Nothing but the Truth

Lukas Moore
lm169715@ohio.edu

Sometimes the simplest things in our lives become the most complex issues. Telling the truth is a prime example of this, it seems so simple. Yet, every single day all of us lie in some way. We tell our significant other they look great in that outfit. We tell ourselves that it's just water weight, or we make up an excuse for being late. When someone asks how we are, does anyone ever really tell the truth? Telling the full truth is something that is very hard to do as individuals day in and day out, but in journalism this is absolutely necessary.

Every aspect of our industry is reliant on truthful information. Without the full truth, trust begins to erode. If people don't trust the information given to them by journalists than the job becomes meaningless because people stop listening. If people don't listen, then we aren't providing them the information they need; and in times like these people are closing their ears to new ideas much sooner than any time in American history.

Misinformation has always been spread by politicians, whether it be propaganda or small white lies. Journalists have always checked that information and the story in the paper or on TV was considered the truth, because journalism was trusted. Journalism was trusted because it was doing good work and because people did not have much choice but to trust it. If the nightly newscast made a claim or told a story, it was impossible to fact check on the internet, or even attempt to. Now, every single thing that is written and spoken by mainstream media can be checked and scrutinized. Plus, the options for receiving information are limitless. No longer is it four newspapers to choose from and three TV stations, it is hundreds upon hundreds.

So why has the trust in journalism faded? Well, I think its unfair and flat wrong to say journalists today are worse or more willing to lie than those from the past. However, the amount of misinformation that has been spread throughout the world since the Internet's creation has created a deep-rooted mistrust of media. People don't have time to fact check every story they read, and if they aren't sure it is truthful they'll count it as a lie. Especially if it flies in the face of a previously held opinion. It is also much easier to find an article supporting your false belief, and the easiest way to believe a lie is to have someone believe it with you.

What is the solution? Well, from a journalist's perspective, we can't do much about the problem of misinformation on the internet. That is a problem for society as a whole to tackle. All we can do is strive for the whole truth and nothing but the truth at all times. We have to be perfect as modern journalists, because every time we mess up we add fuel to the fire. Double-check everything, verify sources, do all the legwork. If we don't, then journalism could crumble, and if that happens it is hard to imagine a functioning democratic society.