Fair and balanced journalism takes all sides of an issue into account, reporting from various points of view and sources, and gives the reader the opportunity to make up their minds for themselves. This is freedom journalism.
Discussion
Working in magazine journalism, at women’s publications was a joy. We shared a common mission—to empower women—and at least at the publications where I worked in editorial (NOT fashion—that is another essay called The Lost Collar on Mr Beller’s Neighborhood) we lifted each other up. I worked on domestic and international news pieces covering topics like Kosovian refugees, the Burkha, 9/11, VDay, FGM, war criminals, vaccines, anesthesia, breast cancer (NMA nominated), and of course the plastic surgery wives and the reality show precursor articles. Staffers were competitive in a way that challenged us all to do the best work we could, and I’m friends with many of these editors and writers to this day. NONE of THEM are still in journalism
The field has completely been taken over by pirates. To be a truly good journalist, it’s imperative to be unbiased and impartial. To tell both sides and gather information on both sides of an issue, without an agenda.
Content name-calling used to make me so angry. Having the hard work of journalism being denigrated to being referred to as a content creator killed me. Citizen journalism was even worse. There’s no stopping it, though. Tech enables anyone and everyone to release whatever they can, and without a filter. Working unnecessarily long hours at a SF-based social media company mired in middle management and ruled by corporate cardboard cutout people was not an option for someone with several side gigs. I didn’t see a way forward. So I started a startup. MORE SOON