Why do you do journalism?
At the Poynter Institute we were asked “Why do you do journalism?”
Why, amongst all the hell we endure through the economy, through reader scorn, low pay and crazy hours, do you do journalism?
For some people it’s a moment; a tangible anecdotal moment. For others it’s a purpose or a concept or a goal.
So. Why do you do journalism?
Write a comment, not even to me but to someone random or to the person who doesn’t understand why you do it or to the person who keeps you going.
I’ll repost comments in the main body of this post to keep it on top as long as people keep writing.
Because I love it. Because there’s an adrenaline rush. As a friend said, we journalists have ink in our veins. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Here’s Barbara Ehrenreich’s answer to your question:
“As long as there is a story to be told, an injustice to be exposed, a mystery to be solved, we will find a way to do it. A recession won’t stop us. A dying industry won’t stop us. Even poverty won’t stop us because we are all on a mission here. That’s the meaning of your journalism degree. Do not consider it a certificate promising some sort of entitlement. Consider it a license to fight.
“In the ’70s, it was gonzo journalism. For us right now, it’s guerrilla journalism, and we will not be stopped.”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/30/ING317S025.DTL
Because there is no other way to get all this stuff out of me.
Two reasons:
- for myself, because I will never tire of that feeling of accomplishment when I believe I’ve done something well.
- for the people who appreciate it. For the mother of the soldier who cried when she read my story. For the little girl who was excited to see herself in the paper. For the people who may never have known about an issue or story otherwise. I’m going to paraphrase Tim Harrower here: To make a small difference in the world, one reader at a time.
Because I believe in public service. Without people openly questioning those in power, the Republic crumbles.
All of the “nobility” reasons cited have been largely absent from journalism for some time.
The “ink in the veins” reason has been irrational for some time. Do accountants have money in their veins? Do farmers have dirt in their veins? I guess doctors have blood in their veins.
“Even poverty won’t stop us …” — dream on.
“Because there’s an adrenalin rush” — That comes with many things.
Journalists have zero bargaining power when they cite these reasons. Owners and beancounters have been laughing for four decades now. They can cut the product to hell and pay small wages, and people keep rushing in for another beating.