Egocentrism invades Ceuta

In the process of the occupation of Ceuta by television stars, there is a fact that draws attention to the way they explain what they see: the repetitive use of I that presenters make. They repeat that they are there to give a voice to the people of Ceuta, but the need they have to use the first person singular contradicts the most elementary principles of journalism. “Let me tell you why we have to be here”, said Risto Mejide. Among the phrases in his speech, he let out a repertoire full of I, me, me: “What matters to me is to narrate what is happening here”, “I refuse to say that all those who have entered are criminals”, “I feel especially proud that Mediaset has thrown itself into this day”, “I don't care. What matters to me is that our communication group has got involved and brought more presenters”, “I was on vacation, I was watching it and I couldn't believe it”.Another one who did the same was Nacho Abad, presenter of En boca de todos.. He opened the program confessing a thought to the audience: “During this month of August I have been mulling over an idea that I want to share with you”. After it became known that Abad had attended a reception at the Moroccan embassy, he sought to justify himself: “The same day of the invasion, I, Nacho, attended a reception at the Moroccan embassy. (...) I am going to answer. (...) First, I want to declare my loyalty to this country and my fidelity to this democracy. (...) I went to the Moroccan embassy showing my face, without hiding. (...) I don't like to be messed with and I went to the embassy to look for the ministers”.Iker Jiménez was live on El Trampolín beach very late at night: “One is left speechless”, “I have seen neighbors, I have spoken with lawyers, I have spoken with engineers who have asked me to tell what is happening”. He confessed: “I have been here for two days and it doesn't impress me so much anymore”. And he expressed his commitment to the audience: “I want to tell you, friends of Horizonte, as I would like to be informed”.The journalist must be a mediator and not the protagonist. This narcissism dynamites the criteria about what is relevant. It displaces the importance of facts by shifting it onto the presenter. Self-reference is artificial because it is a way of highlighting the act of making television and not the will to inform. In the place of facts, the journalist is a witness and, undoubtedly, has value. But one should not confuse observation with setting oneself up as a kind of just spokesperson. This idea of the savior self who believes that only he has the power to explain reality is a way of using people's suffering. Misfortune and misery are capitalized for the benefit of personal epic. The systematic use of the self has nothing to do with journalistic authority. The emphatic self is a factor of emotionality that discredits the narrative.