Journalism & Story Telling

Journalism

I just finished reading a thought provoking article by Clay Shirky titled Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable and the phrase that shimmered for me most was “Society doesn’t need newspapers. What we need is journalism.” Previously in the article, and in other articles I have encountered in recent months on the challenges facing journalism, there is well deserved recognition of the “watch dog” role played by journalists.

This phrase stuck with me and led me further into the rabbit hole. Why does society need watch-dog journalists? What & who needs to be watched? It seems that there are a lot of powerful people at play in the world, affecting many lives, and it seems that they cannot be trusted. So do we need Journalists to watch out over those people? My answer would be yes, but that is not enough.

It seems to me that even if the watchdogs succeed in doing their jobs - they are playing a losing game. They are beating a snake hidden under the carpet - the snake is just moving around from place to place. Suppose a watchdog journalist manages to bring down a crooked politician, chances are the next politician is going to be just as crooked. I have spoken to a political expert who claims that political positions can be inherently corrupting - so as so taint anyone who will step into them. So where is all this going?

Story Telling

Story Telling is another kind of “journalism”.  Journalism is a “left-hemisphere” (of the brain) form of communication - it is logical, orderly, it is backed by corroborating research, etc. Story Telling has the potential to be a more “right-hemisphere” form of communication - it is moving, inspiring, mystical and captivating - it goes beyond perceptual reality. It restores faith and trust.

Story Telling was once (and I would like to believe that in some remote places may still be) a common social practice. The Shaman dancing and singing next to the fire was/is a story teller. When the tribe meets around the fire, listening to the same stories over and over again, they are fueling a mythical, communal experience that goes beyond the events of the day.

Rainforests?

I wonder if in some far reaching karmic circle we “newspaper consuming societies” who have indirectly caused the destruction of (forest dwelling) cultures that carried the torch of story-telling, are now suffering from the absence  of that sacred and almost lost art?

My contention is that alongside watchdog journalists who stand guard against social corruption, we need to also reinstate qualities of shaman story-tellers. I sleep peacefully at night because I have been fortunate enough to meet and spend time with such people - yes they do exist and they do tell fascinating stories - there simply aren’t enough communal fire’s happening for them to make appearances.

Story telling is at least as important for a healthy society as journalism can be. SweetClarity is here to make sure that more people in society meet more inspiring story-tellers. I have been living with a smile and a sense of purpose since I met story-tellers.