The Lowe-Down

I was recently asked to write some brief thoughts on what I believe to be the core traits of independant journalism. This is a somewhat whimsical version of my response:

I enjoy sitting down with a cappuccino and catching up on the news. But as I sit and read news reports on my phone, I think about the two products I am consuming quite differently. I buy my coffee from the same café whenever possible. Could I get my coffee cheaper elsewhere? Definitely! There are plenty of stores that would sell me a cheaper coffee, but I have no confidence in the quality of the product. I am very loyal to my preferred local café.

So why do I not have the same loyalty to my news sources? And what might a news source learn from my local barista? In essence, baristas have, in their own field, modelled what I would consider to be some of the core traits of journalism.

When I order a coffee, I know they would rather tip out a poorly drawn than serve me sub-standard coffee. Just as I appreciate diligence when drawing an espresso, in the same way, I expect accuracy in the news I read. Am I getting the full story? Can I check the source of any data? Will mistakes be corrected? Will my news source care as much about the accuracy of their reporting as my barista does about the crema on my coffee? And not just my coffee. I recommend my local coffee shop to anyone who asks because my experience is that the same level of care is taken with every customer’s coffee. I want my latte and my news to be delivered with impartiality. Now, if accuracy and impartiality were all I needed then an automated coffee machine would do the trick. But my coffee routine is about more than the coffee, just as news is about more than statistics. The human touch is important. My local baristas greet me by name and know my usual order. I feel a relational connection with the staff who serve me. I know bits about their lives and they mine. Trust is built through human connection; likewise, good journalism should build trust.

One of the differences between coffee making and journalism is that when I order a coffee, I can literally stand and watch them make it. I can see what beans they use, how they texture the milk and how often they wipe the steam wand. A high level of accountability is built into the process. When I open the paper or scroll on my phone, I do not have the luxury of the same transparency. This means the onus is on the news sources to ensure sufficient transparency to reassure me of their accountability.

So how can media organisations protect their reputations? Deliver every piece of journalistic work with the same care that my local barista delivers my coffee – with accuracy, impartiality, humanity and accountability. That way you will know not just where I will get my coffee but who I will be reading for my news. The people that I trust.