Amalia Verzola’s Post

Media plays a pivotal role in shaping our societal norms, and for Best-Case Scenario, a Spitfire project, we're passionate about fostering safe and constructive civic spaces. We recently sat down with journalists and activists to explore effective strategies to promote civil discourse over discord. Here are some key insights we discovered: Understand Journalists: Reporters are not just storytellers; they're humans with a job to inform and engage. By recognizing their constraints and interests, we can assist them in portraying stories accurately. Find the Angle: Civil discord often grabs headlines, but stories of civil discourse are equally important. Work with media to find an angle that brings these narratives to light and widening the scope of media coverage. Build Strong Relationships: Collaboration is key! By forging strong bonds with journalists and providing them with valuable resources and sources, we can shape the narrative towards constructive dialogue. Understand the context of violence: Advocate for responsible reporting and provide guidelines to mitigate the normalization of violence. Also understand that journalists face threats themselves. Amplifying The Positive: When the media gets it right, it's crucial to acknowledge and amplify their efforts. Positive reinforcement encourages more responsible journalism. Let's work together to reshape the media landscape and promote a culture of understanding and empathy. To learn more about how you can best work with the media, check out our latest blog below: https://lnkd.in/e8faMexx #CivicDiscourse #MediaResponsibility #PositiveChange

Depiction of Journalists in Popular Culture The 2015 film Spotlight, based on a true story, features a team of journalists investigating allegations against a priest accused of molesting over 80 children, ultimately uncovering a far-reaching scandal. Movies like Spotlight portray journalists as heroic figures, unwavering in their pursuit of truth and committed to advancing public discourse. The characters often resort to extreme measures—both legal and illegal—and are depicted as freely violating ethical codes without facing significant repercussions, as long as their actions expose corruption, solve crimes, or combat injustice. Such portrayals position journalists as champions of societal change, earning them admiration and respect for their dedication to justice and reinforcing the ideal of journalism as the “fourth pillar of democracy.” Conversely, Nightcrawler (2014) presents a darker perspective, highlighting how journalists can blur the line between reporting and manufacturing news. The film illustrates how an insatiable drive for profit and recognition can lead to manipulation and deception. Movies like this reinforce stereotypes of journalists as opportunistic and untrustworthy, tarnishing the reputation of the profession. Popular culture has consistently oscillated between these two extremes, depicting both the laudable and the unethical aspects of journalism. For instance, the invasive and often sensationalist behavior of paparazzi contributes to the perception that media outlets prioritize clickbait and biased narratives over factual reporting. Such portrayals invite criticism of the media as being driven by sensationalism rather than substance. However, as shown in Spotlight, many journalists and media organizations are willing to bend ethical norms not for personal gain, but in service of societal welfare. These contrasting portrayals in popular culture have cultivated a complex, love-hate relationship between the media and society. Capturing the intricacies of such a multifaceted profession is no easy task, given its blend of strengths and shortcomings. With each new depiction, the representation of journalism evolves. Ultimately, it is up to the audience to discern the extent to which these portrayals reflect reality or fiction. #popularculture #mediarepresentation #pressethics #journalism #publicgood [Views expressed by Anshita Pandey ]

📢 In an ever-connected world, the threat of online abuse is a rising concern, particularly for journalists who often face the brunt of digital harassment. A new report by PEN America emphasizes the power of peer support in combating these challenges. 🛡️ 👥 Peer support networks offer a space where journalists can share experiences and gain strength from colleagues who understand their struggles, thereby fostering resilience in the face of adversity. These networks, highlighted for their potential to mitigate the emotional and professional impacts of online abuse, are crucial in maintaining diverse voices in journalism. 🤝 The report urges newsrooms and media organizations to invest in these supportive environments. 🔗 For a deeper dive into how these networks operate and their benefits, check out the full insights from PEN America's latest findings. #Journalism #PeerSupport

Journalists are happy to be disconnecting from platforms, should news organisations be worried?: Before running headfirst into the next shiny piece of technology, newsrooms leaders must ask who will be impacted the most and what support they will need to keep going #digitalpublishing #journalism #onlinepublishing

Check out this guidance on promoting #civildiscourse and ways the news media can help to make this happen. #BestCaseScenario

