Reporting the Truth

Ashley Driscoll
ad615512@ohio.edu

Today's society is exploding with numerous forms of technology. This makes it possible for news to spread in a matter of seconds, whether this news be true or false. Society's use of technology and social media gives people who are not professional journalists the opportunity to report as is they are true professionals.

This overwhelming use of social media can make it difficult to decipher what actually defines news?In recent times, news and entertainment have been blending together and society is losing site of what news is actually defined as. What defines something as newsworthy and important?

Although this use of technology can be extremely beneficial to news media, it also has its downfalls. Many people are so determined to get a story out before another network releases it, that they don't do everything they can to make sure that they information released is indeed accurate.

Releasing information that is unethical and false undermines the meaning of news. It portrays journalism field in a negative manner.  Journalists are under pressure everyday debating whether to report what is 100% truthful news, or to bend the truth and make a more interesting story.

It is upsetting to me that people abuse their journalistic powers. This reflects poorly on all journalists and changes the way people view journalism. When people first began to report news, the journalists were praised for their work.

A prime example of a journalist who is praised for his work is Anthony Lewis. Lewis is the winner of multiple Pulitzer Prices and is the columnist for the New York Times. He is an example of someone who is true to his word and is determined to report the newsworthy truth.

Unfortunately, that is not always the case in today’s day and age. There are many entertainment journalists who pose to be ethical and newsworthy reporters. This gives professional journalists a bad reputation and makes it difficult for the public to believe their reports to be the truth. This fake journalism is also defined as pseudo journalism and is extremely bad for the media's reputation. 

Some people make the argument that because society is evolving so much, the news media should evolve also. I agree with this statement, and I think that the reporting world is keeping up with the technological changes. However, even though the ethics and morals of society are changing, the ethics of journalism should not change for the worst. 

There will be many times that journalists have to report on issues and stories that may not serve much importance to them, but it is their job to do the best that they can. As journalists, our job is to report news that we believe is newsworthy and important to the public. It is our responsibility to report that news in the best ways that we possibly can.

It is important to utilize the tools that are available to us while providing news to the public that is reliable and trustworthy.  There will be many times that journalists have to report on issues and stories that may not serve much importance to them, but it is their job to do the best that they can. I hope that the journalism world will work toward regaining the integrity that it once had, and that it still deserves.

Courtesy of John S. Knight