So, it happened again.
As predicted.
After last week’s blog was posted on the Global Voiceover Artists Network Facebook group, a very spirited debate ensued.
I LOVE it when that happens!
If you recall, it was a blog about ethics in our business. Apparently, it’s a hot potato in our community. Click here to read the full story called “You are an enabler.”
The gist of the story was this:
Before you accept a job because it pays well, think about the bigger picture. Who or what are you enabling by doing this voice over? Are you selling your soul to the devil for a few bucks? Just because you can do this job, doesn’t mean you should.
TOO POLITICAL
Some thought my article was too political because it mentioned colleagues who had been doing VO’s for right-wing media. Others questioned why I was pointing fingers. Who was I to call people out? Why don’t I mind my own business?
Many responses were supportive of my position, but there’s always this one guy who says:
“Screw morals. I have to put food on the table. I’m a hired gun.”
So, in his model of the world it’s either Money or Morals.
Beware of people who give you false choices. The moment you respond, you have to buy into the limited choices they present to you.
“Do you want A or B?”
What if you prefer C, D, E or F?
Why would you have to choose between money or morals? Can’t you run a for-profit business in an ethical manner? I’ve been doing it for years, and I’m not the only one. You can put food on the table AND be ethical. If you’re one of those rare people with a conscience, you’ll sleep much better at night.
IT’S ALL PRETEND
Then there are those who claim that doing voice overs is JUST ACTING. In other words, we can’t be held accountable for lines other people feed us.
It may be acting, but it’s still enabling!
As I am writing these words, we are observing International Holocaust Remembrance day. During the Second World War, thousands of professional musicians played in orchestras that were used to glorify the Third Reich.
Tell me, were they “JUST PLAYING,” or did they enable a well-oiled Nazi propaganda machine that lead to the killing of millions of people?
WINE AND TOAST
Another person thought he had a GOTCHA-moment by pointing out that I had voiced a national IHOP commercial, singing the praises of Hawaiian French Toast. On top of that, I had had the audacity to record a promo for wine!
Think of the poor souls dying from obesity and alcoholism! I had been encouraging them to eat junk food, and drink alcohol while accusing others of being immoral.
Stop the presses: Mr. Nethervoice is an enabler too!
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone!
I have several things to say about that. First, I never claimed that I am holier than Pope Francis. Secondly, our moral compass is always evolving.
Things we did years ago without reservations, we probably wouldn’t do again, knowing what we know now. I, for instance, used to eat meat. Then I learned about the agricultural-industrial complex, and how animals are mistreated. Now I am a staunch vegetarian. So, depending on where we are in life, our ethics may change.
THE WHEAT AND THE CHAFF
But there is a more important point I’d like to make. It has to do with the way I make ethical decisions in my business. Here’s my thinking:
If a voice over script deals with (purported) FACTS, especially if it’s news and current affairs related, I will think twice about what information I will or will not be spreading.
For instance, if some television news network would ask me to promote the lie that Donald J. Trump won the election and should be president, I would absolutely refuse, no matter how much they’d pay me.
What people see and hear in the context of a newscast, they will take much more seriously (as we have seen on January 6th).
If a voice over script is FICTION, however, it’s much easier for me to say YES to a job. To me, commercials fall under fiction, because anyone with half a brain knows most ads aren’t truthful. Be honest: do you take them seriously?
So, for me, promoting Hawaiian French Toast and Spanish wine falls in the category fiction. Promoting a big fat political lie on cable news as if it were fact, is not okay.
Let me quickly add that those are my personal choices. Different people do different things for different reasons.
WHO AM I?
On to the last point: Who the hell do I think I am to lecture people about what VO jobs they should or should not take?
The answer is simple:
I’m just a guy with an opinion and a blog, who can’t keep his big mouth shut. That’s probably why I am a voice over. But seriously, that’s it.
You don’t have to agree with me. I don’t want to convince you of anything. All I want is for you to look at certain aspects of our business through my colored lens, and then make up your own mind.
If you don’t like what I have to say, move on!
If my writing inspires or amuses you, GREAT!
But please, even if I annoy you and push a few buttons, stay civil. This isn’t FOX News. Don’t make assumptions about me, or utter rude remarks. Those reactions say more about you, than about me.
In the end, the Facebook moderator had to disable the comments because things got a bit out of hand.
Heaven forbid we ever talk about ethics again.
Let’s talk about microphones and Pay-to-Plays instead. Those are not controversial topics, are they?
Paul Strikwerda ©nethervoice
AMEN! I turned down A LOT of work this political season. I worried that my clients/agents would react negatively and think I was being “difficult” or a “”prima Donna.” You know what? No one batted an eye, and a couple times, I got emails back saying something to the effect of, “I don’t blame you!” Beyond the politics issue, I come from a television journalism background before my now 20 years of full time voiceover…so maybe I have a different “gut” on this stuff, because I remember many times the anchor who merely READ a story on air would be the one who got sued for libel; not just the person who wrote the story. Great article, Paul!
