On Journalism
The free press is the fourth estate, equally important to the fabric of any democracy as a nation's legislature, executives, and judiciaries.
Journalists protect the citizens by holding accountable those in power. Without journalism checking up on the actions and motives of the higher-ups, investigating and exposing covered-up wrongs and sinister plots, society would fall into chaos, deception, and become everything George Orwell feared. Without the dissemination of news, without the education of the people-- censorship and ignorance leads inevitably to oppression and blind loyalty. Just look back at Nazi Germany, look at the Soviet Union, and then look at today.
To me, reporters represent what superheroes would look like in the real world, Robin Hoods in real life. To me, Clark Kent's vocation as a reporter represents no coincidence.
This current trend of vilifying the press is scary. In fact, it feels apocalyptic. "Fake news" is not a pair of words to toss out lightly, and the most terrifying part of all is that the phrase is most often used incorrectly.
Fake news is the deliberate fabrication of facts in order to mislead and manipulate. Fake news is not the biased relay of information or satire. Fake news is not CNN or Fox News. Fake news is not a term to throw around whenever a reporter prints something a public figure does not like or agree with. The term "fake news" is hurting real journalism and turning the people against those who are on their side. "Fake news" has become a finger-pointing witch hunt. Is this another Red Scare? Is this McCarthyism? Yes, it exists, but not (at least, not often enough to substantiate the innumerable claims being made) within the reputable news sources which find themselves under attack. Integrity is a focal part of correct journalism, and more often than not, journalists do represent this.
My fellow Americans, I plead with you, educate yourselves! Go to the source, learn to be critically aware. Do not allow yourselves to be mislead!
Certain leaders' publicly toxic attitude towards reporters is poisoning democracy, and for false reasons. They are creating and shaping and magnifying a disgusting national environment in which the shooting and killing of newspeople is horrifically unsurprising and even considered inevitable.
Journalists are losing their lives because people are being misinformed. Journalists are in danger because there is a misconception about the purpose of the press. The press is for the people, not against them, and yet they are being misled into believing they are enemies! Journalists are threatened and at risk and being killed; this is not a game.
And despite all of the violence towards journalists and danger facing those in the field, my passion for the truth is greater than my fear. I'd gladly go to prison, or die, or worse, for what is right. The fact is that I believe in what my nation stands for, and I have faith in what I know my country has the potential to be.
Without a free press, freedom as we know it would crumble. I continue to study journalism because I know how important it is. Indeed, it is essential that we preserve the freedom of the press!
Journalism is a field of selflessness and leadership, doing what is right even when the majority (and oftentimes those in power) are against it. Even when those they are fighting for are fighting against them, they continue because it is what is right.
I love my fellow men greater than I fear for myself, and I will stand up for them through journalism.
Please join me in supporting our press. They need us as we need them-- more than ever.
Journalists protect the citizens by holding accountable those in power. Without journalism checking up on the actions and motives of the higher-ups, investigating and exposing covered-up wrongs and sinister plots, society would fall into chaos, deception, and become everything George Orwell feared. Without the dissemination of news, without the education of the people-- censorship and ignorance leads inevitably to oppression and blind loyalty. Just look back at Nazi Germany, look at the Soviet Union, and then look at today.
To me, reporters represent what superheroes would look like in the real world, Robin Hoods in real life. To me, Clark Kent's vocation as a reporter represents no coincidence.
This current trend of vilifying the press is scary. In fact, it feels apocalyptic. "Fake news" is not a pair of words to toss out lightly, and the most terrifying part of all is that the phrase is most often used incorrectly.
Fake news is the deliberate fabrication of facts in order to mislead and manipulate. Fake news is not the biased relay of information or satire. Fake news is not CNN or Fox News. Fake news is not a term to throw around whenever a reporter prints something a public figure does not like or agree with. The term "fake news" is hurting real journalism and turning the people against those who are on their side. "Fake news" has become a finger-pointing witch hunt. Is this another Red Scare? Is this McCarthyism? Yes, it exists, but not (at least, not often enough to substantiate the innumerable claims being made) within the reputable news sources which find themselves under attack. Integrity is a focal part of correct journalism, and more often than not, journalists do represent this.
My fellow Americans, I plead with you, educate yourselves! Go to the source, learn to be critically aware. Do not allow yourselves to be mislead!
Certain leaders' publicly toxic attitude towards reporters is poisoning democracy, and for false reasons. They are creating and shaping and magnifying a disgusting national environment in which the shooting and killing of newspeople is horrifically unsurprising and even considered inevitable.
Journalists are losing their lives because people are being misinformed. Journalists are in danger because there is a misconception about the purpose of the press. The press is for the people, not against them, and yet they are being misled into believing they are enemies! Journalists are threatened and at risk and being killed; this is not a game.
And despite all of the violence towards journalists and danger facing those in the field, my passion for the truth is greater than my fear. I'd gladly go to prison, or die, or worse, for what is right. The fact is that I believe in what my nation stands for, and I have faith in what I know my country has the potential to be.
Without a free press, freedom as we know it would crumble. I continue to study journalism because I know how important it is. Indeed, it is essential that we preserve the freedom of the press!
Journalism is a field of selflessness and leadership, doing what is right even when the majority (and oftentimes those in power) are against it. Even when those they are fighting for are fighting against them, they continue because it is what is right.
I love my fellow men greater than I fear for myself, and I will stand up for them through journalism.
Please join me in supporting our press. They need us as we need them-- more than ever.
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