Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Things that make you go hmmmm...

I was all prepared to give you guys the second installment of my Black Music Month special until I checked my e-mail this morning.
OK, so here's the situation, you guys know I am a reporter, right?
Because of the job, I am supposed to appear unbiased and nonpartisan and for the lack of a better term, drone-like when it comes to controversial and political issues. This is so the public does not assume that because you feel a certain way that you will intentionally leave things out, not report them or slant the story or whatever.
I pride myself on being able to get in and get all angles of the story so that it is not biased or slanted one way or the other. I also pride myself on the fact that I can think for myself and I don't really care what anyone else thinks of me or how I live my life.
The problem is, a lot of my colleagues and counterparts have adopted the, "I'm not saying it," mantra and I for one think that's unfair. I don't think we should have to have this "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy as it relates to our political views.
As far as I'm concerned, one's political beliefs should be considered a part of who they are.
Journalism is the only professional field where people are constantly asked, told and made to check who they are at the door. This, to me, seems like some folks think that my counterparts and I are too stupid and/or lazy to separate who we are from what we do. I resent that.
Journalism is what I do, it is not who I am. People who identify themselves by what they do, i.e. their profession, don't, in my opinion, have very much going on for themselves outside of work.
Does this mean I look down on or have disdain for those folks who identify themselves as their professions? No. I am simply saying don't label me as such. Don't try to put me in a box with these people who live what they do. In fact, I try hard to get as far away from what I do when I'm not working.
It's funny to me, when people ask me why I became a reporter or a journalist, I always say, "it's the only way I could write and get a steady pay check." I'm a writer by nature but I am a reporter/journalist by trade.
My main goal/dream is to become a syndicated columnist to pay my bills and be able to sit in a remote location somewhere near a beach and crank out wonderful screenplays. Since I have only five years in this business and I am nowhere near ready to handle a syndicated column, I have to pay my dues just like everyone else.
I don't however consider abandoning my beliefs, values and opinions on issues I don't report, a part of paying dues.
What do ya'll think? Be honest.

5 comments:

TravelDiva said...

Tough call. I understand your frustration because you are someone outside of your job with opinions and ideas. As long as you can separate your beliefs and try to write an objective piece, I don't care what your political beliefs are.

On a sidenote, whether we like it or not, news is often impacted by the person who is writing it--left, right, center--it does impact what quotes are used, what is revealed, what story is written.

TravelDiva said...

Tough call. I understand your frustration because you are someone outside of your job with opinions and ideas. As long as you can separate your beliefs and try to write an objective piece, I don't care what your political beliefs are.

On a sidenote, whether we like it or not, news is often impacted by the person who is writing it--left, right, center--it does impact what quotes are used, what is revealed, what story is written.

Tiffany S. Jones said...

I have always been able to separate myself from the job. I know that some of my counterparts don't or aren't able to do that, but we shouldn't all be labeled because of that few.
I'm cool now, I was just a lil' pissed when I posted today

TravelDiva said...

LOL

Eb the Celeb said...

I think part of being a journalist is being able to objectively write or report without letting your religious, political, or personal views get in the way of that. Although I do not feel you should have to hide how you feel about things dealing with that. Do the ladies on the view... i forget the chick name that's the republican... does she not proclaim that she's that even know she is a person in the media. NO... but where she has a problem is not being able to present her opinion without always bringing that up and I think that's where the problem lies.

now where is the damn black music month post...lol