Impact 9/11 has had on American journalism
OK, so reporters have a tendency to ask big questions and demand relatively snappy answers in only minutes flat. As SPJ's new president, I'm learning in a hurry how difficult it is to sound smart on incredibly short notice while also choosing my words very, um, "carefully."
In the last couple of days, I have received calls from three journalists, including one in Africa, wanting to know how 9/11 has affected American journalism. My top answers, devoid of much elaboration, are posted below in no particular order.
What would you add to this list?
1. Many journalists all of a sudden woke up and discovered religion (particularly Islam). Belief in a higher power -- and the lack thereof -- figures into everything, including business decisions, politics and a person's stance on various social issues. Yet, far too many journalists failed to understand, much less explain, how faith figured into the subjects they tackled. Since 9/11, I have seen much more careful exploration and explanation of the role religion plays in various world affairs. Still, the American press has a long way to go on this count ... Journalists wanting greater insight into the role religion plays on every beat would be smart to consult the Religion Newswriters Association.
2. The lack of Arab and Muslim voices in American media has become more apparent to me since 9/11. Can you name one prominent Arab newspaper columnist or TV broadcaster? What about ANY Arab newspaper columnist or TV broadcaster? To American newsrooms, I say, "Let's make more of a conscious effort to hire these people, please. Every newsroom should reflect the community it serves." The National Arab American Journalists Association is happy to discuss these issues -- and provide the names of worthy job candidates.
3. In the last five years, more journalists have begun to focus on the daisy chain that includes U.S. policies on the Middle East, the world's oil and energy markets, the relationship between Israel and its neighbors and the tension often arising between Islamic and Judeo-Christian cultures. Before 9/11, these seemingly complex analyses often were delegated to a news organization's foreign correspondents. Hands off -- or of no concern -- for the men and women slogging through city meetings and pounding the streets back in the States. Not anymore.
4. 9/11 should have taught everyone in journalism a big lesson about the unflinching and unapologetic skepticism journalists should have of their government leaders. Enough said.
5. 9/11 unfortunately has ushered in some of the most serious breaches of press freedom Americans ever have seen. The number of classified documents is on the rise. The Freedom of Information Act is under attack. Overzealous federal prosecutors have been empowered to haul journalists into court, demanding that reporters and editors hand over notes and the names of confidential sources. Some lawmakers are pushing for the "Official Secrets Act" bill to clamp down on whistle-blowers. And all of this plays well with an increasingly nervous America, which appears all too willing to trade personal freedom for personal security. I can't shake this famous quote from An Historical Review of the Constitution and Government of Pennsylvania: "Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."