Down from the ivory tower

This reflection on the Kovach-Rosenstiel book was an assignment for my Media Ethics class for my MA. I wrote this sometime 2011; the class was taught by Ms. Chay Hofilena.

The 2007 edition of The Elements of Journalism, by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, is an act of humility.

The authors recognize that journalism in not invincible. It is vulnerable to changes brought about by technology and the changing times. This new edition is their answer – a testament to the fact that the industry must change in order to remain relevant and true to its fundamental purpose.

The advent of the Internet has caused increased participation from the public in the shaping of what is deemed newsworthy. Citizens are not anymore just passive consumers (in fact, they have been imbued with rights and responsibilities). Journalists are no longer like demi gods or gatekeepers who determine which information should be reported and which should be not.

Indeed, journalists must help the public make sense of the deluge of information toward the achievement of the end: providing information citizens need to be free and self-governing.

The book tackles each of the ten elements in separate chapters, reminding practicioners of the basic, uncompromisable things. Early on, we are reminded that our primary obligation is to the truth, our primary loyalty is to citizens and that the essence of our job is a discipline of verification.

Using real-life situations, the authors acknowledge the reality of conflict of interest. Kovach and Rosenstiel are not afraid to volunteer the information that they have made errors in judgment before – specifically in the case of Maggie Galllagher whom they set as a good example in a previous edition. Eventually, Gallagher was found to be leading a double life, acting as a public-relations consultant of a government agency. This serves as a reminder that the credibility we toiled for over many years could crumble with just one misstep.

As an opinion writer, I especially like the example of the government official changing careers, becoming a journalist and eventually winning a Pulitzer for his commentary. It shows that good journalism is possible even if you have to take sides – one only has to make sure that the facts upon which the opinion is based are airtight and obtained through objective methods.

The book shatters myths about the profession, one of which is that there exists a wall between pursuing journalism in the service of the public and doing so as a business enterprise, and that one has to be on either side of the wall. Kovach and Rosenstiel offer a glimmer of hope on this one – that both interests could be harmonized, and this includes ensuring that even management people understand the essence of the profession and have the interests of the public at heart. Idealists need not be seen as freaks.

Another myth is that the best journalists are superhumanly independent. The authors recognize that journalists are people and are moved by different biases. We should not fancy ourselves infallible. What we should do is to take conscious steps in using objective METHODS so that despite our biases, we come across as credible and of service to the public.

One chapter deals with the often-romanticized aspect of being a journalist – that of being watchdogs. Some perform this job overzealously that they contribute to the chaos instead of helping the public make sense of what is happening. In this regard, the phrase “raising hell in an intelligent way” rings loud and true. If we do this, we have a better chance of being heard and making a difference.

We are also reminded to tell our stories without capitalizing on salacious details of the miseries of others. This brings to mind instances when the public is treated to an inordinate amount of time on relatively inconsequential topics. It is easy to tell how we may fall into the trap, and thus we should be careful.

Finally, in chapter 10, the authors assert that journalism is an act of character. I find this most humbling. Our job has been portrayed in movies and has been the subject of myths and misconceptions. The book reminds us of the fundamental things that should take us through every imaginable phase of change in the industry. It tells us to harbor no illusions and warns us against feelings of hubris and grandiosity.