Blogger versus Journalist

For an average journalist, life in Slovakia is far from dull. Especially, when this journalist is fully aware of his power as an investigative reporter and his professional ethics demand from him to dig to the ultimate bottom. Politics in Slovakia contain so much controversies, that a journalist could spent 3 lifetimes of daily writing to get the most out of it. Even then it would still be a tip of the iceberg.

Yet, journalism has its function and that somewhat implies, it has its obligations. A modern, open and a democratic society wants to be informed. Must be informed. So, whether you can physically write for 3 lifetimes or not, the job you do (in this lifetime at least), you should do with all gusto; enough lies ahead.

Here we arrive at a certain enigmatic problem; when observing politics and monitoring the media, there is a certain level of uncomfortable feeling arising at the back of my mind: For years we witness increasing corruption (just call it theft), and journalists seem to be happy enough with an evasive answer. The fact that the prime-minister tells you a lie, is hardly a reason to pursue the matter. One question, one answer, thank you prime-minister.

For crying out loud: What's wrong with all of you?!? Has the watchful eye of Justice choked newspapers so much, that being too critical could mean an economic end of a newspaper? In my view, if journalists were to be more persistent and confront the soviet-styled cronies with hard facts, public would be more aware of the dangers. This way, journalists have a co-responsibility, why a prime-minister, who is politically responsible for his criminal cabinet, can again get away with an embarrassing ranting-press conference on a stupid logo or text of the opposition, instead of being held accountable for the billions damage he has been causing to the state. Some kind of collective stance would have been more appropriate; eventually fully ignoring (boycotting) the politicians, staying demonstratively away from say one or two press conferences would dramatically embarrass the present politburo, so they would be a bit more cautious. No, you prefer to play the game.

Journalists nowadays hardly have the skills they should have; instead a bunch of bloggers have demonstrated far superior analytical skills than most of the professional reporters, with more insight in legal matters or thorough economic overview. It is a sad reality, because these bloggers will hardly be able to reach to the majority of Fico-voters, who are cleverly manipulated by Mr Fico's populist propaganda-skills.

A sad realisation. It should have been the other way around. But it isn't. The intellectual level of the nation does not want to move out of the 1950s jacket. The role of journalists has become dangerously compromised. (But, thanks for the few exceptions that persist, be it, that I can count them on one hand).