Journalism Must Protect the Democracy

Journalism is the cornerstone of assuring that a democracy performs efficiently and without costing the people their freedom.

Marilyn Geewax, a former senior business editor at National Public Radio, shared her insight on business reporting with aspiring journalists at Grady College.  Geewax discussed the importance of telling fair, accurate and informative stories in the journalism industry.

“Business journalism is about free people staying free and it is our job to do the legwork of democracy,” said Geewax.

Geewax described journalism as having “an obligation to democracy,” and that it should forever remain as such.  Narratives of what may or may not be happening in the world are created in the minds of people, and as journalists, it is important to find the truth in these narratives and tell the story, she said.

Bob Sullivan, a consumer journalist and recipient of a Peabody Award, also spoke to Grady College journalism students about the role of journalists in a democracy.

“Job one of a journalist is to be willing to hear everybody’s story” said Sullivan.

Sullivan discussed the importance of journalists telling stories of people in order to empathize with each other.

“America is missing empathy,” said Sullivan. “If things are good in your town, you think the economy overall is good.  If we could just talk to people a lot more, we would understand a lot more.”

Geewax and Sullivan, as journalists who have been in the industry for many years, had the perspective of how journalism has changed.  In addition to discussing their perspectives, they offered techniques of how to make sure journalists are doing the best job they can to protect the freedom of people and their respective democracy.

“If you want a good story about someone, the simplest thing to do is to ask them a question about money,” said Sullivan.  “The best and quickest way to get to the heart of the matter is to talk about money.”

Sullivan discussed the usefulness of telling money stories and how they will catch a reader’s attention and incentivize someone to seek empathy and perspective of others.  Similarly, Geewax offered her perspective on how to tell money stories that will engage the reader or listener and contribute to their understanding of what is really happening in the world.

“When telling money stories, you must make it easy listening,” said Geewax.  “Podcasts offer a great way to tell money stories.”

Geewax repetitively commented on the importance of producing stories that are fair, balanced and honest.  Stories that encompass these qualities are always better stories and do a better job of engaging a reader or listener on anything, she said.

Amanda Dixon, a Grady College alumna and financial products writer for Bankrate.com, also spoke to journalism students offering a newer, millennial perspective and approach to telling fair and balanced journalism.

“Content is king,” said Dixon. “Content is very valuable especially because there is so much content you can access in the world.”

Dixon discussed content and the value of having high quality content, as it will separate a journalist’s work or a company’s work from competitors in the industry.  Paulina Marinova, a

Grady College alumna and associate editor for Fortune Magazine, gave an additional, young perspective to the matter of creating fair and well-produced journalism.

Marinova suggested to journalists to build quality relationships with those they work with and those they meet for stories.  Marinova suggested aspiring journalists be unafraid and use the skills they have learned to get the best, most honest stories.

“The strongest journalists build their own brand,” said Marinova.  “All reporters get the same soundbite, so ask different questions to get different scoops.”