AMEN! I turned down A LOT of work this political season. I worried that my clients/agents would react negatively and think I was being “difficult” or a “”prima Donna.” You know what? No one batted an eye, and a couple times, I got emails back saying something to the effect of, “I don’t blame you!” Beyond the politics issue, I come from a television journalism background before my now 20 years of full time voiceover…so maybe I have a different “gut” on this stuff, because I remember many times the anchor who merely READ a story on air would be the one who got sued for libel; not just the person who wrote the story. Great article, Paul!
“…even if I annoy you and push a few buttons, stay civil. This isn’t FOX News.”
Paul….even in your follow-up you include snide asides like this. What about CNN? They have plenty of un-civil comments too.
You need to go back to being a working journalist, where — by contract — I am prevented from making ANY posting/comments ANYWHERE which shows any political bent. It’s actually a pretty safe place, and keeps me out of the fray. I hate confrontation, and I’m lousy at debate anyway.
Great follow-up!…too many people (and some of your readers, apparently) wear their feelings on their sleeve. No wonder comedians are running scared these days…they can’t say ANYTHING about anybody without fear of reprisal!
Hi Dave, I know you always try to walk in someone’s shoes (or even clogs), before you respond. That’s why I so much appreciate what you have to say.
To pick up on your point, I find it extremely liberating to no longer be part of a news organization that would curb what I can and cannot say in public. Your network’s policy actually proves the point I was making in my blog about the impact of our voice. Your bosses realize how much words spoken by a trusted voice and face, matter.
You represent your station, and that’s why your bosses can’t have you go out in public touting your personal views which some viewers might find offensive. These viewers might turn to other networks, diminishing your ratings, decreasing advertising revenue. In the end, it’s all about pleasing the shareholders. It’s one of the reasons I love public radio. This, by the way is not an attack on you, but on the way commercial stations operate. In the end, it’s always about the money.
About Fox News. The name is a misnomer. It’s not Fox NEWS. It’s Fox OPINION. As soon as Biden took office, the opinion hosts got even more prominent time slots, and “real journalism” (objective news gathering) took a hit. Thank goodness Chris Wallace hasn’t followed Shep Smith. Media experts agree: Fox News doesn’t peddle in information but in MISinformation. The network grew as it got more extreme. Pinning people against one another makes for great TV (“We’ll be back after these messages, don’t go away.”).
Yes, there are opinion slots on CNN, and different opinions are represented (e.g. Rick Santorum, John Bolton, and Chris Christi). But looking at their output as someone who has been in a newsroom for 25 years, I think CNN is doing a much better job spreading factual information than FOX.
Why do I as a blogger sometimes add remarks that might tick some people off? What would a delectable dish be without some spices? I want to wake people up, and I can’t do that without tickling them a little. Plus, my blog is nothing but a representation of my biased opinion. I can’t stress that enough. I detest Fox News and all it stands for. I’m not going to hide that from my readers. I hate what happened on January 6th, and the role right-wing “news” media played in getting to that point. I didn’t see Anderson Cooper trying to “stop the steal.”
Back to my blog. By far the worst thing people could tell me is that my writing is kind of vanilla. I want to add some sparks and color. That’s why I push buttons. If I rub some people the wrong way, so be it. I also know that lots of readers agree with me, and that only those who don’t, usually speak out more fervently. I just hope people can disagree with me, without being disagreeable.
Too bad things went too far. I, for one, enjoyed the original post, and I have a great deal of respect for your viewpoint. Your “lens”, which sharpens the focus on this business and brings to bear your years of experience.
I’m okay with people having a different opinion. I’m not oaky with people being rude, and making assumptions about my intentions. But I guess it comes with the territory. Those who play the game, might get hit with a ball every once in a while.
Well, Paul, you big hypocrite you. How dare you write your own opinions as if they’re important. Don’t you know that everyone ELSE’s opinions are important?
Seriously, I know you know this, but you have every right to be as political and as critical as you want on your blog. I post on social media about my political and social views all the time, and if people don’t like my straight-forward-ness about certain topics, buh-bye!
Why the eff do people care so much? Perhaps they’re a little teensy bit defensive. Just a smidge.
Feathers are easily ruffled these days. It’s a sign of the times, I think. We’re all a bit on edge.
I love this blog. Made me AOL (acknowledge out loud!) and chuckle. Just love it. #newfan
I’m a big fan of chuckles. Thanks for chuckling!
I only came across this post recently, but I think it’s an important message. What strikes me is this: If we think the work we do has an impact — and why would we do it if we didn’t think so? — then we have some moral obligation to consider what that impact will be.
It isn’t that we should only work for organizations, brands and causes we align with 100%. Everyone has some disagreement, large or small, with the groups they collaborate with: differences over priorities, policies, messages, approaches… the world’s imperfect. Our responsibility is to recognize when those differences go beyond sources of friction and reach the level of principles we can’t compromise.
I agree, Rob. If what we are recording as voice overs is just a bunch of meaningless baloney, why bother? Why pay us to do it? Our job is to infuse words with meaning, and those words will land somewhere and have some effect.