Journalism Revolution

News media is the channel of communication that keeps us informed of the changing issues, events, and culture of the external world. While journalism occupies a much smaller space than entertainment, opinion, advertising and other propaganda that dominate the media; it is perceived as more valuable. This apparent value comes from its purpose, to provide people with verified information they can use to make better decisions. It may be interesting and even entertaining, but the leading value of news is as a utility to “empower the informed” (Kovach & Rosenstiel, 2007). Transmission of information is an imperative part of the democratic decision-making process, bringing transparency to society and making certain that decisions correspond with the communal sense of justice.

Also contributing to the value of journalism over any other media resource is its practices, the most important of which is a discipline of verification that journalists use to unveil the “truth about the facts.” Reaching and communication this journalistic truth is a process that comprises of assembling and verifying facts to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning (Kovach & Rosenstiel, 2007). Good journalism helps us interpret the world, explaining events in a clear and accessible way, describing the relationships and providing background on societal issues and decisions.

Journalism not only communicates information to citizens about society but also gives policymakers insight into the ripple effects of previous decisions and the variety of other decisions made elsewhere. It is important that the citizens are informed of decisions when they are being prepared, to allow a chance for civil advocacy. If they will listen, journalism also communicates to policymakers what the public expects of them. In a world of increasing voices, “getting it right” is the foundation upon which everything else is built to include context, explanation, reproach, analysis, and discussion. The larger truth, over time, emerges from this forum.

The Future of Journalism

Transparency, creativity, and inclusivity will capture the future of journalism. As we grow more mindful of the role of journalism in society, there is an increased movement towards collaboration, cultural awareness, and tolerance that will be imperative in the journalistic sphere. In addition, technological advances are allowing an extraordinary expression of creativity in the business, where journalists are finding more diverse and captivating ways to tell their stories. But perhaps it’s transparency that will be the most important aspect of future journalism. Thanks to the globalizing nature of the internet, the public have voices and they’re determined to use them.

Technology is also promoted as the future of journalism. To distribute information in a pre-web era required substantial investment. Distributing information in the web era only requires a mobile phone. We are more connected than we have ever been, but this can have dramatic consequences for journalism. With news being updated faster than ever before, the swiftness with which communications take place can harm credibility (Peters & Broersma, 2013). Often, there isn’t time to fact-check or proof-read properly. Social networks are powerful and efficient delivery vehicles, and that makes news even more fragile than it was before. As we explore varying ways to address concerns of today’s immediate news challenges, we must consider Slow Journalism.

Slow Journalism

For journalism to develop into a considerable and sustainable alternative for the digital fast-lane (Greenberg 2012), the wishes and preferences of a far larger audience group should be taken into consideration, especially those of the digital generation. The Slow Journalism Movement provides principled ways to address news media and ensures that journalism remains a relevant culture-shaping entity. On the movement’s website, it states, “Modern news production is filled to the brim with reprinted press releases, kneejerk punditry, advertorial nonsense, and churnalism. Slow Journalism is an antidote to this: intelligent, curated, non-partisan news coverage designed to inspire and inform” (Slow Journalism, 2017). Slow Journalism is usually about more developed stories on the outskirt of breaking news, using literary principles of narrative structuring and multi-layering. Delayed Gratification (2015) reemphasizes this: “Like the other Slow movements, we take time to do things properly. Instead of desperately trying to beat Twitter to the punch, we return to the values we all want from journalism— context, analysis and expert opinion”.

Citizen Journalism

The way we see the news today is framed by whoever records it and media sources are no longer the only visual sources on scene or in newsworthy environments. It is increasingly popular for amateur eyewitness film shot on a mobile phone to be posted on the internet. But does this compare in scope against a considered, observational documentary broadcast on a traditional television channel? Without coverage and reporting by independent and citizen journalists, there is little to debate if recent societal issues would have gotten the nationwide coverage, let alone achieved even a modicum of change. Citizen journalism is a dynamic way of expressing to media moguls; Do your job.

