By: Leta Lohrmeyer & Harrison Popp
In the wake of a recent fake video that depicts President Trump shooting and stabbing different news media outlets and reporters, it’s important to look at the violence against journalists and the foundation of journalism education.
Last year was declared the worst year for violence and abuse against journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. This report includes the four journalists and a staffer killed by a gunman attack at the Capital Gazette newsroom. Also in 2018, President Trump tweeted that the fake news media is “the real enemy of the people.”
President Trump has consistently been outspoken about fake news and the spread of misinformation. While it’s hard for researchers to pinpoint how this lies spread, we can focus on how to prepare reporters on how to combat it. First, we can start at the roots, the education of future journalists.
Jim Timm, president/executive director at the Nebraska Broadcasters Association, works to find ways to usher in this new generation of journalists. His influence on improving and recruiting new talent can be found through the $50,000 donation from the NBA to UNO to improve its facilities for both radio and TV broadcasting students.
Timm explained how this donation came about after he took a tour of the school a few years ago with his predecessor, Marty Riemenschneider.
“As we walked through and saw the facilities, the equipment, the software, we kind of kept looking at each other like, boy someday, if we could see our way to making a contribution, this school, this faculty and students could really use an upgrade,” Timm said.
This donation helped pay for two primary purchases. First, a whisper room that is used by Mav Radio students for recording. Second, the donation, along with additional grants, converted UNO TV to high-definition video.
“It’s just a very rewarding feeling to see that massive upgrade in technology,” said Timm. “Certainly that’s going to help the school recruit more and better students.”
When recruiting new journalists, Timm said he advises them to look at how the lines between news and opinion have blurred in recent years.
“We live in a time where opinions are getting tossed around, perhaps an unprecedented level and therein lies opportunity for journalists,” said Timm. “So if you want to be someone who can tell stories, learn how to tell all sides of the story, which is challenging right now. We’ve got a generation that’s growing up, thinking that their own belief is the only side that should be heard. And I’m sorry, but that’s blatantly wrong.”
Timm continued explaining that the impact of journalism comes through the ability to educate people by providing them all the facts. This is where the spread of misinformation can negatively impact how people are getting their news and in turn how they form their own opinions.
“I think we need to get back to kind clear definitions that this is news, this is analysis, this is an opinion and we need to label it as such,” said Timm.
Admittingly, the donation can only go so far in creating a solid basis for educating students. However, Timm said that he has a strong hope for future journalists.
“I can tell you that I hear from station managers and owners that are having an increasing belief in the quality of students that are graduating at UNO,” said Timm. “That has been acknowledged to me by many people and that’s very rewarding to see.”
The closer this school experience is to real life, the closer these students are to combating fake news.
