I won’t bore you by repeating the events of this after-class demonstration. I’m fairly certain everyone’s already read about it by this point, and if you haven’t, go on any news site – and I mean literally any news site, from the BBC to Anchorage Daily News in Alaska – and you can find the full run-down of what happened. Unlike most of the people who are being interviewed for all of these stories, I am actually enrolled in the class and was present for the entirety of the demonstration. But I’m not writing this to talk about that. I’m writing this because I’m absolutely sick of talking and hearing about it.
The event itself occurred on Monday, February 21st. The Daily Northwestern broke the story on Tuesday, March 1st. By the end of Tuesday night and through into the next few days, the story had been picked up by national and international publications and news sources. TV vans and cameras flooded the Northwestern campus, and gradually more and more stories started showing up online, including interviews with the demonstrators themselves, several statements by Professor Bailey, a statement by President Morty Shapiro, and the list goes on and on.
I’ll be completely honest – I’m not always the biggest fan of Bailey. There are things that he says and does that I completely disagree with, and I’m still on the fence about whether or not I think this specific demonstration had “educational value.” But that does not mean that I think any of this is deserving of as much media attention as it has been receiving. How can this story be the main story on The Chicago Tribune’s website when Libya is falling apart? When Wisconsin laborers are fighting for their rights? My question is – why is this such a big deal?!?!?
As a journalism student, I’ve spent the past year and a half learning how to report, write, find stories, produce videos – essentially all of the technicalities of journalism. But what I’m realizing more and more is that all of that is only half of what being a journalist is about. Unfortunately, news and media organizations are having to fight to stay alive in the current climate of increased technology and convergence culture. It’s as much about the stories as it is about business and making money. And what sells? Sex sells. Controversy sells. A story like this is a goldmine for journalists because it’s going to get them the most hits and the most views, leading to the most money.
What’s happened to journalistic integrity? Did it even ever exist? I like to think that once upon a time people wrote stories because they were relevant and important for everyone to hear about. That’s what should be at the core of journalism. But I refuse to believe that this is a story that needs to be shared with many people outside of the Northwestern community, much less outside of the Chicago community. So I can only draw the conclusion that all of these esteemed news sources chose to report the story because they knew it was sensational and controversial. I’m all for causing a stir, but it has to be done for a real reason – not simply as controversy for controversy’s sake.
It’s truly upsetting for me to sit here and watch journalism heading in this direction. I refuse to become a part of that culture, and if that means I can’t become a journalist, so be it. I’ll find something else to do with my life where I am allowed to retain my own values and beliefs. With any profession or even any decision, you need to take a step back and think, “Okay, why am I doing this? What is the real merit in this?” You can make a decision based on the answers to those questions. So why have I written this article? I want it to be known that this sensationalist form of journalism disgusts and saddens me, and that I refuse to be that kind of journalist. And I think everyone needs to get over the #@$!saw and focus on issues that are actually important in this world.