Journalistic accountability matters

 Wesley Minke

wm598119@ohio.edu

Source: https://www.change.org/p/shri-arun-jaitley-col-rajyavardhan-rathore-law-for-accountable-and-unbiased-media-and-journalism

In a world where "fake news" drives the narrative amongst any reliance we may gain in public media, journalists must band together to create a world where trust is a must. It feels like there is no way we can trust the media after what has gone on over the past 4 years in our country, and it is very easy for people to feel as if they are always being lied to. 

However, this may bode well for journalists. When people doubt pieces they read, they will often search for information that tells them what they want to hear. This could help the journalism society because the more people look into our work, the more factually correct it can prove us to be. 

If we are always following ethical guidelines such as the SPJ code that talks about how we must seek the truth and report it, we shouldn't be in any jeopardy. If the truth is always shown through our work, then the world will begin to trust journalists around the world again. 

https://www.spj.org/ethicsfaq.asp

https://www.rtdna.org/content/rtdna_code_of_ethics

Then again, the RTDNA code of ethics also reminds us that we must always place public interest above all else; which I interpreted as no government agenda should be pushed through a journalist's work, because it violates many different ethical principles. When we allow outside intervention into the truth of the news, this is when the news becomes unreliable and untrustworthy.  

Through every code of ethics there is one principle that remains the same; that principle truth must be above all else. If we continue to honor this principle, accountability will return to journalists and the public will begin to believe in what is being broadcast to them. If we are never able to trust what is told to us, then we will never be able to have a functioning world with trust at the forefront. 

It has become apparent that the only way to get on top of this issue plaguing our media, and media outlets, is to call out the wrongs that may be floating around the world of media. Shut them down immediately, and provide facts or truth for why it may be wrong. If we aren't able to show why something isn't right ethically we remain right back in the same cycle we are stuck in right now. 

While no end to this saga in the world of media may be in sight soon, little steps can go a long way in changing the future of media that we will control one day soon. If we do our part now a future with truthful and trustworthy news can be attainable, but it all starts with action on our behalf.