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Can I take a moment to recognize journalists? Too much of the world lacks reliable reporting & a free press to hold politicians, systems, societies to account. This can happen from authoritarianism, iffy business models, winner takes all behemoths, but also from societal neglect+
Because we have the luxury of a free & aggressive media, we take it for granted it will always be there, even as events show that to be demonstrably untrue. Alarming numbers of cities & towns have seen press fold in recent years, not in far off places but in free North America+
Those still around have, with a few very large exceptions, seen their resources dramatically shrink over the years. Some like to think that's related to quality & maybe sometimes it is. But the throttled US Pulitzer winning newsrooms & strong talents in Canada suggest otherwise+
That's the downside. Now here's the shout out. Amid this gloomy background, journalists have by & large been getting better & better. Despite the persistent myth of clickbait, most modern business models run on subscription & subscription relies on quality+
People read clickbait or it wouldn't be bait but they won't pay for it. There's little reason for newsrooms in general to produce these stories. So most don't. That lets their journalists focus on exclusive, original stories, explanatory stories, analysis, voice, accountability+
This is win-win because quality, depth, public service, justice & accountability is why most journalists are in this. It's why they stay despite job instability, online harassment, name-calling by politicians & some of the public, uncivilized hours, relentless pace +
And an unhealthy amount of time investigating and reporting on the darker, more painful sides of life and society. That takes a toll on personal and family life. The mental health of journalists doing their job is a real and ongoing concern. Their days can be marathons+
The many angles of the Morneau/Freeland, WE & proroguing is an example. Cdn journalists spent huge time & effort to get these many angles & stories for readers. Anyone gleefully excoriating one take or another can do so because we live in a place where coverage is free & varied+
Recently, journalists have tried to clarify & explain political messaging on covid-19, capture, examine & explain fast-evolving health & science information, fight to push through public covid fatigue to ensure folk have facts to make informed decisions for themselves & family+
They crunch & compile data from an array of sources to give the most clear picture of the virus to help you make healthy choices, often pushing governments to catch up. They do it for the public AND as members of it, disrupted & unsettled by the pandemic, unable to look away+
A life's work make journalists professionally skeptical. It's their job to prod for problems to expose & improve. But what can get lost in the translation is how many are driven by a desire to help, explain, inform, make things better+
When you're used to having credible reporting, it can be easy to think it will always be there and take it for granted. I hope we as a nation never do that. You don't have to like everything a writer or outlet does. Being liked isn't so much the point. Helping, informing, is+
From this perch, I have perhaps more insight than many into the dedication, commitment, sacrifice, compassion, ethics & care go into that. This thread is in gratitude for the journalists of the Star & all outlets who contribute to our media landscape. It's a precious thing.
