"The news of the day as it reaches the newspaper office is an incredible medley of fact, propaganda, rumor, suspicion, clues, hopes, and fears, and the task of selecting and ordering that news is one of the truly sacred and priestly offices in a democracy."
-Walter Lippmann
While "priest" may no longer be the best metaphor for the roll of press in American Society, journalists today hold no less a sacred role. The quote, written in 1920, reflects a society where religion held a much more prominent role. Today a better term may be watchdog, or gatekeeper. Journalists have the unique task of sorting through the mass amounts of content, made possible today by convergence in the media, and selecting the most relevant, factual information to pass on to the people.
It is with great consideration that I deem the role of the modern American journalist sacred. Journalists have the great responsibility of carrying the weight of a democracy on their shoulders. It is the freedom of the press that makes this country possible; the same freedom of the press that our forefathers deemed a necessary thread in weaving the fabric of a new government. Although judgment often seems clouded in today's media world and opinion often pollutes fact modern journalists need to be aware that today their role is as--if not more, important in society. The demand for content has never been higher and more content means more "propaganda" and "rumor" mixed in with the hard facts.
Walter Lippmann saw the importance of a journalist to society. The media has an immense amount of power, and the possibility to change the world. Journalists can speak out not only for politics, but for the impoverished and less fortunate in society. Journalists have the power to raise awareness for a good cause, and the power to change someone's life.
Lippmann saw the full potential of a journalist. The potential to enlighten, inspire, move, and change. So while gatekeeper may seem a more appropriate term for a journalist than a priest, this potential must be taken into consideration. Like it or not, journalists can move public opinion and help/hurt others. Therefore it is as Lippmann puts it a "sacred" duty to be in the industry. The power of a journalist's words can change the future, therefore extra care must be taken in choosing every word.
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Good post. Your external voice is great, and we'll work on integrating your personal voice.
ReplyDeleteAlso, make sure your punctuation matches (you started a break with dashes at one point, but ended with a comma).
Keep up the good work.
I agree with a lot you have to say. I particularly like that you chose to single out Lippmann's use of the word sacred and describe at length why this adjective is still an appropriate one for our profession.
ReplyDeleteI also found it very interesting that you mentioned the role of journalists in shaping public opinion. Undoubtedly this is true as the information provided by journalists sheds light upon topics that the masses may find foreign. I wonder however, if people today, namely our generation, rely too heavily on the information that is spoon fed to them, in turn allowing others to shape their opinions. Many people our age cannot be bothered to research topics on their own. I believe that journalists today must be mindful of this thought, making sure to present their subject as a whole as to not aid in forming skewed public opinions.
I completely agree with your notion about the social power journalists hold. I was wondering what your thoughts might be on citizen journalism in regards to the journalistic responsibility you mention? Most people, citizens and journalists alike, seem to agree that far too often journalism no longer holds itself to these rigorous standards. Could this be related to the increase in ability for citizens to act as journalists? Since they do not receive the same standards of training as reporters, do they falter in their responsibility? Or could the opposite be true? Could citizen journalism constitute a response to the audience’s anger with lack of transparency and ethics held by some professionals?
ReplyDeleteWhile I can think of no dispute in what you mention about the role and power a journalist holds in society, I wonder where this fits in within today’s environment?