It is probably too soon to issue a final verdict over the “You Stink” Movement and the popular street action it ushered in. However, one could draw that this movement allowed certain female reporters’ acting skills to shine.

Working in the media, mainly field coverage requires all reporters to have quite a bit of courage and guts to enter the site of a major event even when it proves to be a tad dangerous. Recklessness however is not courage.

Being a field reporter also requires utmost levels of objectivity so as to transfer the clearest image of whatever is taking place to the audience. A reporter shouldn’t be pushed by sympathy or driven towards spicing up a story and shouldn’t speak of his views unless they fit the actual reality of the events taking place before his or her eyes.

What we have witnessed on some channels over the past few weeks was the farthest possible from journalistic ethics. Some reporters, mainly female reporters, turned into protesters, screaming profanities at security forces instead of doing their job.

Some took their coverage of the protests too far. These reporters even chose to make up stories and bits that were the farthest from reality. They screamed, yelled profanities, cussed and claimed that security forces were attacking the media.

Reporters, just like the people, are suffering from the stench of the trash piled up on our streets. They are suffering in excessive heat without access to electricity. Just like the people, they get stuck in traffic on their way to work. And they, more than all other, realize the weight of the corruption plaguing most of the country’s political class.

This is why it is their duty to report the truth, without any additions or exaggeration. They don’t have to scream and lie and most importantly they do not have to ACT. But on the other hand, Lebanese drama series do need a few fresh faces so why not. Our only concern is that some of those involved do not belong in the news or on screen.

Article originally written in Arabic by Dany Haddad