How ‘access journalism’ is threatening investigative journalism
In the digital age, there needs to be larger conversation about what constitutes proper public evidence and transparency in both investigative and access journalism, writes Peter Manning in this crossposting from The Conversation.
A series of memoirs are appearing for Christmas – by Mike Carlton, Kerry O’Brien and the like – as the baby boomer generation of journalists gets some quality time to reflect, laugh, and reveal some new secrets.
As the receiver of a cheapo massive cardboard screed in 1972 for “investigative journalism” from my colleagues in the ABC’s This Day Tonight, my recollection was that “investigative journalism” was a cool, new genre any young journo wanted to be associated with.
I accepted the award with honour. It was mainly the result of reporting the corrupt antics of then NSW Liberal premier Sir Robin Askin.
Excellent article. What is also missing is ethics and knowledge about the subject being reported on. Too often the “access journalism” is really a form of McCarthyism. This is especially true of the #metoo movement and its failed reporters. The call for easing laws on slander and defamation are a result of the lack of due diligence by the reporters. If you facts, you will win a case. If you are just repeating accusations, you should lose.
As a young foreign student studying in an Australian university in the 1960s, the student political activities, the liberal & truthful media (print, radio and TV, particular the ABC), the learning of social justice and democracy, played an important role in my decision to remain in Australia.
What Prof Manning described in his journalistic journey with ABC resonates well with my mind that Australia is egalitarian society where the long arm of the media will get you in the end. Those political activities that went through University with me, has now been there and done it, viz. Bob Carr & Meredith Burgmann.
Now, in my retiring years, it is sad to see those shinning ideals fade away slowly but surely. Old style journalism is akin to writing good scientific paper where every statement is backed up by evidence and when an opinion is expressed, it was declared as such. What Prof Manning describe of some media reports have an equivalent in scientific publications called Journal of irreproducible results.
Today’s media relied too much sensationalism and innuendos. The saying “if enough mud is thrown at you, some will stick” seems to the agenda. Guilt by association or innuendo can ruin reputations. Lately, there has been talk about corporate greed among media empires based on profit making priority; hence they have lost their way and their reports become “government propaganda”.
Re-injecting moral and ethical consideration in journalism must occur if we are to restore public faith in the media. Social media also suffer from the same fate if not properly regulated on moral and ethical grounds.