Harassment and accomplishment in journalism

In journalism, trust should never be expected.

Journalists have a special platform that can reach beyond the screens of a television. Going out into a potentially dangerous and unknown area, journalists will often risk their safety to better understand a story. The journalist is responsible for crafting a personal narrative that is based on firsthand interviews and from the newsworthy scene itself. When a flood of hateful messages made up of unsettling derogatory comments is thrown into existence, a journalist must stay true to their original purpose of why they decided to publish their work. A bond between the reader and the author is formed. Only the author and the reader can make the other feel understood and appreciated. Michelle Betz of Paving the way for good journalism said,

“Quality represents the ability of journalism to fulfill its functions. And those functions include serving the public as watchdog and providing a public forum for discussion. Quality journalism is also fact-based and fact driven. “

Reading a story written by a journalist, the reader is expecting the author to be knowledgeable on a subject. However, the journalist reporting a story can distort the reality of the person whose life is being shared publicly. A person who has shared similar life experiences to the person being covered can accurately describe the impact of the story. In newsrooms across the United States, white men are the predominant demographic in the office. Distrust in the media is prevalent today due to stories being written from someone who has never lived the experiences of the person being covered. Trust is built when the reader experiences a connection with an author who understands the readers need to feel understood.

Newsrooms are faced with a challenge for reaching out to people who may potentially be gifted writers and journalists. Marginalized communities in America are overlooked by the media as companies are attempting to appeal to an audience that will believe every word of their ‘trustworthy’ news sources. Fueling people to take opposing sides based on demographics, newsrooms attempt to retain their subscribers by continuing rhetoric that furthers the distrust individuals hold against one another.

In a perfect world, newsrooms would be built around promoting equity between all everyone buzzing around the confines of a newsroom. All staff would be from diverse backgrounds that can share their perspectives on a story without fear of scrutiny from co-workers. However, a woman working in a newsroom knows their safety is never always a given. The Guardian offers a descriptive analysis of the harassment journalists who are women tend to face in and out of the newsroom. The dark side of Guardian comments authors research found,

“The 10 regular writers who got the most abuse were eight women (four white and four non-white) and two black men. Two of the women and one of the men were gay. And of the eight women in the “top 10”, one was Muslim and one Jewish.” (Guardian, 2016)

Promoting equity to all employees is integral for the well-being of a company. However, equity is not attainable if a company is not willing to make changes on the rhetoric the company takes pride in. Newsrooms have to ensure the employees who have been assaulted by their co-worker(s) are greeted with open arms and a genuine desire to make changes that promote the well-being of journalists.

Journalists are especially susceptible to harassment because their presence is immediately noticed by people walking by. No matter if people are staring while walking by, shouting a slur, or even touching the person on camera, the journalist will continue putting up their best face for the job even though they may fear for their lives in that moment. Whenever a journalism is out in the field, everyone should always remain in sight of each other. The International Press Institute said,

“Local police often target journalists, even when wearing media identification. This is particularly concerning where it appears to be in response to accountability reporting on police actions.”

Showing genuine care for a reporter who had to endure harassment can be pivotal in helping them re-gain focus on their original mission they set out to achieve. After receiving harassment from police officers, why should a journalist trust the police again? Unfortunately, some individuals who are perceived to be ‘role-models’ in society can actually be the match that ignites a fire bigger than what they initially expected.

Harassment can manifest in many different forms. The word ‘Journalist’ is now commonly associated with ‘fake news’. Journalists who are in the field understanding observable facts and getting direct information from influential figures such as the police at the scene of a crime. Learning to stay levelheaded and professional while getting screamed at is a valuable way to not indulge the person. While walking up to a person on the street who witnessed a newsworthy event, reporters must approach the witness slowly. However, if the witness decides to attack the reporter and say hateful comments such as ‘fake news’, the journalist can try and guide the person into divulging on why they have come to the conclusion all news is fake news. Once the original witness has said their piece, they might be willing to hear what the reporter has to say. This is important because leveling with someone offers a chance to connect with them and have genuine conversation instead of a screaming match.