Publisher at large

My colleague Elaine fielded some tough questions the other night about Birmingham and the state of journalism. She handled the questions admirably, with thoughtful well-reasoned answers.

But we are not about thoughtful here.

I’ve never been shy about my hometown and my industry, so let us tackle a few of the nagging questions out there.

Q: Are young journalists ready to ask the tough questions? Are they skeptical enough?

Young journalists are like young people everywhere: They tend to emulate their elders, their role models. Typically, parents.

How can young people be ready to question authority when so many adults fail to do so? Many grown Americans readily swallow what is spoon-fed to them by the government, by the media, by the corporations, by the church. A healthy dose of skepticism goes a long way in a democracy.

Some may lament that young journalists haven’t experienced a Watergate, a Vietnam War, a critical historic moment that pushes them to be the next Woodward and/or Bernstein. That’s silly. Good reporting comes from basic legwork, tenacity and a willingness to stand up for readers — even if that means standing up to politicians, or their own bosses.

Q: With only one newspaper in Birmingham, what does that mean for news coverage?

It means that it’s up to us to keep them and all media honest. Boycotting the newspaper doesn’t improve the product. Careful scrutiny and a demand for honest, in-depth, factual coverage on a wide variety of topics strengthens news coverage.

Ideally, that’s what you get. But with corporate-owned media, focus on profit squeezes vital resources needed to cover a community effectively. Demand more of your fourth estate.

Bury your head in the sand, and you do so at your own peril.

Q: Does the media have responsibility for low voter turnout?

Let’s share the responsibility. The media often does a routine job in covering elections, focusing on the horse race rather than the issues that matter to voters. Every minute or page devoted to the swift boats and Ten Commandments monuments of the world is less coverage to jobs, education, crime, foreign policy, defense, Social Security, the environment, health care and more.

If the media did a better job of explaining how this elected position affects your daily life, and how this candidate’s stance may ultimately affect your wallet, you might care. You might even vote.

But this democracy we share demands your participation. If you didn’t vote in the most recent election, why?

Q: What would you tell young journalists starting out?

Be passionate. You must care about something if you want to tell the stories of a community. You can’t be in journalism for money (it’s not there) or glory (it’s fleeting). Your passion must drive you to reach out to citizens, to demand answers, to improve your craft.

It’s the Why that makes it vital, that makes it come alive.

Posted: Friday, October 28, 2005, 10:33 pm, in B'ham, Commerce, Grab Bag.
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