what are your thoughts and views on news journalism and journalists?

Question

i am currently a final year student on a joint honours in media arts and journalism course and ever since i studied journalism at my university i have realised that it is one of the most cynical, manipulative industries not to mention dull courses i have been on. three years ago, my ambition was to become a journalist working for either newspaper or magazine, but as i got older, i realised that mostly all news these days is all spin, lies you name it. i decided i no longer wanted to become a journalist because i was and am disillusioned not just with the way the journalism course was run - though i still intend see out the remaining months so i can graduate- but the experience has literately put me off from becoming a journalist for life. therefore, i have no intention of becoming one after i graduate in the summer, or ever.

are you swayed or influenced by what you read, hear and see? what are your opinions on journalists or journalism in general or as a academic subject or practice?

to heathern- it was neo- marxist antonio gramsci who initially coined the terms hegemony and cultural hegemony

Answer 1

Good for you. Can't remember who it was that created the term 'hegemony' within media, but it's spot on. The press wield enormous power, especially over those people who insist it has no bearing on their mindset at all.

Ultimately, people will always believe what they read, as if there's somehow a magical truth applied to anything in written form.

Answer 2

As I posted after one of the questions I've answered, I do believe the media can sway how we feel. The problem is, a lot of the people don't try to get the "real" story (whatever the headline or topic may be), or all points of view on a matter. I get two newspapers-a "right" one and a "left" one-both papers have the same topics and news, but the way the stories is presented is what separates one from the other. If people just read between the lines and the bias, they will get the correct information.

I understand Universities are very one sided these days. The professors teach the curriculum, but they generally have their own "spin" on it.

You should NOT give up on what you've spent many hours of study and research in. I think, and this is my opinion, that maybe you should do something like investigative reporting. Present both sides of the story to the masses!

Answer 3

I was one of those people who never read a newspaper or listened to the news, & I did not have a clue about what was going in the world!

Then I got interested (long story why) & I started tracking debates - listening & noting very carefully to news items reported by journalists...

Having done that for 16 years, every day, I can tell you that without journalists, we would probably now have a police state, no freedom at all, & the world would be in a far worse state.

Each journalist contributes their researched piece, to help keep the Public well informed (as best as they can) (although editors often sit on their work if their politcial affiliations differ), & as a result, politicians etc., are often thwarted in their attempts to make an over-powerful "super" State...

So I say, thank God for journalists! We might not like some of them, we might think some of them are trumped-up interfering outrageously cycnical egoists... but the majority of them are caring people who actually want to help to make the world a much better place.

Don't allow the tedium & conservative nature of your curriculum to put you off! Stick with it! Just know what you want to do when you qualify EG. work to advance to Human Rights... If you think small time, you'll spend your time accordingly, but if you want to achieve more, in this world we have to "fight" (unfortunately). Some of us will fail, some of us will achieve our goals. Just don't quit!

Answer 4

In many ways, I agree with you. In others I do not.
I went into journalism last year and expect to graduate next year with my first BA.

The problem with journalism departments these days is that the industry model is changing and most teachers just don't know what to teach us anymore. They only know what worked for them, and has worked in the past. We're learning the foundation of the industry, but more than the face is changing.

The whole "immanent death" of newspapers and such has got print publications freaking out, trying to find out how to lure us off the internet, and back in between the broadsheets.

We are the future of journalism. Some major publications are changing the way that they operate, from the ground up. As we become legit in the field, they are going to look to us to try and help them figure out how to reach our generation, and ultimately gain our trust.

We have an invaluable opportunity to help make or break the future of many print publications that realize that the have to make these drastic changes in the newsroom demographic and strategy in order to survive.

Those companies who don't change will probably sink.

If you really like to write news, or "new journalism" features for magazines, or whetever, stick in there and see how it goes, but have a plan.

Be head strong about what you have to offer and develop skills that you think will be popular amongst people of your own generation, as well as yourself.

We need good journalists for the future. We don't need people who just want to complain and become cynical about what they do. We have plenty of those in plenty of newsrooms already.

Answer 5

Before I address your question, let me say this: please don't give up on journalism as a trade; you have before you an opportunity to bring reform to an industry that sorely needs it. As one person you clearly wouldn't be able to change things overnight, but ethical, brave people are historically the only ones who have ever brought about positive change.

Now to your question. I believe that everyone is influenced to some degree by what we read, hear and see. Journalists have a great deal of power in shaping the perceptions of media consumers, and therefore should approach their work ethically and sincerely. I do not see this at all when I look at cable "newspeak". The snide, sarcastic, argumentative tone many "journalists" employ is manipulation of the basest sort.

In this Internet age it is now up to individuals to be responsible, gather information from *many* sources (credited or discredited by the mainstream), *think critically* about what is being presented to us, and decide for ourselves. It is clear that we cannot blindly put our trust in the media as it exists now.

Answer 6

I used to work as a 'journalist'. I had high hopes, like you, and ideals. I began my own 'zine, which did quite well, but got hungry for a regular paycheck and sold out for awhile, working for travel and fashion magazines. Writing for them was essentially an exercise in marketing, and who, rather than what, I knew was instrumental in even getting me those plum jobs (which I soon quit, thank god).

That said, journalism can be exciting and honest. I have quite a few friends that have gone on to produce their own documentaries, websites or write books on subjects they specialise in. You could take one of those routes. Don't give up! The world needs more journalists with integrity!

Answer 7

I too have become extremely skeptical about anything I hear/see in the media. The love of money is at the root of all kinds of evil as is arrogance which I believe most media have in abundance. I get so sick of hearing, "the public has a right to know" regarding information that could very well be the death of us! That is not to say we don't need to know what's going on in the world but not for the purpose of deceiving, titillating, eroticising, terrifying, politicizing or herding us.

As far as journalism as an occupation.........if you can remain true to core values and resist pressure to be p.c....YOU ARE NEEDED!

Answer 8

i am impressed with the bbc and channel 4 news now more than ever because i recently went on holiday and all i could watch was fox news. this channel is completely one sided subjective and frustratingly poor at giving the full picture and most annoying is that people clearly buy anything that they are told! i can see where u have come from and why you are no longer interested in becoming a journalist. good luck with whatever u do and graduating.

Answer 9

In 26 years of military service I became very jaded as to the honesty and accuracy of the news media.

I have watched reporters fabricate stories. And I have compared news reports with what my own eyes have seen.

I have had to risk my life because of a CNN news story that turned out to be completely false - then had CNN refuse to retract the story when we confronted them on it.

I have read news articles containing sensitive military information - whose publication endangered my life and the lives of my soldiers. And realized that the newspaper knew that their publishing the story was going to kill soldiers - they just did not care.

I have seen slander published as truth. And when the media charges are proven false - they never retract the story.

As far as I am concerned a journalist is the lowest form of life there is.

Answer 10

My judgment is never swayed by some sensationalised seeking low life scum sucking, gutter press twit they all make me so sick i don't even read the wast of space news pa- sorry comics nowadays. A wast of time effort and a wast of space