It seems society is moving towards a mixed news media in which citizen and professional journalists are collaborating across many media platforms. With this, media ethics must be rethought and reinvented for the media of today. Mixed news media requires new mixed media ethical guidelines that apply to both the amateur and professional. By returning to our essential understanding of journalism, as centered around the citizen and journalist, a media revolution at hand can revive feelings of community connectedness and belonging. Citizen journalism and professional journalism can work together. Citizen journalism believes there is a growth to this type of journalism and a future, “Professional journalists will just have to learn to accept and work together with citizen journalists because media is changing every day. And those changes are in favor of citizen journalism” (Waisbord, 2013). Citizen journalism may help contribute to a more accountable journalism environment.

Community Journalism

Reader (2012) emphasized that successful community journalists would nurture a connection to their audiences so journalists report and write thinking about the citizens, as opposed to the place or location. Of course, physical location continues to be an important contribution of community, and research demonstrates how community journalists can call on digital opportunities to enhance those ties, both physical and virtual (Rottwilm, 2014). Today we must recognize that community-based journalism should emphasize the “local” in all of us; the idea that we can be among community if we are connected in some way to others. This notion involves an emphasis on human connectivity, not on geography. Within these connections, journalists can nurture and expand what it means to belong to a given community.

Government Law and Regulations

The tension between press and government is highlighted by the claim that classification often goes beyond real need, initiated by fear of personal embarrassment rather than a threat to national security. Refocusing coverage may help and there is one area where people are more inclined to change their minds when faced with the facts: policy, mainly when information presented isn’t perceived to be biased. It can be difficult to figure out what policies mean for your life because the media spends so much time on horse-race coverage, what they did or didn’t say, or whether they were lying. By covering policies rather than candidates’ happenings, the press may be able to persuade with facts after all. Academics have been saying this about journalism for a long time, but it was especially magnified in the recent 2016 US Presidential campaign. Public demand for government transparency has never been higher and citizens are seeking access to basic information about how government operates, from spending money to counting votes. In the meantime, new and improved technologies are putting more information at the fingertips of reporters faster than ever before.

Responsibility of Media Professions

From the moment America gained its independence, its founding fathers recognized the importance of the press. It seeks out and circulates news, events, ideas, opinions and holds account to those in authority (Stacks, 2003). Journalism acts as a platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard and a free press is fundamental to maintaining a democratic society. Thus, the purpose of journalism becomes to provide citizens with the background and information necessary to make the best decisions about their lives, communities, and governments. With the media industry amid a perfect storm of competing complexities, it becomes the responsibility of media professionals to consider the protection of its citizens, to best represent truth with fact checking, and to remain independent.

Protection of Citizens

Dr. Rasmus Nielsen, Director of Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, Oxford said, “Journalism is an imperfect but important part of democracy: we as citizens are empowered to make meaningful decisions about ideas, interests, and aspirations – about who we vote for, but also whether we want to get engaged in other ways. The precondition for that is knowing something about the world that goes beyond your personal experience” (Barnett, 2009). With this, journalism tells us something about the world we didn’t know. More significantly, journalism tells us something that informs the decisions we make on important matters. Knowledge outside of direct experience can be gained impartial, accurate and transparent reporting. Journalists must show an ultimate allegiance to citizens and must strive to put the public interest, and the truth, above their own self-interest or expectations.

Truth and Fact Checking

Journalism’s crucial role in helping democracy function is sometimes missed amid the cry of partisan debate and the chaotic nature of the news business. The political role of news press has changed considerably since the early days but now, it is hard to imagine the conduct of democratic politics without the extensive involvement in news media. Fact-checking is quickly becoming an important new form of accountability journalism (Graves, 2013). Ideological phony news clutters social media feeds of audiences who are already prepped to believe whatever story confirms their worldview.

