Blog: People will start to like us, when we stop being such an old and grumpy uncle

Written by Lasse Hørbye Nielsen,
Editorial Director, TV 2/Fyn

Two years ago I attended a summer garden party. I started talking with the person sitting next to me. A young local business woman. She used to be a local politician so she actually watched our daily news-broadcast, even though she was only 29 years old, and therefore – according to statistics – too young to be watching TV. She also followed TV 2/FYN news on web and social media.

“She asked: Why are you so sad and grumpy at TV 2/FYN?”

When I found out that I was talking to a hardcore news fan, (and I thought, a hardcore TV 2/FYN fan), I looked forward to getting some excellent feedback from her. You know it’s always nice to be applauded for the excellent and critical journalism, that you do in the interest of the public. But she surprised me.

She asked: “Why are you so sad and grumpy at TV 2/FYN?” and continued:

“Why don’t you tell about the good things happening on our island. Why do you always cherry pick the really small issues, that don’t work? It is not representative of the state of things here!”

Hollywood main character

I found it hard to give her an answer. Especially because she also had some very concrete examples. I was left almost speechless.

We learn in journalism schools all around the world that the most important thing for a journalist is to be critical. About society. About the people who hold power. We are the ones who stop the bad guys, and maybe that is why, a journalist so often is the main character in the big Hollywood productions. We are the local hero fighting for the good by pointing out the bad.

“Maybe people would actually pay for journalism that brought them hope”

That is all right. I still think that is important for journalism. But maybe we could do both. Be both critical and constructive? Maybe. Just maybe we could tell about the good guys doing good things for society and communities? Maybe we could be the young and fresh cousin at the family party? The one who has hope for the future. The one everyone wants to talk to, because she brings joy in everybody’s eyes. Maybe we could stop being such a sad and grumpy uncle?

You have a new mission

Maybe that could be the solution to and savior of our troubled news business. Maybe people would actually pay for journalism that also brought them hope while still being critical and doing breaking news.

It is difficult to convince journalists to have a new mission with their work. You have to train them all over and start at the beginning. You have to look at the big “why are we here”-question. That is the journey, we have departed on here in Funen. To do some good for the island we live on, with the people that live here. But with the clear message to the bad guys out there; “ we will still be watching you”.