Uniting under the banner of journalism

It’s been hard this week to be positive about journalism.

We lost about 900 journalism jobs.

There have been blog posts galore about what exactly has put the industry in this situation, and feelings have escalated.

On Twitter and on the blogosphere this week, I’ve seen numerous arguments about what’s wrong with journalism: Giving away content for free? People who think we should charge for content? The housing bubble? The economy? Illiteracy? Egotism? Bias?

I’ve been terrified by the loss of faith among journalists. To me, that’s more disheartening than the actual state of the profession.

This isn’t just about me paying the bills once I graduate.

Sure, if journalism isn’t around for me to work in, I’ll be upset. My dream might be crushed, but I’m only one person. I’ll move on.

But the world won’t. Government won’t. Democracy won’t.

I guess I feel that way because I’m one of those old-fashioned people who believe that journalism is about truth: speaking truth to power, finding the truth, publicizing the truth, somehow getting at the truth by exploring all viewpoints.

I don’t care what medium that’s in or how it’s presented stylistically as long as I’m allowed to do that. It could be in Haiku, for all I care.

I think, in the midst of all the blogging and ad-hawking and politicizing and doing more with less, we’ve lost sight of that.

We’ve lost sight of what wins Pulitzer prizes and brings down leaders and governments, what protects the innocent and damns the guilty.

Part of what excites journalists and the general public about journalism is the philosophy, the search for knowledge. That’s complicated, and it’s not something you can quantify.

But all we can see lately is the bottom line and the jobs bottoming out. We’re divided among ourselves, arguing over the inverted pyramid vs. Gonzo and HTML vs. newsprint. That’s all fine for discussion – and everyone knows I love a good discussion – but the rancor I’ve seen in recent weeks disturbs me.

I’ve been guilty of it as well (see previous blog post). We’ve all chosen sides. But I think it’s time to stop wasting time. It’s time to start taking a proactive approach to saving journalism.

Maybe this sounds cheesy or cliche. If it does, I’m sorry — because I can’t help but feel that we’re shooting our own wounded.

It’s time to utilize expertise, both old and new. It’s time to try everything that fits within our ethical standards. It’s time to convince our friends and family that they need the media. It’s time to stop fighting among ourselves and figure out a battle plan for the economic woes ahead.

I’m not saying we need to end discussion. I’m just saying that the discussions need to get us somewhere instead of stagnating.

To me, the thesis of journalism has always been that words are powerful.

It’s time to use that power to keep our profession alive – not to tear it down.

In a world where the guards need to be guarded, I have to believe there will always be an absolute need for some form of journalism.

It’s my calling. It’s what I want to dedicate my life to.

Who’s with me?

I believe in the profession of journalism — no, really, I’m not joking

Maybe “Frustrations of a young journalist” is a misleading title.

It is a frustrating time to be a journalist. But when has being a journalist not been frustrating?

Sure, I hit roadblocks. Between being turned down for internships and hearing predictions of death and doom from older, theoretically wiser journalists, it’s difficult to plod along through. I have friends exiting the profession in droves in favor of law school, publishing, graphic design: in general, a future with a paycheck.

So maybe I have a bimonthly journalism meltdown penciled into my schedule. But here’s my problem: Even when I’m frustrated, I am passionate about being frustrated.

That’s the one roadblock I can’t overcome. I cannot see myself doing anything other than journalism. Not public relations, not publishing, not law school (well, maybe law school on the days I fantasize about being someday able to buy designer shoes).

I haven’t graduated with my bachelor’s degree yet, but I am already a journalist. I feel like journalism chose me.

Despite economic woes and scandals, journalists still do great things. Look at the Pulitzer Prizes for this year, especially in the public service category. Journalism still makes people angry and changes the world. As long as journalism does that, whether it’s in Podunk, Iowa, or Baghdad, whether it’s operating in the red or the black, I want to be a part of it.

That’s the point. If you’re in love with this, you don’t give up. And no matter how frustrated I get, I’m not going to.

As Walter Williams wrote in 1906, “I believe in the profession of journalism.”

I do.