I love story telling. I love connecting with people of all backgrounds and having meaningful conversations. I love journalism; however, the hardest part about being an aspiring journalist, in my opinion, is how society views journalists. Many, especially marginalized communities, have found it to trust the media because of a reoccurring instance of misrepresentation, which occurs when journalists lack a broad understanding of diverse communities. Others distrust the media due to their tight deadlines, which often becomes perceived as greed instead of caring about the story and those involved.
Being a Black student journalist at the University of Oklahoma is often challenging because due to the reoccurring racial incidents, the Black community at OU is often in the headline story for many local and national news stations. Due to misrepresentation, misquoting, and the constant bombarding of these activists who are students first, many of the student leaders in the Black community have told the rest of the community to defer from speaking to the media. Of course, as a Black student, I completely understand, but as a journalist I can’t help but feel like my future profession is being painted in a negative light.
With digital platforms, the news cycle has turned into 24 hours leaving journalists to feign over breaking news or a new angle to a story. This has created a perception that journalists all insensitive to the subjects they report about. The world was disgusted when TMZ broke the news that the legendary Kobe Bryant died before his family was notified. In an effort to gain views and bragging rights, TMZ acted unethically in poor judgement. TMZ completely disregarded the families involved.
Not all journalists are insensitive. There are journalists that genuinely care about their stories, about the people effected. The whole reason I wanted to study and later work in the journalism field is to cover stories that matter. Upon coming to OU I realized the role intersectionality plays on not only myself, but everyone. As an Afro-Latina middle-class woman, I can relate to those that feel oppressed by their race, ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status. I understand feeling unheard, overlooked, or even tokenized by my peers and authoritative figures. I want to help shift the world’s perspective on journalists. I want to work to help change the perceptions of marginalized groups whose stories were not only told for them but were also false. I am a journalist that cares.
* Completed for “Introduction to Public Relations”. This is a piece created to advocate for journalists at a time where our ethics were put into question following the death of Kobe Bryant catered towards those who may be questioning journalists‘ behaviors and ethical values. This is an individual writing piece share my own opinion in support of journalists while also condemning the ethical great area of breaking news and how that effects those involved.
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