society


The news illustrates the complexities of human existence, says Tony Harcup That means questioning those in


power, of course, but it also includes asking ourselves some questions while reporting the news, such as: who is most directly affected by this story, and what do they have to say? Who else might be indirectly affected? Who has got the least power here, and what’s their version of events? Who has the most power, and what might they be getting up to? How does this story relate to long-term trends? What might we be missing? And should I make one or two more calls? Reporting along those lines has given


The pandemic shows why the news matters


P


eople reacted in many ways to news of the Covid-19 crisis, with some tuning in to non-stop broadcast


and online updates, others attempting to avoid news altogether and most of us probably somewhere in the middle. There has certainly been no shortage of news or the elements that traditionally go into it: tragedy, drama, magnitude, relevance and all the rest. The news has really mattered, even for those who usually have little more than a passing acquaintance with the headlines. So now is perhaps a good time to reflect on what news is for. What’s the point of it? Coincidentally, that’s a question I’ve been pondering a lot over recent years. And the answer? Well, it depends who’s asking. For some commercial media owners,


the main point of news is to attract as many clicks, eyeballs and advertisements as possible; for more highbrow publishers, a smaller number of well-heeled subscribers and high-end advertisers may suffice. Yes, news media at both ends of the market


08 | theJournalist


might produce some incredibly useful and insightful journalism along the way, but the point of the commercial publishing model remains, primarily, to make money. Many journalists refuse to see our trade solely in those terms, of course, and we prefer to think of news as serving a more social function, reporting stories that are in the public interest, even if they are not always the most lucrative or popular. Such an attitude does not have to become the sort of self-serving mythology that some cynics might suggest. Rather, it can inform better journalism and, in reality, it often does. The evidence is there in the


numerous examples of ethical, public interest journalism that are explored in detail in my study of news published by Palgrave Macmillan, from reporting on the climate emergency to #MeToo. We can also see it in some of the better coverage of Covid-19, which has combined clear and fact-checked reporting of the evidence with the asking of awkward questions.


“


It means questioning those in power but it also includes asking ourselves some questions while reporting, such as ‘What might we be missing?’


us powerful and informative accounts from nurses, doctors, hospital cleaners and other healthcare workers on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic. It has also gone beyond the most obvious angles – for example to explore the perilous position of women in violent or emotionally abusive relationships being forced to remain indoors with their abuser during self-isolation. A timely story about that issue appeared on BBC Radio Four’s Today programme on March 24, the morning after the UK government’s lockdown instructions. Many local and national news outlets also found room to include such items, often adding useful information such as telephone numbers or websites where victims and survivors can get help. There was a time when only feminist and other alternative media would have recognised the issue as news; the fact that it is now relatively mainstream demonstrates that change is possible. But the news would be grim indeed if


it were just an endless parade of victims, nor would it reflect the complexities of human existence. Even with the rising death toll, sadness and anger of recent months, the news has also brought us many lighter moments – of kindness, of solidarity and even of humour. Surely that’s also the point of news, isn’t it?


• Tony Harcup, an NUJ life member, teaches journalism at the University of Sheffield. His book What’s the Point of News is published by Palgrave Macmillan. Readers of The Journalist can get 20% off by using the code THARCUP2020.


SEAN GLADWELL


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