Writing in a blog is often considered to be just another crazy person writing about anything that tickles their fancy online. I'm sure a lot of people have tried to move away from that, and have tried to make it seem more like an informative piece. Informative writing is actually both important and an art form in itself. Some people take this for granted, and have done some pretty ludicrous things when it came to informative writing. While the people of the net can write whatever the hell they want, being an actual reporter doing a piece is not entirely the same.
Though I'm a bit late in writing about this issue, but Mike Daisey, a presenter of "This American Life" had published a piece that describes his visit to Foxconn.
It's interesting to point out, but Foxconn is the centre of scrutiny whenever we discuss consumer electronics being made today. Many people go on and on about how the labour forces are being treated in an unfair manner in those factories. Foxconn has been so negatively portrayed by so many different media outlies that the mere mention of Foxconn will bring about various different negative attitudes and dirty rumours, ranging from suicides, living conditions, chemicals used, work schedules, etc.
Therefore, when media coverage is being made about a man who has the chance to visit the Foxconn factories, there are a few things to keep in mind. Number 1 : this guy will make claims that they are hiding the real conditions. Number 2 : there will be a remark about how the whole tour seemed orchestrated. Number 3 : they will discuss something about working conditions being too tough.
However, that is the standard outlook behind these things. What people never seem to remember, is that Foxconn has it's doors flooded with people at 3 am in the morning whenever there is a job fair. They fail to recognize that if these people need to be employed to give some welfare to their families. People also never remember that reporteres need to spark controversy. That is an implicit line within their job description, because their work needs to bring in more audience members.
Mike Daisey's report on Foxconn was an interesting one. Not only has he made a laughing stalk of the show, Ira Glass and all that they represent, but he goes on to defend himself when he was in the wrong. Mike Daisey's controversial report started when he decided to lie about what he has seen, how much he has seen, and even who his translator was. Why did he go to such lengths to make a falsified report about a company that already is gaining so much negative reviews? Did the fact that his piling on will make matters better? If anything, Mike Daisey is actually abusing his position as a journalist to bully a company that is already under negative review all the time.
Then there was the issue of him lying to his producers. Was there some kind of reasoning to lie to your own boss about your work? Last time I checked, lying to your boss is a huge issue. What I think is most interesting, is how Mike Daisey went on to say he apologizes not because he mislead everyone with his lying report, or how he lied to his producers, but he apologizes because he didn't release this as drama. I'm sorry, is that supposed to constitute as an apology? What I find very disturbing is that when people make mistakes, they don't do what is necessary by standing up and admtting to be at fault. It seems that, while Mike Daisey has the audacity to go on public radio, denounce a company that is working hard to make consumer electronics for an American company that is boosting the American economy in this American life he's living (pun intended) during this economic downturn, he hasn't got the slightest bit of gut (in spite of his immense physical gut) to own up to a mistake he's made.
I remembered how much more trouble I got into whenever I made excuses as a child. Growing up, I learned that excuses never really got you anywhere. I always had an image where excuses only wound up putting you in more trouble in the real world. I don't know why someone like Mike Daisey is still given any more right to publish anything ever again, but I think that a man who lacks any self respect as a reporter, and a fellow human being lacks the right to try to report to the American public.
