Coming Soon 👀 At the beginning of April, you’ll be
introduced to a brand-new GoComics! See more information here. Subscribers, check your
email for more details.
I barely remember when the evening news expanded to half an hour from fifteen minutes. That gave the networks time to tell you how to feel about the news (not that there was much more news). Now you can be entertained for twenty three hours and forty five minutes being told how you feel about fifteen minutes of news from any politic-emotional-demographic perspective that suits you. I miss Paul Harvey, at least he said outright his program ( five minutes in the morning) was news and comment.
Considering the history of journalism over the past two hundred years or so, it seems that integrity has always been in short supply. Willingness to favor one political faction or another…. well, that’s a different matter.
The existence of actual “journalists” — as they were defined when I studied “journalism” — is in doubt. At that time, the primary rule for a news article was that it be “clear, concise, and accurate”.
With the essentially unlimited page length of internet “news” sites, “concise” seems to be a word that the “journalists” not only don’t understand, but may never have heard.
“Clear”? I don’t consider it “clear” if I have to scroll through three screen-pages or more of what everyone was wearing and their family histories before reaching what was mentioned in the headline.
As for “accurate”, adding numerous details that don’t describe the event which is (supposedly) the purpose of the article but which the writer feels might be somehow related doesn’t increase accuracy; it obscures it.
A consequence of that 3-part rule — when articles were limited by size and number of pages and competition for page space from other articles and ads — was that the most important information was contained in the first paragraph, with each succeeding paragraph adding a bit more detail, in decreasing order of importance. That way, if an editor decided that an article needed to be shortened (use less space), it could be done by progressively deleting paragraphs from the end, without leaving a “dangling” detail with no clue as to what it was a detail of/for.
But too many of today’s “journalists” seem to feel obliged to write novels — or at least short stories — somehow “inspired by” the actual news event. And I suspect that one result of this is that many readers minds will “fill in” presumed details from their memory of previous “news”, without ever getting to the writers’ descriptions of their own actual observations.
Has no one figured out where this is going? The article will be published… Then all H E double hockey sticks will break loose. All to the detriment of poor Mr. Bergner. Say… What nationality is he??? (That was a hint)
Looking forward to tomorrow’s strip. Will John, Elly, Elizabeth, April, Connie, Greg, and Gordon be doing the Tomahawk chop in support of the Kansas City Chiefs?
Something that seems to be sadly lacking in way too many publications today. Especially on the outer extremes, and most recently (it wasn’t always this way) on the so called right.
Jacob Mattingly about 1 year ago
A great line
Argythree about 1 year ago
Mike learns a lesson that most reporters today don’t seem to get…
GeorgeInAZ about 1 year ago
Good for Mike.
Grumpy Old Guy about 1 year ago
A great life’s lesson to build upon….
fuzzbucket Premium Member about 1 year ago
In modern journalism, that gets you unemployed.
howtheduck about 1 year ago
I love that look Mr. Bergner has on his face as he delivers that last line.
snsurone76 about 1 year ago
IMHO, Mr. Bergner deserves MUCH better from life than the hand he was dealt.
So…Monday starts another arc, right? I hope it focuses on something other than Elly’s neuroses!!
Botulism Bob about 1 year ago
Listen to your conscience!
Tantor about 1 year ago
Celebrity vs honesty. I’ve chosen the former a long time ago. Look at me now
FreyjaRN Premium Member about 1 year ago
True that.
French Persons' Savvy Selection of Screaming Elly Premium Member about 1 year ago
One of the worst things that ever happened to the western world was the rise of 24/7 Cable News Networks in the late 1980’s.
GoBlue about 1 year ago
‘Integrity’ is a word that has been banned from most dictionaries on journalists’ desks.
happyinvenice23 about 1 year ago
Morning Lynn, You got that Right, Good Day!
Gumby@Large about 1 year ago
the world needs more integrity
fjc007 about 1 year ago
A nice arc would be Mr. Beringer coming around and approving publication. And then maybe being recognized in some public way by the school body.
King”s Cook Premium Member about 1 year ago
Sad but true.
Richard0337 about 1 year ago
A brilliant line!
VegaAlopex about 1 year ago
Integrity is best because one would know it. What anyone else thinks if irrelevant, and the truth comes out.
More Coffee Please! Premium Member about 1 year ago
Something that’s far too lacking these days, and not just in journalism. We’re all the worse for that.
Redd Panda about 1 year ago
No integrity? Well, FOX is hiring.
freewaydog about 1 year ago
Maybe Mr. Bergner will read it & change his mind & tell Michael to publish it after all? Idk I don’t remember this storyline.
cdusold Premium Member about 1 year ago
I barely remember when the evening news expanded to half an hour from fifteen minutes. That gave the networks time to tell you how to feel about the news (not that there was much more news). Now you can be entertained for twenty three hours and forty five minutes being told how you feel about fifteen minutes of news from any politic-emotional-demographic perspective that suits you. I miss Paul Harvey, at least he said outright his program ( five minutes in the morning) was news and comment.
kaycstamper about 1 year ago
He has a lot of wisdome though. From a life well lived.
kaystari Premium Member about 1 year ago
I wish all journalists cared more about integrity than they do about loyalty or money.
KageKat about 1 year ago
I figure doing something like this is still good manners!
markkahler52 about 1 year ago
O well, Mike…But now WE all know the man’s story don’t we?! ;)
yankfan25 about 1 year ago
I’m glad to see Michael do the right thing.
