Partially Illiterate Journalists?

A semi-illiterate journalist: the ultimate paradox. Nonetheless, could this be the root of many online journalist’s problem?

“I cannot think of one journalist who is unable to read,” was the thought that popped into my head when I took a glance at Felix Salmon’s piece, “Teaching Journalists to Read.” In this well known Reuters article, questions the true meaning of modern journalism while arguing that journalist’s lack of critical reading skills and media advancement will lead to more traditional news outlets to be left in the dust by social media outlets and the blogosphere. He forces us to enquiry whether or not journalism is as simple as a Facebook post and if this reality can ever be embraced by traditional journalism platforms.

In the seven years since Salmon took the time to share his opinions on the path of online journalism and the modernized revolution that he wants to take place, the journalism world has transformed into a media landmine.

A journalist could be a person sitting in an office, or just as easily a blogger behind a self-established platform. Nearly half of us receive news from social media platforms. The idea of picking up or purchasing an actual newsletter sounds borderline primitive to 90% of the country.

“Tools like Twitter are doing a good job of helping the public find really good news.”

The surplus of news that pops up while scrolling through our Twitter feeds is almost overbearing. Yet, despite this overabundance of information, we still hardly take the time to actually read the article 12 inches infant of our faces. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that reading is no longer valued, especially when critically doing so. With the average score being an F on standardized tests in America for critical reading, who could blame Salmon for stating that we need to place more emphasis on enhancing our ability to understand what we are reading? We are writing more and reading less.

“Think about it this way: reading is to writing as listening is to talking — and someone who talks without listening is both a boor and a bore. If you can’t read, I don’t want you in my newsroom.”

Unfortunately, what we do read is often incorrect. The ability for individuals to simply throw their own news into the world has created the negative side effect of “fake news.” Our gullibility and inability to critically read a post and research controversy material has had negative effects on our elections, perceptions of celebrities, and faith in social media platforms.

Felix Salmon wants for journalists to focus as much on critically reading material as writing the material. It’s true. We should, as journalists, read as much and as meaningfully as we write. We’ve grown to take opportunities, not shun them. Nonetheless, when audiences are barely skimming over articles with actual facts, I can’t help but question if traditional journalists are the problem anymore.