Activism vs journalism: What serves the public good?

[caption id="attachment_20608" align="alignleft" width="195"] Pamela Anderson combines her sexy image with her position on ethical treatment of animals.[/caption]

Leanne Jenkins-----Interested in taking action against something you don't like?  PETA offers suggestions on how to be an activist, with tips that don't just work for animal rights but also for other areas of the culture where activism can sometimes make a difference.  But how should journalists be involved?

This is what PETA says one can do in order to become an activist, A Guide to Becoming An Activist.  The book cautions people to dress for success and present themselves in a respectful manner.  It also discusses how an activist should interact with the press.  The organization refers to these as the "Carnegie Principles, " referencing the notions of Stephen Covey's book, "7 Habits of Highly Effective People."  The recommendations also have that "practice what you preach" advice, to go vegan as an example of the ethical treatment of animals.

The crossovers between the media and activism, however, are a thin line, perhaps, as there are differing views about the role of the press.  Traditional media supports objectivity, although the walls are slowly crumbling in some areas, with the numbers of blogs that allow journalists to present opinions.  On the other hand, the traditional newspapers and news magazines continue to stress objectivity.

The blogosphere has no such limitations, so the blogger who offers information on pet care may also be a member of PETA and be demonstrating somewhere someplace in some outgoing fashion.  These are the folks who might be less likely to look at two sides of the issue.  In many cases, the goal is to shine a light on the activism or the issue as opposed to the nature of an argument or specific incident.

And some of the folks try to explain what they consider is a balance, or an area, where some objectivity is possible that is supported by strong opinion.    Advani, a journalist in India, spells out his role as more blogger than political activist, even as the lines become blurred between journalist and blogger.   This, he explains, was his justification in expressing what he does, yet maintaining an opinion edge to his journalism:  " Advani said he had told the journalist fraternity after emergency that 'while the government expected you only to bend, I found some of you were willing to crawl. That made me sad'."

And while some in the media maintain there is a difference between journalism and activism, others in the Nieman Watchdog Community believe there is room for opinion-related information pieces.  They are, however, somewhat circumspect about how to undertake this approach, as with those opinions might come solutions.  In other words, the writer offers suggestion on improving a situation along with the rest of the story.

All of this occurs as PETA and other groups continue to keep writers in the loop, so they can produce press releases and interact with the traditional media, by understanding the roles of both activist and journalist.    PETA hopes its cadre of supporters, as does other activist groups, will become sophisticated not only in the activist issues surrounding the humane treatment of animals but also in how to interface with other people who may not favor a strident approach to providing both opinion and facts.

Most people in the media, however, maintain there is a balance, sometimes not one so easy, between activism and journalism, but with the underlying message of respect, some of the divisions can be ameliorated, as PETA suggests.