Everyone from pop culture nerds to President Obama has railed against journalism’s recent turn toward clickbait. Now one more Twitter user has joined the fray, promising to restore journalism’s role as “the most noble profession.”
Needless to say, it’s a parody account.
Guy at your J-School, AKA @JschoolStrytllr, joined Twitter yesterday , and since then he’s been tweeting a steady stream of idealistic, somewhat arrogant thoughts about the “human condition.” The account even lists its location as “J-School”:
I'm a story-teller. I tell stories. In some stories, I am the story. But the story transcends me. How? Hear my stories.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
Is there a profession that's more noble than a story-teller? Doctors might save lives, but why save lives without those lives' stories told?
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
#Pitch: there's this guy….who's battled against the odds, gone through changes in his life, and lived to tell the tale. 5,000 words.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
#Pitch: it's an amazing story. Similar to one I read in NY Times. Haven't nailed down characters yet, or access. Not sure my angle either.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
In every interview I have ever done, my subject has cried at least once. That is the emotional weight of my story-telling.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
Filling in my tax returns, there wasn't enough room under 'Occupation' for "Investigating the human condition". Shame.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
I absolutely insist all sources talk to me via encrypted e-mail. Even if I just need simple, single quote.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
The way even my 500-word spot news story uncovers themes of life, love and loss in American society would worry the NSA. It's that deep.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
#Pitch: 200 words about a guy who broke his leg. Then 5000 words about my own inner thoughts and feelings on loss, pain, heartbreak.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
All my stories are in the form of the journalist’s quest. My quest. My quest for truth. Spoiler alert: I always find it.
— Objective Journalist Guy (@JournalismGuy) March 29, 2016
Guy at Your J-School only has about 300 followers so far, but several journalists are already avowed fans.
The profile photo used with the account appears to be of Irish broadcast journalist James Mahon. However, even though the account’s persona is that of an honorable J-school student, Mr. Mahon told the Observer that he had not been contacted for permission to use his photograph.
“I have no idea who this is and am outraged that someone has done this,” Mr. Mahon said in an email.
While this is seemingly the first parody account for J-school students, many other college archetypes have been immortalized on Twitter, including the Guy In Your MFA and the girl writing the Dystopian YA Novel.
