Aaron Haynes

you are being tarred, you are being singled out.

Our industry has got to push back against these narrow exclusionary attempts to define professionalism.

This is about trying to undermine your dignity, your credibility, your legitimacy.

That's not gonna happen.

It's not gonna happen on my watch, I'll tell you that.

I really think it is so important to point this out.

I mean, listen, we can talk about what people may think healthy debates about actual journalistic practice are.

We know what that is.

We here know what that is, right?

But disparagement, trying to undermine your dignity, your credibility, that is not up for debate or discussion.

And NABJ, I will say that we encourage newsrooms, we encourage journalists, we encourage media consumers to engage these moments more thoughtfully.

to recognize the value of diverse voices and diverse perspectives and honest and accurate journalism and independent media that is collectively strengthening this profession, especially in a moment where some are looking away.

You being on the ground in a moment where not everyone is helping these local journalists who are telling the story but are not breaking through in the way that you are able to break through.

That is the thing that is drawing folks attention who would seek

to try to define what you are doing is anything other than exactly what it is.

Professional journalism conducted with integrity.

I didn't see anything approaching harassment in the question that you were asking, trying to hold power to account.

That is what you were doing in a place where news was happening.

No, they can follow me on Instagram.

NABJ will be convening in Atlanta this summer, August 12th through the 16th.