Journalism leaders must help newcomers get their foot in the door
With opportunities drying up, the importance of philanthropic support for journalism is more essential than ever before, writes Anita Jacoby.
I’ve always believed the strength of our democracy is principally founded on the quality of our journalism and the pursuit of truth. Great journalism gives a voice to the voiceless and is the watchdog of society. It’s been a mantra since I started as a rookie news reporter at NBN3 in Newcastle in the early 1980s and throughout a career as a producer for many current affairs programs, including 60 Minutes, Sunday and Witness with Jana Wendt.
Fortunately, I grew up in a household where we discussed the state of the world: apartheid, Nixon and Watergate, the ethics of test tube babies. My father was like a wise old owl. ‘Why do you think they are doing that?’ Then, ‘If in doubt, follow the money,’ he’d advise, trying to get me to understand people’s deeper motivations. ‘What is the rationale behind you saying that?’ was another question he would regularly ask, to help me learn to think critically about the world. It was these many conversations with my father which led me on the path to journalism.
He was the first in a number of influential role models who backed me in the early days. The doyen of current affairs Peter Meakin was another. I had been supervising producer at Today and Meakin knew my skills through this role. Meakin and the legendary journalist Ian Frykberg ensured I got the proverbial ‘foot in the door’ as a producer at 60 Minutes when it was the highest rating and most coveted show on air.
Yes, but then it was ever thus, night follows day follows night.
I fear that the bad virus attacking real journalism, and the true enemy of democracy, is the unfettered rise of social media. The wonderful notion of providing a voice to the voiceless and a society watchdog is a noble one, but the weakening of true journalism by the instant worldwide platform of social media; fake news, and individual or group opinions fed by personal cellphone video and audio recordings seem to be taking over.
The cult of celebrity has become so powerful now, that people are more interested in Trump than in what he stands for, and what Trump has to say, is less interesting than how he says it….. Oh sorry, actually that may be the case.