Where Does the History Lie Among Journalistic Ethics?

Marc Anthony Brown 

mb802117@ohio.edu

Navigating the internet becomes a minefield more and more with every passing year. While a lot of good has come from this online globalized community, there is a point to recognize problems that have sprung up as a result. 

With access to information at anyone's fingertips it has allowed opinions to be misinterpreted as facts. This issue can be seen most evident today within the attitude toward journalism and media as a whole. 

Trust in news and reporters has declined at an exponential rate with currently no end in sight based on current political attitudes among party lines. Among this discourse the ethical responsibility of journalists is argued as being non-existent however, an argument against those claims suggest that consumers of news and media do not properly understand journalistic integrity and the ethical responsibilities of a reporter. 

Instead of believing one side or another, as a true reporter would want to get down to the truth and truly understand where the misinformation lies. What has caused this virus of mistrust to flourish and can it be stopped? 

Source: Edelman; Chart; Axios Visual

In the current societal climate of the United States, Axios reports that in 2021 trust in traditional media has fallen to 46% over the last decade. Political contention in politics along party lines has accelerated this form of mistrust. 

Axios reports that 56% of Americans today believe news journalists are purposefully trying to misinform individuals. With 58% believing media stations are more concerned with supporting an ideology rather than telling the truth. Since the rise of 24 hour news broadcasting, political panels have been misinterpreted as a news outlet's entire position on facts and information of a topic. Calling into question the ethical responsibilities of journalists. 

Ethics is a word that is thrown around constantly within the conversation of journalism. A term that sprung up by the Greeks translating to the study of good. A well organized report on the truth helps fact and information to flourish. History has showcased the truth has bounced back and forth from being objective as control of church and state causes contention on what is true and what is not true. 

This mistrust in the media may be seen as an annoyance into today's climate - with individuals reflecting back to a time like Watergate where the truth was the only thing that mattered. However, an argument can be made that today we are in a new wave of Yellow Journalism - causing this calamity of miscommunication.

Healthline reports that in a recent survey that users who used Facebook as their main source of news were more likely to have vaccine hesitancy to fight off COVID-19. Many more young Americans are recognizing the problem Facebook has caused over the last several years with trust and information. Algorithms allow for niche groups to spring up and have their ideas supported no matter how correct those ideas may be. 

A debate on Yellow Journalism ethics is unnecessary due to the fact that it simply caused the news at the time to be exaggerated just for sales. And with this new algorithmic setting of news and information, many wonder if history can change or if it is destined to repeat forever? 

The weight of the situation indicate change could be held by political activism online. Pressure from the public through comments and posts can help keep media coverage objective and centered thanks to using algorithms to obtain viral status. But this fighting fire with fire situation can only remain for so long until a hard concrete solution can be created.