Journalism Education in the Era of 'Fake News'

Ally Lanasa
al887715@ohio.edu

Journalists have always valued truth. In the era of "fake news" and condemnation from the president, truth is the most important ethical value to uphold. It is vital that journalists are trained in matters to ensure accuracy. Two key guides from the SPJ Code of Ethics under "Seek Truth and Report It" are  to "be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable" and to "recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government."

Journalists have been under attack by U.S. presidents before. Richard Nixon had disdain for the media and kept an enemies list that included the names of reporters. However, this did not turn people away from the profession. Contrarily, the number of enrolled journalism majors more than doubled from 1970 to 1979, following the Watergate scandal, increased salaries in the field and a rise in the significance of media in culture, especially to broadcast national news events.

Although Trump refers to the press as the "enemy of the people," college students continue to be attracted to the profession and are invested in current events. Journalism programs across the nation have reported increased enrollment.  Criticism from the president motivates students to produce their best work.

The New York Times has created a series of lesson plans to evaluate the relationship between the press and the presidential administration. For example, a lesson plan published in May 2017 encourages American students to consider the importance of a free press in a democracy, then answer questions regarding articles about Trump's open disdain for the media. Students will analyze and discuss how the relationship between the press and the presidential administration differs with each president. 

A September 2018 report from Pew Research  found that a large partisan divide remains in attitudes toward the media. Republicans are more likely to say news is one-sided rather than objective. Additionally, there is greater Democratic support than Republican support for the media serving as a check on the government.

Courtesy of Pew Research Center

Another study from Pew Research published in June 2018 found that 49 percent of adults in America have some trust in the media, but only 21 percent have a lot of trust in the media.

Courtesy of Pew Research Center

How do journalists obtain more trust from Americans who have such suspicion of the media? In journalism schools across the country, professors are focusing on "teaching media literacy, fact checking and the basic tenets of reporting," according to The Atlantic.  Students must be trained to properly use the technology and resources available to identify and verify credible sources, conduct thorough research and provide context in their reporting. Students need to learn how to properly correct mistakes and be transparent about them. Students should be taught about the various codes of ethics among different journalism and public relations professions and be encouraged to develop their own personal code of ethics. Students should consider the consequences of posting their opinions, especially regarding political issues, on social media. Students should seek mentors in academia as well as in their future profession for guidance.