Q: We couldn't find Samuel Mena Jr's website that has his full letter. Could you? Help us! Now on to #TheFullPicture: Samuel Mena Jr's self-immolation has raised questions on all sides — whether it's about journalists' complicity in misinformation that manufactures consent, or about his self-immolation being considered an "extreme act" by someone who is supposed to be objective ⬇️ Mena was a news photographer for Arizona’s Family, a Phoenix-based broadcast network, but here's what they have to say: “Arizona’s Family expects its newsroom employees to conduct themselves with neutrality and objectivity,” the statement on its website reads. “Mena is no longer an employee.” Here's the thing though: We live in a world where "extreme actions" are carried out by nations regularly (and justified). In a world where news platforms and content creators further murderous propaganda that is putting millions of lives at stake. So what is extreme? What is okay? Does what you consume affect what — and how — you think about critical issues? If you want to change the way (mis)information affects you, and create meaningful interactions with what you consume ➡️ go to the last slide, and follow us for more #FullPictureNotes 🍉 Association for Progressive Communications Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Freedom of the Press Foundation Press Freedom Network European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Choice of words, images and the selection of topics covered are just some ways the media can perpetuate biases. To address unconscious biases, journalists must first understand them. Here’s how: https://buff.ly/3UgM3Q9

Media plays a pivotal role in shaping our societal norms, and for Best-Case Scenario, a Spitfire project, we're passionate about fostering safe and constructive civic spaces. We recently sat down with journalists and activists to explore effective strategies to promote civil discourse over discord. Here are some key insights we discovered: - Understand Journalists: Reporters are not just storytellers; they're humans with a job to inform and engage. By recognizing their constraints and interests, we can assist them in portraying stories accurately. - Find the Angle: Civil discord often grabs headlines, but stories of civil discourse are equally important. Work with media to find an angle that brings these narratives to light and widening the scope of media coverage. - Build Strong Relationships: Collaboration is key! By forging strong bonds with journalists and providing them with valuable resources and sources, we can shape the narrative towards constructive dialogue. - Understand the context of violence: Advocate for responsible reporting and provide guidelines to mitigate the normalization of violence. Also understand that journalists face threats themselves. - Amplifying The Positive: When the media gets it right, it's crucial to acknowledge and amplify their efforts. Positive reinforcement encourages more responsible journalism. Let's work together to reshape the media landscape and promote a culture of understanding and empathy. To learn more about how you can best work with the media, check out our latest blog below: https://lnkd.in/e8faMexx #CivicDiscourse #MediaResponsibility #PositiveChange

In recent years, some news outlets have shifted from their core purpose of providing unbiased, factual reporting to promoting partisan agendas, particularly aligning with the Democratic Party. Rather than serving as neutral observers, these media organizations often present information that supports a political narrative, prioritizing ideological loyalty over journalistic integrity. This shift has been criticized for creating echo chambers that reinforce one-sided perspectives, limiting open debate and critical analysis. Instead of holding power accountable across the board, these outlets often downplay or dismiss controversies involving Democratic figures, while amplifying critiques of opposing parties. The erosion of objectivity undermines public trust and polarizes audiences. Journalism, meant to inform, has at times become a tool for political influence. For news media to regain credibility, it must return to its roots: independent, fact-based reporting, serving as a watchdog for all, not a mouthpiece for any political party.

Online abuse has become an occupational hazard for journalists, especially women and journalists of color. During another contentious election cycle, the problem will only get worse, threatening to silence voices already underrepresented in the news. Today, PEN America published a new report, The Power of Peer Support, calling on the journalism industry—newsrooms, professional associations, unions, civil society organizations, and philanthropists—to invest in spaces where journalists under attack online can find the support they need, especially from peers who share their background and lived experience. Based on extensive research and more than two dozen original interviews, authors Susan E McGregor, Viktorya V., and Jeje M. make the case that peer support—modeled on evidence-based approaches used in other high-stress professions like emergency services—can mitigate the harms of online abuse and build resilience in unique ways. "It would have been helpful to know that I wasn’t alone or that I wasn’t some sort of weak journalist because I couldn’t handle picking up the phone and listening to some guy just spew [racist] bullshit," said an early-career newspaper journalist who identified as a Black woman. A midcareer freelance journalist, who identified as a South Asian-American woman, told us: “In that moment [of experiencing abuse], I would have really benefited from a peer support network…what I would have wanted… is just access to other women who had gone through this experience.” Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/emSD87DJ