Your Jewish newspaper editor also wants to repair the world
As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve become more active in the journalism community, speaking at conferences about what I call “emotional engagement of a journalism audience.” Yes, that’s you.
The idea is simple. A community news service must serve its community and think about the experience of its readers to earn trust in a polarized and truth-challenged society. I’m not claiming perfection, or that every reader trusts me completely. But I can say I see the goal, and I’m encouraged by the feedback I receive.
Promoting emotional engagement in journalism has become my personal tikkun olam project. So has training new journalists, something I’ve been doing for 20 years.
Some people know how to make a three-layer cake. I don’t, and mine would be terrible. But I do know how to make journalists. I’ve been doing that, semester after semester, through our internship program. If you’ve ever been interviewed by a nervous Chronicle intern, thank you. These young people apply from all over the country to join our highly competitive program, and what they learn benefits all of us.
Tikkun olam begins with the idea that something is broken. There is much in need of repair. Here is what I see, from my vantage point as a trainer of journalists, a participant in journalism conferences, a former editor at The Journal Times in Racine, and your editor for the past ten years.
Truth is at risk, and journalism knows it. We are all talking about it. Artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and the information silos of social media are making it harder to know what is real and whom to trust. When we are not even seeing the same news, we cannot be sure what others believe or understand.
I urge my fellow journalists to focus more on earning trust within their communities. That requires a shift in culture across the industry – I know, a lofty goal.
Also, the next generation needs human attention. Academia plays an important role, but on-the-job training has weakened. There was a time when a newsroom was filled with reporters, and experienced journalists would take younger ones aside and say, “Let me tell you something about your story.” Today, many newsrooms are smaller or gone. Experienced journalists have moved on or work remotely. New reporters, if they are lucky enough to be hired, often work alone from home.
Our industry tradition of mentorship is on the ropes. That is why I encourage journalists to create and support internship programs. We must pass on what we know. This need extends beyond journalism, especially as artificial intelligence replaces some entry-level work.
The next generation is remarkable. Despite what you may hear, they are not defined by screens. They are smart, capable, and caring. They have access to knowledge and tools far beyond what earlier generations had. I remember growing up trying to make sense of the small things. Imagine having today’s resources. In that sense, I envy them.
But I am not impressed with the world we are handing them, and that is what drives me.
We’ve got a Tikkun Olam special section in this edition (p. 13), and a great note from leadership at Tikkun Ha-Ir (p. 28). Feel free to draw inspiration from others in our amazing community! I know I do.
As the sages teach, we may not finish the work, but neither are we free to desist from it.
Rob Golub is editor of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle.
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