Reading the Guardian today I came across an article reminding me that being a Journalist is a dangerous game. Many are killed and injured every year while reporting and the reason given in the paper? Well, killing the Journalist is the easiest form of censorship. Now thats scary. This is the article.
I always knew it was a competitive field and to be honest, I never actually thought of being a writer. I wasn't one of those kids who wrote stories, I liked English at school, but that was because I liked to read. I never dreamed of writing a book or travelling the world reporting on war torn countries constantly under threat from 'censorship'. I wanted to be a vet, or a primary school teacher, or a dancer, or an astronaut, and really, I never thought I was good enough at anything to persue it as a career. So what am I doing now, studying Journalism, something I'm not particularly good at, something that could get me killed if I become a war correspondant, sometimes, if I'm honest, the news bores me. I don't want to write for a newspaper, I don't have the flair or creativity to be freelance (although that does sound like my perfect career, I'd never miss neighbours again) and I'm not good under pressure so my dream of being an editor is a bit dashed from the start.
The article in the Guardian today sounded like it was trying to scare people away from the profession saying that over 300 Journalists die every year and how as a profession, its on the decline because of 'citizen journalism' and blogging. Was it a clever ploy to steer people away so that there are more jobs available for the serious journalist? Maybe. I also thought that the Guardian were all for blogging and citizen journalism, with their liberal values and support of freedom of speech surely they'd be jumping at the chance to embrace new technology and move forward.
Maybe thats what it was then, an opinion piece showing the other side of the story, some stuffy old man worried that he's going to be replaced by a computer. Whats that saying? Something about the Zeitgeist. It means 'in the spirit of the age' anyway, so get with it Guardian. Its happening, theres nothing you can do about it.
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Yes, a few months ago when I told my dad and my husband that I want to get a second BA, this time in journalism, they both nodded an approval but my dad made me promise I wouldn't end up in Afghanistan or something. I promised, because all I really want to do is write for a paper in Boise, ID or have a show on NPR or something safe. Having my own column would be totally rad, but I admire war correspondents and the like because they really do want to show us what's going on and to give us some insight when we study the war historically. However, I don't think I'm cut from that cloth and I think that's okay. As far as blogging taking over, I think most people trust established news programs and papers a little bit more than citizen journalists, although there is a growing readership in the blogosphere. That said, I think we should be seeking a balance between the two. We don't want a sterile, controlled news reporting environment and we don't want a flurry of rumors snaking through the internet from less informed citizens who may lack access to people and places the press can get to. I say, keep at it in journalism!
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