Controversy continues in the Hankyoreh, with 41 reporters on the Hankyoreh pointed out the governmental bias of the company’s legal reporting, followed by resignation of the positions of social affairs manager Lee Chun-jae and legal team leader Kim Tae-gyu.
[관련기사 : 한겨레, 이용구 차관 폭행 사건 보도에 “사과드린다”]
http://www.mediatoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=211708
In a statement on the 26th, the Hankyoreh on-site reporters said, “The Hankyoreh, who built a blade of criticism without’sanctuary’, is becoming increasingly dull in verifying and criticizing’power’ after the motherland crisis.” The value of’good journalism’ is undermining.”
Reporters criticized the report on the company’s Vice Minister Lee Yong-gu as “the result of receiving the data received from Prosecutor Chumiae Line without actually checking the facts”, and also about the editorial that dealt with the illegal controversy over Kim Hak’s departure ban, “legitimate procedures for practical justice It was used as a logic to advocate the situation that did not follow the criticism.”
The opposition of relatively low-year reporters is also seen as a result of generational conflict within the organization. On the 28th, a post titled “I hope young reporters will reflect on it” was posted on the anonymous bulletin board of the Hankyoreh Shinmun union. It is said that there were not a few comments criticizing young reporters in this article.
The publisher said, “You criticized that the content or direction of the article is unilaterally determined or directed by the desks. The direction of the article is decided by the editorial board based on the on-site report and the judgment of the desk (manager and team leader). . The judgment in the field may be correct, or the judgment of the desk or the editorial board may be wrong.” He said. “But the decision is made by the desk and the editorial board. The desk and editorial board are also responsible for that decision. Basically, you have to obey that decision. That’s our system.”
The publisher said, “As you said,’reporting with fair standards regardless of the factions and the left and right’ is only half good journalism. The Hankyoreh does not support specific political parties or political forces, but pursues specific values and directions. Because it does. The Hankyoreh is a progressive media that values the value of progress more than conservative. He even criticized that if you want to put a fair standard on values and directions, I recommend moving to a medium-oriented medium like the Hankook Ilbo rather than working for the Hankyoreh.”
The publisher said, “The prosecutors and courts are state agencies aimed at protecting the human rights of the people and establishing justice. However, for a very long time, prosecutors and courts have been working as tools of the ruling power, and have rather destroyed the human rights and justice of the people. “In recent years, they have become the ruling power and are outright pursuing their power and interests. Young reporters should be fully aware of the history and dangers of the law and report on it.”
Reporters on the Hankyoreh site are concerned about the problem of miscommunication between reporters and desks, the bias of 86th generation desks close to the mainstream of the government and ruling party, and the standards of criticism of verification that were strict with conservatives but dull in progressive regimes.
On the 29th, a reporter from the Hankyoreh said, “I think the field reporters, whether the Democratic Party or the people’s power, are in power, so they should criticize and verify it. It must be a pride that there are no restrictions on the power and the role of surveillance, which was sharply broken when the Democratic Party took over. On the other hand, at the desks, there is an sentiment that the Democrats are on the same side. It is difficult to resist the’reform’ policy promoted by the Democratic Party.”
The Hankyoreh’s desk has said that there will be discussions with reporters sooner or later. At this stage, it is noted whether the conflict between reporters and the Hankyoreh directorate will be closed. The following is an article by an anonymous publisher belonging to the Hankyoreh who refutes the statements of 41 Hankyoreh reporters.
<젊은 기자들의 성찰을 바랍니다>
First of all, the expression ‘the blade of criticism without sanctuary’ that young reporters said in their statement comes to my mind. This is because when the prosecution is carrying out a selective investigation against the Moon Jae-in government, it comes to mind to say that it is a’live power investigation’. Even the’blade of criticism without sanctuary’ should not be swung wildly by anyone. You have to be fair and balanced while looking at the situation with your opponent. Without such macroscopic and careful consideration, the’blade of criticism without sanctuary’ can be, in some cases, a crazy blade of an idiot.
You criticized the content or direction of an article as being unilaterally determined or directed by the desks. By the way. The direction of the article is to be decided by the editorial board based on the report from the field and the judgment of the desk (manager and team leader). The judgment on the spot may be correct, or the judgment of the desk or editorial board may be wrong. However, the decision is made by the desk and the editorial board. The desk and the editorial board are also responsible for that decision. Basically, you have to obey that decision. That’s our system.
If an article goes out in your name that you can’t agree with, just ask them to remove the name. Then the desk will either send the article out in its own name or fix it to your liking.
Of course, as you said, on-site reporters can write articles that question and criticize Mr. Chu’s unreasonable disciplinary process. However, when writing such an article, it should be questioned whether Minister Chu’s unreasonable disciplinary procedure was a bigger issue, or whether General Yoon Seok-yeol’s selective investigation or selective avoidance of investigation was a bigger issue. Was President Yoon doing a fair and balanced investigation against former Minister Cho Kuk and his family? Did you conduct a fair and balanced investigation into the case involving yourself, your mother-in-law, or your aide? Did you conduct a fair and balanced investigation between the Moon Jae-in government and the opposition party?
