Eye-Opener: Memo

Elements of Journalism 6 to 8

These chapters were very controversial and since i'm a product of infotainment I found them- oh look a shiny a button...

Chapter 8 was about engagement and relevence. The line that I found most amusing was on page 155, it said, "Hairdressers have more continuing education than journalist."

This sentence was written in a context that journalism education wasn't esteemed. It's ironic because you would think otherwise. You'd think the reverse (since hairdressers just cut hair). I found out that hairdressers and barbers are well-informed.

When you think about it, their environment (the shop or the saloon) is similaar to taverns of colonial America (as mentioned in these chapters). News writing is a mix of storytelling (and gossiping to a sense). "Journalism is storytelling with a purpose." Barbers and hairdressere are perfect sources because they come in contact with all sorts of class who have different view points. Their shops or saloons depending on their local, are like the Globe or the Rose of Shakespeare's time, where all classes mingled.

This line also reminded of the times when I was in a barbershop and I would hear the conversations going between the client and the barber and the topics they would talk about would range from world politics to favorite place to travel to health.

Sometimes I don't feel like engaging with them because their conversation seem superficial. It's like they only know the surface of the story not the details found when one reaches in more depth.

Chapter 7 discusses journalism as a public forum

"Journalism must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise..."

This is almost contradictory to news. If one were criticze another, the other is liable to get sued or something worse. and if one was to compromise, it's almost admitting defeat. this extreme promotes the Argument culture.

Most of the news reported about politics are shouting matches unless of course, war compels the parties to unite.

"Journalism" is not really a public forum, it's more like an elitist forum for those who can read and afford the newspaper. The elitists get better news becaue their sources is not limited to one medium.

Chapter 6: Monitor Power and Offer voice to the voiceless

my question is how can you monitor power when that power is part of the news organization?

the other thing that I'd like to point out about this chapter is "examining the unseen corners of society." This can have a reverse effect (similar to reverse discrimination). Sometimes journalists look for new things to inform the public that they miss what is in front of them.

Posted by Michael Diezmos at October 10, 2005 11:47 PM