NEH chair: I do not believe the media is the enemy

National Endowment for the Humanities chair Jon Parrish Peede, seated center, poses with members of the CNMI press at a Lunch with the Press event last Thursday at the Saipan Mayor’s Office conference room in Oleai. (Farah Younis)

National Endowment for the Humanities chair Jon Parrish Peede met with the CNMI press last Thursday for a casual discussion on the role of the media, as well as the challenges members of the CNMI press face everyday to deliver the news.

Peede, who just came from Guam and Hawaii, was on island as part of his exploration to learn more about what the Pacific Humanities Councils are offering in their communities. The Northern Marianas Humanities Council hosted him on this trip.

Peede, who comes from a media and publishing background and is big on the role of media in the community, spoke about fake news, opinion-editorials, neutrality of reporters, and his experience in magazine journalism.

When asked about his opinion on fake news, Peede said, “It is not a term I would use.

“I have, in a large part of my career throughout my government services, have had strong positive interactions with the media. …I do not believe the media is the enemy,” he added.

Peede said the least accurate statement he has experienced in his career as a government official are op-eds (opinion pieces like columns and letters to the editor)—primarily unsigned op-eds.

He also talked about the changing opinion of the public about members of the press due to social media.

“The more that a member of the media expresses his or her personal identity through social media, I think people think that spills over into their journalism. I don’t personally [think] that’s always the case. but with the scrutiny we have, it makes it much harder.”

Peede also advocates a rigorous evidence-based journalism, investigative journalism, believing that a thoughtful, considerate, reported piece may lead the readers to make a decision on an issue without making them feel being directed.

The meeting with the press ties with NMHC’s recent grant application to showcase the value of news media, and to get the opinion of the community on news sources that can be trusted.

“Our news media organizations here are important partners,” executive director Leo Pangelinan said. “Journalism and media are very much an important aspect [of a community]. …It is the convener, the distributor. It is the water in humanities.”

Before the meeting, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang presented Peede with a souvenir Animu for the NEH chairman “to always remember the CNMI.”

Aside from meeting with the press, Peede also had a dialogue with about 120 high school students, and visited the Guma’ Higai at the Civic Center in Susupe.