"Letter to Young Journalists": Demonstrating the Value of Human Beings

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Memories of my journalist career

It seems that not long ago, I was a [journalist] who went around interviewing entrepreneurs and celebrities with a notebook (http://evctw.wikia.com/wiki/Vista). Before the monthly deadline came, I shook my pen and wrote one entrepreneurial story after another. Success stories (of course there are also regrettable and lamentable failure cases) also try to analyze today’s technological trends for readers, or introduce the [business model] behind the company (http://www.nownews.com/n/2010/04/04/742482).

Although I am no longer a young person who has just entered society, and I have now left the ever-changing media circle, after reading “[Letter to Young Journalists](https://www.books.com.tw/exep/assp.php/vista/products/0010593 863?utm_source=vista&utm_medium=ap-books&utm_content=recommend&utm_campaign=ap-201503)》This book is written by Samuel. The books written by Friedman still have many feelings in my heart.

With the evolution of business logic and information technology, the media ecology at home and abroad has also undergone many changes. Journalists face severe challenges and temptations from the moment they decide to report. While reading “Letter to a Young Journalist”, I couldn’t help but recall the years when I was a reporter in newspapers and magazines, and even earlier when I studied communication-related courses on university campuses.

In my impression, there are many books on the market that introduce the principles of interview writing and journalism, but few of them touch on the confrontation between ideals and reality. The communication departments of universities such as National Chengchi University and Shih Hsin University teach a lot of editing and interviewing skills, but they rarely tell students how to prepare themselves to become journalists.

“I hope I can instill some habits of thinking in you and inspire you to establish professional ethics… I even want to talk to you about painting, music and drama. I am happy to, and I feel that I have this level. In fact, I do hope that you will study art, which will enhance your cultural accomplishment and enhance your life. Great journalists will never stop at reading newspapers and magazines, collecting news materials and listening to news reports, but will find nutrients and catalysts in great arts such as literature, film and jazz.”

After reading this, I feel the same way. As a reporter, in addition to having sharp ears and eyes, being good at listening, communicating and expressing, you should also dabble in some different fields. For example, getting in touch with art such as literature, music, and movies. It may take a lot of time to engage in these activities, but if you can appreciate more beautiful things, it should also help to expand your knowledge and embrace the world with a broader mind.

I secretly wonder, what would it have been like if I had read this book earlier? To be honest, if you read this book earlier, you may not be able to improve your interviewing and writing skills; but I believe that you can sharpen your mind, clarify your attitudes and ideas about journalism, and get more confirmation from actual interviewing work.

But it’s not too late to read now.

“Letter to Young Journalists” Although this book is not long, it is both practical and fun to read. As the title suggests, this is a book written by a professor at the School of Journalism for “young people who are interested in working in the media” (http://opinion.cw.com.tw/blog/profile/43/article/677). Through epistolary communication, the author uses theory and personal experience to share many tips and things to pay attention to in journalism, and also teaches media workers how to contact the world.

Although the author mentioned that “it is not a textbook, a history book, or a work of journalism criticism, although it has some similarities with these books,” from the book’s topic selection to the chapter arrangement, it is not difficult to see the author’s intentions - especially in terms of professional ethics, emotions, and honor, Samuel. Friedman also spent a lot of space talking about his expectations for young reporters.

Highlights of this book

I love reading books. When I get a book, I usually read the preface and table of contents first. From the table of contents arrangement of this book, you can see the author’s intentions. This book only has four short chapters, but it is almost every word.

The first chapter of this book talks about the characteristics of journalists rather than reporting principles and interviewing techniques. It is obvious that the author values ​​people far more than anything else. There are many things that can be cultivated in the development of an excellent reporter through acquired efforts, but conscience and the ability to self-reflection should be the most important and override other principles.

Chapters two and three discuss reporting and writing respectively. The author also shares his experience working at the New York Times and teaching at Columbia University. What is interesting is that for news writing, Samuel. Friedman also had his own unique insights. For example, the “inverted pyramid structure” that is regarded as a golden rule in the field of communication has never been used or taught by him based on the understanding that information cannot simply be arranged in order.

Mentioned “[Inverted Pyramid Structure](https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%80%92%E9%87%91%E5%AD%97%E5%A1%94%E7% BB%93%E6%9E%84)”, which reminded me of the mass communication theory I had read in college, and also led me to rethink the narrative structure of news writing. Perhaps it can be changed according to the current situation, and it should not be so rigid that only a single perspective and approach remains.

The last chapter talks about career. I especially like what the author said, “Journalism is a career that uses every new report to prove yourself and update yourself. Yesterday’s experience is the basis for tomorrow’s work.”

Reflections on news objectivity

There are several issues in the book that impressed me deeply, such as the principle of objective reporting that is well known to communicators, but the author does not believe in it.

The so-called “journalistic objectivity” emphasizes that the news media is an independent industry. Practitioners should uphold the professional values ​​of journalism and report and disseminate events accurately and truthfully. It also requires reporters to develop a method of verifying information so that the evidence can be more transparent.

According to the concept of traditional journalism, news practitioners must adhere to the principles of “fairness” and “objectivity” - I have also had similar questions. Journalists cannot live in isolation from society and must have their own preferences, positions and values. How can they report without a trace of personal color?

The author believes that “objective” is a wrong word, because people cannot avoid subjectivity, let alone reject emotions thousands of miles away. News is indeed related to communicating emotions, and it cannot transcend the scope of human nature. He cited two Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalists as examples. Associated Press reporter Huang Yougong put human considerations ahead of grabbing news, so he first sent a Vietnamese little girl who was attacked by US napalm bombs to the hospital before returning to the AP office to develop photos of the war scene.

On the other hand, another winning work captured the famine in Sudan, by freelance writer Kevin. Although Carter drove away the eyeing vulture afterwards, he failed to do more for the thin, shambling child. After winning the award, he couldn’t resist the condemnation of his conscience and committed suicide, leaving many regrets.

The author believes that objectivity is relative, and journalists should strike a balance between subjectivity and objectivity. Journalists are regarded as “God’s profession”. Although they need to publish news reports as soon as possible, the height of social ethics should override professional ethics.

In the process of reading this book, it is like listening to Samuel. Friedman’s teachings. The author urges young journalists to play the role of loyal information brokers, but in addition to attending the scene in person and reporting in detail, it is more important to be an ethical journalist and always maintain a compassionate heart.

“I’m not afraid of treating journalism as a moral profession, and I’m not afraid of demanding myself with ethical standards. I’m not afraid of sounding naive or sad. Anyone who doesn’t engage in this profession because he believes that journalism is a moral profession would be better off speculating in foreign exchange or manufacturing Agent Orange (a toxic herbicide). There will certainly be many disappointments in your career, but your original ideals will shine like a guiding light and never go out.”

Thinking of the previous series of incidents of reporters plagiarizing news, let’s look at the author of this book, Samuel. Friedman’s appeal to young journalists is that while writing skills can be improved through hard work, moral conscience is indeed the first priority for journalists.

News reports should be close to life, because they will definitely highlight the value of people.

♪ Image source: [pixabay](https://pixabay.com/zh/%E7%94%B5%E5%BD%B1-%E7%94%B5%E8%A7%86-%E8%A7%86%E9%A2%91-%E7%9B%B8%E6%9C%BA-%E7%9B% B8%E6%9C%BA%E6%8B%8D%E7%85%A7-%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB-%E7%94%B5%E5 %BD%B1%E5%8D%8F%E4%BC%9A-%E6%91%84%E5%BD%B1%E5%B8%88-512132/)

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