Journalists and their Jobs

Conversations are changing these days.  The great adventure of Corona-virus is losing its luster.  Even my earlier blogposts about social distancing and different ways of participating, including church, neighbours, etc. no longer of particular interest.  Seems to me by now there is an evolved openness to moderate critique, not only from the rabid ones who believed everything Donald Trump tweeted, but thoughtful confession of weariness and at least some openness to wariness about the information we are getting.  Along with new confessions of confusion, there is still an inclination to blame.  I recently heard group conversation squarely laying the blame at foot of the media.  They are to blame, and social media has some hilarious quips on reports and contradictions, etc. etc.  Yes conversations are changing. 

I wrote an article just over a year ago, not about pandemics obviously, but chafing slightly at some selective reporting by church media.  I share that article recognizing the important and sometimes thankless work of journalists, writers, editors, online media, publishers, etc. My hope is that these friends may give some extra thought to how they do their jobs.  It is a profession which demands much skill, creativity, courage, and accountability.  The pandemic is creating a hungry and somewhat desperate populace.  My church denomination's Canadian Mennonite has received considerable critique citing too much attention to acceptability and legality of presentation rather than the adventure of the edge.  In other words, can journalists of faith make room for a prophetic word in the community's communiques?  These are questions that hover even while some of us critique.  Now the article.

June 7, 2019                            JOURNALISTS AND THEIR JOBS

My sister writes with enthusiasm and also a hint of weariness.  She and her husband have been run off their feet with media attention to their successful new initiative at their dairy-farm – our home place – near Saskatoon, SK.  The concept of cold farm-fresh milk on tap is gaining traction.  Health conscious and trendy neighbors, acreage dwellers, and city folk are coming out in droves to pay the upscale asking price, and while they’re at it they pick up some sausages, perogies, or homemade jams at their Farmyard Market store.

The Western Producer, two dairy magazines, a local Gazette, CTV, CBC, and Global News, all clamor for an interview and some good pictures of their brightly painted and well maintained farmyard.  Oh yes, we are proud!  And, also I go into thinking mode – apparently a characteristic of mine (My dad said I had a tendency to ‘think a little more’ about things -  Nehschea in our low German dialect).  I am intrigued by the interest of local commercial professional media; and also the dis-interest of our church media. 

A few days after appearance on CTV and CBC News I received an email query from the publisher of The Canadian Mennonite, our denominational newspaper, asking which church my sister and brother-in-law attended.  “They don’t attend church”, I replied cheerfully. “They believe in God and they respect, even celebrate, the Mennonite heritage of our parents, but they live a secular life”.  The reply was telling and disappointing.  It was like end of conversation, “We won’t be providing coverage, but my husband and I will stop by next time we come to Saskatchewan to visit my relatives” (who also live in this neighborhood. Osler in fact).  I felt dismissed!  This person is a very fine individual with a cheery demeanor and yet almost instantaneously seemed to lose interest.

Why no questions about this Mennonite farmyard which grew and weaned 12 children.  I had no opportunity to tell her about the rough and tumble formative years on this place which was kind of a community center every winter evening after the cows were milked.  The bunkhouse beside our skating rink was the exact location where now clean freezers and display cases make up the store. This farmyard yielded soccer players, hockey and softball players for all manner of teams in the Rosthern Valley and nearby Saskatoon.  Where was the interest in the evolution of this place?  Where is the personal historical interest? I know the total readership of this Mennonite periodical would have lapped up a feature article about this locale. They don’t attend church; end of story. Really?

Kind of like another incident I can think of.  At present I am participating in “Walk for Common Ground”, www.treatytalk.com/#walkforcommonground.  It is a ground breaking collaboration between the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, the Saddle Lake Cree Nation of St. Paul, AB, and Mennonite Church Canada.  It is an education walk to facilitate relationship among the walkers, an invitation for anybody to ask questions along the way, and/or to join in for a day or two of physical exercise, education, and conversation.  We follow an Eagle Staff, carry several flags, and many small signs, “We are All Treaty People”.  Each day along this grueling 300 km walk from Edmonton to Calgary, we are requested to post on social media, and daily there are ‘interviews’ by church and denominational communications employees.  In answer to their stock trade question “Why I walk” they post answers like, exercise my faith, learn more about treaties, etc.  I recently offered my answer (and this after I had submitted a short bio, and also a page long piece on topic “Why I walk”).  Feeling just a bit irritated at the repetitiousness of it all, I submitted a selfie with this quip, “I walk because it is healthier for my soul than sitting at church meetings”.  This is a genuine response from this retired preacher who has probably attended about a million meetings in his lifetime.  

The reply to my quip betrayed either her impatience or that she didn’t get it at all. “You have something to say about treaties?”  Enter my Rick Bell rant (Calgary’s version of Rick Mercer).  It might have gone like this, “Dear communicationista, I can’t think of another way to explain this walk, but I invite you to join in for a day or two.  Come and walk beside me. I am inspired by motivated educated people (most of whom have been there done that). As I walk quietly, I’m thinking, reflecting on the things I learned in college and seminary, kind of enjoying the sermons I used to preach because I always speak to people rather than audiences.  I am enjoying the presence of unionists who are more committed to this cause than most church people I know, and indigenous folk more educated than most.  I am not drinking beers in the hot sun, which is more than I could say for myself if I was at home getting ready for the next meeting. This is life, sister. Come and join in!”

Okay I can’t quite say that – a bit too cynical I suppose.  But there is a need around us these days to speak plainly.  And I would really like it if communications people would help us to do that.  Do not bore us with cookie cutter questions, because the answers (and your articles) will become boring. The church will not survive long if it continues in clichés.  We need intrigue, queries, humor, irony.  Here is an occasion that calls for it. 

I have a similar point of view about sermons, speeches, communiques of any kind.  I enjoy it when people are not just doing their jobs.  Good journalism must push the edges in interesting manner.  Jobs are for making a wage; stories are about life!  I like it when journalists - and preachers too -  tell us about life in full Spirit and full intrigue.  I am come that you may have life; and have it to the full (John 10:10).

So, that was my article written then about that concern. In conclusion I must mention, in a recent issue of that selfsame publication, I enthused about one of the journalists, senior writer no less, who profoundly 'nailed' the Easter message needed by us weary Covid-19ers (CM, March 16, 2020, p.4).  There are journalists who take interest in their subjects, and I applaud and appreciate them.  I do get a little testy when they are merely doing a job.