Do you ever see something like a new product or service, smack your palm against your face and say “Why didn’t I think of that?”
That’s how I felt when I saw the new Tumblr blog, We Are Journalists.
The site, which has garnered 80 posts since it started earlier this month, has the following posted on the homepage:
“We are journalists. We are proud of what we do. We are tired of bad press about the press. We are trying to be “team players.” We are terrified of more layoffs and paycuts. We would like to produce quality work without ‘obamasux99’ posting some non-sequitur rant at the end of it. We complain because we want things to be better. We would like some respect, plz. We are journalists.”
As a former professional journalists, a collegiate journalism adviser and a media professor, I spend a fair amount of time attempting to help others understand and respect the importance of media in our democratic society. It’s difficult for someone who bleeds newsprint to explain being a journalist to people who see only the negatives associated with our profession. This lack of words to describe our calling is so embedded in our professional culture that many journalists cannot even explain why the press is important. Enter this amazing blog.
We Are Journalists allows working journalists to explain the importance of their field the only way they know how–through powerful, riveting stories. The most recent post, from a reporting intern, reads:
“Before I talk to the crying mothers, the alleged rapists and the political protesters, I remind myself why I love this job: Because I tell stories no one else tells. Because I talk to people everyone else is afraid of. Because I walk closer to the burning building than anyone else. Because I meet new people every day. Because, for every crappy, wait-by-the-phone-for-a-callback day, there’s a dozen chasing-sirens, talking-to-the-homeless, solving-injustices days. Because of emails that read, “Thank you so much for writing about my son.” Because of calls from readers asking for more information. Because when a boy or girl dies, I may be the only one who will ever publish his or her story. Because of my grandma who immortalized my family history through stories.”
Many of the other posts on the site are equally as powerful. Others allow journalists to vent about the state of the industry or views of our profession. Overall, they tell the story of journalism through the pavement of the beat and the idiosyncrasies of the newsroom environment.
Journalists, if ever there is a time when you wonder why you do what you do, read this blog.
Students, when someone tells you that you’re crazy for majoring in journalism, read this blog.
Professors, when someone challenges whether or not journalism has a place in the academy, read this blog.
Afterward, it will be a little bit easier for you to do what you already know is right.
AmyLauNY says
@chattyprof Just joined the blog. Thanks for the posting the article!.
chattyprof says
@AmyLauNY Thank you SO much! I hope you had a wonderful holiday!
loiscreamer says
Enjoyed your post! Very proud that my daughter is “cub reporter” at the Lodi News-Sentinel. (CA) She was one of the fortunate to get a job with a paper after graduation, something she has wanted to do all of her life.
profkrg says
@loiscreamer Lois, I didn’t know that your daughter is a journalist! I had a wonderful career as a journalist. I left it only because of opportunity. I would go back without hesitation if the fit were right. Please let your daughter know that I would love to connect!
Thanks for reading!
loiscreamer says
@profkrg I have sent her several of your blog postings, sent this one! I know she finds your material very interesting. Thanks so much!
profkrg says
@loiscreamer I would love for her to guest post! I figure her writing is a sure thing 😉
loiscreamer says
I know she would be honored to do so! I’ll have her get in touch with you! thanks for thinking of her my friend!
BruceSallan says
Don’t kill me, but I still am skeptical of contemporary journalists/journalism since I see so much agenda reporting these days. It may have peaked – to me – with Dan Rather’s embarrassing reporting that properly derailed his career but it continues unabashedly in so many quarters of our msm.
The irony is that there has always been biased reporting. Newspapers were blatantly in the pockets of certain politicians and political parties in decades past. But, the pervasiveness of media today just make it all so transparent. And, with the advent of television, people don’t have to read.
I fear for our country with the laziness on really learning the facts. I fear for my kids.
profkrg says
@BruceSallan I will not kill you, Bruce. Many people are skeptical of journalists, and they have hundreds of good reasons to feel that way. However, I do believe that journalism (real journalism) is the foundation of a democratic society. I also fear for the future when both the journalists and the news consumers are becoming increasingly lazy in regard to facts.
I truly believe that journalism always has and always will play an important role in our freedom, even if that role is to introduce us to ideas with which we do not agree in a way that causes us to review our own paradigms.
That being said (written), I also truly believe that it is critical for citizens to be skeptical consumers of information. As A.J. Leibing said many years ago, “Freedom of the press belongs to those who own one.”
Consider what this meant in the past and what it means now. Either way, critical thinking is a requirement, not a luxury.
Thanks for reading, commenting and always making me reanalyze my journalistic values.
ShelMKE says
Nice. RT @Biebert Blog Worth Reading: We Are Journalists http://t.co/Klp5kbeH via @profkrg
vikoles1 says
@AngelaMaiers @profkrg http://t.co/gyiTXpyB
profkrg says
@LizKislik @chattyprof thanks for the RT, ladies!
profkrg says
@AngelaMaiers thanks for the RT, fabulous lady!
profkrg says
@prosperitygal thanks for the RT! I hope you had a fabulous holiday.
profkrg says
@KevinMinott Thanks for the RT!
fergusonsarah says
I think it’s hard for someone who bleeds newsprint to explain being a journalist to people who see only their negatives thoughts.
Charlotte74 says
It’s a tough time in journalism at the moment, especially in the UK with the Levinson enquiry into press ethics.
Prof KRG says
So true. It’s a valuable function though, and one worthy of supporting for the future.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
LauLau81 says
Well for me, this is really one of the best posts I have to share to my friends and families too…