cobl04
45:33
Here’s something that could generate some good discussion.
From trawling through numerous threads in this forum it appears many of you are disgusted with the state of journalism in the United States. I’m currently working as one (though I do sports and lifestyle, hardly hard-hitting news) and am very interested in the field. I don’t have the same vitriolic hatred that many of you seem to; though there are plenty of writers whose regular writings infuriate me.
Anyway this article is about death knocks. For the uninitiated, it’s when a journalist knocks on the door of someone who has just recently received news of the death of a family member or close friend (sometimes not even an hour after the death) and asks for comment.
What’s your opinion of the practice? Could you do it? I could do it, but I’d hate the thought of it (thankfully haven’t had to yet) and if I had to I’d say something like, “I’m very sorry to bother you at this time, I just wanted to ask if you’d like to comment, and if not I will leave right away.” Because it’s part of the job. Much as people outside the industry say that it’s completely unnecessary or incredible invasive (I could agree with those statements), it’s part of the job. Read any article, ever, after someone has died as a result of a car speeding accident. There’s either quotes from parents, family or friends or a line saying “so and so was too distraught to speak”.
It’s all about respect, I think, and some journalists don’t have it. Some park out the front of the house for hours, some try to force themselves upon the grieving, some have even stolen photos of the deceased. That’s disgusting behaviour.
One of my lecturers in university once told me that a former editor of a newspaper asked all potential new employees if they’d do death knocks – even if they were the first to break the news to the victim’s friends/family – and if the answer was no he wouldn’t hire them. That’s where I’d draw the line, no way in hell I’d ever tell someone their sister has just died, and by the way, can you comment on it?
Why I'll never get used to death knocks | Mamamia
From trawling through numerous threads in this forum it appears many of you are disgusted with the state of journalism in the United States. I’m currently working as one (though I do sports and lifestyle, hardly hard-hitting news) and am very interested in the field. I don’t have the same vitriolic hatred that many of you seem to; though there are plenty of writers whose regular writings infuriate me.
Anyway this article is about death knocks. For the uninitiated, it’s when a journalist knocks on the door of someone who has just recently received news of the death of a family member or close friend (sometimes not even an hour after the death) and asks for comment.
What’s your opinion of the practice? Could you do it? I could do it, but I’d hate the thought of it (thankfully haven’t had to yet) and if I had to I’d say something like, “I’m very sorry to bother you at this time, I just wanted to ask if you’d like to comment, and if not I will leave right away.” Because it’s part of the job. Much as people outside the industry say that it’s completely unnecessary or incredible invasive (I could agree with those statements), it’s part of the job. Read any article, ever, after someone has died as a result of a car speeding accident. There’s either quotes from parents, family or friends or a line saying “so and so was too distraught to speak”.
It’s all about respect, I think, and some journalists don’t have it. Some park out the front of the house for hours, some try to force themselves upon the grieving, some have even stolen photos of the deceased. That’s disgusting behaviour.
One of my lecturers in university once told me that a former editor of a newspaper asked all potential new employees if they’d do death knocks – even if they were the first to break the news to the victim’s friends/family – and if the answer was no he wouldn’t hire them. That’s where I’d draw the line, no way in hell I’d ever tell someone their sister has just died, and by the way, can you comment on it?
Why I'll never get used to death knocks | Mamamia