Do Journalists Really Serve the Citizen?

 I believe that whether or not the journalist truly serves the citizen depends on the journalist and their motives. Some journalists are easily swayed by bribes and money, deadlines and competition, or perhaps even fame. Those who do not make truth and accuracy a top priority can at times do the public a disservice of misinforming them. Though this is sometimes the case, more than often, journalists have positive motives focused on serving citizens. One thing is for sure- if it was not for journalists, the majority of citizens would live their lives in the dark, unaware of the happenings in their community and world around them.

Many different beats are very important for the people to keep up on and understand. Reporting on crime, for example, is a great service to the community. People read those reports and know what to be cautious about and what places to avoid in order to stay safe. Obituaries serve as a way to honor people who have passed on. Election updates are also very helpful to the public (when reported well and without bias). Without those, people would have few ways to research each candidate and decide who to vote for. These are all topics that journalists cover, and by covering these topics, they are serving the citizens through their reporting.

Keeping newspapers and journals independent are vital in order to maintain focus on serving the citizen. When newspapers become part of monopolies, they no longer report on what the citizen should know, but turn their focus to what will make them money and benefit them the most. In these cases, journalists turn from serving the citizen to serving the businesses and powerful people in the community. The dangers of monopolies and newspapers are discussed in an article called “The Danger of Local Newspaper Monopolies.”

Do Journalists Report the Truth?

Anybody would agree that truth is vital in journalism. Unfortunately, many people have lost their confidence in journalism and no longer see it as reliable. People must realize that there is a difference in a journalist’s truth and an absolute truth. As we have discussed in class, journalistic truth is a process. Journalists report on the facts, but stories evolve as new elements of stories surface. This does not mean the journalist who reported a story that has evolved reported falsehoods. If the public wants immediate news, they must understand that in a matter of days or even hours, there will be more to the story that was not originally reported.

Do I think stories get exaggerated sometimes to appeal more to the public? Yes. And while there are those in the profession who are easily persuaded by money and bribes to tell a slightly twisted story, there are also moral journalists out there doing their best to capture and report truth. Like any other profession, business, or industry, there is corruption in journalism. That should be no surprise. It also should not be a reason not to believe anything that is being reported. The public has a responsibility to weed out the unreliable sources. If it is truth they seek, they also have a responsibility to keep up on the updated stories published rather than just reading the initial report.

Another related topic to this is citizen journalism and the role it plays in reporting truth. Citizen journalism has become very influential in reporting. Check this interesting article on "Citizen Journalism and the capital 'T' truth."

What Purpose Does it Serve in Your Life?

Journalism keeps me up to date on what is going on both in the world and in my community. While living in Guatemala, my family and I came across a New York Times article entitled: “Guatemala Regains Control of Notorious Prison.” It was an article about a prison, only 15 minutes from our home, that the government had lost control of. They stormed the facility and were shocked by what they discovered: “Pool halls, brothels, isolation chambers, and computer centers, all run by some of Guatemala's most feared convicts.” This happened practically outside of my neighborhood and we did not know about it. Shockingly, there was no talk about it at school, church, or any place else for that matter (I suppose that is a consequence of living in a corrupt country where violence is not news). Had it not been for journalism across the continent, we would not have known about this danger affecting the community. Though this is an extreme example and may not relate so dramatically to those who live in the United States, it still applies. As a college student living in Utah, I am able to keep up with news on campus, in the community, of my home town in Chesapeake, Virginia, and I am even able to keep track of what is going on in Guatemala. This is all thanks to journalism.

Journalism- What Is It?

Some may argue that journalism is the mere reporting of facts and events of a community or a larger population. Those who believe this do not understand the power of the pen. Journalism not only keeps the public aware of the current news, but in a way chooses what will be exposed to the people. Whether on television, in a newspaper, magazine, or online, the purpose and goal of Journalism is the same. That purpose is to make the public aware of what is going on in the world around us; to perhaps bring the world out of complete ignorance. The journalist plays a key role in this. As expressed by Bill Kavach and Tom Rosenstiel in their book “Elements of Journalism”, journalism's first loyalty is to the citizens.While expressing opinions and reporting stories, a journalist has a responsibility to report the truth and emphasize that which is in the best interest of the people to know. He/she has the ability to bring readers out of the dark and call people to action. That is the reward of the profession. Freedom of the press bears the power to evoke progression in individuals, creating the "water droplet" effect on communities large and small. That, is power.

photo credit