This potentially means I may be working in the field of journalism in the future, and that might not be as bad as I had previously thought.
We've been having some amazing discussions in Joanne Kelly's (@JoanneMKelly) journalism class the past couple of weeks.
About ethics, about grey areas, and a number of 'what would you do?' hypothetical questions that, really, have no right or wrong answers.
Those are the best kind of questions.
It's incredibly inspiring and thought-provoking listening to some of my colleagues and how they approach situations differently.
If a family approaches you with a sob-story fundraiser for their sick child, do you cover it as a journalist? What about the fifteen other sick kids who are having fifteen other fundraisers? Should you print (or post, or report) the names of convicted sex offenders in your community? What about convicted prostitution solicitors? What about drunk drivers? Armed robberies? What if the person is 'famous'? Where do you draw the line?
As far as the 'sick kids' hypothetical goes... Some argued that none of them deserve coverage, because there are thousands of sick kids everywhere, every day.
The counter-point to that was also raised. Just because we can't help everyone doesn't mean that we shouldn't help anyone.
I would like to write that again.
Just because we can't help everyone... doesn't mean that we shouldn't help anyone.
I think there's a difference between what we're required to contribute as a journalist and what we ought to contribute as a citizen of our community, and of our Country, and of our planet.
We're being groomed with the ability to communicate effectively and/or creatively, and with that ability comes a surprising amount of power.
Depending on the particular soap-box we may decide to shout our messages from, we will (potentially) have the ability to influence and sway public discourse, and we can't take that responsibility lightly.
It's important to start thinking about the consequences of our actions.
As journalists, what we choose to cover, how we choose to cover it (and why).
As public relations practitioners, the messages we want to convey, what our motivations are, and how the public is going to respond.
As advertisers and media producers, how will we tell a story or sell a product? Is a hyper-sexualized image the right message to be sending? Do we want to contribute towards current trends or rage against them?
Questions like these need to be asked – of ourselves, and of our peers.
We're the next generation, and we will shape the perception of our industries for years to come.
Remember that.
-NxB
Watching: The Walking Dead Season Finale
Playing: Bioshock Infinite by Irrational Games
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