2017-10-01

Indrė Makaraitytė: “Good journalists are always needed”

When Indrė Makaraitytė, the journalist and well known political commentator, who is running her daily television show on INFO TV program, has been offered to create the Journalism and Contemporary Media study program for the Lithuanian Journalism Centre, she did not cast a doubt. According to her, it is for everyone’s benefit, if the industry is joined by more well-prepared journalists who understand value of the free speech.

Indrė Makaraitytė sako, kad laisvas žodis – ne visiems Lietuvoje suprantama vertybė. Mindaugo Ažušilio (DELFI) nuotr.

Journalists in Lithuania always get criticized. Interest groups, politicians, even our audience seem to be unhappy about the quality of work we do. Do you think this criticism is fair?

Good criticism always encourages us to work better. If we do not get criticized, we can become lazy. Criticism can encourage us to do better. Because we can always do better. But there is one different question which is important here: “Does our public have what to choose from, how big is the pluralism that media landscape offers to us and our audience?” And my answer is: yes, people have a lot to choose from. At the moment, we have more choices than ever before. Corrupt media groups were conquered by online newspapers and social media channels. Yes, you may say that important things in cacophony and information abundance can get lost, but that is why humans are gifted with critical mind and curiosity. We have to use it to pick the important things from the flow of information.

Not long ago you wrote a column reminding the audience that journalists in Lithuania are fighting for the free speech almost every day. Who is the villain in this fight?

As always, the villains are angry and unscrupulous people. They can work in government, they can work for private businesses. Their main weapon is the money. The media cannot survive without advertising, especially now, when online news dailies depend on constant update of information. We do not think that every line is written by a professional and that professional has to be paid. And here the unscrupulous people come – they say, OK, we will give you advertising, but you should stop writing certain topics in return. These kinds of pressures are constant. The reality demonstrates that freedom of speech is not a value for everyone yet.

Indrė Makaraitytė: “The unscrupulous people come – they say, OK, we will give you advertising, but you should stop writing certain topics in return. These kinds of pressures are constant. The reality demonstrates that freedom of speech is not a value for everyone yet.”

Then why a person, a young professional, might want to become a journalist when there are so many pressures, conflicts and dissatisfaction with the journalist’s work?

Because this profession guarantees the most interesting life one can only dream of. This profession requires constant improvement of one‘s skills, it is never tedious, there is no routine in it.

What knowledge and qualities a good journalist should have?

First of all, a good journalist is ill with journalism. „Being ill“ in this case means feeling an urge to ask, dig deeper, understand better and more.

In your opinion, do journalists have those qualities in nowadays media?

Yes, we really have great journalists working for Lithuanian media, I met many of them throughout my career. But there always be the lack of the good, well prepared and “journalism-ill” journalists.

The journalism and contemporary media program of the Lithuanian Journalism Center is for those who want to become a new type of prime media and those who want to understand how to work constructively with the media, without mentioning the public interest. Within 5 months Inspirational journalism studies will introduce you to famous Lithuanian journalists who will read you lectures, teach creative writing, editing, photography, filmmaking, work on the live broadcast, listen to media law lectures, go to editorials, take part in direct-line filming, you will be able to publish in the editions for a full month practice Read more about the innovative Journalism and Contemporary Media Study Program, click here.

Not sure if this study is for you? Call, talk, answer all your questions. Tel. no. +370 682 76 804

Or email us. mail: info@lzc.lt