They have also been part of its launch. On Monday, we wrapped the print edition of the Herald with a four-page special edition featuring reflections from chief investigative reporter Kate McClymont, political and international editor Peter Hartcher, chief reporter Jordan Baker, senior writer and columnist Jacqueline Maley, and Parramatta bureau chief Anthony Segaert about how they think of the connection between reason and journalism.
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Jacqueline astutely noted in her contribution that reason is sometimes easier to define by its absence. Reason, she said, is not shouting at your ideological opponent, and not about spreading misinformation. It is also not about the manipulation of emotion to achieve a political end, and not about scapegoating a group different to your own.
“In a world that seems, sometimes, to have abandoned reason for tribalism, prejudice and the nonsense corners of the internet, reason-based news and analysis is more important than it has ever been.” Well said, Jac.
While this campaign is designed to grow the Herald’s subscriber base, I also hope it serves as a great reminder to you, our existing loyal readers, about what we do and why your support is so crucial.
We’ve had lots of great feedback this week from readers, including from Bradley Wynne of Croydon. In a letter to the editor, Bradley said that apart from serving as the community’s journal of record, our mastheads serve as “crucial filters against the blizzard of news and information choices” that consumers face at every turn. “It is comforting to observe the Herald taking a moment to reaffirm its position in such a storm,” he wrote. “That is, we trust the paper and the organisation it represents to be reasonable – in its news selection, its tone, its balance, its formidable investigative journalism, its commentary and analysis, and even, on occasion, its sense of humour.”
We also had another great letter from Celeste Hankins in Ashfield, who gave us a reminder of the importance of the Herald’s future. “One of the simplest pleasures repatriating, after five years in the US, has been reading The Sydney Morning Herald each morning over breakfast with our children,” Celeste wrote. “As we digest snippets of news with our children, we teach them to check, check and check again – facts, sources, motivations. To evaluate our own opinions and how they may change with new information. Thank you for providing the opportunities to facilitate these discussions and equip our children with the ability to reason.”
Thanks to all of you, too, for reading. Have a wonderful weekend – and enjoy the NRL grand final on Sunday!
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