Writing Redux: 'Poll'
Why I left journalism many, many moons ago.
(Image credit: Nappy Studio)
Dateline: July 9th, 2011
One of the reasons I left journalism was that, although it was one of the most exciting, unpredictable and exhilarating areas of work I've been involved in, it was also one of the most reactionary, morally dubious, hostile and insufferably 'unmeritocratic'.
Perhaps that's because journalism has always been a trade and not a profession, as with doctors, accountants and lawyers. Journalists do a great job in promoting themselves and creating an air of mystique around their craft. However, the internet has put paid to notions of their supremacy/superior skills in critically analyzing a story, or indeed being the most authoritative voice for breaking news.
There are some excellent practitioners out there, but sadly, the echoes of their work get drowned out by the screaming headlines of the hacks whose home is the gutter press. Forgive the tortured prose...
By the way, some of my best friends are journalists. Honest!
Dateline: Now (the date of this post)…
I haven’t the foggiest idea why I originally gave this piece the headline ‘Poll’. I’m far too lazy to even think about why I did, so I’ll put it down to a case of: ‘It must have made sense at the time!”
-S-