Okay so This is the first of my two part coverage of Saturdays Rally. This is my rebuttal to the media A Heed to Media Journalists play a crucial role in our lives. We depend upon reporters, newscasters, and editors to keep us informed of current events. Journalists have a momentous task which is laden with pressure. Above all else, these educated professionals have a tremendous responsibility to the communities they serve. We receive all kinds of information via news reports. Things such as; community events, elections, deaths, and potential danger are many of the reasons we seek out, and are sought out, by the various media that journalists have available to them. Billions of people around the globe rely upon what they read and hear in news reports to base an opinion regarding all sorts of life altering choices. From less impactful choices such as where to dine, and what movies to avoid, to decisions that can change the course of history as it is being made. For example the news coverage being relayed concerning candidates running for office have the potential to sway public opinion. For a report to be complete and accurate it must meet the needs of six internationally recognized criteria. A report must contain the who, what, where, when, why and how of the event. If just one of these criteria is missing or inaccurate, the publication is transformed from a news event which is being reported, into part of a story which is being told. In today’s modern world of information we are flooded with a hybrid concoction of “yellow journalism” and “corporate media”. Yellow journalism and corporate media can be hazardous to the readers health, economic viability and moral sanctity. We see this played out in the social media daily. A strong clash of opinions amongst individuals listed as “friends” can often be found in posts where an issue is being heavily covered by today’s journalists. Usually those individuals which are more closely involved with the story have a much different vantage point than those which are being told the story, often resulting in a degree of opposition, and contention. A cry out for “proper coverage” is found among almost any population of people being reported on. While this is a natural consequence between living a story, and hearing or presenting a story, the fact remains the level of the public’s discontentment with coverage has been greatly on the rise for the past few decades. “The General Social Survey, a massive national poll conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, has been measuring public confidence in institutions for more than three decades. From the 1970’s through the mid- 1980’s, confidence in the press was as high as it was for other major institutions— the military, Congress, religion and education, to name a few. But in the late 1980’s, ratings for the press began to slip, and by the 1990’s the slip had become a slide. In 1990, 74 percent of Americans said they had a great deal or some confidence in the press. A decade later, that number had fallen to 58 percent. During the same period, confidence in other institutions remained stable.”1 I have personally been behind the scenes of two major local stories in the past year. The first of these being The Supreme Judicial Court ruling overturning mandatory life sentences for minors convicted of murder, which occurred on Christmas 2013. The second instance is the current Market Basket fiasco we are now playing witness to. I can say in both instances I heard a loud outcry from individuals involved regarding the press not hearing them. If they were heard, they felt the press just wasn’t getting it right. It has become increasingly frustrating when an event is affecting your community, when there is a message the people need to have delivered, when the only option is to rely upon the press to deliver it. The journalists have multiple mediums which reach millions of people throughout New England. Even in smaller community publications, hundreds of thousands of people get their information and opinions through local newspapers. It can seem hopeless when people are faced with competing against the press because often the press has an agenda which conflicts with bare facts. Social media has the capacity to reach several hundred people if it is a “hot” topic, or a few thousand if that news is “red hot”. However, unless it is a video of your cat climbing a wall, your story most likely won’t see a viral status, and even if it does, there is a delay in how fast that news is spread. A newsworthy event occurred Saturday night. On August 16th at 6:00 PM a Rally by customers of the Market Basket supermarket chain was held in Tewksbury MA. Every bit of news which I have seen covering this event has inaccurately met the “who” criteria, (number of speakers) and has completely left out the “why” criteria altogether. This is a gross negligence of the reporter’s responsibilities, given the fact that the purpose of the Rally was to inform the public “why” they support the associates in this highly mis-publicized case. Even more disturbing is the editors incompetence in quality control. This is basic journalism we are talking about. How could you not see the blatant disregard to meet required criteria? What is the most disgraceful, was the exploitation of a well spoken elderly woman which became used to spin facts. You completely altered her intended message. I spoke with Margaret Foley after she bravely stood before us and elegantly, and clearly delivered her statement. She was concerned her point was less than clear. I personally assured her of the fact, her message was point blank obvious. The lack of journalistic integrity displayed by your manipulation is nauseating. Don’t worry while I am not a journalist, (which means my work is not produced as fast), I will write and cover the story myself. Then at least there will be some public record of what really happened. To those telling the tales though, a word of caution is advised. We are on the cusp of a cultural revolution. Although it may take decades, the people have grown tired of your story telling just as they have of cooperate greed. You may want to take heed of the current Market Basket events which are occurring before your eyes, less journalism wishes to become the next stone shaken loose. Crystal Pringle Crystal Hall-Pringle (facebook) wistira@gmail nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/101115/The-Public-Isnt-Buying-Press-Credibility.aspx
Posted on: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 03:04:52 +0000
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