Journalism And Ethical Journalism: The Importance Of Journalism

The importance of journalism has always been defined by the inherent value of information. To possess information is to possess power, and without it a society can effectively be rendered mute. The essential functions of a journalist, to be both the watchdogs of the elite and the providers of factual and unbiased reporting to the public, have begun to decline in recent decades. Although the news is integral to the fabric of democracy, the current market imperatives of sustaining a profitable business model, the rise of a corporate ethos within journalistic institutions, and the slowly deteriorating standards of what makes a good story have all contributed to the devaluation of fact-based, unbiased, and investigative journalism. When looking

The constant struggle between profitability and ethical journalism has brought us to the current problems facing journalists today. Trying to reconcile the economic pressures of a failing newspaper with the costs of investigative and well researched news gathering is nigh impossible within the current capitalist system, as it rewards only those who make money quickly. Corporate ownership, most especially in instances such as Rupert Murdoch’s biased right-wing cross media ownership, can influence which stories are run and from what angle – impacting the accuracy, impartiality, and ethical responsibilities of the journalists they employ. The influence of ownership on such a vital profession is not only perturbing but has direct consequences on global events. The impact of the news media in the 2016 US election is perhaps the best example of how the decline in newspaper reporting contributed to the clear divide between the views of the corporate media versus the underreported public views on the then Republican nominee, and now president-elect, Donald

Recalling the actions of William Randolph Hearst in 1898, the sensationalized and inaccurate media coverage of a US Naval ship sinking along the coast Spain contributed to an unnecessary war between the two countries. This was not the last time the media aided the government in garnering public support for overseas conquests; the pro-government media coverage of the Bush administrations invasion of Iraq due to “weapons of mass destruction” was integral to garnering the support needed to legitimize the invasion and continue extending missions. Fox News played a pivotal role in the pro-government, right wing rhetoric that criticized any neutral or left leaning media coverage as liberal lies, and once again Fox News and the effects of unethical journalism were seen in the in the polarizing US elections coverage. This, coupled with the underfunded local newspapers, lead to the divide between what pollsters and what corporate media considered “public opinion” and the true opinions of the working class, which were revealed for seemingly the first time to the broader public after Donald Trumps win on November 8th. Reputable newspapers, however, are not immune to their own scandals involving fraudulent reporters, such as in the case of Jayson Blair at the New York Times. The unimaginable influence of the news media on public opinion and global events cannot be