I have to admit that the empty prestige and the stupid glory - yes, the horrible rush, the deadly sense of importance that war brings to life - are hard illusions to shake off. Look at me, a war correspondent.
Michael HastingsRead
In campaign reporting more than any other kind of press coverage, reporters aren't just covering a story, they're a part of it - influencing outcomes, setting expectations, framing candidates - and despite what they tell themselves, it's impossible to both be a part of the action and report on it objectively.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the inherent bias in journalism during campaigns, highlighting that reporters influence the narrative while attempting to maintain objectivity.
Michael Hastings expresses a critical perspective on campaign journalism, pointing out that reporters are not mere observers; they actively shape the political landscape they report on. This involvement creates a conflict where true objectivity becomes unattainable, as their actions, framing, and expectations can directly affect the outcomes of the campaigns they cover.
In practice
During a media panel discussion on the ethics of political reporting.
I have to admit that the empty prestige and the stupid glory - yes, the horrible rush, the deadly sense of importance that war brings to life - are hard illusions to shake off. Look at me, a war correspondent.
A woman I loved [Andi Parhamovich] was killed in Baghdad in January 2007 – al-Qaeda in Iraq took credit for it … The memorial service with me crying over an empty coffin.
Whenever you're reporting, there's always something you can't say or write, but the questions, you always want to get as close to that line as possible. You want to ask the tough questions.
If youre a reporter, the easiest thing in the world is to get a story. The hardest thing is to verify. The old sins were about getting something wrong, that was a cardinal sin. The new sin is to be boring.
Helping set the day's agenda and deciding what we used and editing it, that was a journalistic high point. I liked reporting as well. Just doing the news - the live performance - wasn't important. Working on the desk was.
We cannot make good news out of bad practice.
I don't think that my kind of journalism has ever been universally popular. It's lonely out here.
I don't believe in these headline-hunting interviews. That's just not my style.
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