Way back on the 1970's my favorite job of all time was when I was working for The Chicago Tribune where we put the newspaper together by hand...every line of type etc. I learned so much working with the writers while putting every page together, every tiny detail but then in the early 1980's we were being let go as all the work we did was being done by computers. How I miss those days, in most periodicals today the lack of care is obvious in the content, from layout, spelling and even correct information. Back in the day you could actually Learn something and today that lack of education to help the average person is again very obvious to me. One of my favorite jokes was to tell someone who asked me what I did for a living, my answer was I'm a "stripper" it always got a shocked look and then laugh when I explained it meant "film stripper"! Keep writing Sir I so enjoy reading your work.
Well stated. I'm not sure where the line exists (or if it's a "no-man's land) between skepticism and cynicism but good ethical journalists understand, appreciate and explain what's happening or happened by asking, in good faith, challenging questions and doing genuine research. It's never been an easy task especially with a deadline clock ticking. We appreciate that you have the time to kick back and reflect.
Excellent insights! If I could add something that will probably surprise people - having lived and worked in Belgium and Spain since 1989, I have realised how biased even “liberal” US news sources like NYT and WaPo are. They primarily report on disasters and failings of other countries rather than extolling their many virtues. I’ve often been shocked when I visited family in the US to see that there’s nothing in the news about the wonderful, balanced lifestyles in most of Europe, with universal health care, low cost higher education, public transport, parental leave, workers’ rights, environmental initiatives - no, the “news” will be a flood or a strike or a train wreck.
The American public has been systematically denied accurate information about the rest of the world, thereby allowing the attachment to the fantasy of American exceptionalism to persist. This creates cognitive dissonance in a population that cannot put their finger on why they can’t afford groceries if their country is the best at everything.
If I were young today, I would not go into journalism. Sad to say, but true. I don’t think the profession can recover from social media and the other developments analyzed in this thoughtful column.
Way back on the 1970's my favorite job of all time was when I was working for The Chicago Tribune where we put the newspaper together by hand...every line of type etc. I learned so much working with the writers while putting every page together, every tiny detail but then in the early 1980's we were being let go as all the work we did was being done by computers. How I miss those days, in most periodicals today the lack of care is obvious in the content, from layout, spelling and even correct information. Back in the day you could actually Learn something and today that lack of education to help the average person is again very obvious to me. One of my favorite jokes was to tell someone who asked me what I did for a living, my answer was I'm a "stripper" it always got a shocked look and then laugh when I explained it meant "film stripper"! Keep writing Sir I so enjoy reading your work.
Well stated. I'm not sure where the line exists (or if it's a "no-man's land) between skepticism and cynicism but good ethical journalists understand, appreciate and explain what's happening or happened by asking, in good faith, challenging questions and doing genuine research. It's never been an easy task especially with a deadline clock ticking. We appreciate that you have the time to kick back and reflect.
Journalism has become a four-letter word to the poorly educated masses.
People "doing their own research" (from unreliable sources) is what has brought us the anti-vaxxers, among other plagues.
A sad summation reliably delivered by an old school journalist, of which there are fewer with every passing day.
Best comment ever. Many thanks.
Well said.
Thanks, Eduardo. I share your concern, though I suspect the profession will adjust. Alas, there may not be much money in it as there was in my day.
Good point.
Excellent insights! If I could add something that will probably surprise people - having lived and worked in Belgium and Spain since 1989, I have realised how biased even “liberal” US news sources like NYT and WaPo are. They primarily report on disasters and failings of other countries rather than extolling their many virtues. I’ve often been shocked when I visited family in the US to see that there’s nothing in the news about the wonderful, balanced lifestyles in most of Europe, with universal health care, low cost higher education, public transport, parental leave, workers’ rights, environmental initiatives - no, the “news” will be a flood or a strike or a train wreck.
The American public has been systematically denied accurate information about the rest of the world, thereby allowing the attachment to the fantasy of American exceptionalism to persist. This creates cognitive dissonance in a population that cannot put their finger on why they can’t afford groceries if their country is the best at everything.
If I were young today, I would not go into journalism. Sad to say, but true. I don’t think the profession can recover from social media and the other developments analyzed in this thoughtful column.