If there is a mistake, Vice Minister Lee Yong-gu must of course report. However, in the course of the interview, we need to take a close look at who and how Lee’s mistakes were made public. Is the continuous accusation from former Minister Cho Kook to former Minister Chu Mi-ae, Vice Minister Lee Yong-gu, and Central District Prosecutor General Lee Seong-yoon natural? Who is the source of the accusation? In the meantime, there have been many cases where the prosecution intentionally spilled information on the investigation into the media or political parties in order to lead the investigation to an advantage. Such acts by the state agency, the prosecution, are clearly illegal, anti-human rights and unfair acts. It is a dangerous crime that cannot be compared to an individual’s crime or deviation.
Similar concerns arise in the case of Kim Hak’s illegal departure. The’procedural definition’ that everyone and every crime should be investigated in a due process is important. But at the same time, it is also important to have’substantial justice’ that those who commit serious crimes must be punished. Why wasn’t Kim Hak’s former vice minister properly investigated and prosecuted until 2019 despite the numerous accusations and accusations filed since 2013? Who interfered with the investigation and prosecution against former Vice Minister Kim, causing the statute of prosecution for alcohol and sexual violence charges to expire? On-site reporters should also be interested in covering and reporting on this matter.
It is difficult to agree that the Hankyoreh is writing articles that are criticized for being’fascist’. If you want to see fascist articles, I would recommend another newspaper. However, I think the Moon Jae-in administration can be criticized for being’pro-governmental’. For example, when the Democratic Party’s government promotes the establishment of a criminal investigation center for high-ranking officials, and the National Power Party opposes this, <한겨레>Can support this. It can be criticized that it is unreasonable for prosecutors to investigate the Moon Jae-in administration’s energy conversion policy. You can criticize Yun as being unfair for not properly investigating himself and his surroundings. But, is this really a’pro-government’ attitude?
<한겨레>Does not aim to support or oppose any particular political party or political force. But at the same time <한겨레>Has pursued progressive values such as democracy, human rights, protection of minorities, improvement of inter-Korean relations, peace and welfare. In addition <한겨레>Has always been seeking greater truths than individual little facts. This is because there are many facts in the world that are individually true, but do not correspond to the truth. <한겨레> If you work as a journalist, you should always report and report while pursuing progressive values and considering the great truth.
It is very good and necessary to talk to the team leader, manager, and director about good journalism. If the desks have neglected this conversation, they deserve criticism. However, judgments about good journalism can vary from person to person and from medium to medium. <조선>Do you think journalists in the world are pursuing bad journalism? It won’t. <한겨레>Wow <조선>You may think that each is pursuing good journalism. However, its value and content differ greatly. Then you <한겨레>Of journalism.
As you said,’reporting with fair standards regardless of whether a particular faction or faction is left or right’ is only half good journalism. <한겨레>Does not endorse a specific political party or political force, but because it pursues a specific value and direction. <한겨레>Is a progressive medium that values the value of progress more than conservative. If you want to put a fair standard on value and direction, <한겨레>Than working in <한국일보>I recommend moving to a medium-oriented medium.
When it comes to legal access, especially the prosecution, deep reflection is necessary. The prosecution and courts are state agencies aimed at protecting the human rights of the people and establishing justice. However, for a very long time, prosecutors and courts have been working as instruments of the ruling power, rather they have destroyed the human rights and justice of the people. In recent years, they have become the dominant power, and they are outright pursuing their own power and interests. Young reporters should be fully aware of the history and dangers of the law and report on it. Otherwise, it is easy to become a reporter of’prosecutor’s or’probate law’ by being swept away by the elaborate but narrow logic of the prosecutor or judge.
Finally, when dealing with problems within your company, you need to speak and act carefully. Because of your statement in the fall of 2019 <한겨레>Faced great difficulties both inside and outside. The wound is still not healed. I should have fully debated and concluded about the wrong issues raised at the time. However, the irresponsible editor-in-chief leadership at the time just covered up significant disagreements. After that, the new leadership of the editorial bureau has been unable to do this or that while watching young reporters notice.
As soon as you made this statement <조선>Conservative media, including those who are excited, are writing articles. This statement again <한겨레>I am deeply concerned about how it will affect its reputation and readership. You said in advance that this statement took into account’the concern of being leaked to the outside and expanded reproduction’, but in reality it is too easy to’leak to the outside and expand reproduction’. You must speak and act carefully to ensure that your goodwill leads to good results. If goodwill leads to bad results, can we really say that it is goodwill?
Seniors, including the leadership of the editorial board, should also take this statement seriously. Whether the issues raised by young reporters are valid, <한겨레>How to fix it. At the same time, I want young reporters to think deeply. Indeed, your full name <한겨레>The value and direction you claim to help <한겨레>Does it suit you?
With this statement, serious and fierce debate in the editorial office was actively taking place, and as a result, <한겨레>We look forward to the establishment of a new common value and direction that the majority of people can agree on.
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