Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism

RUNNING HEAD: Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism

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Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism 2

Abstract

Journalism is one complicated world, one where the people involved juggle between the reality

of their work and the ideal picture painted about it by the public. But to what extent does this

struggle go? This essay explores the tensions arising from the balance between realism and

idealism in journalism.

Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism 3

Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism

Introduction

More often than not, the media becomes the center of controversy due to being held in

high regard only to disappoint later on. Journalism has for ages been one field where the

professionals struggle to balance between the ideals set by the public and the reality that is the

same in almost all corporate environments. Though journalists may face the same corporate

environment as other professionals, they are more pressurized to fit into cocoons of idealism

when they themselves are as normal as everyone else in the world.

Another form in which the tension in journalism portrays itself is the scandalous life that

most media personalities live. Such tension arises when idealism conflicts with reality and when

the latter is seasoned with the dark side of business, we can only be left to wonder what really

transpires in media houses. It axiomatically leads us to consider that it all comes from the fact

that since the media is the custodian of ideas and information, the burden of playing the good

guys breeds hypocrisy in journalism. In this essay, I will examine the tensions that exist in the

lives of journalists as they seek to live their lives, fit in the idealistic way in which the public

views them and at the same time tackle with demands of business at their places of work.

Occupation or Profession

Compromise and hypocrisy creep into newspaper and broadcasting firms when

individuals are tasked with the need to differentiate between doing journalism as an occupation

or as a profession (Lewis, 2012). The conflict between these two positions leads to the tensions

between idealistic journalism at realistic journalism. The journalism who views his/her work as

Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism 4

an occupation will more likely appeal to the ideal views because that’s where he/she is required

to be in order to keep the job. The journalism who views his/her work as a profession is already

comfortable as an indispensable asset or an on-demand product for other firms and as such will

lean on realistic journalism. Such a journalist expresses the real and true side of journalism or

rather, the side that is all about business but not income.

The journalist who views journalism as an occupation will undoubtedly do whatever it

takes to keep the job since it happens to be their lifeline. It is because of this reason that the

unethical practice of Yellow Journalism found its way into the industry. Journalists who fall

under the occupation category will often be entangled in scandals. In the film Network, when an

anchor lands on grapevine that he will be sacked because the company he works for is no longer

on top of the league, he becomes suicidal and begins ranting on live TV. This is often the case

with journalists whose positions at work are simply occupations.

On the other hand professional journalists are the drivers of agenda, serving as the

invisible needles that inoculate policy and propaganda into the brains of the masses. In Network,

a once troubled journalist now with opportunity to reach more people through a TV show takes

the chance to push populist ideas into the heads of viewers. At first, he was dispensable because

the whole firm that he works for was out of business. However, when he has gained foothold as

an acclaimed journalist, the firm’s leadership comes to him to stop pushing against a merger of

the firm with a bigger one on his now popular show.

While the public views journalism with the good eye, the business moguls behind big

media houses are making multimillion deals with politicians and richer businessmen. This is

achieved through the expertise of journalists as skilled and crafty storytellers needing only to be

Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism 5

fed with information. The public, through giving a blind eye to the mannerlessness with which

the freedom of expression so well exemplified in broadcasting firms cover up for the media. The

public is hungry for information and because that’s what journalism gives, entrepreneurs in

broadcasting firms take advantage of this to make money from the high and mighty that need

certain agenda communicated to the people.

Another aspect of the tensions in journalism is seen when a journalist wants to upgrade

his/her occupation into a profession. In The Front Page a reporter is almost quitting in order to

find a more satisfying job but just before he does, the most wanted man in the city finds his way

into the reporter’s life and this becomes an opportunity to come up with the big story that will

change the course of his career.

When a journalist has become a professional, large scale compromise and hypocrisy

comes in hot. The professional level of the journalist allows them to pull strings on sensitive

matters with high profile persons. With shows to their names, they are able to drive agenda to the

masses that listen or watch them without worrying about any criticism. They know that the more

tails they rattle, the bigger the discussion and the better it is for their careers. To them, it is all

about fame and recognition. They no longer have scandals to worry about. The company worries

on their behalf. With professional figures in the firm, the firm knows it is in business.

