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You don't have time to do that. People don't have time to listen enough different single-area experts all the time. They also don't have the ability to filter t

You don't have time to do that. People don't have time to listen enough different single-area experts all the time. They also don't have the ability to filter through the agendas of these people, which are pushed with no regard to information integrity. That filter is journalism, and it's still important for functioning democracies.

2devnull 3y ago
If people “don’t have the time” to learn then they shouldn’t get to participate in our democracy. Education and due diligence, more easily available now than ever before, are the responsibility of citizens.
- camillomiller 3y ago
  But what you’re saying is the contrary of what you want to achieve. The single stakeholders who would inform about their own field lack a systemic view, and they act at least on the personal agenda of furthering their own position in a capitalistic society. That’s a clear incentive that’s not mitigated by any journalistic standard or ethical boundary. Journalists are a broad and diverse bunch, they have agendas and they’re human but they are called to an ethical conduct that is quintessential to their profession. Many don’t do that, but grouping them all under one category is a populist approach akin to saying that politicians all steal. Also, journalism is NOT american tv journalism. In Germany we have immensely talented ethically sound journalists in many top positions in news organizations. The real problem I see as a journalist is that unfortunately the current misfortunes of the journalistic sector are pushing away first and foremost the best and most talented because staying requires a level of commitment that is just not compatible anymore with the measly reward —- and getting pushed into one bad group like it happened here on this thread. In my case I can afford to still do the most meaningful journalism possible because I am lucky enough to have developed a successful business on the side that sustains myself without interfering with the topics and news I cover. That’s an insane amount of effort that then inevitably gets belittled by the “journalists are all agenda-driven scumbags” brigades of the internet.
  - 2devnull 3y ago
    Or, on the contrary, the dismal state of much of US media is causing people to seek out and pay more for higher quality journalism than they otherwise would. That seems to be the substack business model in a nutshell. And thank you for doing good despite the hostile public sentiment.
seneca 3y ago
Why is it easier to filter through the agendas of journalists instead of the experts themselves? As professional mouthpieces, journalists are more likely to have agendas, not less. Recent history has show that journalist are more interested in activism than is integrity. I feel like what you're saying is true in some platonic ideal, but it's very far from reality.
- camillomiller 3y ago
  It’s true in my own personal experience of freelance journalist, who is aware of the worrying shortcomings of journalistic institutions, and yet is neither a privileged, nor rich, nor stuck to an activist position about anything. Facts come first. Would you all be ok if I’d generalize saying that programmers are smelly introverted incels?

2devnull 3y ago

If people “don’t have the time” to learn then they shouldn’t get to participate in our democracy. Education and due diligence, more easily available now than ever before, are the responsibility of citizens.

camillomiller 3y ago
But what you’re saying is the contrary of what you want to achieve. The single stakeholders who would inform about their own field lack a systemic view, and they act at least on the personal agenda of furthering their own position in a capitalistic society. That’s a clear incentive that’s not mitigated by any journalistic standard or ethical boundary. Journalists are a broad and diverse bunch, they have agendas and they’re human but they are called to an ethical conduct that is quintessential to their profession. Many don’t do that, but grouping them all under one category is a populist approach akin to saying that politicians all steal. Also, journalism is NOT american tv journalism. In Germany we have immensely talented ethically sound journalists in many top positions in news organizations. The real problem I see as a journalist is that unfortunately the current misfortunes of the journalistic sector are pushing away first and foremost the best and most talented because staying requires a level of commitment that is just not compatible anymore with the measly reward —- and getting pushed into one bad group like it happened here on this thread. In my case I can afford to still do the most meaningful journalism possible because I am lucky enough to have developed a successful business on the side that sustains myself without interfering with the topics and news I cover. That’s an insane amount of effort that then inevitably gets belittled by the “journalists are all agenda-driven scumbags” brigades of the internet.
- 2devnull 3y ago
  Or, on the contrary, the dismal state of much of US media is causing people to seek out and pay more for higher quality journalism than they otherwise would. That seems to be the substack business model in a nutshell. And thank you for doing good despite the hostile public sentiment.

seneca 3y ago

Why is it easier to filter through the agendas of journalists instead of the experts themselves? As professional mouthpieces, journalists are more likely to have agendas, not less. Recent history has show that journalist are more interested in activism than is integrity. I feel like what you're saying is true in some platonic ideal, but it's very far from reality.

camillomiller 3y ago
It’s true in my own personal experience of freelance journalist, who is aware of the worrying shortcomings of journalistic institutions, and yet is neither a privileged, nor rich, nor stuck to an activist position about anything. Facts come first. Would you all be ok if I’d generalize saying that programmers are smelly introverted incels?