Mixed media

From work on community radio stations to the national tabloids, it's possible to keep your integrity intact in media careers, argues Allison Martin.

The idea of a career in the media conjures up glamorous images. A windswept Kate Adie in some far flung war torn country. Woodward and Bernstein racing around Washington on the Watergate trail. Or the 3am Girls on the red carpet at the latest showbiz bash. If that's your thing.

But each of these journalists started on the shop floor, working long hours for little financial reward. OK, maybe it's still worth the trouble, but what if you're also expected to leave your integrity at the door?

Powerful media moguls

There is an ongoing assumption that journalists have to toe an editorial line they don't believe in. That agendas are set by old school editors, or more often by the nameless, faceless money men with both eyes on the bottom line or the election of the politician they most favour.

As chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch is a very powerful man indeed. Over 20 million Britons read either The Sun, The News of the World, The Times or The Sunday Times every week, representing one third of all newspapers read. He's also one of the most powerful men in television.

Coverage of the Iraq war by Murdoch-owned Fox in the United States has been held up as an example of biased news reporting, reflecting the political slant of the proprietor. In August last year, for example, 38 members of the US Congress wrote to Murdoch complaining of the station's unfair reporting.

“It seems that Fox News network has a deliberate bias in favour of, and often serves as an extension of, the Republican Party's policies and ideology,” the letter said.
 

Editorial control

But others believe the power of media ownership in crushing journalists' integrity is overstated. Most radio, TV programmes and newspapers can only survive if they maintain and increase their readership. The only way to do that is to give the readers what they want. The 85% of British people who read one of the national newspapers every day probably have more editorial control over the papers than the media fatcats behind them.

As one journalist from The News of the World said: “It's no different to any other paper. Our newsdesk welcomes good ideas from reporters but at the end of the day the editor has the final say. It's ridiculous to suggest that because we're owned by Murdoch we're subjected to some kind of sinister regime."

Maintaining your ethics

It is easy, and probably wise, to be suspicious of the mainstream media. But it is possible to maintain your own ethics within. Any good editor will respect that. In every job there needs to be room for compromise.

The broadsheets are usually regarded as the most ethical and responsible read. The Independent has campaigned hard to highlight the plight of the people of Darfur, but does that mean tabloids are any less ethical?

Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver says not. “In recent months we have campaigned hard for the rights of the elderly and have highlighted many issues from hidden bank charges to the scandal of Gulf War syndrome.

“If you want to achieve change it is actually easier to do so with a ballsy tabloid campaign than a wishy washy broadsheet approach. Yes we cover celebrities, sport and stars and all the things our readers want, but equally important is fighting for the issues which matter to them on a daily basis.”

Community media

But there is a growing movement of journalists, media workers and others who believe media should not be about giving the public what it wants, but involving the public directly as participants.

Ardwick Longsight Levenshulme (ALL) FM, which broadcasts in one of the most deprived areas of Manchester, is one of 16 not-for-profit community radio stations set up nationwide with government and local authority support.

“Community radio can be inclusive, fully diverse and reflect an area. It gives local people a voice,” said David Armes, community development worker at the station.

Relevant experience

Job opportunities in radio stations are set to increase as the government looks to role out extra radio wavelength for community use. And media experience is less important than previous community work when it comes to a job in community broadcasting.

“I don't know if any of us feel we've got a career, funding is so uncertain you sometimes don