One of our worst traits in journalism is that when we have a narrative in our minds, we often plug in anecdotes that confirm it. Thus we managed to portray President Gerald Ford, a first-rate athlete, as a klutz.
Nicholas KristofRead
One of the biggest complaints readers have about my work is that I don't tell them often enough what they can do. I do think this is an area where journalism sometimes falls short. We describe a really grim situation but don't really explain to people what they can do about it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Journalism often highlights problems without offering solutions, leaving readers feeling powerless.
In this quote, Nicholas Kristof expresses a common critique of journalism, which focuses on portraying dire situations and issues but frequently neglects to empower readers with actionable solutions. He suggests that a more effective approach would involve not just highlighting problems, but also guiding the audience on how they can contribute to positive change. This reflects a broader responsibility that journalists hold in educating the public and inspiring them to engage in meaningful actions.
Themes
JournalismEmpowermentSolutionsCommunicationResponsibility
In practice
Example use cases
In a workshop on effective journalism, this quote can be shared to emphasize the importance of actionable storytelling.
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Since the end of the 1970s, something has gone profoundly wrong in America. Inequality has soared. Educational progress slowed. Incarceration rates quintupled. Family breakdown accelerated. Median household income stagnated.
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The news media's silence, particularly television news, is reprehensible. If we knew as much about Darfur as we do about Michael Jackson, we might be able to stop these things from continuing.
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