Ok so far my blog is full of tired old jibberish! So I thought I would add something with a bit more substance… Here is an existential analysis of the problem: Why Write?!
In order to attempt an existential analysis of why people write and whether there is a point to journalism, it is first important to understand the meaning of existentialism and how it can be applied to journalism. It is then necessary to refer to the reasons why specific people choose to write, for example George Orwell’s personal reasons for writing and his theories detailing the reasons why others choose to write. This essay will cover these points as well as attempting to define the purpose of journalism and news. Issues which journalists are often faced with will also be discussed, in order to highlight the reasons why people may not “bother” doing journalism.
The Oxford English Dictionary (1992. p, 302.) defines “existentialism” as “a philosophical theory emphasizing the existence of the individual as a free and self-determining agent.” This suggests that an existentialist lives a free life where they make their own life decisions, and are not influenced by a higher law. Jean-Paul Sartre (1987. p, 26-27) explains that the concept of existentialism is a complex one and that existentialists “believe that existence comes before essence – or if you will, that we must begin from the subjective.” Sartre goes on to explain the meaning of this statement. He says that to begin with a man is nothing and he will be nothing until later, when he is what he makes of himself. Sartre states that “Man Simply is.” and that “man is nothing else but that which he makes of himself.” This suggests that a person shapes their own life, and is aware that they are making decisions which determine their identity and future. It also suggests that a person can only go as far as they push themselves and can only become something once they decide to take the necessary action. Thomas Flynn (2006) summarises existentiality as “both a philosophy and a way of life, with emphasis on individuality, freedom and personal responsibility in the modern world.” This indicates that people live their lives as free beings and take responsibility for their own decisions and actions. It also indicates an emphasis on individuality and independence, and people separating their personality and decisions from others.
Applying this philosophy to journalism would imply that someone writes as it is what they choose to do. As an individual they choose to spend their time writing, but as they make this choice there are a number of factors they may consider before putting their decision into action. They may contemplate their personal reasons for writing. George Orwell (2004, p.2-5) says that “from an early age, perhaps the age of five or six, I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer” and that it was his “true nature and that sooner of later (he) should have to settle down and write books.” This suggests that he chose to write in order to fulfil an inner, personal desire, an urge or craving that only writing could cure.
Orwell goes on to say that there are four indicative reasons why people make the choice to write. The first of these reasons he claims to be “Sheer Egotism” and a “Desire to seem clever.” He says that some people write in order to be talked about and to be remembered after death. He applies this theory to journalism by claiming that “Serious writers are on the whole more vain and self-centred than journalists, though less interested in money.” This implies that “serious writers” write to show off, and to be remembered, more so than journalists do. This suggests that “sheer egotism” is not one of the four reasons for writing that applies to journalism. The nature of journalistic writing in relation to its purpose will be discussed later in this essay, and the idea that journalists have a strong interest in money will also be debated.
Orwell’s second motive for writing is “Aesthetic enthusiasm”. He says that some people write because of the pleasure it gives them, and the sheer joy they get from words and their arrangement. He says that some writers have a “desire to share an experience which one feels….ought not to be missed.” This means that writers not only write out of pleasure from the experience, but they also write in order to share that experience with the world. This can be applied to journalism as journalists write in order to share news and information with the public. They write to tell others of events and discoveries, tragedies and controversies. Jean-Paul Sartre (cited in Lodge, 1983. p, 381) goes further in explaining the concept of “aesthetic enthusiasm” by stating “the writer, like all artists, aims at giving his reader a certain feeling that is customarily called aesthetic pleasure” and “that feeling, when it appears, is a sign that the work is achieved.” This means that, in Sartre’s opinion, the “aesthetic enthusiasm” for writers, is not the joy of writing itself, but the joy of providing pleasure to the reader. Sartre implies here that “aesthetic enthusiasm” is only achieved when the writer is able to provide enjoyment to others through his writing.