Journalism to the Public

No matter how journalism will be portrayed today or in the future, it will always be a

source of information and entertainment to the public. For ages now, the media has been the

whistleblower on governments and other controlling entities. This role has proved invaluable to

the public. The evidence that establishes this fact is the amount of support garnered by

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broadcasting firms as they rally to get as much freedom of expression in legislation all over the

world. The press today has managed to be society’s best friend when it comes to exposing

secrets that always find their ways only onto the hands of journalists.

The Howard Beale Show as shown in Network is a perfect example of how journalism

plays a pivotal role in rallying up the public to push for certain agenda. Beale, who is now an

outstanding journalist takes advantage of his indispensable position to stir uproar among the

people. This is a perfect picture, painted to illustrate the real side of journalism. The ideal picture

that the public has of the media is a source of information and entertainment but the reality is that

the media is a driver of agenda and propaganda into the minds of the public.

The way that the public holds the media in high regard has been the very downfall of the

industry. This is because the media is like an iceberg, with only the small part being visible and

unfortunately being the part that is not that real. This part also happens to be the part that appeals

to the public. This real side of the media is the one that defines the firm’s ability to do anything

in order to appeal to the public. In some cases, journalists will make up stories or tell stories

inaccurately in the absence of any blockbuster headlines to report, just to keep the public on

edge. An example of this is depicted in Citizen Kane where Kane decides to pursue Yellow

Journalism.

Journalism to Entrepreneurs

To entrepreneurs, journalism will always be an avenue to make an extra buck. While

some may hold to the fact that owners of broadcasting firms are exploiters of talent for personal

gain, I believe it is a battle where only the best thief of opportunity wins. When business is good

in journalism, it is good for the owner and the journalist alike. What then, makes the difference

Idealistic Versus Realistic Journalism 7

between the two? The difference surfaces at the point of discerning between occupation and

profession. While the journalist may juggle between doing journalism either as an occupation or

as a profession, the owner doesn’t really have a choice. He/she is at the top of the food chain as a

professional and nothing less than that.

This position then axiomatically places him as playing the real game in the journalism

world while working journalists like puppets in order to live up to the ideal expectations of the

public. In Citizen Kane, Kane is seen to effectively have used journalists at his disposal in order

to kindle the opinion of the public concerning the Spanish-American way to his preference and

rising high enough to marry the President’s niece. The film successfully shows how Kane,

reminiscing the beauty and simplicity of his childhood on his deathbed, regrets or rather looks

down upon the life that he had built with the help of the real side of journalism.

In some instances, a journalist aspiring to rise up ranks from occupation to

professionalism will have to seek help from the professionals to pull some strings. Some of these

strings are not usually always edged on legality. When the journalist is moving in on such a deal,

he/she is usually aware of the propensity of the higher professional to make better of the deal for

themselves. In The Front Page, a journalist requiring some sort of protection for a subject he

knows will make him a big story seeks help from his managing director because he knows the

managing director views him as indispensable and as such would do anything for him.

In Network the executives of the featuring media house opt to assassinate a professional

journalist citing good business in the aftermath. Even in real life such a situation will happen

very easily. It doesn’t matter the level of professionalism of the journalist, the businessman will

always have the day. If the journalist is good for business, there are chances he/she will be kept,

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although with increasing caution as not to allow exponential growth that would lead to freedom

and independence of the journalist. More often than not, a journalist will join the dots and take

off a free bird to find a niche where he/she becomes boss.

Conclusion

We may come under personal coercion to assume that journalism is like any other income

generating activity out there but one critical thinker will tell you that in journalism, there’s more

to it than meets the eye. Not many journalists venture into this art with prior knowledge of what

awaits them. This especially so with those who look up to journalism as a source of livelihood to

sustain them and their families. However, those who venture into journalism for the fame and

recognition that comes with it or for the opportunities for business that it beholds are more

prepared to face the real world of journalism.

In this essay, I have examined the tensions that exist within the field of journalism as

parties seek to differentiate and balance idealism and realism in their lines of work. Journalism in

itself is a tool intended primarily for creation of awareness and entertainment. However, like all

other tools at the disposal of human crafty minds, journalism has been improvised to yield other

results. Journalism is good for business to those who can afford to use it. To the public, it

remains a source of information and entertainment. To journalists, whether an occupation or

profession, it is still not clear what journalism is.

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References

Lewis S.C. (2012). The Tension between Professional Control and Open Participation:

Journalism and its Boundaries. Information, Communication & Society. Minneapolis,

MN.

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