Carlos Hernández de Miguel, a Spanish journalist and writer, died on 3 February. He didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye and sharing a few final thoughts:

I decided to become a journalist because I truly believed that by reporting rigorously and honestly, we could improve this world. I still believe it now. I know that in my professional career I have made mistakes, I have put up with things (I hope only a few) that I should have rejected, and I have not, by any means, been a perfect journalist. Despite all that, I can look back and what I see doesn’t trouble me. I can say I have never, ever lied, manipulated, or concealed information. In all my reporting, whether from Madrid, Bilbao, Seville, Kabul, Jerusalem or Baghdad, I have tried to hold those in power to account, I have tried to relate what was happening, and I have tried to give a voice to those who lacked one. Voices for the victims; criticism for the perpetrators. No neutrality. No ambiguity. And that’s why I’m especially proud of not having risen as high as I could have. I was even fired for trying to remain true to my principles.

I learned, from veteran colleagues, what I consider to be the two principles of journalism. The first is that objectivity is not the same as neutrality. If there is an aggressor and a victim, a liar and an honest person, a corrupt individual and an honourable one, then your task is to describe all that clearly and forcefully. I’m sick of those who believe that being a journalist means reporting both sides’ versions, without filters, without challenging their veracity, especially – and this is worse and all too common – when you know that one side isn’t telling the truth.

The second principle is that to be a good journalist, it’s vital that you’re a good person.

I always add a third. Journalism is not just another profession. Society’s right to be well informed rests on our work. Freedom, equality and democracy depend on our work – albeit not exclusively. So there are no excuses for lying or concealing information. If we do, we should be held professionally, and even criminally, responsible. [Continue reading…]