One of the many joys of my teaching career at Franklin College has been to have journalism students in my religious studies and liberal arts classes. Almost to a person, the journalism majors were disciplined, well-informed, and engaging students.
The success of these students in classes outside of courses in their major speaks well for their awareness that, as future journalists, they will have to know something about politics, psychology, economics, sociology and yes, given the tensions in the world, something about the religions of the world.
But recently, I have looked for another trait among the future journalists I teach. Beyond being well-read, curious, tenacious and compelling communicators both in written and oral form, journalists in our day have to be courageous.
Journalism has become one of the most dangerous occupations in countries around the world. Terrorist attacks against journalists in France and other European countries is well known. But more troubling are the dictators and cartel bosses who have targeted journalists.
I am sure that many of us felt a chill go up the spine when, in a recent gathering of world leaders, Vladimir Putin and Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia greeted each other with a huge smile and high fives, even as it has become clear that the crown prince ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Putin’s look was one of arrogance and congratulations, and he should know. He’s ordered the assassination of journalists in and outside of Russia who have been critical of him.
Closer to home, honest and tenacious journalists in Mexico now risk their lives every day to do their jobs. Estimates are that 138 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000.
A recent article about the press in Hungary tells a sorry tale. A decade ago, Hungary could boast of having a “free press,” one willing and able to criticize the nation’s leaders. But all that has changed. The Hungarian press has now become a mouthpiece for the government. Hard news has morphed into state-led propaganda.
In our own country, Trump vilifies journalists who criticize the missteps of his time in office and confront him on his contradictions. He labels all but his favorite TV network as “fake news” and encourages his faithful followers to treat mainstream journalists as dangerous enemies. How long will it be before the lives of American journalists are threatened by some of Trump’s less-balanced supporters?
If you find yourself angry that American journalists are routinely critical of your favorite politicians, try this experiment. Some night, turn out all the lights in your house and sit in the darkness.
That’s the fate of those living in Hungary, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, China, Russia and so many other countries. I can’t believe those are the countries that any of us — conservatives, middle of the roaders, and liberals — wish to live in.
