How to restore trust in journalism with radio journalist Amy Radil

Illustration by Sami Seyedhosseini, Cartoonist

“I think the media landscape was way too narrow for so long,” said Amy Radil, a Seattle-based radio journalist for KUOW.

Radil offered a diverse look at her own experience to students and staff alike at Chapman, sharing how Chapman’s journalism majors can adapt to modern conditions to tell their stories.

“I think it's amazing how much things have opened up,” Radil said. “I feel grateful that we're in a time of so much more openness where anyone who's passionate about something can … put their voice into the conversation.”

Radil, who specializes in government and politics, got her start in Minnesota’s public radio in the 1990s before writing freelance work for global radio from Brazil for four years. 

The 1990s and early 2000s saw Brazil struggle with hyperinflation, corruption and widespread violence as the country transitioned out of authoritarian rule. While speaking to The Panther, Radil emphasized how working in South America during such a contentious period prepared her for covering modern politics in the U.S.

“I came probably from a time of more stability here, where I didn't think it was comparable,” said Radil. “I might have seen this through the lens of ‘(This) would never happen back in the U.S.’ and then by the time we got home in 2008, the bottom completely fell out.”

In her current position at KUOW, Radil has tackled a plethora of difficult stories, especially when it comes to scandals in Seattle’s police department, like her breakthrough “The blue wall of silence,” where she spoke directly to officers, which she said greatly enhanced her reporting on internal hiring scandals and scrutiny over cases of police brutality.

“I still felt like I wasn’t getting the voices of the police,” said Radil. “How are they? How are they reacting to this?”

By speaking directly to law enforcement, Radil found her answers.

“Some of them were angry, some of them really misunderstood. It ran the gamut, but it was just interesting to finally feel like I was getting a sense of them when they were allowed to speak their minds,” she said.

An issue in modern journalism, according to Radil, is credibility. A recent Gallup poll found that trust in mass media is at an all-time low, with only 28% of Americans confident in the ability of mainstream outlets to accurately report on stories. Radil spoke on the importance of approaching interviews with both patience and humanity.

“I know it's hard because this is hard for me sometimes, but don't be in a rush to get done with those interviews,” said Radil. “Try to take as much time as you can. Be willing to humble yourself.”

An important aspect of trust that Radil discussed is avoiding surprises in reporting. Such a practice is sometimes referred to as “gotcha journalism,” a term often used when speaking about political and social journalism.

“People often think that journalists are just waiting, trying to catch (them) saying something,” said Radil. “You always give the other person an opportunity to respond to the allegation that's being made against them. You don't just print something where they're going to be shocked to find it.”

Trust is not the only issue modern journalists may face. Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, a man already distinguished by his penchant for attacking journalists, outlets have come under federal scrutiny for even just publishing stories.

That scrutiny is not just limited to larger names like CNN and NBC. Shortly after his inauguration, San Francisco’s KCBS local public radio station had its license threatened by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for reporting on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. 

While speaking to The Panther, Radil addressed the necessity of reporters continuing to perform their duties in the face of threats from the government.

“We absolutely have to report on what's happening in our community, there’s no question,” said Radil. “I think our (journalistic) leadership would say we absolutely need to cover what's happening in our community.”