It\u2019s that time of year again. As millions of youngsters return to school, thousands of journalists cast about for a once-a-year education-themed story. As one might expect with such sporadic attention, many of the August\/September stories will be light and superficial.<\/p>\n
Come October, though, education news reverts to its sparse normality. Those local and state news outlets willing to employ fulltime education beat reporters may enjoy thorough topical coverage in their region.<\/p>\n
At the national level, however, two-party myopia obscures most reportage. The nearsightedness is most extreme in the sourcing of expertise\u2014those whom reporters choose to call for authoritative quotes on education facts and research. Over and over again, national education reporters consult the small groups of policy analysts closest to the Democratic and Republican leaderships.<\/p>\n
Certainly it makes sense for a reporter to talk to them, sometimes. They advise party leaders and it is important to know what party leaders are hearing. But, they are not the font of all knowledge and wisdom. Moreover, because national education reporters so rarely talk to anyone else, the policy insiders can take advantage.<\/p>\n
Selective referencing\u2014limiting one\u2019s sources of information to one\u2019s colleagues within the group\u2014is the norm. Dismissive reviews\u2014open declarations that no information or research exists outside the bounds of the group\u2014are common, too. Indeed, national education reporters frequently pass along both unquestioned and intact, essentially helping policy analysts with their own agendas to suppress competing ideas and the careers of rival analysts.<\/p>\n
Many education reporters don\u2019t see a problem, though. After surveying their members nationwide, the Education Writers Association (EWA) declared this a \u201cgolden age for education reporting.\u201d EWA revealed that 95 percent of its member-respondents think \u201cMy journalism makes a positive impact on education.\u201d<\/p>\n
The EWA also asked its members for their \u201cmost frequently cited sources of story ideas.\u201d Sources #1 and #2 were, respectively, \u201cnews release, news conference, or public relations professional\u201d and \u201cnews coverage.\u201d The first source type requires money and organization, something far more common to establishment insiders than independent outsiders. The second source type\u2014also known as pack journalism\u2014simply multiplies the effect of the first.<\/p>\n
The late professor and congressman Daniel Patrick Moynihan famously asserted, \u201cEveryone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts.\u201d Within the flatland of US education journalism, the assertion may not hold. The more narrowly journalists source factual information, the more opportunity they grant those sources to customize facts to benefit themselves and the two parties\u2019 leadership.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
It\u2019s that time of year again. As millions of youngsters return to school, thousands of journalists cast about for a once-a-year education-themed story. As one might expect with such sporadic attention, many of the August\/September stories will be light and … Continue reading