Quality what-now?!

There is a problem with quality journalism and it doesn't just have something to do with the internet, my friends.

It also can be affected by emotions.
Oh, they are nasty little things when all you really want to do is be report, objectively, and inform your audience in the most truthful way possible. Is it not our responsibility as journalists to perform in the most professional manner?
Until a dreadful little creature (cretin) called Corey Worthington comes along...

This interview (a better word would be 'exchange'- because interview incites a notion of professionalism not displayed in this example) between Leila McKinnon and Corey Worthington was aired on ‘A Current Affair’, (Nine Network) on January 14, 2008.

Her opening question “What were you thinking?” is both condescending and accusatorial, however, her tone is casual and there is a feeling she is trying to befriend him. Immediately the battle stage is set- not the most professional of interviews already.
McKinnon shows her emotions early; sarcasm is very evident in her voice when she maintains her authority over 'the child'.
She looks for a reaction and the Worthington becomes defensive in the face of her aggression.

It is evident that the public already has a view on the interviewee, had McKinnon taken a different path with her questioning she would have shown less bias and given a well rounded interview, with information that doesn't frame Worthington in such a negative light, but instead aims to tell the sides of the story evenly.

Her emotions have affected her performance and the interview has gone from trying to get to the bottom of a party that got out of hand, to a condescending adult reacting to insolence.

As a professional, the lack of composure and obvious opinion on the topic prove she is incapable of conducting the interview in an unbiased way. The interview succeeded in showing Worthington as the silly, arrogant child that he is, however, he also managed to hold the power because McKinnon became too emotionally involved.

It is frustrating, in the current, confusing media climate that is Australia- that has recently axed some of its most important avenues for investigative journalism- that an aversion to quality could so easily slip through the cracks.

Maybe what is needed more than another story on dodgy washer repairmen is some training for their journalists, so that we can avoid the tragedy that was this 'news story'.

Isn't it journalism 101 that we maintain our composure and approach interviews in the most objective way possible? (Well at least we know that our uni degree was good for something).