The (il)legitimacy of Activist Communication without an journalistic ethical Framework

Hi there,

In this first intro-post, I would like to briefly introduce you to a subject I intend to dive deeper into in following posts.

The subject I will address is the act of blogging and using social media for (il)legit activism, and put this toe to toe with journalism.

The first question we need to ask is this one: Is journalism activism?

I would argue, and I think most journalists would agree, that it is not. Mainly because it’s sole purpose is to provide information, and doing so in an impartial manner. Being an activist is, one could argue, quite the opposite – you have a very clear agenda.

There are, of course, no completely objective ways to be a journalist – since we are all subjects with different experiences and cores of value. Every angle, every yes or no to a story, is a result of this, combined with current norms within the industry.

In, shall we say, more traditional times, “old media” constantly had the floor. Journalists and their editors decided which news were worth publishing (or airing), and the public took part in those news. With the rise of social media, the way we consume news today has radically changed. Instead of (or as well as) watching the evening news, reading the paper in the morning, or listening to the radio, people scroll Instagram, listen to podcasts, and read blogs. Large information outlets with no, or lacking, control of what is stated in them.

This is both good and bad. The rise of social media has made it possible for movements such as #metoo and #blacklivesmatter to reach all across the globe, and with them the stories of the oppressed, raising their voices. News that would be filtered away in traditional press can now reach anyone (with the right algorithm). Activists can get their message out there. Anyone can get their message out there.

But just as quickly as those movements spread, so can a false rumor or fake news. And the messages – what do we do if it’s not true? How do we even know? It is already widespread.

Of course, a social media account or a blog can state that they follow journalistic ethical guidelines when publishing posts. That’s all well – but reliable as it may seem, who controls it?

Is it legit? More on this in my next post.

Cheers, Agnes