Who Really is a Journalist?
By Dr. Henry Flores, NewsTaco
I was not going to weigh into the debate between Jorge Ramos and Ruben Navarette but the situation was just too good to let pass. By now we have all become familiar with Jorge’s interaction with the Hair Job Guy. Following this incident there were declarations from one side saying that Jorge had been disrespected and his treatment was an affront to all Latinos. But a more pointed attack came from Ruben. Ruben claimed that Jorge was NOT a journalist. Then he proceeded in trying to explain why this was the case. Mostly arguing that Jorge is too emotional and cannot report on something objectively and he takes sides all the time and he constantly attacks the establishment and mas y mas blah, blah, blah!
[pullquote]”… a journalist is a writer who observes phenomena and composes a piece for consumption by a public.”[/pullquote]So, What Makes a Journalist a Journalist and Why is Jorge NOT a Journalist
Well, a journalist is a writer who observes phenomena and composes a piece for consumption by a public. The phenomena could be political, social, cultural, scientific, or historical. A public is defined as any group of readers who might be interested in reading what the reporter has written. The writing could appear in almost any type of venue, i.e., print, blogs, video, etc. So, is Jorge a journalist? Yes I would say so. Jorge watches generally political phenomena and writes or orally reports about it. What upsets Ruben is that Jorge takes sides that can sometimes put off persons such as Ruben. Ruben takes sides by not taking sides making him a supporter of the status quo.
Journalists are supposed to keep the “high muckity mucks” honest by dragging them out in the open and not apologizing for their “muck.” Jorge Ramos goes straight to the source of the problems he is reporting on and asks direct questions of those involved. His confrontation with Trump was important because the Hair Job Guy had insulted Latinos and was not worthy of gentle treatment. Trump needed to have someone make him face his own statements. Ruben wasn’t going to do this, no Anglo reporters had the “chutzpah” to confront the Hair Job Guy. Only Jorge Ramos had the ganas to question Trump directly forcing the guy to act like some gangster and have one of his goons deport Jorge from the forum. One thing that indicated the level of ganas in the room was that no other journalist got up and left Trump holding the podium! Shows the level to which journalism has stooped these days. No, Jorge is a journalist in the truest sense of the word and we need him in the field, asking hard questions and digging for the truth. We as Latino consumers need our journalists doing this. Si no, we’ll never hear the truth about police/community relations, voting laws, immigration, education or health policy. We will only hear what the establishment wants us to hear through their spokespersons and lapdogs.
[pullquote]”Jorge is a reporter and Ruben wishes he was one also.”[/pullquote]So, Why is Ruben so Angry?
This could be anyone’s guess. Maybe Ruben is just a whiner. Maybe Ruben doesn’t like that Jorge is becoming more popular than he is. Maybe Ruben is in the back pockets of conservatives and can’t stand hearing the truth. Maybe Ruben has bought into the establishment’s argument that in order to advance in society one must go along with the prevailing ideologies. Does this make Ruben an establishment “lapdog?” Does this make Ruben a “propaganda monger” for the right wing? Or, in the parlance of the barrio, does this make Ruben a vendido?
Is Ruben a Journalist?
No! Ruben is a opinion writer/commentator, like yours truly, who puts forth his observations and opinions about social and political phenomena. The only difference between Ruben and Jorge is a vast chasm. Jorge is a reporter and Ruben wishes he was one also. Instead, Ruben spouts ideological rhetoric in support of those who pay his salary. Que pena! Ruben could’ve been a great voice for us but instead he has become the establishment’s voice for us. He says what those in power think we should be saying not what we want them to hear.
Ruben has become what he always wanted to be, a nationally syndicated commentary columnist; he is not a journalist. Ruben has become what he accuses Jorge Ramos of being an ideologically driven commentator.
Henry Flores, PhD, is the Distinguished University Research Professor, Institute of Public Administration and Public Service; Director, Masters in Public Administration (MPA); Professor of International Relations and Political Science at St. Mary’s University. He is the author of Latinos and the Voting Rights Act: The Search for Racial Purpose.
Latinos and the Voting Rights Act: The Search for Racial Purpose.
