News Is Different

02 Oct 2015 • medium.com

But if you can’t feel sorry for news orgs, then at least feel sorry for yourself. Because news really is different. The demise of reporting outfits is not only about the loss of jobs and the diminishing of fortunes, it’s a severe blow to society. It represents the potential silencing of the only voice many people have.

Consider Tin Lin Tun who was sold into a bizarre and brutal world of fishermen enslavement in Indonesia. Today he’s back home and explains: “I’m sure my parents think I’m dead. I’m their only son. They’re going to cry so hard when they see me.” Tin Lin Tun’s parents will see him again thanks to the reporting on this issue by the Associated Press.

Consider the Ohio reporter who helped convict more than 100 rapists by spending years reporting on the issue of neglected rape kits in Cleveland.

Need something closer to home? Consider the story of Volkswagen and the software that fooled emissions regulators and car buyers for years. Yes, it’s true that it was West Virginia University researchers who performed the tests and uncovered the deception. But that was a year and half year ago. Did you hear about it then? Nope. But you know about the story now because of journalists.

Worth a read in its entirety.