Journalists can’t always guarantee truth, but getting the facts right is a fundamental principle of journalism. Journalists should always strive to provide accurate, relevant facts and ensure that they have been checked. When information cannot be corroborated, there is a duty to say so. As journalists and computer scientists work to refine and streamline the process, the growth of the practice marks a wonderful moment in accountability journalism. Fact-checking provides a critical service to democracy that many, many people do, in fact, rely on to shape what they believe to be true (Nunziato, 2009).

Remaining Independent

Journalists must remain independent voices, not acting on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate or cultural. Most stories have at least two sides. While there is no obligation to present every side in every piece, stories should be balanced and add context. Jones (2004) observed that trust in the media has a marked connection to political partisanship with strong Democrats representing the largest group of participants who “just about always” trust the media and strong Republicans making up the largest group who “almost never” do so (p. 66). Objectivity is not always possible, and may not always be desirable but impartial reporting builds trust and confidence (Nunziato, 2009). This essay can serve as a call for the re-establishment of independence and advocacy as ethical values in journalism. News organizations need to understand what members of the public mean when they express a desire for the press to be objective, the extent to which the public is aware of the advocacy movement within journalism.

Worldview and Journalism

There has been much debate in recent years about whether our nation has a “Christian past.”  Honest people can debate that question; I will acknowledge that there has been much in our history that does not bring glory to Christ. However, of this I am quite sure:  whatever our past, our nation and our world can have a Christian future. Jesus Himself taught us that the Great Commission was not merely to make converts, but to make disciples. I would suggest instead that we are faced with an opportunity for Christian worldview journalism to grow and be heard, to make a substantial impact on the culture. What a great calling on the life of a Christian: to chronicle what God is doing in the world and report that in a vivid and engaging way. As creative destruction reshapes the field of journalism, I pray that God would stir His people to answer the call to Christian worldview journalism, and provide the reading public to support it.    

Resources

Barnett, S. (2009) Journalism, Democracy and the Public Interest: rethinking media pluralism for the digital age. Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved from http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Journalism%20Democracy%20%26%20Public%20Interest_0.pdf

Graves, L. (2013). Deciding what’s true: Fact-checking journalism and the new ecology of news (Order No. 3549415). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Retrieved from http://0-search.proquest.com.library.regent.edu/docview/1283383907?accountid=13479

Jones, David A. (2004). “Why Americans Don’t Trust the Media: A Preliminary Analysis.” The Harvard International Journal of Press/Politics, 9(2), 60-75.

Land, M., Fuse, K., Hornaday, B. (2014) Contemporary Media Ethics: A practical guide for students, scholars and professionals in a globalized world, 2nd edition.  WA: Marquette Books.

Kovach, B. & Rosenstiel, T. (2007) The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect. NY: Random House.

Nunziato, D. (2009). Virtual freedom: net neutrality and free speech in the Internet age. Stanford, CA: Stanford Law Books.

Peters, C., & Broersma, M. (2013) Rethinking Journalism. Trust and Participation in a Transformed News Landscape. London: Routledge.

Reader, Bill, and John Hatcher. 2012. Foundations of Community Journalism. London: Sage.

Robinson, S. (2014). Introduction: Community journalism midst media revolution. Journalism Practice, 8(2), 113-120. doi:10.1080/17512786.2013.859822

Rottwilm, P. (2014) The Future of Journalistic Work: Its Changing Nature and Implications, Reuters institute for the Study of Journalism. Retrieved from http://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/sites/default/files/The%20Future%20of%20Journalistic%20Work%20-%20Its%20Changing%20Nature%20and%20Implications.pdf

Stacks, J. F. (2003) Scotty: James B. Reston and the Rise and Fall of American Journalism.

Slow Journalism (2017) Why slow journalism matters. Retrieve from http://www.slow-journalism.com/slow-journalism

Waisbord, S. (2013) Reinventing Professionalism; Journalism and News in Global Perspective. Malden, MA: Polity Press.