Back in the day, local news outlets used to be independent of each other. Today, ownership of the news media has been concentrated in the hands of just six powerful media corporations. These six media companies are known as The Big 6. They are: Comcast, Time Warner, Disney, News Corp, National Amusements, and Sony.
Together, these corporate behemoths control most of what we watch, hear and read. They own television networks, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels, video game companies, and even many of our favorite websites. Sadly, most people don’t even stop to think about who is feeding them the endless hours of news and entertainment that they ingest every day.
I first got suspicious several years ago when I noticed that the layout of my local news station’s website looked exactly the same as that of U.S. News & World Report. After watching a compilation video of many local newscasts delivering the exact, verbatim reports, biased against Trump, I haven’t watched another mainstream media or local news program since. It’s nothing but propaganda on parade.
Many people, myself included, have turned to the internet and podcasts for their news. It’s like a breath of fresh air without the smug presenters or pompous panelists who all sing the same tedious song. And so many lazy journalists these days have been mostly scouring Twitter/X for their stories anyway! There’s been a tectonic shift in how we get our news, and mainstream/corporate media have no one to blame but themselves. If they had been doing their jobs as actual journalists, they wouldn’t be in this position.
So, what is a journalist anyway?
What is a Journalist?
A journalist is someone who gathers, writes, edits, and presents news and information to the public. Journalists work across various media platforms, including print, broadcast, and digital, adapting their reporting style to suit each format.
Journalism comes in many forms, and they all have a vital role to play, each with a unique approach to reporting and storytelling. Here are some of the main types:
- Investigative Journalism: In-depth reporting to uncover hidden truths, often involving extensive research and sometimes undercover work.
- News Journalism: Reporting on current events and breaking news in a timely manner.
- Feature Journalism: Long-form articles that explore a topic in depth, often with a focus on human interest stories.
- Opinion Journalism: Articles or columns that express the author’s personal views and opinions on various topics.
- Sports Journalism: Coverage of sporting events, athletes, and related news.
- Photojournalism: Using photographs to tell a news story or capture events.
- Broadcast Journalism: Reporting news on television or radio.
- Digital Journalism: News reporting done through online platforms, including social media, blogs, podcasts, and news websites.
- Citizen Journalism: News reported by non-professional journalists, often using social media platforms.
- Business Journalism: Coverage of business news, financial markets, and economic trends.
- Science Journalism: Reporting on scientific discoveries, research, and related issues.
- Entertainment Journalism: Coverage of the entertainment industry, including movies, music, and celebrities.
The ultimate goal of a journalist is to inform, educate, and engage the public about important issues and events affecting society.
Key Responsibilities
- News Gathering: Journalists investigate and research stories, often conducting interviews, attending events, and reviewing documents to gather accurate information.
- Writing and Editing: They write clear and engaging articles, reports, or scripts that convey complex information in an accessible way. Editing is also a critical part of their job to ensure clarity and correctness.
- Fact-Checking: Accuracy is paramount in journalism. Journalists must verify facts and sources before publication to maintain credibility.
- Addressing Public Issues: Journalists often report on issues of public concern, holding authorities accountable and highlighting stories that may be overlooked.
- Adhering to Ethical Standards: They follow ethical guidelines to ensure fairness, objectivity, and independence in their reporting. Or at least they’re supposed to!
Importance of Journalism
In the Thirteen Colonies, before the signing of the Declaration of Independence, newspapers and other works produced by printing presses were subject to regulations. British authorities attempted to prohibit the publication and circulation of information that was not approved by them. That’s why, in the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights, the First Amendment legally protects freedom of the press by allowing information, ideas and opinions to be shared freely without interference, constraint, or prosecution by the government. Freedom of speech is the bedrock of democracy.
As such, journalism has traditionally played a crucial role in shaping public opinion by ensuring that citizens are informed about local, national, and global events. Journalism serves as a watchdog of society, promoting transparency and accountability in governance and business practices. It fosters informed citizenship by providing information that helps people make decisions about their lives and communities. To maintain journalistic integrity, articles must be balanced and objective, offering multiple viewpoints when applicable and avoiding bias.
Digital Journalism
Podcasters can be entertainers or journalists, depending on the content and approach of their work. Many podcasters engage in journalistic activities, such as researching, interviewing, and reporting on current events, much like traditional journalists. Here are some distinctions:
Podcasters as Journalists
- Investigative Reporting: Some podcasters conduct in-depth investigations, similar to investigative journalists.
- News Coverage: Podcasts that cover news, politics, or social issues often employ journalistic standards of accuracy and fairness.
- Storytelling: Narrative podcasts may use journalistic techniques to tell true stories, much like features in magazines.
Podcasters as Entertainers
- Entertainment and Opinion: Other podcasters focus on entertainment, personal opinions, or fictional storytelling, which are less journalistic.
Whether or not a podcaster is considered a journalist often depends on their intent, the rigor of their research, and their adherence to journalistic ethics and standards. If they are acting as real journalists, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be given a seat at the table with traditional journalists.
White House Press Briefings
Now, in a stunning White House briefing shake up that’s set to change media landscape forever, Donald Trump is considering giving the likes of Joe Rogan and Megyn Kelly a seat in the White House press briefing room alongside, or in place of, some mainstream media journalists, as reported by The Daily Mail.
Just so you know, there is nothing written anywhere that says the office of the President of the United States has to speak to the media. But presidential press conferences have become an American tradition. According to the White House Historical Association, “Since Woodrow Wilson held the first presidential press conference in March 1913, all sixteen [now 18] of his successors have used the sessions as a basic part of their publicity strategies. The sessions have survived because reporters found them useful for developing information, citizens saw them as valuable for making judgments about their chief executives, and presidents and their staffs saw them as a primary strategy for explaining their policies.”
Legacy media used to be much more balanced. One of the most important roles of journalism in the past has been exposing government corruption, not covering it up! Citizens deserve real answers to important questions that pertain to their daily lives, and honest press reporting is vital for our democracy to function well. A spokesperson with no agenda other than explaining what the administration is doing and why, is vitally important to restore and maintain trust in our leaders and reporters.
Social media is currently followed by more people and has a greater influence on Americans than what’s typically thought of as the mainstream media. And yet for over 50 years, the same seats at the front of the press room have been reserved for the major networks and major papers, all of which now share the same political biases. It’s time to move them to back row and give others the opportunity to be called on.
In summary, journalists are essential to a functioning democracy, providing accurate news and information that is necessary for societal engagement and public discourse. Whether on TV, radio, or online, we need to get back to real honest journalism!