360guy Premium Member about 1 year ago
As someone who worked in newsrooms for 20 years, I can tell you journalists are not rewarded for integrity.
Free or Not? Premium Member about 1 year ago
Well done…..
Bob Blumenfeld about 1 year ago
And that’s journalism lesson number three.
dlaemmerhirt999 about 1 year ago
I knew he wouldn’t do it! Good man.
jarvisloop about 1 year ago
Considering the history of journalism over the past two hundred years or so, it seems that integrity has always been in short supply. Willingness to favor one political faction or another…. well, that’s a different matter.
Snolep about 1 year ago
So, guess he won’t be interviewing Putin, then?
oakie817 about 1 year ago
amen
allenmichael1941 about 1 year ago
Absolutely Mr. Bergenfield!
allenmichael1941 about 1 year ago
Crazy spell check Mr. Bergner.
Twelve Badgers in a Suit Premium Member about 1 year ago
Mike is learning more about journalism from Mr. Bergner than Weed knows about any subject.
Watchdog about 1 year ago
Wisdom!
BeniHanna6 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Yep, this was definitely written long before “journalists” lost their morals.
pheets about 1 year ago
Mike will be the only one that gets that.
Daltongang Premium Member about 1 year ago
Mr. Bergner is a very wise man.
raybarb44 about 1 year ago
At one time…….
nostall Premium Member about 1 year ago
Well said.
Tetonbil about 1 year ago
Sadly, another great thing we have loss. If any of have enough money you could buy the media too.
g04922 about 1 year ago
Great words of advice to today’s so-called journalists… To bad they choose to ignore this basic precept.
Brent Rosenthal Premium Member about 1 year ago
(Mike) will remember this conversation and will use it as a lesson for the remainder of his career.
gammaguy about 1 year ago
@MichaelAxelFleming: “Ethical journalists exist.”
The existence of actual “journalists” — as they were defined when I studied “journalism” — is in doubt. At that time, the primary rule for a news article was that it be “clear, concise, and accurate”.
With the essentially unlimited page length of internet “news” sites, “concise” seems to be a word that the “journalists” not only don’t understand, but may never have heard.
“Clear”? I don’t consider it “clear” if I have to scroll through three screen-pages or more of what everyone was wearing and their family histories before reaching what was mentioned in the headline.
As for “accurate”, adding numerous details that don’t describe the event which is (supposedly) the purpose of the article but which the writer feels might be somehow related doesn’t increase accuracy; it obscures it.
A consequence of that 3-part rule — when articles were limited by size and number of pages and competition for page space from other articles and ads — was that the most important information was contained in the first paragraph, with each succeeding paragraph adding a bit more detail, in decreasing order of importance. That way, if an editor decided that an article needed to be shortened (use less space), it could be done by progressively deleting paragraphs from the end, without leaving a “dangling” detail with no clue as to what it was a detail of/for.
But too many of today’s “journalists” seem to feel obliged to write novels — or at least short stories — somehow “inspired by” the actual news event. And I suspect that one result of this is that many readers minds will “fill in” presumed details from their memory of previous “news”, without ever getting to the writers’ descriptions of their own actual observations.
gammaguy about 1 year ago
Alas, it seems that Mr. Bergner is giving Mike better advice than his parents ever did, although it seems that Lynn recognizes that.
beingthereDave Premium Member about 1 year ago
I’ve been worried about how this would go. I’m so glad Michael did the right thing!
rebelstrike0 about 1 year ago
Sounds like Lynn Johnston confronted the woman whose face she saw in the mirror after writing this strip.
teachteed23 about 1 year ago
A journalist with integrity? Really? Oxymoron if I ever heard of one.
rbullfogg about 1 year ago
Maybe not to today’s standard, but great words of wisdom. We need good reporting, especially without all the sensationalism!
braindead Premium Member about 1 year ago
No MAGAt will understand this cartoon.
They believe Tucker is a journalist.
rebelstrike0 about 1 year ago
I saw a meme about “point of view”:
Photograph of Dan Rather interviewing Putin: Journalism
Photograph of Barbara Walters interviewing Putin: Journalism
Photograph of Tom Brokaw interviewing Putin: Journalism
Photograph of Tucker Carlson interviewing Putin: Treason!
posse1 Premium Member about 1 year ago
Nice job Lynne Johnston.
pmhpmhpmh about 1 year ago
Has no one figured out where this is going? The article will be published… Then all H E double hockey sticks will break loose. All to the detriment of poor Mr. Bergner. Say… What nationality is he??? (That was a hint)
hubbard3188 about 1 year ago
This story line is a homerun. Very good.
soaringblocks about 1 year ago
This truth made me cry thankful tears. Yes. Integrity counts.
Fiammata about 1 year ago
MSNBC should read this today.
The Great_Black President about 1 year ago
Looking forward to tomorrow’s strip. Will John, Elly, Elizabeth, April, Connie, Greg, and Gordon be doing the Tomahawk chop in support of the Kansas City Chiefs?
HodgeElmwood about 1 year ago
Based on that quality, good journalism is dead.
Laurie Stoker Premium Member about 1 year ago
Awww! ❤️
BaconBoyCamper about 1 year ago
Another of life’s best lessons, Mike
cornpopper Premium Member about 1 year ago
So be it.
Curiosity Premium Member about 1 year ago
Something that seems to be sadly lacking in way too many publications today. Especially on the outer extremes, and most recently (it wasn’t always this way) on the so called right.
aussie399 Premium Member 11 months ago
Now I know why there are so few journalists. And pollies.