The Portrait of A Journalist

Sara Solano (Manhattan, New York)

On the second day at SJP, Richard Just, one of the directors and founders of the program, gave us a lecture on the characteristics and mannerism of a genuine journalist. During the lecture we agreed that a Journalist should be bold, outspoken, persistent, dedicated, organized, honest, smart, and open-minded. 

Later that day, the coordinators at SJP showed us the film "The Insider." The film tells the story of Jeffrey Wigand, a research chemist of a tobacco company, and his decision to participate in an interview for 60 minutes to disclose the level of negligence demonstrated by the tobacco company he worked for. 

I really loved this movie because it demonstrated the level of ethic and passion that a journalist should have. Lowell Bergman, the producer of the show that decides to publish Wigand's story, is the representation of a true journalist that considers the truth as the first priority for a journalist. 

I think that this was a great introduction to the program because it showed all of us that no matter how passionate you feel about journalism, you'll always have to face ethical problems; but what really matters is the level of integrity you use to face those problems.