The meaning of life, journalistically

Deborah Feyerick discussed her feature on a religious “gay conversion” camp this morning on CNN’s “On The Story.”

The point of the story isn’t the issue here. What Feyerick said her principal goal with such an “emotional” story is.

She said that it was difficult “making both sides happy” with the story. She said post-story comments from “both sides” suggested that each was satisfied with the story, that both were “happy.”

I’ll be sure to dramatically revise my newswriting courses next month to tell students the purpose of journalism has nothing to do with providing appropriate information so that readers and viewers can make informed political and consumer decisions. “Make ’em all happy” will be my new mantra.

I just wish I’d gotten the CNN memo that Feyerick must have received.

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