Public journalism didn’t really mean much to me during our third term when we covered a lot of theory in terms of a journalist’s role in society and in news coverage. I understood what the basic ideas were behind Haas’s public philosophy of journalism, such as giving people a space to air their say, giving them the power to voice their own opinion and also providing them with the realisation that they, as citizens, have the power to make a change in their own lives, with the journalist merely acting as a mediator during this change, if needed. The ideas were pretty simple to understand, but it wasn’t until the fourth term when I actually had to practice what Haas had written about, that I actually understood exactly what was meant by public journalism.
By delving into this course whole-heartedly, I was able to understand what Haas meant by giving people a voice. Holding public meetings allowed the people in Ward 2 to do so, and it produced a variety of different results. I found that by going into Extension 7 and merely sitting with the people who live in that community and chatting to them, I was exposed to a number of different stories of both individuals and the community itself, which I would never have known unless I had done so. These stories are not covered completely by the local newspaper, as it tends to focus on the ‘bigger’ stories. Those that are seen as ‘newsworthy’. However, the stories which I uncovered during my wandering in Extension 7 are just as important as those ‘newsworthy’ stories which are seen in the local paper. To these people, issues like lack of funding, no resources and lack of communication by the municipality are what matter to these people.
By covering stories which I found, like the Little Flower Day-care Centre, I was able to create democracy in my own journalism, as I was giving the staff at the Little Flower Day-care Centre, a chance to be heard in the greater Grahamstown community, the community in the Middle Class area who wouldn’t have known about the story either, just as I had not known about it a few weeks before. By doing so, I helped bridge the gap between Joza and middle class Grahamstown, making people more aware of the stories and issues which mattered to those in Joza.
I know that I am only one person and that making a visible change is really difficult in a situation which just seems so impossibly huge to conquer, but I believe in Margaret Mead’s quote, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.” Unless someone does something to facilitate in the change in the lives of the people who need it, their lives will continue to be unnoticed, meaning that the people most in need of being heard, will never have the platform to do so, and in by doing so, creating a positive change in their lives.
This course has really helped me feel closer to the town, especially those in Extension 7, as I met so many different people there, sat with them in their homes and listened to their stories. It made me feel a lot more connected with Grahamstown, rather than just living in my own bubble on campus. I understand the different roles of a journalist which are mentioned by Christians et al, now that I have taken that theory along with Haas’s theory of public journalism and put them into practical use. I believe that there are different forms of journalism one could take, and in my case I think that there could be such a journalist who focuses on human interest stories and then tries to facilitate in helping make a difference in those people’s lives. Although this may seem like the journalist starts behaving like a social worker, I think it is more like a specific role which that journalist could take on. It shows that the journalist does not merely focus on a human-interest story and reports it to the world so that others can take up the initiative to help. The journalist actually becomes involved in helping improve the lives of those he/she reports on, with the help of others who have read the story and have taken a keen interest in also becoming involved.
Until now, I have never really felt the urge to become a journalist, as I thought journalism was merely about writing hard news and covering stories which are seen as interesting and important to those in high positions in society. However, this curse has made me realise that there is a space in the journalistic field for me. A space that doesn’t have to cover gory, disturbing news, but rather on human interest stories, where I feel I could help improve the lives of those who don’t have the voice to do so. I want the help people realise the potential they have to make a difference in their lives, because they have just as much power and say as anyone else does, as we live in a democratic country. I believe that our country does not practice Haas’s pubic journalism enough. Thee are so many unheard, important stories in this country that are not reported on, because of the social statuses of these people. Every person should have the right to have their story seen, heard and published for their entire country to see, so that everyone can know exactly what plights others go through everyday. I think it would help the democracy in our country grow, as I believe that every person has the right to stand up and have their voice heard and responded to. That way, with equal rights, our country’s democracy may continue to develop.
Although the story of the Little Flower Day-care Centre was not a huge one that dealt with a particularly serious issue, I believe that with the coverage it has received, the lives of the staff and the children which attend the day-care centre will be improved and I hope to continue supporting them in any way I can after the CMP course is finished. I believe that I can do more for the Little Flower Day-care Centre; I just need more time to do so. So, next year, I will continue to support the friends I made at the Little Flower Day-care Centre and keep trying my best to make their story heard, which will hopefully snowball into something bigger which will continue to sustain it once I have left Grahamstown.
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