page 4

Editorial

Politicians and Journalism

September 24, 1968

Opinions expressed in Salient are not necessarily those of VUWSA.

Good political journalism is destructive political journalism. It is for the politicians to make and administer policy and for the journalist to pick holes in his work. His role, indeed his sole reason for existence, is to check the politicians, and to keep them on their toes.

Perfect politicians would not require journalists at all—or any of the other trappings of democracy—but politicians remain imperfect, so we like to stick to democracy.

It is not hard to see that the politician looks at things rather differently. Criticism can anger the imperfect; but of course their anger is not of much importance. That political journalism does make politicians angry from time to time shows at least that they read it and realize its importance.

If he has cause to be angry, a politician can answer the charges made against him by a journalist, and a responsible paper will publish his answers.

Where balance is desirable it is achieved-by allowing this right of reply. Buf balance in the sense of giving all sides of a story in every article is undesirable on those occasions where every valid criticism is to be balanced on the other side by a specious excuse, and is impractical in a political system where so much information is concealed.

If a politician is unable to make a reply sufficient to balance the criticism, he deserves to bear its full weight.

It is natural, of course, that politicians and their representatives argue in favour of constructive, or at least balanced journalism, for this is journalism which does not expose them, or which, in exposing them, quotes their own excuses. They have constructed a rationale on which to support their concepts of balance and constructive journalism, and have managed to popularize this rationale to a most considerable extent even among some senior journalists.

Usually they can rely on the popularity of their view (and the social norms they have created) to keep the press passive, but sometimes they have to resort to direct action in order to ensure compliance with their views. This is particularly possible when politicians, or members of their families, are directors of publishing companies.

It is utterly inconceivable that journalists should be able consistently to pick holes in the work of politicians when they are employed by politicians. In order that the proper function of journalists can be performed in this country, a News Media Ownership Act must be passed, to remove any control of the daily press from the hands of politicians.