Journalism: Speaking Truth To Power

Wherever I got the notion of speaking "truth to power" was the dumbest idea I ever had. I can see things pretty clearly now, as a semi-retired writer looking forward to that day (hopefully soon) when I will be a completely retired writer. Consequently, I have a pretty good idea of what journalism is and is not. 

When I worked I was a newsman in New Jersey, and I wrote for local, county and state level papers in the Garden State for about 20 years. I guess I made as much money reporting news as anyone has made in the newspaper industry -- and then spent it all -- but it was a good living. It was a heck of a run. 

I wrote my daughter, Amanda, not so long ago and I said something in one of my paragraphs to her about bringing truth to people and how it doesn't make any friends. In fact, bringing the truth to people, hard truths they do not want to hear, makes enemies for the writer dumb enough to do it. 

In my career, I was offered the post of government information specialist in Trenton for a party caucus (if I shut up about governmental irregularities in the Bayshore of NJ). I didn't do it -- I told the guy who tried to bribe me to go to hell. I was offered a government spokesman job after Katrina out-of-state, if I would just shut up and fly right with some local bad guys. I wouldn't do it. There were other bribes, but these were the biggies -- and I told all of them to go pound salt. 

I was really taken by those ideas thrown around in the words of the Declaration and Constitution. Those words used to strike fire in my heart as a child. There was real power behind them, unassailable by the menace or shortcomings of men and women -- or so I thought. 

I have suffered retribution by office holders and candidates, and their organizations, after I reported on uncomfortable truths or news of outright illegality out into the public, which is mostly as bright as a 10-watt light-bulb. I never, ever gave up about the truth. And, it did my heart good. I really felt like I was doing something there for a few years. 

But, the good guys do not always win. Sometimes, petty crooks and small-time fiends win the day with their lovely suits and dresses, their nice smiles, soft hands and greasy hearts. There is at least one political group that is still hounding me to this day. But, the only refrain I have to comfort them with is the same one I have for so long -- and it involves them going to hell. I suspect that would be the words I would give them if it were my last breath. 

Oh, the stories about getting hounded sought by politicians, elected and appointed officials, assorted political cronies and political parties are many and scary, silly, dumb and unjust over the years -- and there would be entertainment value in it. I would have done so much better for myself, in so many ways, if I had played ball with bad guys -- but I hate what corruption does to this country. Yeah, it is as simple and sappy as that.

When I was a United States Army Paratrooper in my youth, I was attracted to the Airborne because the U.S. is traditionally "the Good Guys" in a world where there are plenty of "Bad Guys," and I deeply want to whip their ass. It was that simple. 

Now back to journalism: Most news outlets do not print investigative or controversial news for three reasons today: 1. They do not have reporters who could do an investigative piece and avoid libel and defamation because they are half-trained at best these days (experienced reporters cost money, cut into profits); 2. They do not want to alienate any possible advertisers, current or future, with a lot of controversial news; and 3. It would take organizational effort from newsrooms no longer built to investigate or treat stories in an in-depth manner. 

So, instead of being an informal check or safeguard against tyranny these days -- Online and printed news organizations on every level have become the friends of the politicians, reigning political overlords, big-shot developers etc., because it is not the truth that sells papers or gets hits (or whatever those people count)...because these newspapers and Online news deals are paid for not by subscriptions, which are only a small part of any news organization revenue. News organizations are subsidized by advertisers. So long as news organizations are playing ball and not lifting the carpet up for people to see the ugly truths of local, county and state government -- they get subsidized and 'news people' get paid. News has become propaganda on every level of government, by and large. 

I want to give a big shout out here to the folks over at The Star-Ledger who, once again, recently proved to be the exception to the rule with their fine reporting and, as always, to The New Jersey Herald for its continuing good show -- even in the hardest of times. The rest of them could be thrown in a ditch and buried up and it still wouldn't make them gone enough for me. 

The news coverage from the Washington Post that brought down President Nixon in 1973 could not happen today. Reporters don't know how to research anymore and don't have editors with the knowledge to guide them or the rocks to follow through. 

I like what I did with my dumbass career. An old friend of mine, Joe Caliendo, once joked that my reporting and the reporting of the newspaper I published for 11 years earned me enough enemies in this world that I should hire someone to start my car in the morning. It's funny and I don't mind the hard-ass reputations I earned with government and political people. 

But, if there are any would-be journalists out there, don't do what I did -- there is a big career in selling out -- it's done every day. Bringing truth to people will never earn you a dollar, a friend or a kind word. All it will do is let you sleep like a small child each night. So, that's not bad at all.