Response to Sundance Clip

To be honest, I was somewhat slow in reacting to this clip.  I didn’t know how to take it.  Not being someone who has watched a lot of documentaries, the discussion lacked context.  Similarly, I do not plan on going into the business of documentary making.  The video lacked immediate significance for me. 

One line stood out in particular however.  It was when the man with the glasses said something along the lines of “listen for what you want to hear”.  I found this very interesting.  The statement promotes an idea of laissez-faire journalism, which allows the story to come to the journalist in lieu of the journalist seeking out the story.  This intrigued me because it went against a lot of what I’ve been told thus far.  I’ve been taught that as a journalist I must find the story, cut through the red tape, do my homework, and investigate all aspects.  Instead, the gentleman in the glasses is suggesting that the “silence” approach to interviews may be better.  It allows the speaker to really get at the heart of their message. 

I am interested in broadcast journalism.  This idea could be very useful.   Silence can always be edited out of the piece if need be or it could be kept.  Silence has a tendency to speak volumes about what is going on in the interview. 

There is also something to be said for not steering the story in a certain direction.  That is where unethical bias can come in.  Asking provoking questions is important and creates the story, but one must also let the subject share their piece.  Cutting off a subject can do as much harm as it can good when attempting to direct and interview in a certain direction. 

My other thoughts about the video are as follows.  I thought it was pretty cool that the man with the glasses was wearing a True/False sweater.  I did not know the documentary film festival was that well renowned.  I thought the gentleman to his left could use a haircut.  I also did not fully understand his comment about the journalism school and asking questions.  He said something along the lines of “journalists are never supposed to ask questions they don’t know the answers to”.  I think this doesn’t make sense.  Any journalism professor of mine has never told me that.  How are we supposed to gather knowledge and insight about a story if we can’t ask questions we are unsure about.  If we knew everything reporting would not be necessary.  I think a better statement would have been “always verify the answers to the questions that you aren’t sure about”.  This country would have been robbed of a lot of great journalistic pieces had the reporters only asked questions they knew the answers to.  In short I’m surprised and disappointed that a man in his position at such a famous film festival would make an ignorant statement like that. However, he is on the stage for a reason.