We launched Borasaek Vision with a series of blogs on journalistic ethics – a topic that was of paramount importance to us as an organization. Accuracy, objectivity, in-depth research, and duty of providing a forum for discussion are some of the main attributes that a good journalist should follow when writing a piece. Our organization has always tried to stick to these, and on the very few occasions that we have gone astray, we have made it a point to rectify our mistakes. We have also diligently written about articles that have been fair and square in their representations of BTS and ARMY, not just those that purposefully shed a negative light on them. In this blog, we will look at a magazine, which, like us, is relatively new to the publishing world and shares our love for journalistic ethics.
Weverse Magazine is a part of Weverse, an online platform that features various activities of different artists and is owned by Hybe Corporation (formerly Big Hit Entertainment). It regularly releases interviews, features, reviews, etc., along with a special section called ‘NoW’ that focuses on the recent developments in not just the music industry but across all walks of life.
Now, the question of conflict of interest arises, since some might question the authenticity of Weverse Magazine, as it is owned by the same company that owns groups such as BTS, TXT, etc. But this is where Weverse Magazine has pleasantly surprised readers across the globe. In a short period, they have established an identity for their articles, which are objective, accurate, and have been written after in-depth research, as is evident by the articles’ content. Now let us dive deep into some of the articles that drive our arguments.
Weverse digs deep
Weverse Magazine has been consistent in digging deep for all their articles. If you are under the impression that the magazine just writes about the artists that are under its company, you are highly mistaken. They have been diving into topics related to the entertainment industry without restricting themselves to a particular genre or region. While covering news, they have researched thoroughly on each topic before presenting them to their readers. Recently, I read an article titled “The Sorrows and Success of Billie Eilish” on Weverse. The article not only traces the growth and success of Billie Eilish but also educates the reader on the history of the “sad girl” culture of pop music. The article also takes on the uncomfortable discussions around body stereotypes, depression, and social anxiety. The article is not just well-written, it is well-researched. It does not try to claim glamour and sensationalism of hot takes and, instead, focuses on the little things that make the reader aware of what Billie’s music is all about.
Weverse Magazine is objective when it comes to writing about South Korea-related topics. They do not try to sugarcoat facts or present an unrealistic picture to the readers. A very good example of this is the article titled “From International Sign in ‘Permission to Dance’ to a barrier-free world,” which discusses BTS’ use of international sign language in their choreography and its significance. While exploring the barriers that BTS broke with the “Permission to Dance” music video, the writers were quick to point out the existing problems and difficulties that are faced by people with impaired hearing in Korea. To bring out the perspective of the people who face these challenges, the magazine interviewed a Korean YouTuber called hamonthly, who identifies as deaf. Thus, in an article that one presumes would laud BTS for their thoughtful gesture of inclusivity, Weverse Magazine presents a realistic picture of the situation and explains that more efforts are needed to do away with the disparity.
Weverse Magazine has been ruthless about people publicly shaming artists without proper reasons. In their article “Stories After #StopAsianHate,” the writers outline the different hate crimes that have been taking place all over the world, especially in Western countries, against Asians. The article reprimands the Bayern 3 radio host in strong words for his racist comments about BTS – “From offensive words to comparisons to the coronavirus, to suggesting the group will have to take a “vacation” to North Korea—a term used by the Nazis to trick Jews when they forced them into concentration camps—it was a textbook case of hatred toward Asians.” The article bravely states the fact that Western media has been unfair towards BTS for a long time until these media houses realized that BTS was not a passing ‘fad’ but was an act to stay.
“Some welcomed the arrival of these new stars with an open mind, but there were also those who stubbornly saw BTS as outsiders because they are not white and are from Korea.” – These lines portray how BTS has been treated by Western media and their highly acclaimed award shows. Irrespective of the company they belong to, not many publication houses have the heart to spit out facts such as these. One may say that Weverse Magazine is biased towards their artists and, hence, is speaking out against these media outlets. But one must understand that the arguments they are putting forward are accurate and objective without any fabrications. They are writing about it because it needs to be written and taken to those people who have misconceptions about the artists.
So far, Weverse Magazine has been particular about keeping in line with journalistic ethics. The articles are highly educational and fun at the same time. We highly recommend reading the Weverse Magazine to ARMY and anyone interested in music.
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Written By: Basabdatta
Edit By: Clare
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