Journalism: What I've Learnt and Things To Consider.

Last week, all Level H English students of Bournemouth University were required to attend a lecture on the legalities to consider when publishing a piece. Overall, what I learnt was this - in journalism, whatever your speciality, it’s easy to land yourself in hot water. That’s why knowing your content, sources and choice of language is essential. I learnt the very basics in how to ensure my work is appropriate for my audience, whilst avoiding any slip ups in who and what I talk about - and how no short cuts are allowed to cover your back (so, don’t bank on adding that sly ‘allegedly’ at the end of your sentences to get you out of trouble!)

I’d heard words like ‘defamation’ ‘slander’ and ‘libel’ before, but didn’t realise how much they applied to the kinds of topics I’d been discussing. All of a sudden, I began back tracking my own work, thinking “what would I have done if I’d known more about this?” Defamation, in it’s simplest terms, is publishing any content that would make an audience think negatively of someone or making them the object of ridicule. Whilst some journalism is done in jest, or lightheartedness, what happens when professionals take it a step too far and ultimately damage either an individual’s or company’s reputation? 

That’s where libel comes in; a false, yet permanent statement. Ranging across all forms of journalism, be it printed, online or broadcast, libel is damaging whatever the platform. But, in order to prove libel, the claimant has to provide evidence of the defamation, identification and the publication in question. Slander, however, is something slightly different. Whilst a spoken and transient statement, it can be considered a serious offence all the same, especially if they’re a person of particular influence. Victoria Beckham, who was sued for slander when complaining of a supposedly fake signature on a sports wear brand’s clothing, would know this all too well.

It goes without saying that, in the past, libel has been used by a variety of different personalities in different occupations. The most common, however, is that of the celebrity personality and their privacy. Take, for example, Naomi Campbell. Notorious for her insistence of a drug free lifestyle, she was photographed in 2001 vacating a rehabilitation clinic. She sued for libel, claiming it be to damaging to her modelling career and public image. Whilst undeniably so, the libel was rejected on grounds of it’s defence; the news published was true and thus, in fact, acceptable for publication. However, the news outlet was not let off lightly, as invading an individuals privacy by photographing them in secret is considered an unsavoury act of unjust violation. 

Other suitable means of defence for libel include that of the ‘honest opinion,’ a common retaliation for reviews and opinion pieces whose content is based purely on fact. So, what can I do to ensure my work doesn’t end up costing me more than just a career in journalism? In short, I’ve learnt that the simplest way to do so is this; check everything. Common mistakes include headlines next to photographs from a different article that imply those featured are guilty of an accusing statement, use of false information that isn’t properly supported or researched, and use of inappropriate innuendo. I figure that if I’m not 100% sure of the content I’m publishing, then my gut instinct is probably right. If you’re going to be a journalist, make sure it’s for the right reasons and you’re dedicated to doing it the best and most ethical way you can.

Journalism: What Are The Risks?

If I were to ask you to consider what it is to be a journalist, what would you think of? Would you immediately consider the perks; the ‘pros’ of a lifestyle associated with freelance hours, worldwide travel and access all areas? Or would you think of the deadlines, the supposed lack of security and the dog eat dog mentality of the media? Whilst it’s fair to say these are considerable drawbacks of the trade, by no means are these the worst things a budding journalist can expect to endure.

One primary example is journalists who venture into areas of conflict as war reporters, done so in what writer for The Globe and Mail Anthony Feinstein regards as a bid to “open our eyes to a contemporary history we can no longer ignore.” These journalists are risking it all by choosing to work in some of the most dangerous situations, at times to devastating effect. James Foley, a 40 year old journalist kidnapped by Islamic State militants in 2012 whilst covering the civil war in Syria, was killed. James, or more fondly referred to by those who knew him well as Jim, was beheaded. His death, videoed and posted on YouTube for the world to see, was no doubt a warning to journalists attempting to overstep their mark on a territory which no longer withstands the code of conduct that once allowed journalists to work in conflicted areas - without the fear of confrontation from its inhabitants. 

In 2013, Reporters Without Borders claimed there had been “a significant increase in the abductions of journalists” in addition to “a slight bump in threats and physical attack,” making modern journalism the most dangerous it has been to date. In the last year alone, 71 journalists were killed, with 39% of those within zones of conflict such as Syria and Somalia. 87 journalists were kidnapped, with 2,160 threatened or physically attacked. The stats horrify me; and I can only hope that these will serve as a reminder that safety precautions are vital for our war reporters visiting zones of conflict in the future.

Mentality is a factor at risk as a journalist also. Distressing environments and war trauma can result in PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder), “a syndrome that can arise after an individual is exposed to a life-threatening stressor” (Feinstein, 2014), revealing that the damage is not always so obvious from the outset. 

Whilst it can be said that these are consequences of war journalism, are the risks so prevalent in day to day news reporting? Of course, journalists who place themselves willingly into the scene of a crime, incident or confrontation are at risk of harm. But, to me, the risk is minimal in comparison. Whilst war reporting is not something I personally envisage myself pursuing (but hey, never say never, right?) I have a huge respect for those who do, and have, risked it all to benefit their audience. 

Why Journalism?

If you’re anything like me, the definition of ‘journalism’ has become a difficult concept to discern. Not because I don’t know what it is exactly, but because it’s ever changing and ever evolving into something new every day. In its simplest terms, ‘journalism’ is the spreading and sharing of information. To me, it once meant scouring the likes of BBC News, waiting for 6 o’ clock or listening out for the radio to inform me of the day’s events. But now, not so much. 

These days, journalism is everywhere. All it takes is a smartphone and an internet connection that allows you to capture and share something of interest to the world, whatever it may be. Technological means and innovative creations such as iPhone apps make sharing information easier than ever before; Snapchat and Instagram focus solely on visual communication, whereas the likes of Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr make space for personal opinion and expression with seemingly unlimited possibility. 

Personal blogging is quickly becoming a worldwide phenomenon; platforms such as Blogspot and Wordpress are making the individual voice heard like never before. And that’s just it. A news update can be as quick as logging onto Youtube to recount the day’s events from your favourite amateur reporter, all from the comfort of their very own bedroom. Journalism is now communicative and, better yet, participatory; be it from a video reply or the addition of a simple hashtag to kick-start an online joint discussion across the globe.

It’s reasons like this that have made journalism appear so dynamic and exciting to me; you don’t have to be a certified professional to share and shout about what you love. Getting news to people no longer requires expensive gear, just a desire to be heard. It’s an industry that’s only going to grow and develop and I for one am certainly going to be part of it, iPhone at the ready.