Saturday, March 25, 2006
"Music Journalism Has Never Looked Better"
"Building a ‘free’ future"
Written by Emma Sadowski, Managing Editor
Excalibur, York University's Newspaper
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
Journalism is in a state of crisis. There, I said it. It has been compromised miles from its initial intention the truth. Truth has been handed a rubber dingy, and has been told, with a shotgun to its head, to get out. Corporate sponsorship, government control and centralized ownership of publications have all contributed to the production of this blurry concept of storytelling we read in the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail everyday.
As a young and plucky university student, I had the idealistic goal of becoming the journalist that would eventually crack a big scandal or bring a nasty corporation down to its knees. Unfortunately the more I continued on with my studies, the more I began to realize that in order to truly achieve the job of my dreams, I would have to put my morals and ethics on the backburner, and lock up the freedom of my voice. I couldn't find, even though I dug to the very depths of my soul, a good enough reason to want to do that. Music journalism has never looked better.
This year as managing editor at Excalibur has taught me so much about the world of journalism; it's not an easy place to be. However, to spare myself, and the reader, from having to read another "woe is me - journalism is hard" editorial, I'm not going there.
Student press is an interesting entity. It's grown up enough to take care of itself financially, and yet immature enough to make stupid mistakes. It has the option of reporting on what it wants, but sometimes fails to see past the end of its nose. But the practice of running a newspaper and reporting on a community that is so tight knit that not even a sneeze goes unnoticed has been a fantastic training ground for the future of any young journalist, including myself.
From covering news stories late into the night to working through - and making sense of - student union politics, my thirst for a story has never been so insatiable. Student press has allowed me to cover events, people and organizations freely without having to adhere to anyone's demands.
Conversely, I have also come to understand attempts to silence my voice and right as a journalist. From being requested to produce questions before an interview to being asked to leave certain events, these not only reaffirm this crisis that we are experiencing but suggests that journalism has taken a turn for the worst. How did society come to distrust our integrity? How did truth get given the finger?
As I prep myself to exit the comfortable world of student press, I carry with me my initial ideals and love for the truth. If people have things to hide, they should be uncovered; if scandal is happening, it should be uncovered. As a team of young journalists, we should all strive to break down the walls put up around the truth and strive to regain the trust of a public that deserves much more than what they presently get.
I believe that it is up to us, the next generation of journalists, politicians, doctors, filmmakers, music makers, artists, entrepreneurs or wherever your aspirations lead you, to make a difference and correct this world that is filled with crisis. The world is in our hands. ¶ 3/25/2006 06:33:00 AM
"Building a ‘free’ future"
Written by Emma Sadowski, Managing Editor
Excalibur, York University's Newspaper
Wednesday, 22 March 2006
Journalism is in a state of crisis. There, I said it. It has been compromised miles from its initial intention the truth. Truth has been handed a rubber dingy, and has been told, with a shotgun to its head, to get out. Corporate sponsorship, government control and centralized ownership of publications have all contributed to the production of this blurry concept of storytelling we read in the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail everyday.
As a young and plucky university student, I had the idealistic goal of becoming the journalist that would eventually crack a big scandal or bring a nasty corporation down to its knees. Unfortunately the more I continued on with my studies, the more I began to realize that in order to truly achieve the job of my dreams, I would have to put my morals and ethics on the backburner, and lock up the freedom of my voice. I couldn't find, even though I dug to the very depths of my soul, a good enough reason to want to do that. Music journalism has never looked better.
This year as managing editor at Excalibur has taught me so much about the world of journalism; it's not an easy place to be. However, to spare myself, and the reader, from having to read another "woe is me - journalism is hard" editorial, I'm not going there.
Student press is an interesting entity. It's grown up enough to take care of itself financially, and yet immature enough to make stupid mistakes. It has the option of reporting on what it wants, but sometimes fails to see past the end of its nose. But the practice of running a newspaper and reporting on a community that is so tight knit that not even a sneeze goes unnoticed has been a fantastic training ground for the future of any young journalist, including myself.
From covering news stories late into the night to working through - and making sense of - student union politics, my thirst for a story has never been so insatiable. Student press has allowed me to cover events, people and organizations freely without having to adhere to anyone's demands.
Conversely, I have also come to understand attempts to silence my voice and right as a journalist. From being requested to produce questions before an interview to being asked to leave certain events, these not only reaffirm this crisis that we are experiencing but suggests that journalism has taken a turn for the worst. How did society come to distrust our integrity? How did truth get given the finger?
As I prep myself to exit the comfortable world of student press, I carry with me my initial ideals and love for the truth. If people have things to hide, they should be uncovered; if scandal is happening, it should be uncovered. As a team of young journalists, we should all strive to break down the walls put up around the truth and strive to regain the trust of a public that deserves much more than what they presently get.
I believe that it is up to us, the next generation of journalists, politicians, doctors, filmmakers, music makers, artists, entrepreneurs or wherever your aspirations lead you, to make a difference and correct this world that is filled with crisis. The world is in our hands. ¶ 3/25/2006 06:33:00 AM
