Reflexions On a Meeting With a Reporter
Author: Olivia Pataki
Most people assume journalism to be the craft of presenting reality in the visual, auditory, or written form. And that is right – in essence. Although in a changing world such as ours, journalism – the quiet act of observing and note-taking, or recording, and spreading the truth – ever shifts in tone and medium, from independent face-to-face experience with the subject matter to corporate sponsoring and direction, from the now-archaic pen and paper to the virtual dimensions of social media – journalism has come a long way. But to what price, and to the detriment of who or what? Is there still such a thing as „truth?”
Joseph (not the real name of the journalist) greeted me amicably as I sat down at my table. His first utterance was that of a muffled warning – namely, that I should keep an ear out for any indications the interviewee might not want the subject matter to be written down. This, he said, would constitute an „off” signal. Once the top-secret subject was drawn to a close, a cursory „on” gave the green light for further note-taking and recording. This already raised some questions, namely, what information – valuable or not – is left unspoken of, unknown to newspaper readers across the world? Is it possible for journalists to leave out crucial details all because their interlocutor didn’t wish to make the information public? How much do journalists really know besides what is said on TV or in the paper? Isn’t their job to share the unequivocal truth?
Indeed, it is first of all impossible nowadays to find a truly independent journalist who records reality as it truly is, with no refinements – simply because there is no such as an independent journalist anymore, or at least, there are very few left. Joseph mentioned that most professional journalists work in the mainstream media sphere, which are either privately owned (take the French TF1 group) or state-owned (public.) Joseph told how such companies will often establish frameworks in which journalists will operate. In other words, journalists will have to report on events and news the company assigns them. Joseph continued by saying that these companies will often prioritise profit over integrity, stating how algorithms and trends will often determine which story gets reported, and which remains untold.
Governmental pressure, whether financial or political, can also influence the integrity of a journalist or of a journalistic group. Indeed, Joseph stressed the growing political tensions in Belgium and generally all over the world which deter reporters such as himself to report on certain facts for fear of offending certain groups of people or even losing financing and viewership.
While this seems pretty bleak, it is important to note that journalism is often best done when the reporter acts in the best interest of the truth solely. This was further discussed by Joseph. It is part of every journalist’s craft to take risks and even go independent if the traditional media platforms – either networks or social media – don’t offer an inclusive and fruitful medium where truth can prosper. Sometimes, mundane acts such as taking a camera and filming a protest, or interviewing locals about an issue, no matter how small, can constitute great journalism, too. Reporting comes in multiple shapes and sizes, and sometimes even the most unassuming reporter can deliver better objectivity on their own, provided they maintain impartial and fair.
Edited by: Olivia Pataki
Cover Image: Tama66 from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/photos/newspaper-press-historical-news-3988054/
