Push Back:

Journalists Under Pressure

April 26, 2017
 Last week
Style over substance

To get ratings, the producer has to explain to

everyone that a certain amount of LCD (lowest
common denominator) has to be mixed in with
the news content that most of the staff would
rather producer
 Push Back
A recurrent storyline in journalism in TV and film is where
reporters face pressure from some entity

An individual or a significant block of readers are

concerned about a story

An organization voices concern

The Government raises doubt about the veracity a story

Advertiser(s) dont like the direction of a story

Friendly fire as the internal organization or parent

company of the media entity doesnt like the story
 Lou Grant

The college doesnt like the story about NCAA

violations

The star reporter tries to bury his colleagues

story about the colleges violations

But as is the case in all but two episodes, the

fictionalTribune sticks by its reporter
Epistemic Responsibility

A belief is supported by facts that helps lead to

the search for truth and the exposure of lies,
cover ups, and other transgressions

The creed of investigative journalists.

The journalistic process
Journalists are expected to meet standards of intellectual
achievement over and above those expected of persons
simply as persons.

The Society of Professional Journalists code has faith that

the individual journalist will use the public interest to
guide their interest

These stories often reach out to an underrepresented

subset of the audience that doesnt have the voice or the
ability to tell their story
 SPJ Code of Ethics

Seek Truth and Report It

Minimize Harm

Act Independently
Seek Truth and Report It
Tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of
human experience boldly even when its
unpopular to do so

Diligently seek out subjects of news stories to

give them the opportunity to respond to
allegations of wrongdoing

Test the accuracy of information from all sources

 Minimize Harm

Show compassion for those who may be

affected adversely by (a story). Use special
sensitivity when dealing with children and
inexperienced sources or subjects

Only an overriding public need can justify

insurrection into anyones privacy
 Act Independently
Avoid conflicts of interest: real or perceived

Remain free of associations and activities that

may compromise integrity or damage credibility

Be vigilant and courageous about holding those

with power accountable

Resist pressure of (groups, government, et al) to

influence news coverage
 And thats when the
pushback occurs

Tonights films portray two different media

organizations which face severe pushback from
entities

How much support is given by the media

entity is reflected in each?
 Spotlight (2015)
What happens when Bostons
uber influential Catholic Church
wants an investigative story to go
a different route?

What will the perceived

subscriber reaction be - potential
subscription withdrawals,
protests and threats among the
issues
 Kill the Messenger (2014)
A crusading journalist goes back
a decade to a puzzling situation
involving the CIA

The government pushes back and

then the media, itself, enters into
the fray

How will the media outlet protect

its investigative journalist?