Im finally zeroing in on what I hate about most online journalism. Its not the slipshod reporting (though thats certainly part of it) or the off-handed snide snarkery (though, again, thats a contributing factor). Its the first-person writing. I, me, mine. Its omnipresent, and — to me — increasingly offensive. This isnt modern-day Hunter S. Thompson gonzo journalism at work here. Its barely even analysis. This is needless, flabby, narcissistic writing. These journalists — because they are journalists; theyre treated as such with press passes and high-profile interviews — should understand that readers *dont actually care* what the writer feels (oh, all the feels!) as they report about a topic. Readers care most about receiving useful information. A journalist is a collector, synthesizer and deliverer of that information. There is no objectivity in this process; there never was. But there is often no bona fide need to deliver this information through sloppy first-person pers— Jeez. You know what? Never mind. I sound like the old man sitting on the stoop, shaking my arthritic fist at the sky, pining for the Good Old Days. This stuff isnt going to change, if I gripe about it or not. Journos, keep that first-person shit to your personal blogs and clearly-labeled opinion pieces. Please keep I out of your reportage. I miss newspapers.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:48:05 +0000
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