ACCORDING to one description, journalism is the craft of conveying news, descriptive material and comment via a widening spectrum of media. These include newspapers, magazines, radio and television, the internet and even, more recently, the cell phone. I buy this description.
The professionals in it, the journalists who work as writers, editors or photographers; broadcast presenters or producers — serve as the chief purveyors of information and opinion in contemporary mass society. That is their prime task; that is their only and noble duty.
Journalism is about facts – true facts. Although some well-calculated speculation can be allowed, the profession largely hinges around the truth. Now, can a journalist-turned-political activist be expected to write the truth all the time? Eyebrows are raised when such a journalist openly acts in favor of some political party.
Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action or inaction to bring about social or political change. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of an often controversial argument.
Activism can be described as involvement in action to bring about change, be it social, political, environmental, or other. Activism and journalism are strange bed partners; one has to choose between the two. You cannot be both without jeopardizing the prospects of the other. Yet there has emerged what could be better described as activist-journalists.
Journalists who engage in activism assume to themselves responsibilities that belong to the reader: "Not only am I going to give you the 'facts', am I going to make your decisions for you The activist journalist presumes to know all the relevant detail in all the different maps of reality of every unique reader in an arrogance of excessive self-pride and self-confidence matched only by the journalist's contempt for the reader.
By Zahra Lalani
Journalism vs Activism
ReplyDeleteJournalism is investigating and reporting of events, issues and trends to a target audience. The main point of being a journalist is to find out and report factual events and happenings that take place in the society. The journalistic reporting actually reflection of the society and state.
Activism, in a general sense, can be described as intentional action or inaction to bring about social or political change. This action is in support of, or opposition to, one side of an often controversial argument.Journalism is always based on true facts & figure because this thing will serve as information for the end newspaper users.Journalists need to be impartial, objective, fair and balanced. At what point does a journalist become an activist? If a journalist does an investigative piece, it often leads to others acting. Every journalist knows s/he can have that impact. Indeed, not covering a story can lead to community inaction on an issue. It seems somewhat unavoidable