Journalism: Seeking the Truth

Allison Pierce                                                                                                  apierc19@kent.edu/ap287120@ohio.edu

 

As the saying goes, we shall tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Of course, that is the oath for sworn testimony. Honesty as the golden rule is something that most of us are taught at a young age. Similarly, the same goes for journalists. However, as I'm sure we all have experienced to some degree, this is not always the case. While technological advancements have opened the door to many new forums, opinions, and deliveries, it has also created the opportunity for falsities.

 

Picture source: UMassOnline

 

Human Nature 

Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel said it best, in The Elements of Journalism, "news satisfies a basic human impulse." The authors continue with the idea that we, as humans, need news to live our lives, as it builds a connection through keeping the public informed. With this in mind, the relationship between journalists and its public is an intimate one, as it relies on trust. Unfortunately, that bond can be easily and quickly broken by dishonesty. In the case of Jayson Blair, as mentioned by Kovach and Rosenstiel, Blair not only betrayed the trust of his peers, but the viewers as well, ultimately leading to public distrust and skepticism. As seen in this article, featured on The Journalist's Resource, the principles of journalism are further outlined. Notice the first: journalism's first obligation is to tell the truth.

Moral and Ethical Debate

 

"Journalism is an act of character," Kovach and Rosenstiel writes. Indeed, it is that journalist's ethical decisions that make up their character. That character is then sent out into the open, through whichever medium, and left to the public to judge its authenticity and worthiness. "It is a part of the journalist's responsibility to encourage a transparent and open culture that won't lead to critics to call the credibility into question." Kovach and Rosenstiel point out that with the ever-evolving forms of media, such as the internet, more critics are created, through everyday readers, aka citizens. According to this article, from the American Press Institute, it is suggested that journalists follow the Discipline of Verification, including transparency, humility, and originality. In other words, until journalists can accept and embrace their vulnerability, there is more interpretation for criticism, as their character feels ungenuine.