The idea of writing because of “aesthetic enthusiasm” can also be linked to the emergence of “The New Journalism” in the 1960s- 70s, when some people chose to write because of the personal experience they can gain from it, along with the thrill of creating work which is unconventional and new. It has been described as “a truly avant garde movement that expanded journalism’s rhetorical and literary scope by placing the author at the centre of the story, channelling a character’s thoughts, using non-standard punctuation and exploding traditional narrative forms.” (www.newnewjournalism.com) “The New Journalism” is often discussed along side “Gonzo Journalism” which involves a journalist immersing oneself within a story, and experiencing everything related to that story. It is derived from the opinion, which some journalists hold, that you cannot fully report on something without experiencing it. This is a very existentialist view of journalism, as a journalist may choose to personally and fully integrate the story into their lives, in order to then write about it. “The New Journalism” and “Gonzo Journalism” are very existentialist forms of journalism as they allow the journalist to obtain an individual experience and gain unlimited access to the information available. The story that emerges will then be very different to that of a journalist who simply observes rather than acts. This could be defined as “aesthetic enthusiasm” on another level. The writer, when involved with “New Journalism” or “Gonzo Journalism”, gains joy from both the experience of something new, and from the piece of writing which emerges as a result of that experience, which is often original and fresh.
The third motive for writing, according to Orwell, is “Historical impulse”. He explains this impulse as a desire to “find out true events and store them up.” This is another reason for writing which is undeniably true of journalists. Journalists gather facts, structure them in writing, or broadcast format, and store them. As well as sharing their work with the public, journalists’ work can later be referred to through archives, for many different reasons, including historical and legal needs. This point is emphasised by John Campbell (2006. p, 59.) as he explains that “Newspapers are a vital, but deeply frustrating source for contemporary historians. They are vital obviously, because for most of the 20th Century they were the principle public record of events.” Campbell also explains that events such as “war and diplomacy, to crime and scandal as well as business, sport, fashion and the arts” are all available for historians to refer to through newspaper archives. Newspapers, when trusted, provide a factual account of important events in history and therefore “historical impulse” is one of the reasons why journalism is useful. This means that just one of the reasons for doing journalism is for historical reference.
The forth and final reason for writing, Orwell explains, is “Political purpose”. He explains that people who write for political purpose have a desire to push the world in a certain direction and to alter other peoples’ idea of the kind of society they should strive for. In Orwell’s opinion “no book is genuinely free from political bias.” Political bias is an issue which the majority of journalists face when writing. Some journalists may claim that political purpose is not one of their motives to write, but realistically it is almost impossible to get away from. Whether they are aware of it or not, politics plays a big part in what they are writing. For example certain newspapers undeniably back certain political parties, therefore no matter who is writing for each paper, there is an underlying political agenda. Proprietors may push certain political views forward and these views often become apparent through what is reported.
Taking Orwell’s four motives for writing into consideration, once a person has chosen to write and chosen to shape their life within journalism or within the news industry, it is then possible to consider whether the point of journalism is simply for individuals to fulfil a personal desire, or whether there is a bigger picture. There may be a need for journalism, whether people choose to do it or not. There may be a generic reason for journalism regardless of an individuals’ motive.
