I'm sorry, but this scenario below is NOT journalism.
A student journalist writes a "news" story based on a gossip trail of information on some social media website and then tells the audience his/her own opinion. End of story. (This is awful.)
Sure, the student journalist may have met his/her deadline, but at what cost? I have some major concerns about accuracy and objectivity. Although this fictional scenario which I just created seems a bit far-fetched, I will bet it happens. It goes against everything that a journalist should be. I completely agree with the Poynter Institute's list of values and standards which are accuracy, independence, fairness, transparency and professional responsibility. Journalism is not a game. Students need to know this is not just an extracurricular activity. It is a responsibility. The words and images which are presented by an journalist can last forever and need to be presented in a serious manner. Student journalists need to be mature, creative, dedicated, and follow the rules. Too many "bad" journalists have been modeling "bad" habits. It's time to get back to the basics and follow the fundamentals of traditional journalism. You can call me old-fashioned, but at least I will be accurate and objective.
And you can be quick and active in social media and be accurate and verify information.
ReplyDelete