Helen Thomas’ unfortunate resignation
June 10, 2010 | 1 Comment
It somehow seems appropriate that my first post on this great blog is about journalism and the ever-changing universe of social media.
The June 7 resignation of Hearst columnist Helen Thomas raises many questions in this environment. First, some background. Thomas resigned after remarks she made in an impromptu interview with a video blogger and rabbi named David Nesenoff (see here), that Jews should “get the Hell out of Palestine” and return to Germany, Poland and America.
Thomas said these words on May 27, prior to the flotilla incident, at a White House event honouring Jewish heritage. I’m not convinced that this qualification changes the tone of her remarks, but it seems worth noting.
After the video became widely circulated, Thomas issued this statement: “I deeply regret my comments I made last week regarding the Israelis and the Palestinians…They do not reflect my heartfelt belief that peace will come to the Middle East only when all parties recognize the need for mutual respect and tolerance.”
That the tone and subject matter of Thomas’ remarks are offensive and insensitive is not up for dispute. But it is a sad ending for a long and accomplished career in which Thomas racked up many firsts as a female journalist. The possibility seems doubtful, but I hope that people can separate these unfortunate comments from Thomas’ career.
Several years ago, I had the good fortune of attending a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C., celebrating the end of CBS journalist Bob Schieffer’s role at the helm of the evening news desk. Thomas was a participant, and while the event did focus mainly on Schieffer, her presence was undeniably magnetic. Eventually, after the panel’s journalists shared their reflections on Schieffer, the audience was allowed to participate in a Q&A. The questions eventually all ended up directed at Thomas, and her opinions on everything to Bush’s war in Iraq to the character of politicians in general. I got to witness Thomas in person: she was blunt, opinionated, well-informed and endlessly charming.
It was then, and is clear now, that Thomas’ personality superseded her role as journalist. Indeed, until this recent incident, Thomas was the only member of the White House press corps to have a front row seat, festooned with a personalized plaque. (The Press Club is now re-evaluating whether or not columnists should have reserved seating.) The deference towards Thomas was deserved, given her accomplishments, but it does raise some questions. It also highlights an impressive track record:
She covered every president since Eisenhower; received numerous honourary degrees; was the first woman officer of the National Press Club and authored five books, among other accolades.
Looking beyond this recent kerfuffle, Thomas’ resignation points to some questions that seem especially salient as blogs, Twitter, Facebook and online journalism reshape the way people receive news.
First, the role of a columnist inherently indicates that the writer is no longer assuming the ideal role of a journalist: to remain an unbiased vessel for information. This is a tradeoff, but it implies that the person’s voice is valuable for any number of reasons. And if a talented journalist takes on the role of columnist, there are surely any number of reporters willing to replace him or her, so there will never be a shortage of accurate news.
Clearly, Thomas served the ever-important role of gadfly, and was especially vocal in her criticism of the Bush administration. She represented the growing anger and confusion amongst the American population and drove a necessary and aggressive line of questioning. Thomas, with over fifty years of experience, serves as an invaluable repository of memory and information.
But in stepping beyond Thomas’ specific role as journalist versus columnist, the important questions are raised. In the current environment, where theoretically anyone with a laptop or cellphone can act as a reporter, it becomes even more pressing to assess the role of journalist. Are professional journalists even necessary anymore? If so, why? What role do they play? How does the dialogue with the social media universe affect the delivery of news and information? The unceremonious resignation of Thomas represents an opportunity to assess the role that journalism and information plays in the social media universe.
Tags: Helen Thomas; journalism; social media; Bush administration
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One Response to “Helen Thomas’ unfortunate resignation”
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June 10th, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Though it is unfortunate the Ms. Thomas was forced to resign over this (ok, maybe she wasn’t “forced”, but essentially…), could the incident also be a sympton a journalist’s view of themselves as some sort of institution?
It’s understandable why Ms. Thomas would see herself such a way (consdiering the plaque), but could a willingness to say such a thing demonstrate a significant lack of humility?
I mean, I’m all for hubris and rhetorical flourishes in poloitical commentary (and even then, all hubris and no humility is an awful combination), but not so much from a reporter.
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