The “point” of journalism can be found by looking at the definitions of journalism. These definitions can then determine what the purpose of journalism is. For instance Harcup (2005. p, 2.) cites McQuail’s definition of journalism as “paid writing (and the audio visual equivalent) for public media with reference to actual and ongoing events of public relevance.” This definition implies that journalism consists of only paid writing. But it is possible for a piece of unpaid writing to be published in the public media and still be considered journalism; this highlights one flaw in McQuail’s definition. This definition however does bring up the issue of money in the journalism industry. As stated earlier Orwell claimed that “serious writers” are less interested in money than journalists. This is a bold statement to make, when considering the wages of journalists. It is near impossible to say that journalists are money driven. This point is backed up by Harcup (2005. p. 3) as he explains that “young people with a strong enough passion for writing will suffer low wages for the chance to work in journalism.” and that “some wannabe journalists are put off when they discover the awful truth about pay.” This means that the pay and money issues involved in journalism play a large part when considering why people “bother” doing journalism. Harcup’s points would imply that low pay is a strong reason not to “bother” at all. But on the other hand if someone’s desire to write is strong enough, they will suffer the low wages and go ahead and write anyway. Another issue regarding pay and money that journalists need to take into account when writing, particularly for papers, is that the paper needs to make money in order to remain in production. Therefore the content of a newspaper and the content of its stories need to attract readers to part with their pennies, because without attracting people to listen or read, there is no point in the job at all.
Some people are not fazed by the issue of money in relation to journalism, and despite the issues they may face, they enjoy the challenges associated with the job. This point is highlighted by Randall (2000) who states that “irrespective of language or culture, good journalists share a common commitment to the search for the truth, often in far from ideal circumstances.” Journalists are expected to search for the whole story no matter what circumstance they find themselves in. The different circumstances a journalist may come across are just one of the factors that make the job challenging. Randall (2000. p, 7.) goes on to explain this in more detail as he states that “sooner or later the new reporter experiences the dawning realisation that the rest of the world is not run for the convenience of newspapers…You need a strong desire to beat whatever circumstances are strewn in your path.” This highlights the need for passion, desire and commitment to the job. The points made by Randall also highlight the need for determination and a desire to reveal what others may want to suppress and information that is concealed from public view. Facing challenges is one of the reasons that journalists “bother” with the job. Overcoming a challenge and then being able to write the findings and reveal the outcome to others, is a satisfaction that draws people to the profession.
Other reasons some people may choose to write and choose to get involved in journalism include the scope for variety within the job. In today’s media industry, with technology constantly advancing, and fashions rapidly changing, the amount of variety within the job is bigger than ever. Not only do journalists have the opportunity to get involved with print, television, radio or internet, but the categories within these fields are wide and varied. Journalists are not restricted to simply reporting current affairs, with the growing obsession with the entertainment industry and celebrity culture, even more scope for variety has been created and the focus on infotainment, as opposed to simply information or entertainment, has grown. The sheer amount of magazines on the shelves in newsagents and supermarkets can give an idea of the variety of just the print based media available to the public. A journalist can focus their writing on news itself or specialise in arts, music, film, food, cars and transport, sports and more. A journalist can also work in local, regional or national news. The fact that the news is different every day, also means that no two days are exactly the same for journalists in the fact that the content of their writing changes in line with the events happening all over the world. This is a concept which also can influence a person’s desire to write and get involved in journalism.
One reason why a handful of people are drawn to the job of a journalist is the proximity to glamour. As Lauren Bravo (2008. p, 64.) explains, there are some young hopefuls “who think the whole business is a bit glamorous. Their perception of journalism is based largely on Sex and the City, Evelyn Waugh novels and The Daily Planet in Superman.” Although these people would be highly deluded to think that the journalism industry simply involves attending glamorous events with celebrities and chasing superhuman beings around the world, it would be foolish to ignore the fact that these representations of journalism do attract some people to the job, in effect being one reason why people choose to write. But people from the Sex and the City generation are not all naive youngsters in search of glamour. Young people today are of the technological age, and are part of the growing obsession with communication, and, in essence, communication is what journalism mainly consists of. This urge to communicate with the world is also another reason why young people today are choosing to shape their lives within the journalism industry.
