Truth: The First and Most Confusing Principle
As American Journalists we hold fast to the belief that our work must not just contain the truth, but BE the truth. We try to consciously push aside our inner biases and to produce news that is fair and balanced. We believe that our job is to give voice to all sides of an issue and to let the public decide which view to sympathize with. We believe news articles should have no editorial comments. We believe in the Liberal Model.
But what if we didn't? What if we had a different type of system and a different attitude toward the press? What if our papers followed the suit of Southern European countries where political parallelism is prevalent, but open? Or even the Democratic Corporatist model where journalists have open political attachments and do not believe in being balanced or objective? What if we marketed our news sources to specific demographics? What if we embraced what the news industry is already starting to become?
Back to Truth.
How does one even begin to define it? The public demands it, but what is it? Is it the straight facts and figures of an event? Or is the context also part of the all encompassing truth? Group Three said the Tests of truth are Correspondence (accurate information) AND Coherence (fair contextual representation). But, doesn't context change with varying perspectives? Whose perspective do we report? Do we give equal weight and measure to all perspectives? Chapter Two of "The Elements of Journalism" says that we often try to give equal coverage to both sides of an issue. But what if both sides are not equal players in the issue? Wouldn't that be a form of distortion? If we can't come to a consensus as to the definition, how are we to provide what we do not comprehend?
So, I feel this argument of truth begs the question: Why do we even try? the United States is in the minority here. Most other presses have not adopted our theories on unbiased news. So what makes our way "right"? Is it "right"? Can we learn from other styles of the press? Would a sort of hybrid of the three styles be the most beneficial?
So. Will every country end up with the liberal model of journalism? Absolutely not. While ethical codes have developed slowly in the Polarized Pluralist model, they also have a specific target audience (upper-class, urban, educated) and will continue, I am sure, to provide specialized news aimed at this group as long as this model continues to make them money.
Am I concerned with the political parallelism that is becoming more prominent in American journalism? If the public is happy, I'm happy. I of course believe that news needs to be factual and functional, but if news corporations are going to purposely market themselves toward certain groups with certain sympathies, then as long as I have a job I'm happy. In today's economy, as a journalist student, perhaps I am not as idealistic about truth and objectivity as journalist students of yesteryear. As long as the bias is openly proclaimed so that the public can make up it's own mind and choose it's news sources--as long as there are other corporations that cover the other biases, I am not worried about the burgeoning political parallelism in American journalism. News is a business. Our duty is to the public. So as long as we are honest with the public, and we are making money, I don't care what model we follow.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Group Two: Social Media and the Future of Journalism
My favorite part was probably the YouTube video on social media. I love random facts and that clip was chalk-full of them:) We all know that social media plays a huge part in our lives (and it's influence is growing all the time!) but to see the facts laid out right in front of my nose was pretty cool.
I'm also glad to find out that Wikipedia is mostly accurate:)
I really like trying to visualize the future of journalism. It's something that none of us can really know and no matter how hard we try and how flamboyant our ideas may be, I'm sure in five (or maybe even fewer) years the reality will shock us.
For instance, the clip on reporting crises via texting in Africa was pretty sweet. I like the idea of an interactive type of news where people can look at a map and determine which local news to absorb. I like that as journalists we can put a definite GPS location to our reporting.
I was vastly entertained by the "Smelf smart" video. I sent it to my sociology professor and asked which stage of cognitive development he thinks that guy is in;)
We did discuss citizen journalism and the affect it is having on "proper" journalistic practices. It's difficult to make assumptions about how we think citizen journalism will increase/continue to change/and impact news. As journalists I guess we just have to learn to embrace their strategies and use them to our advantage:) We will continue to provide accurate, truthful information to the masses and hope that the public will be voracious enough to select the information they need to make informed decisions.
