Journalists expect scrutiny. They shouldn't endure racism, misogyny or threats. | Opinion

Greg Borowski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·6 min read

Editor's Note: This column contains racial slurs and strong language. The descriptions are included to provide an unfiltered view of letters and feedback sent to reporters at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Some readers may find this language offensive or triggering.

We’re in a world filled with division and vitriol, but also a season filled with peace and hope, so let’s see if we can find one thing we can all agree upon.

How about this: When you are doing your job, whatever the job may be, you should not be called the N-word – or any other racist or derogatory term – simply for doing it.

Likewise: You should not be called a host of misogynistic words that I can’t type here without filling up the sentence with a bunch of dashes, asterisks and expletive-deleteds.

Can we agree on that much?

I understand this is a feature of the age we are in, one in which it is easy to demonize others and easy to spew hate from behind a computer screen and easy to build a bubble with only like-minded individuals inside.

And I am sure people in all sorts of jobs and professions get such messages from time to time, but my interest here is the persistent, vicious and cowardly attacks on journalists, in this newsroom and across the country.

Journalists expect scrutiny and criticism from work

Now, everyone who is in this business enters it with the expectation their work will be scrutinized, that – at times – partisans will criticize it, that it will be fodder for discussions in coffeehouses and barber shops and, yes, on talk radio. Everyone in this business knows that if they make a mistake, however inadvertently, it will be amplified. We even call attention to our own mistakes, through the corrections we run.

We work in a public profession. We get it.

Engage with us if you like – we’ll probably respond, ask for your insights and learn along the way. Criticize us if you must. We’ll weigh it, consider it and adjust as necessary.

But stop with the racist crap. And the misogynistic stuff, too.

Before you read on, and I hope you will, I’m asking you to read a companion piece from columnist James E. Causey about the racist and toxic filth he has faced simply for doing his job. Imagine if you had to face that in your daily life or job, whatever it may be. Imagine facing it day after day, year after year.

James Causey: I'm worn from years of racial slurs. But I'll no longer be silent about bigotry.

Then come back, and let’s see what we can agree on.

Reporters shouldn't face racist hate for doing their jobs

Here’s what I know about James. He cares. About his family, his friends, his community. He is a Milwaukee native and loves his hometown, flaws and all. When he tackles a story, he lives it. He didn’t just write about a summer garden program aimed at putting kids to work and providing them guidance. He became a mentor.

He puts his name on everything he writes – which is more than can be said about many of those who send him letters and emails and leave voicemail messages.

One reader recently mailed him clippings of his columns from months ago, each marked up with the N-word and other slurs. Clippings from months ago. James shouldn’t have to face that.

For doing his job.

James Causey, right, leads a group of teens as they prepare to clean neighborhood streets near the "We Got This" garden in July while reporting on trauma in the 53206 Zip Code. The teens spend 10 weeks learning skills on gardening and life lessons from mentors. At the end of each four hour day on Saturdays, they are each paid $20.
James Causey, right, leads a group of teens as they prepare to clean neighborhood streets near the "We Got This" garden in July while reporting on trauma in the 53206 Zip Code. The teens spend 10 weeks learning skills on gardening and life lessons from mentors. At the end of each four hour day on Saturdays, they are each paid $20.

I could walk you through most of our newsroom, person by person.

Others have been called the B-word and the C-word, they’ve been told they should have been aborted, or that it was a shame they had to take an unpaid furlough week because they should have been fired instead. Many have faced threats, direct or implied. Some threats come with photos of guns.

All for doing their job.

Can we agree that is wrong?

Wrong if it happened to a teacher or an accountant or a bus driver or whatever your own profession is. Wrong when it happens to a journalist doing their job.

Despite the abuse, we will continue to do our work

When I started out in journalism, at the Chronicle-Tribune in Marion, Ind., if you wanted to reach a reporter you called them on the phone. I took my share of angry calls. We all did. But you know what, it’s harder to dismiss or dehumanize a person when you have to talk with them. Heck, some readers came down to the newsroom to chat and when we were done, we could shake hands and move on.

Today, it is all too easy to send hate by hiding behind a screen name. There is so little effort required, and so many are so willing to do it, the result for some journalists can be an endless barrage of garbage.

Greg Borowski, newly appointed executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, speaks to newsroom staff on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Borowski succeeds George Stanley, right, who retired at the end of last year.
Greg Borowski, newly appointed executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, speaks to newsroom staff on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Borowski succeeds George Stanley, right, who retired at the end of last year.

Now, I know that writing this probably won’t make a difference to the people who are doing it, and those who most need to hear this message will not see it, or will ignore it if they do. It might embolden them a bit, because they’ll realize someone heard them. And this may amount to just shouting into the wind.

But sometimes it feels good to shout.

And it feels like the time to lay out some things everyone should know about our newsroom and our journalists.

First: We will not be deterred.

Despite the abuse, we will continue to listen to our community, to tell difficult and important stories, to provide clear and thorough information and – as best that we can – navigate a world that is increasingly divided and vitriolic.

We will continue to act as journalists, knowing all of what that entails.

If emails and messages cross into threats, we will engage the authorities – and we will expect that same consideration from them that any others get. If you can’t verbally assault and threaten someone on the street, why should you be able to do it by email?

We will start to track all threats and hostile emails, tweets or calls, so we can better identify patterns and find the bad actors early. No one in this newsroom is expected to, or should, respond to anyone whose only aim and purpose is to trash and tear down.

That said, if those messages are civil and designed to enlighten or engage, we’ll do our best to respond. Heck, if you make a good point and sign your name – even if it’s to a criticism of us – we might even publish it as a letter. That goes with the job, too.

Now, if you’ve read this far, I’m asking you to do something else.

The next time you see a story that you like, one that provided information you needed, one that brought a smile or a laugh or even a tear, look up who wrote it and send them a note of encouragement.

Letters to the Editor: Guidelines for submitting a letter

It will make a difference.

I know that, too.

Greg Borowski is executive editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. You can follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @GregJBorowski and reach him via greg.borowski@jrn.com.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Racism, misogyny don't come with any job. Journalists deserve better.