Sir, - Brendan Glacken's invitation (Square Times, March 11th to discuss the profession of journalism has offered those of us who fail to agree with the ever-pessimistic John Waters (Opinion, March 9th) a chance to defend the moral nature of the trade and the people involved.
John Waters's rather crude assumption that the next generation of journalists is likely to be influenced strongly by media figures such as Gerry Ryan is an insult both to great contemporary journalists and to journalism students. Such journalists include William Shawcross, Robert Fisk and Irish colleagues of both John Waters and Brendan Glacken such as Lara Marlowe, Geraldine Kennedy and Deaglan de Breadun.
If the career that such students aspire to is nothing more than "a disgraceful profession practised by thugs and voyeurs", there is little hope for their future. It is difficult to understand why journalists such as John Waters and Brendan Glacken remain in the business if they deem it so ignoble.
John Waters concludes his analysis by saying that "character in a journalist is best demonstrated by the ability to say, `It's none of my business'. Chance would be a fine thing." This implies that rather than investigating areas of public interest journalists would be best served to nobly sacrifice important information for a principle that Waters fails to clearly define.
Waters also snobbishly condemns tabloid newspapers. So low is his tolerance that he finds it "nauseating" to merely sit near anyone reading such a paper. What he fails to address is both the skill that tabloid newspaper journalism undoubtedly requires and the purpose that it serves. While it would be ideal to imagine that we would all read broad-sheet newspapers and discuss current affairs and politics regularly, the reality is different. While tabloids are easily criticised, their simplicity of language, quick portrayal of events and competitive pricing is the only way that some people are capable of receiving news. Broad-sheet newspapers are more expensive and can be daunting and unapproachable for some readers.
There are some journalism students today who see their future career as a noble profession whose main aim is to provide clear and unbiased information to the public. This may sound naive but it is not as much so as Brendan Glacken's explanation of cash incentive. Journalism is not a career that brings to mind extravagant wealth.
As for the low esteem in which journalists are held, this cannot be helped by members of the profession denigrating it without offering some light at the end of the dark tunnel which they have created. - Yours, etc., Aoife Stokes,
Shrewsbury Hall, Shankill, Co Dublin.