Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • Classifieds
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Emotional response inspires action

Emotional response inspires action

January 22, 2010 by Chelsea Hackney

Jason Beaubien is a seasoned reporter. He has worked on National Public Radio’s foreign desk for almost 10 years; he has reported on coups, famines, war and natural disasters. He is used to chaos and violence – and a Haitian girl made him cry on the air.

Most people would say journalists should be objective. Objectivity has a connotation of fairness, of balance, of presenting all opinions as equal without giving your own. That’s how we think news should be delivered; otherwise, how do we know we’re getting the whole story?

This quest for objectivity is why reporters can describe a gruesome scene with a calm face and steady hand, often appearing almost callous in the face of tragedy. If they broke down at every broken bone, the news would come to a screeching halt.

So, when Beaubien choked while describing the trembling lips of the wounded girl, listeners were caught off guard.

A few were angry and chastised NPR for being sensationalist – and in some ways, the argument makes sense. Describing destruction is a way for us to see what the reporter sees, but it can easily become a way for us to feed our voyeuristic appetite for blood and guts.

This story is different.

Beaubien was genuinely concerned for a scared and hurting child, and he was obviously overwhelmed by the magnitude of the disaster. He apologized twice for what I’m sure he considered a lapse in journalistic integrity, but he didn’t need to. He accomplished in a few seconds what every reporter strives for: he made the story real.

His heartache made him human, and in that moment, every listener felt the full impact of the earthquake. We felt a connection to him and to the little girl laying on deck chairs in the middle of a driveway, and suddenly Haiti was much closer to us.

Objectivity is useful when it prevents journalists from favoring one political candidate or assuming anyone charged with a crime is guilty. It becomes a hindrance to good journalism when it robs stories of their emotional depth. Deadpan delivery doesn’t carry the weight of passion.

Beaubien’s story had a greater impact because of his emotion, and the result was a story that stuck. It isn’t a bad thing for a story to affect a reporter. It doesn’t mean she’s biased toward one side or the other. Sometimes there isn’t a side.

And sometimes, in the face of tragedy, we’re all on the same side.

Filed Under: Columns

Other Opinion:

  • Recreation Center helps student engagement

  • Labor Day Observation a victory for students

  • Skipping class is a drug

About Chelsea Hackney

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / Emotional response inspires action

Other Opinion:

  • Recreation Center helps student engagement

  • Labor Day Observation a victory for students

  • Skipping class is a drug

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

16 hours ago

The Optimist
The student-run Hispanos Unidos club put together its annual Entra a La Plaza to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Attendees were able to experience authentic Hispanic traditions like traditional Hispanic food, dancing with live music and offered selections from local businesses like Mary’s Paleteria. For more media coverage for this event and others visit acuoptimist.com or click the link in our bio.-------------------------------------------------------------#acu #acunews #HispanicHeritageMonth #hispanosunidos ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

5 days ago

The Optimist
As the Student Government Association celebrates its 100th year of existence, 56 officials have been elected, including four presidents for each class. Read more about the officers and representatives at acuoptimist.com or by clicking the link in our bio.-------------------------------------------------------------#acu #acunews #acusga #abilenechristianuniversity #acuofficers ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Optimist Newscast Feb. 22, 2023

Our top stories this week include the passing of Dr. Bob Hunter, a new endowment ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 8, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Feb. 1, 2023
  • Optimist Newscast Jan. 25, 2023

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Podcasts

© 2023 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved