There are three core values that every effective journalist must have should he wish to produce stories that powerfully communicate a message and are attained in an ethical manner. The top three values (in my opinion) are:
Honesty: The Israelites were Ten Commandments, the ninth of which says “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour” (Deuteronomy 5: 20). Being honest is important in all aspects of life; since fake news is often what makes people sceptical of the media, truth is a highly important element in storytelling. Journalists need to obtain stories in an honest manner (i.e. without manipulation) and they also need to tell the pure truth for the sake of the public. “Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice” (Proverbs 16: 8).
Courage: In order to obtain stories, the journalist must put themselves out there to find news angles and to ask people to open up. It’s not always easy to get people to talk, be they people in positions of power or oppressed individuals whose stories of suffering need to be heard. Furthermore, the storyteller must be bold if they feel the need to share information that the public deserves to know, even if it puts them at risk. Courage drives journalists to leave their comfort zone and find stories that matter.
Persistence: Sometimes everything lines up and stories are an instant hit, other times, things don’t go according to plan. Talents don’t show up. People refuse to talk. The authorities get involved. All sorts of things can become obstacles to storytelling, but the best stories are often those that have been produced under pressure, by someone who has persevered to obtain information to distribute to the public. Though having said this, sometimes the journalist needs discernment to determine whether a story is worth pursuing or not. Persistence is often key to success in most cases.
In terms of using digital technology to tell stories, courage is needed to get up close and try things most people wouldn’t. I remember feeling rather obnoxious when I had to photograph various people in different places while I was studying photojournalism as a subject. I just didn’t have the courage because I thought cameras were intimidating. My shyness showed in my photos, according to my tutor. Thus, the more confidence you have in using technology, the more you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the story to convey it to others.
The author of this piece has taken the effort to tell the story of not just the facts, but the people involved and how they feel about it today. Honesty, courage and persistence equal a recipe to effective story-telling.
