Tread the Future Outside When There Is None on the Inside
It would be full fakeness if we talk about journalism and the media as an industry of ideals.
One that works for the perfection and
devotion of its craft—the skill of writing and the honor to bring news.
Yes, as a nation, we train a lot of writers in the meek stage of their lives.
The young, hungry idealists who want to build a career
out of writing and work towards one of the most vaunted professions. Training young writers as if the profession is a bed of roses, and that everything
will make a difference once one lands a job in the industry of the outspoken.
But in truth, the profession is a dismal career once writers
get a hold of the antiquity of such ideals where only the brave are exploited, to work for the truth but not for their rights.
The "old and the knowing" cannot mislead another generation of hopeful journalists who put their heart and passion into writing. Because history shows they cannot offer any future or any help in making the lives of journalists better.
Journalists' jobs are hard to find. Yes, you bet you can
encourage a lot of writers to be journalists. But once they are in the
industry, the truth could push them to a realization that jobs are wanting and security is nowhere in sight.
Another, as a harbinger of news, young writers are sure to
toil a hard day’s work for a story that means to everyone. But by the end of
the day, no employer can sustain their needs, from social benefits to suitable and meaningful wages. Journalists are not paid
well. Only those who have access to a heaven of connections in their industry.
We can tell the kids, “Anak go and change the world with
your brand of writing.”
But by the end of the day, a look at the industry would fail
and dash the hopes of the same journalists and media practitioners who work and
fight to make the sector a continuing legacy.
We cannot dismay the future generation of journalists by giving
them false hopes of what the industry is like and about. Because we enthuse the young to
join the field, leaders must ask their own: "Can we create a better future for the young?
Can we give them more employment opportunities that do not deny them dignity
and respect from workers of other industries? Can we fight and respect our own writers and journalists?"
Journalists meek and ideal are susceptible to all kinds of criticisms and estimations of others, that can encompass not only their work but also intrude into their private lives. They have a high chance of being ostracized and scrutinized by workers from other industries because of the indignity of the pay scale and benefits given to media practitioners.
But the good ones, those that cannot be bribed and swoon over by the "kakilala" culture in the industry, continue to work in the industry out of choice and love for work.
But
as the older ones who went before them, can everyone be honest and tell the
little kids they prod into joining this time around that, there is not much future in an industry where there is won over bias and patronage?
Hurdle first these truths. Brave your writing. But you cannot brave your future as a journalist.
