VITAL point: journalism is so elitist (socio-economically) and it’s in absolute denial: “Stop awarding fellowships to elite universities only. Stop developing relationships with elite universities only. And stop making a degree a requirement for jobs because that's absurd.”
https://twitter.com/malonebarry/status/1534495926659710976
2. Newsrooms need to be staffed by reporters that come from economically diverse backgrounds. There is simply no better way to bridge the empathy gap in the reporting. And in such politically turbulent, divisive times in America, this has never been more important. #journalism
3. When I was starting out, it was drummed into me that this is a trade - something you learn doing it, in newsrooms and on the road. Not in elite university classrooms. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to have a top degree, but that’s no measure of how good a reporter you’ll be...
4. And here’s another crucial reason this is important - by making a fancy degree the price of admission into a national newsroom we shut out so many people with the kind of life skills and experience that could make them fantastic journalists....
5. Think of all the military vets, blue collar workers, young parents, whoever for whatever reason didn’t go to a top uni who could be brilliant reporters. The real skills are talking to people, listening, empathy, courage, knowing how to tell a story. Writing can be taught.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