I feel group two did a good job of presenting the information; we had discussion, excellent quotes, and entertaining videos to add variety. They seemed to try and shed a positive light on the future of journalism, perhaps so we don't have to feel hopeless about the field we are entering into:)
I'm also glad to find out that Wikipedia is mostly accurate:)
I really like trying to visualize the future of journalism. It's something that none of us can really know and no matter how hard we try and how flamboyant our ideas may be, I'm sure in five (or maybe even fewer) years the reality will shock us.
For instance, the clip on reporting crises via texting in Africa was pretty sweet. I like the idea of an interactive type of news where people can look at a map and determine which local news to absorb. I like that as journalists we can put a definite GPS location to our reporting.
I was vastly entertained by the "Smelf smart" video. I sent it to my sociology professor and asked which stage of cognitive development he thinks that guy is in;)
We did discuss citizen journalism and the affect it is having on "proper" journalistic practices. It's difficult to make assumptions about how we think citizen journalism will increase/continue to change/and impact news. As journalists I guess we just have to learn to embrace their strategies and use them to our advantage:) We will continue to provide accurate, truthful information to the masses and hope that the public will be voracious enough to select the information they need to make informed decisions.
I feel group two did a good job of presenting the information; we had discussion, excellent quotes, and entertaining videos to add variety. They seemed to try and shed a positive light on the future of journalism, perhaps so we don't have to feel hopeless about the field we are entering into:)
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Group Presentation: What is Journalism?
I think Group 1 did an excellent job of presenting the information from the texts and of engaging the class. There were discussions, games, and even treats. It was, in all respects, a success.
Discussion always fosters understanding so it was really great to be able to share ideas with the whole class. It makes the text so much more relevant when we can bring it to our level and see how it directly connects to us.
The video clips of newscasters fumbling over words and buckets of grapes is highly entertaining, and it really makes one consider how easy it is to mess up Big Time on air... probably makes me more nervous because I want to go into Broadcasting:]
The games were excellent: simple and to the point. I loved how in Heads Up 7-Up the media were made to be society's helpers in making decisions. Journalists are truly the connectors of society--our purpose is to provide accessible information to the public because they have not the time neither the means to investigate and validate reports on current events.
The activity with the candy and the two bowls struck a chord with me. Recently I've been trying to reconcile within myself how we as journalists should go about reporting/making news. We can try to be all holier-than-thou and attempt to run a news corporation on purely journalistic means, but the hard cold reality of the business is just that--it's a business. News, is a business. It is hugely important and vital to be honest and to have integrity in our journalistic practices, but we also must stay in business which can and does often translate into choosing stories which will appeal to our audience and thus increase advertising revenue. (Geneva Overholser maintains the more traditional way of thinking, however. She advocates a new model).
The concept of the interlocking public fascinates me. I believe it will really help to keep in mind those three audiences as I write news stories in the future. My goal will be to sound intelligent to the involved public, engage the interested, and to get the uninterested interested.
Maybe I'm selfish for wanting to be a journalist. Yes, providing pertinent information to the public is awesome, as is protecting the freedom of the press; but I could let someone else fight those battles if I didn't have other motivations. I want to be a journalist because I think it's fascinating and fun. I want to be a journalist because journalism satisfies a need--the need and desire everyone has for information--the Awareness Instinct. I want to be a journalist because it's important and gratifying, that my talents and skills can bring people reliable information in order for them to remain free and self-governing.
Discussion always fosters understanding so it was really great to be able to share ideas with the whole class. It makes the text so much more relevant when we can bring it to our level and see how it directly connects to us.
The video clips of newscasters fumbling over words and buckets of grapes is highly entertaining, and it really makes one consider how easy it is to mess up Big Time on air... probably makes me more nervous because I want to go into Broadcasting:]
The games were excellent: simple and to the point. I loved how in Heads Up 7-Up the media were made to be society's helpers in making decisions. Journalists are truly the connectors of society--our purpose is to provide accessible information to the public because they have not the time neither the means to investigate and validate reports on current events.
