Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Feelings...Nothing More Than Fee-hee-lings....
As I read over e-mails on my new and spectacular Gmail account (thanks for the invite, T-Dot), I can't help but be amused at the most recent turn of events on the Young Black Journalists listserve. The topic of discussion and great debate is Greek life after two brothers of Florida A&M University's Kappa Alpha Psi chapter were put behind bars after a pledge turned up with an eight-inch piece of hematoma on his hind quarters. Two commentaries on Black College Wire have ignited the discussion among Greek members and the dreaded GDIs (Gosh Darned Individuals...hey, it's a family blog) about whether Greeks get an unfair reputation or whether non-Greeks are bitter because they weren't chosen or couldn't join any organizations.This makes for a wonderful question as it relates to journalism; Is it easy or difficult to put your feelings aside as a reporter and/or editor when the topic you cover sparks several different types of feelings inside you? Journalists are supposed be impartial and unbiased obviously, but as anyone who has had the misfortune of viewing anything Fox News-related will tell you, that is simply hard for anyone with human emotions and feelings to do.
If you want my opinion on the whole Greek thing, here it is; they're all full of it, it being arrogance, conceit, and pretentious better-than-you attitudes, at least the ones I've met anyway. For example, I was actually called a GDI in a negative light recently by a local Delta who apparently forgot that she could double for the Elephant Mascot that Delta Sigma Theta employs, but I digress. That is part of the reason I haven't weighed in on this topic on the serve, lest I incur the wrath of *dramatic music* the moderator!*
Despite my loathing of all things Greek, I certainly wouldn't turn down a scoop or a great story simply because somebody has an affiliation that they hold near and dear to them. That's where we have to draw the line in all our endeavors as journalists. Regardless of how we personally feel about our subjects, sources, readers, viewers, etc., we still have a job to do. And no one, regardless of their personality, attitude or affiliation should stop us from doing what we do best and that's give our readers, viewers and listeners the news they deserve and have a right to know. Our chosen profession alone makes us a select and unique group of people, and we should remember that on a daily basis. continue...
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