The Killing Of A Profession Scoundrels - Pretender & Wanabe’s

The Killing Of A Profession Scoundrels - Pretender & Wanabe’s By Joe Ingino BA. Psychology Editor/Publisher Central Newspapers ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800 ,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States This past week, we witnessed Whitby councillor Victoria Bozinovski asking the town to report back on how to get around the law and not hire legal immigrants. This is illegal, racist, xenophobic, and unacceptable. In turn, it could cost the Town hundreds of thousands of dollars to defend. My stance on immigration is not the issue here. If you want your opinions on immigration reform heard, take them to your local MP. Understanding the law and jurisdiction is an essential life skill. This situation sparked interest from a right-wing, online-only, self-proclaimed news group. Here is where the problem arises. Today, anyone and everyone can claim to be a journalist—and that is far from the truth. It is also an insult to a profession that has played a very important role in society. In this case, Rebel News took it upon itself to go after an elected official. No justification can rationalize unprofessional behaviour. This particular reporter acted more like an activist than a bona fide journalist. Journalism, by definition, involves researching, gathering, verifying, and presenting news and information to the public through print or broadcast. Journalists act as community watchdogs, maintaining accountability while operating under ethical guidelines to provide accurate, fair, and contextual information. What took place was not reporting. It was not journalism. It was an attack driven by an agenda regarding a particular decision by the councillor. She is not innocent either. I think it is wrong for any elected official to politicize their opinions and then hide behind their sexual orientation. Her blunt, label-driven approach toward a very sensitive issue like immigration was inappropriate. It appears that, when faced with limited argument, it has become fashionable to point fingers and label others—as she did in her statement: “not hire legal immigrants is illegal, racist, xenophobic, and garbage.” First and foremost, she should tone down her aggressive position. She is supposed to be a representative of all people. That means everyone. Her statement isolates some and empowers others—and, worse, it shows a lack of national pride and understanding of the issues facing society. For her, it was easier to point and label. Wrong.I believe she should apologize and retract her statement. As for the alt-right activist group masquerading as journalists—their actions are understandable, but not justified. Their aggressiveness may make sense, but it is still unacceptable. So how do we get a right from two wrongs? We don’t. This is a sign of the times. Society is fractured. On one hand, we have elected officials in roles for which they may lack the necessary understanding of society as a whole. Instead, they make personal attempts to deal with issues that are beyond their capabilities. Victoria is not alone—this kind of confusion is evident across Canada. So what does that tell us, as taxpayers and as people who see the bigger picture? Perhaps it is time to reconsider municipal governments, as they are clearly not representing everyone’s best interests. As for activists masquerading as journalists—the same criticism applies. We cannot go around pretending to be something we are not. Activists in the media are a dime a dozen. At best, they are columnists—not journalists. In this case, the activist uses a video camera to justify whatever angle they choose to push. This is wrong because it confuses the public and feeds the highway of misinformation. The fact that they do not print or broadcast in the traditional sense, as per the definition above, speaks to their credibility. To add insult to injury, this reporter has had multiple run-ins with the law for similar occurrences. A good journalist asks the right questions and leaves the subject wanting to have their side heard. What took place in Whitby was unprofessional—from both the activist and the councillor. Two wrongs never make a right, just as two rights will never solve everything or anything —because perfection is an elusive concept that requires a good journalist to help interpret.