Trust and Ethical Responsibility

Billy McDermott
wm017314@ohio.edu

Before I get started, I want to let my reader(s) know that my blog is divided into two journalistic thoughts upon which I hope they discover to correlate in some way. So, here goes!

Part One

“Being aware of events we cannot see for ourselves engenders a sense of security, control and confidence. One writer has called it a ‘hunger for awareness.’” (Kovach and Rosenstiel, 1) There is most certainly unquestionable truth in this, spanning throughout the extensive timeline of human existence; however, I like to think of news consumption as both, “a hunger for awareness,” as well as a search for knowledge. 

Humans are instinctive thinkers, and we (being one myself) have used our cognitive capacity to continuously develop our own opinions, thoughts and ideologies. This natural evolutionary phenomenon is the foundation on which the human race has thrived. It is a catalyst upon which we can praise for allowing some, but not all, to live in a successfully-industrialized, modern society.

            

The consumption and mass dissemination of information through forms of journalism have allowed us to form our own personalities, and decide what other personalities we wish to accompany along the way. In this day and age, people are divided by simple political and social ideologies, and one would most likely not be able to form adamant opinions on these subjects if one didn’t digest news one way or the other. 

Before we had mass communication platforms,we used written and spoken testament, as well as word of mouth. Nonetheless, humans have been judging and forming beliefs since we became self-aware. I can go so far as to say we choose to love or hate based on the news we consume. After all, journalism is an ancient form of storytelling. It’s caused extremism, enlightenment, hardship, happiness, war and peace. Its methods haven’t always been consistent, and its information hasn’t always been truthful, but it has certainly remained a constant.

Part Two

Because trust and responsibility is part of our first week’s curriculum for Journalism 3200, I want to discuss citizen journalism, and the decline in ethical, objective news. News organizations have prided themselves on ethical and professional responsibility for decades, but as communication platforms like social media continue to indoctrinate within the minds of the masses, journalists have a problem on their hands. And I mean “real journalists.” 

Their credibility is at stake. Not because of their own blunders (well, some perhaps), but because of fake news on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. The lucky ones choose not to believe it, or even read it in the first place, but there are some that are becoming “victims” of false, citizen journalism. 

We, as consumers, cannot believe everything we read and watch. Unfortunately, many people are viewing this information and trusting in its credibility; however, if more and more people begin to distrust news from platforms thatlack reliability, “real” journalists could soon begin to gain back the respect and trust of their audience.

I have found myself susceptible to it many times, but in the back of my mind, I usually find it questionable and take it with a grain of salt. I also consider myself highly educated, and remotely intelligent (LOL), and so if you can imagine the people that don’t have the opportunity to attend refined educational systems, or even have the fundamental human rights to consume un-biased information (such as Russian, Chinese and North Korean citizens), it is an overwhelming thought that most of these people will believe almost anything they’re told. 

This is why “real” journalists have a duty, or an ethical responsibility if you will, to uphold the common interests of the people who they serve, and who keep them in business. Rather than spewing extremist social views to pander to organization shareholders and a miniscule group of angry, unemployed ANTIFA protesters outside (who in fact act like fascists themselves with no real comprehension of fascism), journalists need to find it in themselves to report the news, tell stories and inform people through objective and un-biased methods because it is the ONLY way to win back the trust of their consumers.