Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Is Free Really Free?


Jade Garcia
You are writing a piece on a star athlete, you are handed front row seats to the game for you and a friend and given special privileges within the stadium and invites to the hottest sports parties.  Sounds good doesn’t it? Or maybe this scenario just seems way too good to be true, right?  Wrong,  in fact these scenarios play out all the time in the world of journalism. Journalists have a wide audience and a strong voice which makes them  desirable to the those seeking to revamp or enhance their rep. What they have to say makes a difference in big money businesses such as the food, sports and entertainment industry. A good word from the right person is sometimes all you need to make a wrong right and make a right even better.
If every journalist is being offered these amazing gifts and being showered with love, what are we as the audience really getting? Are we getting the truth or are we getting a fabricated version with some added spice because someone decided that backstage passes were more important than the code they decided to live and work by when they choose their designated career as a journalist. It puts into perspective the types of reporters that are out there and what we as consumers have to be aware of. Do we really want to be duped into believing that so-and-so is the greatest sweetest and most talented player, singer, or chef. Or that such-and-such Broadway show is the best in town and that we should spend all of our money on front row tickets for something that in reality is as mediocre as the person who wrote it.
Journalists have to think about the implications that are associated with free gifts from people who really just want one thing from them , their word. Is something really free when you have to give up your integrity?In this case nothing ever comes without a price even though it may seem like you are being handed all these amazing opportunities in exchange for a few simple words. 
 Many journalists have learned the game of bribery and are not easily swayed by power hungry and attention seeking individuals who try to buy their way to success.  
Those who accept free gifts and maintain their journalistic integrity are those who should be looked upon.  Just because you take something for free doesn’t mean you have to write something nice about the person. If the person giving you swag bag items and invitations expects you to be bought over then maybe journalism isn’t your path. If you are only in the game to find the highest bidder, then when will enough ever be enough and when will you ever start telling the truth?

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