After discussing the reasons why people write, and the reasons why people choose to get involved in journalism, it is now important to consider whether there is a point to it once people have chosen to do it. It is necessary to consider whether there is a need for journalists and a news industry in general. The fact that newspapers are necessary for contemporary historians has already been considered, but other needs for news include enhancing the knowledge of the public. Robert E. Park (cited in Tumber, 1999. p, 11-13) discusses news as a form of knowledge. He describes knowledge as a “social heritage” and the result of “systematic investigation”. This relates to “the point of journalism” as it means that knowledge is a result of a journalist’s investigation into an event or story. In effect journalism acts as a medium for enhancing the knowledge of the public through investigation. Park also explains that the reaction to news is typically “a desire to repeat it to someone. This makes conversation, arouses further comment and perhaps starts a discussion.” This implies that one of the “points to journalism” is to encourage advanced knowledge and, in effect, encourage healthy debate and discussion amongst the general public.
In summary, there are many different reasons why people choose to spend their time and their lives writing. Each individual makes this decision based on personal reasons and desires. Journalism and writing are jobs which can, without doubt, be applied to existentialism and its ideas, principles and theories; this is because writing is something that allows everyone to express individuality in their own way, experience the process on a personal level and then choose to share it with the world in a variety of forms. It is a flexible activity, which is usually reliant on personal motivation and decisions.
Common reasons why people write have been considered and discussed in this essay and these include fulfilling a personal urge. Joy Williams (as cited in Blythe, 1999. p, 5) sums this point up by saying that “the writer writes because he is not whole: he has a wound, he writes to heal it.” Sartre (cited in Lodge, 1983. p, 371) agrees in his debate over why people “manage their escapes and conquests by writing.” Other reasons people choose to write include egotism and a desire to show off a talent. This includes a longing to be remembered after death. Aesthetic enthusiasm, a joy of words, and a joy in sharing an experience through words is another reason individuals choose to put pen to paper. The personal experience gained through both “New Journalism” and “Gonzo Journalism” and then writing that experience are also reasons why people write. Other reasons include both historical and political motives. A need to make money, however large or small that amount may be, is also a factor often considered by writers.
It is apparent that there are a variety of reasons why people “bother” doing journalism and these are mainly to do with a passion and a desire for the job. Journalists “bother” in order to stick to their commitment to search for the truth. Another reason is that the majority of journalists enjoy a challenge and enjoy the satisfaction in the outcome of the challenge. Other people choose a career in journalism because of the variety of jobs available, no matter how hard it may be to break into each of these jobs. Another reason for choosing to “bother” with journalism is the enjoyment and skills related to communication within the journalism industry.
The main point to journalism appears to be the act of imparting information, knowledge and truth on as large scale as possible, in effect enhancing the general public’s knowledge and understanding of the world.
Overall it remains that some people strive to be in the headlines, but journalists share a common goal to write them.
References
Books:
Blythe, W., ed. 1999. Why I Write. Little, Brown and Company: USA.
Flynn, Thomas, R. 2006. Existentialism: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
Harcup, T. 2005. Journalism: Principles and Practice. Sage Publications: London.
Lodge, D., ed. 1983. 20th Century Literary Criticism. Longman Group Ltd: Essex.
Orwell, G. 2004. Why I Write. Penguin Books: London.
Randall, D. 2000. The Universal Journalist: Second Edition. Pluto Press: London.
Sartre, JP. 1987. Existentialism and Humanism. Methuen London Ltd: London.
Thompson, D., ed. 1992. The Pocket Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
Tumber, H., ed. 1999. News: A Reader. Oxford University Press: Oxford.
Online:
The New New Journalism. Robert S. Boynton. ‘What is “The New New Journalism”?’ [Internet]. [Accessed on 4th May 2008].
http://www.newnewjournalism.com/about.htm
Journals:
Bravo, L., 2008. The Devil Wears Primark. British Journalism Review 2008. [Online] 19, p. 64. Available at http://bjr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/19/1/63 [Accessed on 19th April 2008].
Campbell, J., 2006. Why Papers of Record are History. British Journalism Review 2006, [Online] 17, p.59. Available at http://bjr.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/17/2/59 [Accessed on 19th April 2008].
