Democracy and Journalism

Samantha Damico

samantha.n.damico@gmail.com

"The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing," (17). Journalism has been around for hundreds of years and it has changed in myriad ways. From birth, people relied on newspapers to understand what was happening in the world. Today, social media has nearly taken over and people get their news instantaneously. Journalism has morphed and changed quite a bit over the past hundreds of years, but its primary purpose has remained universal. 

 

Profile picture of @DNJournalism Twitter account

 

Democracy and Journalism Hand in Hand

Journalism was a way for Americans to speak their minds without infringing upon their rights under the Constitution. It's an essential part of American culture. 

The role of a journalist in America is important in the sense that we need people to provide information about our society. President James D Wolfensohn describes a journalist's role in democracy as: "What differentiates poor people from rich people, is lack of voice. The inability to be represented. The inability to convey the people in authority what it is they think. The inability to have a searchlight put on the conditions of inequality. A free press is absolutely vital to that objective. Freedom of the press is not a luxury. It is not an extra. It is absolutely at the core of equitable development," (Pew Research Center: Journalism and Media Staff). 

Truth and Power

Democracy and journalism go hand in hand. Journalism in America has changed over time by becoming more technologically advanced. However, the purpose of journalism has remained constant. 

Journalists are essential to the American government because freedom of speech and press enables civic engagement. In an article written by J. David Wolfgang, he explains the necessities that journalism plays in the role of democracy.

"Broadly journalists more strongly support civic and direct models of democracy that highlight the interest of citizens," (Wolfgang).  

The purpose of a democracy is to allow people to speak their minds and have a say in the society that they live in. Without journalism, there would be no freedom of the press which has the power to allow thousands of Americans to express their thoughts and feelings. Without this, our democracy would not be a democracy.

End of Democracy Begins With Authoritarianism

James Aguilar released an article with a video included about how journalism is essential to sustaining democracy in the United States. 

 

 

Separating journalism from the American government would be like eating a peanut butter sandwich without jelly. Journalism allows the American people to have a voice and taking it away from them would be infringing upon their rights. 

In the video, Aguilar states that journalism is about unveiling the truth, no matter how shocking. The public has a right to know and needs to know about what happens within the world. 

All in All

Journalism is an essential pillar in the structural building that is democracy. Without it, the system would fall. Journalism is a key player in keeping democracy alive and well which allows American constituents to feel empowered and exercise their rights.