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THREAD: SIX THOUGHTS ABOUT GETTING YELLED AT
It's a tense time.
Screams of "fake news" = frequent.
We saw what happened in DC:
https://twitter.com/shomaristone/status/1346941715895250949
At my shop, some young reporters have told me they've been harassed on stories.
Here are six thoughts for dealing with this.
It's a tense time.
Screams of "fake news" = frequent.
We saw what happened in DC:
https://twitter.com/shomaristone/status/1346941715895250949
At my shop, some young reporters have told me they've been harassed on stories.
Here are six thoughts for dealing with this.
1 --
You have to answer for YOUR work and YOUR work only.
You don't have to answer for the whole industry.
If someone wants to yell at you about "the media" -- and you're not up for it -- tell then you're not a spokesperson for the whole business.
You have to answer for YOUR work and YOUR work only.
You don't have to answer for the whole industry.
If someone wants to yell at you about "the media" -- and you're not up for it -- tell then you're not a spokesperson for the whole business.
2 --
It's OK if someone criticizes your work.
We make subjective decisions about what's newsworthy & how much coverage stories should get. If someone wants to discuss it, that's OK.
It's not bullying.
Listen. Explain. If they behave like an adult, be a professional in return.
It's OK if someone criticizes your work.
We make subjective decisions about what's newsworthy & how much coverage stories should get. If someone wants to discuss it, that's OK.
It's not bullying.
Listen. Explain. If they behave like an adult, be a professional in return.
3 --
BUT...don't ever let anyone touch you.
If it gets physical, don't let it stand.
At my 1st job, someone jabbed their finger it into my chest, trying to intimidate me over a story.
Terrified of getting fired, I took it.
I regret it to this day.
No one touches you. Ever.
BUT...don't ever let anyone touch you.
If it gets physical, don't let it stand.
At my 1st job, someone jabbed their finger it into my chest, trying to intimidate me over a story.
Terrified of getting fired, I took it.
I regret it to this day.
No one touches you. Ever.
4 --
Facts are facts.
If someone is angry you reported something that's true, that's THEIR problem.
That's not your problem.
So much anger is not over bad journalism, it's over *inconvenient* journalism. It's 'stories I don't like.'
That's a complaint that has no merit.
Facts are facts.
If someone is angry you reported something that's true, that's THEIR problem.
That's not your problem.
So much anger is not over bad journalism, it's over *inconvenient* journalism. It's 'stories I don't like.'
That's a complaint that has no merit.
5 --
Don't ever let anyone dissuade you from the mission.
Facts.
Truth.
Holding power accountable.
Shining light in dark places that need to be seen.
Part of the point of yelling at you is to get you to take the safe route. Don't.
Take the route that best serves the viewers.
Don't ever let anyone dissuade you from the mission.
Facts.
Truth.
Holding power accountable.
Shining light in dark places that need to be seen.
Part of the point of yelling at you is to get you to take the safe route. Don't.
Take the route that best serves the viewers.
6 --
Never forget the power our work can have & the awesome responsibility that entails.
Stories impact lives, sometimes negatively. Take that seriously.
If you report something, be ready to defend it.
But only to people who voice concerns with decency & humanity...(see #1-5)
Never forget the power our work can have & the awesome responsibility that entails.
Stories impact lives, sometimes negatively. Take that seriously.
If you report something, be ready to defend it.
But only to people who voice concerns with decency & humanity...(see #1-5)
