How Media, Consumers can Reconcile

Jerry Ceppos at CentreDaily.com: How media, consumers can reconcile - In this ed/op piece, Ceppos looks at a few ways journalists and citizens can work together better. I think it was brought up because of recent coverage of the two ABC journalists injured in Iraq. Even though it doesn't mention journalists and citizens working together in a CitJ kind of way, he still raises some good points. (SoonerBoomer, you listening?)

Ceppos wrote:

The disdain for the media (a word I've come to despise because it's usually said in a sneering tone) was almost enough to make me give up my Pollyanna role. During my 36 years in journalism, I've preached that media consumers and journalists could understand each other if only they took a few small steps -- together. Before I surrender the Pollyanna costume, here's one more shot at three steps that each side might take to bridge the chasm.

For "consumers":

• Consult a variety of news sources.
• Cut journalists a few breaks.
• Point out errors and ask journalists questions...

For journalists:

• Explain why you do what you do
• Tell consumers how to reach the boss, even if you're an Internet site or a radio or TV station.
• Explain how difficult news-gathering is.

As I said, he's perhaps looking at it from a dated perspective, not acknowledging that the relationships can go farther - that journalists and citizens can work even closer together to perform the mission - protecting the people, being a watchdog.

Thoughts?

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