I am a journalism student. Until recently I was confidently proud that I had chosen this profession. Of course, all young people have ambitions that they want to realize in their future professions. Whether they are doctors, engineers, or businesspeople, no one works just for the heck of it but because to a certain extent s/he is capable of self-realization in the chosen sphere of activity.
When I was enrolling in the Journalism Department, I had the same ambitions. But, unfortunately, as I advance every year in the “second most ancient profession” (I don’t like this expression) my choice makes me increasingly worried and dissatisfied. It is not because I have been disappointed by journalism — I was, am, and will always be certain that it is the most necessary and most noble profession in the world — but because there are many people among my present (and future) colleagues who do not understand the huge responsibility that has been placed on their entry into journalism.
Boorishness, lack of intelligence, boastfulness, the “star” syndrome, and banal ignorance have taken root firmly and confidently in our mass media. You don’t have to make a detailed analysis of journalistic materials to see this.
You will say: journalism is a mirror image of the society it represents. Excuse me, but what about the expression that journalism is the flagman of the best educated, wisest, most honest, and most truthful things in society? At least this is what it should be like. Why do we, journalists, too often (intolerably often!) forget that our role is 100 times harder and more crucial than the teachers’ one? A teacher conveys good, beautiful, and eternal things to a few people, but we have to bring them to the whole nation.
There are many theories of what a journalist should be: a creator of original ideas and beliefs, or just a re-broadcaster of already existing ones. But isn’t it important to do both of these things at the same time and on a high level? Perhaps professional journalism lies in the qualitative combination of all possible roles. But the question is not which theories will be favored by the study of journalism. My heart aches for something else.
When I talk to my fellow students at the Journalism Department, I realize that these future “sharks of the pen” have only a foggy notion of professionalism. Nobody wants to study long and hard. They find excuses in the low standards of our national journalistic education: either we lack qualified professors of journalism, or only a single theory is being taught, or lecturers assign too many subjects, or the technical outfitting of labs and studios is dissatisfactory, etc.
Only a few individuals have the courage to place the main responsibility for studying on themselves, as the whole world is doing. And that’s a pity, because I am convinced that culture and responsibility are the main features of a qualified journalist.
So it turns out that our journalists, who have university diplomas, do not write about, say, the significance, originality, and positive nature of someone’s contribution to the culture, history, or society of our state but — begging your pardon — his sexual orientation or alcohol preferences.
Of course, every aspect of our life is important for comprehending the general picture of the world, but real objectivity does not mean pinning sensational labels on someone but an intelligent and sensible representation of facts and their analysis.
It is always profitable to rummage about in dirty laundry. It is just a pity that the dirt from this activity remains not only on the sorry scribbler’s hands, but also in peoples’ heads.
Perhaps someone will say that I am too critical in my opinions; that in fact the majority of journalists are worthy, diligent, ethical, persistent, intelligent, and honest people. I am sure that there many journalists like this. But as long as their antipodes exist, we have much to worry about and discuss.
Vasyl Stus once said about poets: “A poet is a person — above all. And a person is above all a benefactor.” I think these words also refer to journalists. To be a Person at every step of the way is the mission of both the lyrical and the mass media word. The word “benefactor” originates from the word “bene” — “good.” We should remember this.
Journalism is the advance guard of society’s development. From journalism’s serves goals are scored in the net of today’s most important problems. Thus, the nation’s victory in its general advancement to prosperity depends on the caliber of the Ukrainian journalistic brotherhood.
