Challenges of covering social issues as a Journalist

Just about every social issue that can happen has happened before and it will happen again. As in most countries, there are a number of social issues that demand coverage in our society. As a journalist, having a grasp on social issues is vital for a healthier government. A journalist that covers significant social issues is implored to be unbiased and acquire information that can readily impact families and communities as well those feeling disenfranchised by big government, (which happens on a regular basis).

I always encourage green journalists that are coming out of school to search for the disenfranchised, simply because it brings you into a form that allows you to see the true under-current of your surroundings, for better or worse. This is a topic often missed in academia, and it confounds me that this important journalistic principle is not aggressively taught.

The challenge comes in many forms as a journalist covering hot social issues. I start with probably the most sensitive and constantly ignored issue: racism. I look first to the White House, and the Obama administration. During this morning's press conference at the White House, a journalist asked Press secretary Robert Gibbs:

"Former President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter saying that he believes an overwhelming majority of the intensely demonstrated animosity towards the President is because he's black and those voters can't accept the fact that a black man is President."

Press Secretary Mr. Gibbs responded,

"The President does not believe that that criticism comes based on the color of his skin. We understand that people have disagreements with some of the decisions that we've made and some of the extraordinary actions that had to be undertaken by both this administration and previous administrations to stabilize our financial system, to ensure viability of our domestic auto industry. I don't think that -- like I said, the President does not believe that it's based on the color of his skin."

This journalist was the only one to bring up the race topic and when he did there was a very uncomfortable silence. The challenge here for this journalist is like most: trying to get an honest answer and cut out all the politically safe dialogue. I am hesitant to believe that our president can sit back and think that race is not a factor when people yell "You're a liar" or constantly disagree with policy. These motivated government officials often are doing it because of their raciest concealed mindsets - some politicians still fly their confederate flag.

The challenge as a journalist is not to be politically correct, but to out these un-American bigots. By all indications, over the last 50 years investigative journalism has become more discolored. The aspiration to concentrate on grave concerns of our country has dimmed. What ever happened to the independent press?

As for the question, for journalists covering race issues, it is important to avoid patronizing any ethic group. Some Journalists makes the mistake of presenting their story as if certain races are a weight on society's shoulders and wallets.

When reporting on social issues, such as poverty, one must clearly understand what these underprivileged people are facing everyday and night. The question that a journalist must ask, and do so respectfully, is to bring an identity to the world of those that probably define themselves by what they do everyday. I always ask, "Who are you?"

Covering poverty and homelessness, sometimes living with them and seeing what they see, will make you better journalist. Having been homeless myself, for one month, living in parks and even begging for money, I see this issue in a different light then most.

In our country the middle class is becoming less significant and disappearing. As a journalist, finding how it is possible that people working 40 to 60 hours a week, doing hard labor, can still continue to lose their homes. The job is to bring facts and figures to the table. Encourage and educate those that wear black suits and drive luxury cars, that there are people that are suffering, often because of policy and governmental bickering.

The difficulties of reporting on social issues come in many forms. Your approach to counter-attack the problem will definitely show that no problem is too small for you to pay attention to and share with the country. No social issue is so big that as a journalist you can't take it down and exploit for your country.