COVERING SENIORS SOMETIMES REQUIRES DELICACY
by Leo E. Laurence, Member: San Diego "Pro" Chapter; Member, National Committee on Diversity
Covering seniors can sometimes require some extraordinary delicacy for journalists, largely because our senior population is growing rapidly and it is incredibly diverse.
BUT, not all seniors think of their senior status similarly.
For purposes of this blog, I'll define seniors loosely; and generally as anyone over 50, but certainly those 60 or more. Remember, some lively persons who look 50 may indeed be 75; and some who look 80, are hunched over and using a walker, may be only 50.
AGE: Some seniors are comfortable - and even proud - of their age, but many are still living as if they were 20 or 30 years younger and do NOT like to reveal their age.
This is expecially true of senior citizens who, perhaps because of good genes, don't look their age. A senior I know is 75 and going on 76. But, he looks easily 20 years younger, hangs out with people in their 20s and is very uncomfortable whenever anyone asks him his real age.
He'd prefer people think of him as he appears, and not as he really is.
For a journalist, if age isn't pertinent to your story, there may be no need to ask about it. However, on most all stories I work, I routinely ask interviewees their age for identification purposes. I don't press the question unless age if important, as with a crime story.
GAYS AND LESBIANS: Historically, the Gay Community has worshipped youth. For example, images of young people fill the ads in gay publications.
Therefore, a reporter needs to be particularly senative to this cultural characteristic when asking gay seniors any question about their age or an age-related issue. Is it really needed for your story?
OCCUPATION/PROFESSION: Many seniors have had several occupations/professions over their lifetime.
When doing an interivew, if that varied background might be meaningful to your story, do ask about past occupations. This is true even though your interviewee may be doing something entirely different now than they did decades ago.
MEDICAL HISTORY: In personal conversations, I usually try to avoid asking my senior friends, "How are you?" That's because I fear that I will get a full medical report (e.g., "I went to my urologist today and my urine is etc., etc., etc.").
While that observation may be stereotypical, many seniors are retired and have very little to keep them busy. For one older neighbor I once had, going to his mailbox was the only time he left his home during the day)
Therefore, it's a BIG experience when they do go to their doctor. But, really, I'm not interested to knowing how well they can urinate and why.
However, if their medical condition is germane to your story, a journalist might want to narrow their questions to particular specifics, so to avoid getting a generalized medical report.
And, if needed, ask your interviewee to tell their doctor that you might be calling to verify facts, if they are really needed for your story.
COMPUTERS & TECHNOLOGY: Many seniors have not kept up with advancing, modern technology as has our younger generations.
Many hate cell phones and rarely use e-mail. They may have difficulty setting the clock on electronic eqipment, and prefer life as it was a decade or so ago.
Journalists need to be senative to these pecularities of senior citizens, and don't expect that they will have a cell phone.
HISTORY: Senior citizens, however, can be a wealth of information, particularly in providing lively history of issues about which you are writing.
Doing a piece on the Korean War, the so-called "forgotten war?"
There are plenty of seniors around your community who can tell the most fantastic sea stories about their wartime experiences, and love doing it.
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Add your comments to this; or to contact the blogger, Leo Laurence, call (619) 757-4909 or e-mail to leopowerhere@msn.com