Stand Up for Journalism
‘Journalists are reduced to a cross between call-centre workers and data processors. Stuck at their desks re-jigging press releases. Who knows what corruption, lies, and law-breaking is going on in the corridors of power – no-one has the time to look.’
– Stand Up for Journalism
The idea of reducing journalists to nothing more than re-jiggers of press releases may sound nice to we public relations people who pump out such releases full of our clients’ good news and key messages for stakeholders. But I guess we do have a duty to consider the wider good.
I’ve previously mentioned the BBC’s acceptance that its coverage is unbalanced, but far worse is that to be found on the business pages of the regional press, where press releases are often printed as news without any re-jigging.
With media coverage so poor with regard to business, it’s no wonder the public don’t know how to react to the big stories.
There is a real danger that in an industry dominated by just a few owners who don’t know how to react to the new media challenge and strive to cut costs as they manage decline, this poor state of affairs will quickly spread. The news industry lacks the competitive edge required to raise the quality of its product and spur on innovation. Let’s hope the NUJ succeeds in its efforts to reverse these trends.
Comments (One comment)
Well done Stephen for mentioning the Stand Up For Journalism campaign! It seems to be getting short shrift from a lot of PR people, but you’re right - it’s an important issue for the wider good. We’ll be there at the Mcr rally next week - let’s hope I can remember some tips from the CND banner-making workshop I attended in 1987 …
Jane / October 31st, 2007, 11:12 am / #
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