Power and the Journalist:
An Interview with Geraldine Scott
Do journalists have power, and what do they do with it? Being a journalist certainly comes with its highs and its lows, whilst sitting on a pedestal of influence and scrutiny. Twenty-eight-year-old Westminster Correspondent, Geraldine Scott, shares her experiences of the power and challenges she has encountered throughout her career.
Geraldine describes her journey into journalism as a traditional one. She studied Politics at the University of East Anglia, her interest in journalism beginning when she started writing articles for her student newspaper, Concrete, in her second year. She went on to become Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper in her third year.
After university, she trained at her weekly paper, Great Yarmouth Mercury. Geraldine then went on to become a Health and Politics Correspondent at the Eastern Daily Press in Norfolk and is now Westminster Correspondent for the Yorkshire Post.
“I did a politics degree basically because I like arguing. I was thinking about being a solicitor, you get that a lot with journalists as an early career choice. Maybe it’s a personality trait,” Geraldine explains.
Geraldine depicts the sense of power she had in her role as Health Correspondent, where she worked on mental health campaigning by sharing people’s stories.
“The power I felt I had there was to make things better for people, it’s quite cringey and is blowing my own trumpet, but I know I made lives better for people. I know extra money was raised for specialist cancer treatment because of stories I wrote. I know that because people have thanked me, and it’s lovely.”
Geraldine explains that the power she now has at the Yorkshire Post differs from her previous role.
“We have a campaign called Power up the North, which is with other regional newspapers, putting pressure on the government to make things fairer for the North of England. I guess that’s a different kind of power because its influencing government and policy decision.”
For context, the UK7070 Commission found that inequality in the UK’s regions in 2019 was greater than when the Berlin Wall came down in Germany three decades ago. A large part of Geraldine’s regional role in the North is to raise awareness of this inequality. She has posed questions on daily conferences, to represent and alert politicians of various issues concerning Yorkshire.
Reporting on international issues is also a crucial part of journalism, and power is implemented through spreading awareness on worldwide issues. As stated previously, Geraldine’s focus is on regional issues, but she shares her opinion on the importance of international issues.
“What’s going to be really important is the relationship Joe Biden has with the rest of the world. The relationship he has with China and Russia is going to be important for stability, and that ties into Brexit. It depends on how we position ourselves and what power that gives us.”
Geraldine also emphasised a need for reporting more on humanitarian issues, such as the ongoing devastation in Yemen.
If anyone is unaware of what is happening in Yemen, the country is suffering the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Over 80% of the population have no sufficient access to water, food, or healthcare. The crisis dates back to the 2011 Arab Spring protests which forced dictators out, the outbreak of cholera in 2017 which collapsed the healthcare system, airstrike bombings in Yemen which led to the deaths of thousands of civilians, and now the Coronavirus outbreak.
The power that journalists can offer is extremely valuable in reporting on topics that really matter, both within the country, but also around the world.
“In this country, we are very good at being inward-looking with our views. That doesn’t always benefit us,” Geraldine says.
Raised in a working-class, single-parent family, Geraldine explains how this can make the industry more challenging to work in.
“If I walk through the press gallery in parliament tomorrow, you can guarantee a good bunch of people in there are privately educated and come from more privileged backgrounds.”
“I sometimes felt a sense of imposter syndrome, a sense of not understanding particular social cues and feeling embarrassed. That’s still a challenge that the industry hasn’t cracked yet.”
Geraldine says that she can’t imagine what it could be like for more diverse people in the industry.
Journalism creates the potential of becoming a public figure. This can create challenges with aspects such as social media and sexism. When Geraldine has been on the Andrew Marr TV show, she receives around fifty follow requests on Instagram from men. She also receives comments on Twitter regarding her appearance.
“If you have a go at me for what I’ve said on telly, have a go at me for my work,” Geraldine says.
The honesty that Geraldine shares of her experiences in journalism is not intended to put young journalists off, yet simply prepare them for the challenges that may come along with the role. Geraldine offers some top tips for young journalists starting out in the industry.
First, there’s nothing wrong with writing for free when you’re just starting, but try to get paid for writing as soon as possible.
Second, if you’re writing, you’re a journalist. Geraldine is a trustee for the Student Publication Association, and one of the things she sees time and time again is journalists who have just come out of university who call themselves inspiring or budding journalists. Again, if you write, you ARE a journalist!
Third, keep every number, even if you don’t think it’s important. You never know whose number will be handy in the future.
Finally, be nice! Journalists do have to be prepared to be in the public light, and they should be firm in showcasing their opinions. But there is also a certain stigma about journalists – one which tends to depict them as fiery and abrupt, even rude. This tactic may work for some, such as Jeremy Paxman, yet not all journalists use this method.
“People are just people, with their lives and their problems. Even when I’ve been on my most difficult stories, there’s never any need to be rude,” Geraldine explains.
Geraldine’s experiences within her career demonstrate the power that journalists have to influence society and spread awareness. It is a career that does not come without challenges, yet the power it can yield makes the industry well-worth pursuing.