Tomorrow (actually, by now it will be later today) I’ll be heading up to the National College Media Convention in Nashville. So far, I’ve found at least two sessions in the program dedicated to promoting bad journalism:

Forget Objectivity! Be a POMO!
If youÕve studied college journalism, then just about everything you know about writing and gathering news is wrong! Forget objectivity, itÕs so 20th Century! And itÕs one reason why people are turning away from ÒtraditionalÓ news in droves. Learn the hot concept of POMO (or postmodern) news writing and presentation and why news with a point of view is the future of electronic media journalism.
Bob Pondillo, Middle Tennessee State University

The Myth of Objectivity
There is no need to be objective in your writing. ÒThe Big OÓ doesnÕt exist, anyway, except in a few textbooks. Come and discuss the death of this much debated concept along with some new ones to replace it.
Trum Simmons, Harrisburg Community College

Apparently, there are a couple of folks who need to be brought back to earth, not to mention the Associated Collegiate Press. Why in the world would the ACP give time to these anti-ethical, un-journalistic concepts? Journalism, which has suffered from the postmoderns, the lazy reporters and pundits, needs a new ethical boost. If I’m reading the convention program correctly, young impressionable minds are getting a dose of un-reality from some folks who would prefer to see journalists continue to go down the road of conflicts of interest rather than independence.

They’re promoting lazy journalism by advocating the idea that politicians, business executives, spokespersons, lawyers and others can be taken at their word — that the claims people make don’t need to be verified before they go out to print.

They’re promoting a more confused public rather than a more informed public by advocating the idea that journalists can report “both sides” of a story, even when one or both of those sides are presenting information that is factually untrue.

Student journalists (and the public) need to learn that there are higher ideals we can strive for. The Project for Excellence in Journalism came out with a document entitled, “A Statement of Concern.” It’s well worth a read, and it’s important to keep in mind that while no system can be perfect, it should never be thrown out simply for being imperfect.

Some pundits may claim that the PEJ’s statement is some kind of liberal something or other. The statement is an unequivocal endorsement of verifiable truth. If the conservative pundits have a problem with that, then they only show their true colors: that they do not stand for what is right, and that they believe it is okay to lie and cheat in order to gain influence.