‘Blame it on the media.?
How often have you heard that phrase?
Reporters are often seen as vultures, seizing on controversy, misfortune, and anything we can sensationalize.
I have no doubt that negative opinions follow us like bad jokes follow attorneys, or like cops follow doughnuts. (Sorry, Parks).
There are other disadvantages, too. We who write for a living might not seem to be making the best use of our time. Certainly other professions yield a bigger income.
Journalism is not exactly a 9-to-5 job. Reporters rarely get work off their minds, and hours can be long. Because family time’s at a premium, something as simple as a drink after work is often impossible.
Then there’s the internal conflict. While we clearly see things from a human perspective, we have to write from a fair and unbiased perspective. It’s so ingrained it becomes hard to write in the first person.
But if you’ve ever seen the PBS show ‘Liberty’s Kids?–a show about young journalists during the Revolutionary War–you’ll realize reporters have a major place in history.
Before I worked for a newspaper, my daughter’s photo made the front page of a community paper when she won a spelling bee. I never even noticed the writer’s name until I got a job with the same newspaper group. But her words will live long in my family’s memory.
It sounds pollyannaish, I know, but it means a great deal when people trust me with their stories. I’ve had countless opportunities to hear about the amazing lives of individuals quietly tucked into every corner of our society.
It’s been my privilege to see photographs of those who’ve spent their hard-earned dollars to heal illness in Africa, witness the emotions of a Holocaust survivor, share moments with a couple who’s overcome job loss to start a flourishing business, hear the hope in the voices of those who have suffered beyond imagination, and even to have a homeless gentleman take me on a tour of where he spends his days and nights.
It may seem sappy, but I’ve left homes feeling I’ve just spent the last hours in the presence of an angel, and had my faith reaffirmed over and over. How can your own life remain untouched when you constantly experience such an outpouring of character?
Some stories I resist.
After days of researching complicated legislation, or looking at figures until my eyes want to cross, I’m yelling, ‘Aaarrgggghhhh! How did I get into this??
But I doubt I’d trade it for any other job. To me, life has become like a crash-course in everything. For someone who loves to learn, it’s just what the doctor ordered.
For those who willingly blame society’s evils on the media, you might be surprised to know that I agree. There’s a lot of irresponsible reporting in our world. Conversely, there are a lot of people who are only too willing to pick up a publication just to read some sensational headline.
Knowing that my words can easily come back to haunt me, I’m resolving to work harder than ever to demonstrate integrity this year, both in my writing and in my personal life.
I hope you’ll consider integrity a worthwhile goal in your life as well.