The Current State of Journalism

Matilda Jakovac

mj244121@ohio.edu

What is journalism?

In order to understand the current state of journalism, you must first have an understanding of what journalism is, what its purpose is, and how it's changed over time. So what exactly is journalism? 

Well, the answer isn't simple. While one might argue that journalism is a function that satisfied the innate desire of humans to communicate, another might argue that journalism is simply the reporting and sharing of important information.

 Whichever way you look at it, journalism has been an important aspect of human civilization since the dawn of time. 

Photo courtesy of Business Insider

How has journalism changed?

The sharing of news has taken many forms over time. From early cave paintings, to modern day news blogs, people have always had a need for sharing and receiving information. 

While changing media has impacted the way that people receive their information, new threats have been posed regarding the integrity of the information being offered. One of the many threats facing modern journalism relates to technology. 

Although the development of technology has made news more accessible, it has also hindered the industry. In the past, the act of publishing news was reserved for a small group of writers, editors, and reporters. Today, anyone can call themselves a journalist. 

While the marketplace for journalism has become open and competitive, the consumers faith in the integrity of the information offered is dwindling. Part of this change can be attributed to the implementation of targeted and curated advertising. 

In the past, people turned to the news to receive reliable facts and information. Today, consumers are flooded with articles and clickbait that are delivered based on algorithms. 

Photo courtesy of Keyhole.co

With modern journalism being clouded with misinformation and sensationalism, it's no wonder that the integrity of the industry is being questioned. 

To read more about a RAND corporation report regarding the change in journalism reporting in the last 30 years, click here.

Why does it matter?

Why does the integrity of the journalism industry matter? The answer is greater than most people consider. Simply put, a war on journalism is a war on human rights. 

Freedom of speech is the foundation to our democracy and human rights across the globe. The role of journalism in the spread of human rights has been shown in countless examples throughout history in Europe, Russia, China and even in genocidal regimes in Africa.

To read about how journalism was impacted during World War Two, click here.

Journalism has helped people take back power and their voices from the government. The ability to communicate and form solidarity has been one of the few defenses that people have been able to retain against totalitarianism and other extreme forms of government. 

Furthermore, the delivery of news and journalism is a constitutional right that should continue to be valued and protected. The future of journalism is in the hands of both the journalists and the civilians.