent letter (of which “controversial” would be a shocking understatement). BYU Basketball, with a special emphasis on its most honored player, is one of the more significant issues on campus right now. As I write this, students are doubtless waiting in tents near the Marriot Center, or simply gearing up to “scream their brains out” at the game tomorrow. I hope to do some screaming myself, however, I will admit that I find those who dwell in tents to be slightly disconcerting. A friend commented that their excess of zeal made life difficult for those of us who, while desirous of joining in the fun, felt the need to do homework occasionally. I agreed.
However, Mrs. Peralta’s letter was not a commentary on excessive zeal. In fact, in spite of the recent hype, it did not even seem to be about Jimmer Fredette. As far as I can tell, her vitriol was aimed squarely at those who, like myself, find simple, perhaps even sub-intellectual, joy in a battle of skill at the Y. She asserts that those students who choose to spend their time watching basketball games on TV, waiting in line at the Marriot Center, relieving stress with a hearty “Ra, Ra, Ra-Ra-Ra!,” or high-fiving a friend over “last night’s game,” are the culprits. In short, she is not asking for moderation or even wishing that the current system of ticket-distribution were more conducive to a well-rounded life; she is promoting her own choice of lifestyle at the expense of one embraced by many BYU students.
Ms. Peralta has stated in other letters that her preferences tend toward the arts. The argument has been put forth that her preference for less sweat-inducing entertainments contribute to her disinclination for basketball. In general,though, BYU takes its “arts” quite seriously. Groups travel all over the world, representing BYU through dance and music. There are many wonderful events to attend on campus in honor of these things. The students themselves are very supportive of this. “Cinderella,” showing on the same weekend as “the big game,” has been sold out for some time now. Many other premier arts events have received the same response. The dance classes at BYU have more students from all over campus than any other department. I attend an organ class with 13 other students: there are only 12 organs in the organ lab. There is also no reason to suppose that arts and BYU basketball, badminton and even Jimmer Fredette, are mutually incompatible. At BYU, we are urged to seek a balanced life and education, to enjoy the best that we can find in whatever sphere our interests or circumstances may take us.
Finally, BYU students have a wonderful diversity of opinion, but most of us share a number of values. Most of us are doing our best to gain a good, rich, varied education and live our lives in accordance with the Gospel. We seek to apply the scriptures to our lives, however, taking small scriptural incidents out of context and using them to condemn the lifestyle choices of others is inappropriate. Mrs. Peralta is free to live as she chooses, but unless she feels actual enmity from basketball fans, she must allow others the same privilege. For more information, see http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=1964
Let me begin by stating that I am aware of the phenomenon to which Mrs. Peralta alluded in her recent letter (of which “controversial” would be a shocking understatement). BYU Basketball, with a special emphasis on its most honored player, is one of the more significant issues on campus right now. As I write this, students are doubtless waiting in tents near the Marriot Center, or simply gearing up to “scream their brains out” at the game tomorrow. I hope to do some screaming myself, however, I will admit that I find those who dwell in tents to be slightly disconcerting. A friend commented that their excess of zeal made life difficult for those of us who, while desirous of joining in the fun, felt the need to do homework occasionally. I agreed.
However, Mrs. Peralta’s letter was not a commentary on excessive zeal. In fact, in spite of the recent hype, it did not even seem to be about Jimmer Fredette. As far as I can tell, her vitriol was aimed squarely at those who, like myself, find simple, perhaps even sub-intellectual, joy in a battle of skill at the Y. She asserts that those students who choose to spend their time watching basketball games on TV, waiting in line at the Marriot Center, relieving stress with a hearty “Ra, Ra, Ra-Ra-Ra!,” or high-fiving a friend over “last night’s game,” are the culprits. In short, she is not asking for moderation or even wishing that the current system of ticket-distribution were more conducive to a well-rounded life; she is promoting her own choice of lifestyle at the expense of one embraced by many BYU students.
Ms. Peralta has stated in other letters that her preferences tend toward the arts. The argument has been put forth that her preference for less sweat-inducing entertainments contribute to her disinclination for basketball. In general,though, BYU takes its “arts” quite seriously. Groups travel all over the world, representing BYU through dance and music. There are many wonderful events to attend on campus in honor of these things. The students themselves are very supportive of this. “Cinderella,” showing on the same weekend as “the big game,” has been sold out for some time now. Many other premier arts events have received the same response. The dance classes at BYU have more students from all over campus than any other department. I attend an organ class with 13 other students: there are only 12 organs in the organ lab. There is also no reason to suppose that arts and BYU basketball, badminton and even Jimmer Fredette, are mutually incompatible. At BYU, we are urged to seek a balanced life and education, to enjoy the best that we can find in whatever sphere our interests or circumstances may take us.
Finally, BYU students have a wonderful diversity of opinion, but most of us share a number of values. Most of us are doing our best to gain a good, rich, varied education and live our lives in accordance with the Gospel. We seek to apply the scriptures to our lives, however, taking small scriptural incidents out of context and using them to condemn the lifestyle choices of others is inappropriate. Mrs. Peralta is free to live as she chooses, but unless she feels actual enmity from basketball fans, she must allow others the same privilege. For more information, see http://magazine.byu.edu/?act=view&a=1964
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Forms of Journalism #3
I admit that I was disappointed in the ambiguity of our class discussion. If I believed that the work of anyone with access to the internet and a couple of half-verified facts could produce free-standing journalism, then I would not be focusing my college education on the topic. I believe that a true journalist has several qualifications: (roughly taken from Mind of a Journalist, 40).