The activity with the candy and the two bowls struck a chord with me. Recently I've been trying to reconcile within myself how we as journalists should go about reporting/making news. We can try to be all holier-than-thou and attempt to run a news corporation on purely journalistic means, but the hard cold reality of the business is just that--it's a business. News, is a business. It is hugely important and vital to be honest and to have integrity in our journalistic practices, but we also must stay in business which can and does often translate into choosing stories which will appeal to our audience and thus increase advertising revenue. (Geneva Overholser maintains the more traditional way of thinking, however. She advocates a new model).
The concept of the interlocking public fascinates me. I believe it will really help to keep in mind those three audiences as I write news stories in the future. My goal will be to sound intelligent to the involved public, engage the interested, and to get the uninterested interested.
Maybe I'm selfish for wanting to be a journalist. Yes, providing pertinent information to the public is awesome, as is protecting the freedom of the press; but I could let someone else fight those battles if I didn't have other motivations. I want to be a journalist because I think it's fascinating and fun. I want to be a journalist because journalism satisfies a need--the need and desire everyone has for information--the Awareness Instinct. I want to be a journalist because it's important and gratifying, that my talents and skills can bring people reliable information in order for them to remain free and self-governing.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Blog Assignment #1
What is Journalism? Who is a Journalist?
Journalism is the dissemination of information to the masses. It is timely, accurate information that has value to society. Generally speaking, Journalism must meet certain requirements. It must be fact checked, neutral, and truthful. Citizen journalism is another matter entirely because citizens are not obliged to abide by high standards of journalism. Journalism acts as a watchdog on society. A free press or unfettered journalism is a key component of democracy. Journalism today connects the entire world instantaneously. Journalism provides the people with the information required to be aware of the world around them and to make informed decisions. Journalism is an art form. It is a medium unlike any other kind of writing and there are rules that must be followed. Journalism is writing with the purpose to inform by raising awareness of issues and with the result of connecting society on all levels.
Journalists are those who take it upon themselves to investigate truth and report it. Journalists follow a code of ethics. A strict ethical code is what makes paid journalists a higher authority than citizen journalists. With our technology, anyone can publish anything. A citizen can contribute to the wealth of information at our fingertips. But a Journalist is required to be accurate and truthful. It is their duty to do the research and to provide reports to the public which the people are able to understand. Journalists must not necessarily be smarter than the general public, but they certainly must be knowledgeable on a plethora of subjects because Journalists are the middle men. It is their duty to discover information from experts and witnesses and to present the information to the public in a way that is easy to understand and that connects the audience to the issue.
Journalism is the dissemination of information to the masses. It is timely, accurate information that has value to society. Generally speaking, Journalism must meet certain requirements. It must be fact checked, neutral, and truthful. Citizen journalism is another matter entirely because citizens are not obliged to abide by high standards of journalism. Journalism acts as a watchdog on society. A free press or unfettered journalism is a key component of democracy. Journalism today connects the entire world instantaneously. Journalism provides the people with the information required to be aware of the world around them and to make informed decisions. Journalism is an art form. It is a medium unlike any other kind of writing and there are rules that must be followed. Journalism is writing with the purpose to inform by raising awareness of issues and with the result of connecting society on all levels.
Journalists are those who take it upon themselves to investigate truth and report it. Journalists follow a code of ethics. A strict ethical code is what makes paid journalists a higher authority than citizen journalists. With our technology, anyone can publish anything. A citizen can contribute to the wealth of information at our fingertips. But a Journalist is required to be accurate and truthful. It is their duty to do the research and to provide reports to the public which the people are able to understand. Journalists must not necessarily be smarter than the general public, but they certainly must be knowledgeable on a plethora of subjects because Journalists are the middle men. It is their duty to discover information from experts and witnesses and to present the information to the public in a way that is easy to understand and that connects the audience to the issue.
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