Comments on: A list of random updates http://merandawrites.com/2007/04/08/a-list-of-random-updates/ curious by nature, journalist by trade Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:27:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Dana http://merandawrites.com/2007/04/08/a-list-of-random-updates/#comment-1111 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 13:47:44 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/04/08/a-list-of-random-updates/#comment-1111 I don't list political persuasion because I don't want to be written off. I find people to be very quick to pigeon-hole you, especially as a journalist, if you list one or the other. Either you are just another gear in the "liberal media" machine or you must be a die-hard Bill O'Reilly/Fox News lover. A baby killer or a bigot, and I just don't have the patience to deal with short-sighted people, so I don't list it. I prefer to vote on issues rather than party lines, and while I lean primarily toward one party, I can understand and agree with the views of the opposing party on many issues. It confuses people and that makes me happy in my own twisted little way. I don’t list political persuasion because I don’t want to be written off. I find people to be very quick to pigeon-hole you, especially as a journalist, if you list one or the other. Either you are just another gear in the “liberal media” machine or you must be a die-hard Bill O’Reilly/Fox News lover. A baby killer or a bigot, and I just don’t have the patience to deal with short-sighted people, so I don’t list it.
I prefer to vote on issues rather than party lines, and while I lean primarily toward one party, I can understand and agree with the views of the opposing party on many issues. It confuses people and that makes me happy in my own twisted little way.

]]> by: Jono http://merandawrites.com/2007/04/08/a-list-of-random-updates/#comment-1107 Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:59:20 +0000 http://merandawrites.com/2007/04/08/a-list-of-random-updates/#comment-1107 Regarding political leanings on Facebook, it's an interesting question. As someone who is majoring in politics as well as journalism, I've often wondered how much political stuff I should blog or comment about on the internet, given how easy it would be for prospective employers in the future to dig it up. As for just admitting a political leaning (and let's be honest, most journalists have one... the good ones probably get accused of 'leaning' both ways), I don't think that's a conflict of interest. When it comes time to cover a story about politics, any journalist worth their salt will cast aside personal affiliations and cover the story as an impartial observer. Although, as you mentioned, there's always the possibility of overcompensating. Moving away from the journalists-are-unbiased-professionals argument, perhaps it's worth considering that a reader may be better off if he/she knows the political leanings of the journalist in question. After all, is a conflict of interest still a conflict if it's openly declared? I never thought I'd say this, but I'm almost glad that Myspace dwarfs Facebook's popularity here in Australia. There's no 'political persuasion' section on Myspace, but I do have to endure it's horrible design etc instead. Regarding political leanings on Facebook, it’s an interesting question. As someone who is majoring in politics as well as journalism, I’ve often wondered how much political stuff I should blog or comment about on the internet, given how easy it would be for prospective employers in the future to dig it up.

As for just admitting a political leaning (and let’s be honest, most journalists have one… the good ones probably get accused of ‘leaning’ both ways), I don’t think that’s a conflict of interest. When it comes time to cover a story about politics, any journalist worth their salt will cast aside personal affiliations and cover the story as an impartial observer. Although, as you mentioned, there’s always the possibility of overcompensating.

Moving away from the journalists-are-unbiased-professionals argument, perhaps it’s worth considering that a reader may be better off if he/she knows the political leanings of the journalist in question. After all, is a conflict of interest still a conflict if it’s openly declared?

I never thought I’d say this, but I’m almost glad that Myspace dwarfs Facebook’s popularity here in Australia. There’s no ‘political persuasion’ section on Myspace, but I do have to endure it’s horrible design etc instead.

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