What I learned in 409 with Professor Zhong was that journalism is a responsibility. As a journalist, especially in America where the freedom to the press is so important, there is a duty to the truth and the people. One of the biggest lessons I will take away from this course is that journalism works on a case by case basis. Every situation is different, and knowing the difference between those cases can make or break a journalistic career. Naming celebrities in a violent situation is different than naming the general public in the same circumstances. Throughout the semester we looked at a bunch of different scenarios like invasion of privacy, victim naming, deception, and conflicts of interest. Where I learned the most was diving deeper into all of the different elements in victim naming.
Journalists have to keep their duty and responsibility in the truth most carefully when it comets victim naming. As important as it is to name the five “W” questions, and giving readers the utmost detail on the story, it is also important to respect privacy and have compassion. There are times when reporters have to write a story on sensitive topics like sexual assault or abuse. Victim naming in this instance is a hard no, most of the time, because it can dissuade victims from coming forward and ruin their private life. But every situation is different.
I am not sure where my future will be heading both as a writer or photography but I am glad that I took this course because I have a more circular understanding of all the different perspectives that matter when it comes to telling a story. Whether that is by photograph or keyboard.