Watch What You Say!
By Chris Sewell
I remember an incident that happened a while back, it involves a student who directed a question to a speaker, however, the candidate did not take the accusation likely, and the student ended up being tased. That was when the words “don’t tase me bro” made headlines around the World.
Now that I think about it, I’m guessing that Andrew Meyer, the student tased, was not being objective to some degree, even though objectivity in media is essential, I personally think the tasing was a little too extreme.
At that time, based on an article by Harry Shinkansen, Andrew Meyer was a mass communication undergrad, the charges were later dropped because Andrew agreed to probation terms. Long story short, Andrew went on to law school, started blogging, created his own website and is now working with a live-streamer (what ever happened to the “don’t tase me bro” guy? 2017).
Nowhere, did the source mention that there was a lawsuit of some kind and Andrew Meyer was rewarded handsomely, and by the way, senator John Kerry, the candidate, only remark was that he didn’t know about the tasing until after it happened (Shinkansen, 2017).
The point that I am trying to make is, what is so wrong with being un-objective? On medium, according to Emmanuel Perilla, the idea behind being objective is that the journalist is supposed to just report facts and leave their biases out (Objectivity in the media, 2018).
Even though, Andrew wasn’t a journalist at the time, he was given a microphone to ask a question, which is similar to what reporters and journalist do in their profession and there have been other cases where journalist were in fact tackled and fired.
In Robert McChesney text, lies a statement that I think is the key in letting young journalist know, especially those that want a lasting career, to just bite the bullet and be liberal. Because their career is threatened when journalist chooses to bring their liberal biases into reporting and dig for stories that put a conservative candidate, for example, in a bad light (Right-wing criticism of journalism, NP).
Personally, I am not as involved in politics as I would like to be, but it is obvious that journalism possess a magic wand that can steer the beast of politics if a reporter or writer chooses to do so. Especially, if the wand is in the possession of a journalist in a high position, such as working out of the White House. I think that whatever someone in such a position say about a politician can be convincing because he or she works in that atmosphere.
All biases aside, based on the reaction that led to Andrew Meyer being tased, made me more curious about whether or not senator John Kerry is affiliated with Skull and Bone.
As for a journalist remaining objective is of important, but only on the obligations of what is to be reported, because an independent journalist can write whatever he or she want if they fund their own platform.
