Jornalismo e representações sociais

Encontrei um interessante editorial, no jornal americano The Sun Herald, intitulado “Journalism has its share of myths, too'”. Fala sobre as representações sociais do jornalismo e dos jornalistas, assinalando o fato básico que, penso, constitui o problema central de toda sociologia da mídia: o fato de que jornalistas não são, efetivamente, super heróis da realidade. O conhecimento deles é, também, um conhecimento mediado e midiatizado. Diz o editorial que as principais dessas representações são
- Reporters are liberals.
- Reporters are secular, even anti-religion.
- The press tells only part of the story.
- The press gets nothing right.
- Reporters run in packs, are aggressive, intrusive and rude.
- Journalists are underpaid.
A conclusão do texto é brilhante e devia inspirar todo aluno de Comunicação: "The big picture is that it breaks my heart to know that many young people who would make great journalists won't even think about trying it because of erroneous harangues about what a disreputable way it is to make a living.I don't mind saying it because Thomas Jefferson said it first: Communication - an informed public - is not optional in a democracy. If people don't know what's going on, freedom is an illusion.Good reporters are not scum. They are communicators. We need more".