1) A loyalty and commitment to the citizen's privileges to truthful information
2) Some education- I am not going to snobbishly specify, but I believe that a true journalist's thirst for truth will not be sated without some personal fulfillment.
3) Rough belief in the "Fourth Estate"
4) Loyalty to the story
Referring again to the class discussion, I would qualify both the Tweet and the newspaper article (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29cairo.html) as journalism. They both provide information with the previous goals in mind. The blog (http://www.gaurdian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/feb/05/egypt-protests) ,to me, leaves the reader with more confusing at the end of the article than he or she has at the beginning---and not a probing, philosophical confusion, either.
The widespread availability of publishing technology blurs the line between journalism and publicly-accessible commentary. It reminds me of my days of high school track. I had a coach who was very fond of "throwing" sprinters into the 800m race, which is technically a distance race. Their times normally beat those of the actual distance runners, which was disheartening, to say the least. However, they could only ever do it once. After the first race, they knew how much it would hurt and were unwilling to put forth the effort again, as compared to the regular distance runners. A novice might produce something spectacular once or twice, but it takes a professional to create quality work, day in and day out.
1) A loyalty and commitment to the citizen's privileges to truthful information
2) Some education- I am not going to snobbishly specify, but I believe that a true journalist's thirst for truth will not be sated without some personal fulfillment.
3) Rough belief in the "Fourth Estate"
4) Loyalty to the story
Referring again to the class discussion, I would qualify both the Tweet and the newspaper article (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29cairo.html) as journalism. They both provide information with the previous goals in mind. The blog (http://www.gaurdian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/feb/05/egypt-protests) ,to me, leaves the reader with more confusing at the end of the article than he or she has at the beginning---and not a probing, philosophical confusion, either.
The widespread availability of publishing technology blurs the line between journalism and publicly-accessible commentary. It reminds me of my days of high school track. I had a coach who was very fond of "throwing" sprinters into the 800m race, which is technically a distance race. Their times normally beat those of the actual distance runners, which was disheartening, to say the least. However, they could only ever do it once. After the first race, they knew how much it would hurt and were unwilling to put forth the effort again, as compared to the regular distance runners. A novice might produce something spectacular once or twice, but it takes a professional to create quality work, day in and day out.
For Whom Do Journalists Work?
In discussing the various loyalties which modern journalists juggle daily, particularly given the trends in media conglomeration, I am forcibly reminded of a certain line from The Importance of Being Earnest, about how being found in a handbag "seems to me to display a contempt for the ordinary decencies of family life that reminds one of the worst excesses of the French Revolution. And I presume you know what that unfortunate movement led to?"http://iws.punahou.edu/department/theatre/curriculum/monologues/female/bracknell.html
In other words, placing journalism in the hands of cold-blooded capitalists seems to be akin to placing a baby in a handbag in the cloakroom of Victoria Station. The "Press" is included in the Bill of Rights, after all. http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Not that press members should be given any kind of royal treatment or excuses for bad behavior (I don't think that they usually are anyway), but they should occupy a special place in society. That place is, namely, to preserve American liberty as watchdogs, gatekeepers, and educators. I thoroughly agreed with the book in this regard. "Journalism's first loyalty is to citizens" (Elements of Journalism, 2). With any other intent, journalism becomes so much advertising and information overload.
At the same time, I recognize that journalists cannot be dewy-eyed idealists. The money has to come from somewhere. However, I believe that the current difficulties that the media is experiencing arise, not from the internet (because the decline of newspaper reading among postgraduates actually began in the 80's) but from shoddy, commercialized journalism. The New York Times, which is respected for the fact that it cuts advertising before news, should be an example of what happens when poorly-written novels do not replace babies in perambulators.
In other words, placing journalism in the hands of cold-blooded capitalists seems to be akin to placing a baby in a handbag in the cloakroom of Victoria Station. The "Press" is included in the Bill of Rights, after all. http://archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Not that press members should be given any kind of royal treatment or excuses for bad behavior (I don't think that they usually are anyway), but they should occupy a special place in society. That place is, namely, to preserve American liberty as watchdogs, gatekeepers, and educators. I thoroughly agreed with the book in this regard. "Journalism's first loyalty is to citizens" (Elements of Journalism, 2). With any other intent, journalism becomes so much advertising and information overload.
At the same time, I recognize that journalists cannot be dewy-eyed idealists. The money has to come from somewhere. However, I believe that the current difficulties that the media is experiencing arise, not from the internet (because the decline of newspaper reading among postgraduates actually began in the 80's) but from shoddy, commercialized journalism. The New York Times, which is respected for the fact that it cuts advertising before news, should be an example of what happens when poorly-written novels do not replace babies in perambulators.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Oh Say What Is Truth?
At the risk of overusing that hymn, I want to establish the main points covered in our presentation last Tuesday on Truth and Journalism:
1) Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2) Truth is a process.
3) Truth can be subjective-Journalism provides relevant commentary to help the public think about the news.
4) Journalists are storytellers who use facts to create a relevant story and communicate the truth.
Speaking of relevance, a good quote from the BYU forum with Condoleezza Rice, "Today's headline's and history's judgments are rarely the same."
1) Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2) Truth is a process.
3) Truth can be subjective-Journalism provides relevant commentary to help the public think about the news.
4) Journalists are storytellers who use facts to create a relevant story and communicate the truth.
Speaking of relevance, a good quote from the BYU forum with Condoleezza Rice, "Today's headline's and history's judgments are rarely the same."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)