Journalism -- the Revolving Door

¶ … journalism -- the revolving door policy that allows politicians to walk into the field as journalists and journalists to leave their profession, become politicians and then return once again to the journalism industry. Shepherd notes that "decades ago, the line of demarcation between journalists and politicians was as sharply defined as the one between cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians" (p. 19). However, the revolving door policy that allows individuals to transverse into either field and back again may be blurring these once distinct lines.

Shepherd's (1997) position is quite clear on this matter. Her thoughts echo that of journalism professional Penny Crone who provides a sidebar interview to the article. Shepherd clearly believes that the welcoming of former politicians and those who have worked on political campaigns or in branches of government do not have the ability to provide unbiased opinions on news matters and therefore do a disservice to journalism profession. She talks of a forum she attended in Washington D.C. In the 1970s and the words of a Washington Post reporter who she cited as saying, "Once you go over to the other side, you can never come back" (p. 21). Shepherd further cites David Broder's comments at a National Press Club dinner as saying, "Once the press 'loses its distinctive identity (…) it will not be long before we lose our freedom" (p. 21). Shepherd continues to overview the numerous people who have been through the revolving door.

From Clinton's senior presidential adviser, George Stephanopoulos, who is not on ABC's roster of journalists to Pat Buchanan's back-and-forth dance with politics and journalism over the last four decades, Shepherd (1997) is fairly heavy-handed in dealing with the issue of whether or not this revolving door policy has any benefits. Only briefly (in the form of a single paragraph) in the article does she give any mention to the potential value of a reporter having experience in the political field. One could consider this a bit hypocritical, that as Shepherd argues the need for unbiased reporting and how a foray into the political arena negates this ability, she herself seems unable to provide an unbiased discussion of this debatable topic. Clearly there are concerns that come with allowing politicians into the often adversarial field of journalism; however, Shepherd fails to adequately recognize how this can be a beneficial practice as well.

It was Sun Tzu that said, "Know thy self; know thy enemy" ("Sun Tzu," 2010). If journalists are truly the watchdogs of politics, only by fully understanding the field can they effectively perform their duties as protectors of the American public. Experience as a politician, in a political campaign, or in a governmental agency allows journalists a new level of insight into the workings of American politics that outsiders simply don't have. When this insider knowledge is applied correctly, it can help facilitate a journalist's duties in reporting the news.