Journalism sets us free

Some people see the news as something interesting. I don’t. Although it can be curious, the main feature of the news is that it sets us free. We need to know what politicians are doing with our money, what is happening around the world and what can we do about it.

We can vote but we are far from free. The lack of education and disinterest of some of the population makes them unable to decide properly not only who would be a good representative, but also what to do with their lives.

Our ignorance is what makes us slaves of tricksters. And the first ones are the media. I know journalists who admit having received someone’s call saying: “Write down these words, this will be in that part of the news.”

As journalists we want to do our job, but as workers we follow orders. As we are not free, it is our duty to fight for it. We can write all the information people need to decide in a simple language which is easy to understand.

Unfortunately, some people are more interested in gossip. And someone has to write these stories as well. This is something we have to live with.

There is also a funny part in some soft news. For example, sports can make people happy. If there is a huge economical crisis, but your favourite team wins a match, your life does not seem so tragic for a while.

And making readers happy is good for the news company. No matter what people ask for, sports or famous people, we should give it to them: spoil our readers. In exchange they eventually will read something really significant. And we will have our reward because our news will be read.

Maybe people only appreciate journalists who risk their lives or appear on television. But for me, the important thing is bringing the news to the population. And now with the internet we are more prepared than ever.

Slow and difficult, unappreciated most of the time, lacking jobs nowadays… this is the work I like. I love being useful even if nobody is aware of it, even if I need to have two jobs. Because this is not really a job; it is a way of life, something you only know deeply inside. And I hope I never lose this because it is what makes me going on.