What is a Journalists?

To me a journalist is somebody who likes to know what is going on in the world.  This could be locally, nationally, internationally, or all of the above.  Not only do they like to be aware of what is happening they want to find out more and in turn want to share that information with others.

A journalist is an observer and a writer.  They take interest in what is happening and want to make that knowledge known.  They need to be self motivated and need to have a strong desire to get the story.  This semester I've learned that journalism is a lot of work, however when done the right way it can be very rewarding.

A journalist is someone who cares enough to want to make a difference.  There are plenty of people who want change to happen but aren't willing to put for the effort necessary for the change to happen.  A journalist is someone who takes the initiative and puts forth effort to see the change become a reality.  This specifically refers to investigative journalism.  When we did the Pulitzer assignment I chose the investigative category.  The work that Walt Bogdanich and Jake Hooker did on toxic ingredients in medicine and everyday products imported from China led to crackdowns by American and Chinese officials.  There efforts made big changes and made the world a safer and better place on a global level.

http://www.pulitzer.org/works/2008-Investigative-Reporting-Group1

The way that we receive and process media has significantly changed in the past decade with technological advances such as smart phones and the use of social media.  However, the need for good, accurate journalism is still absolutely necessary in the world today.  

The importance of Objectivity

Philip Meyer is a Knight Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina.  He defines Objectivity as standing so far from the community that you see all events and all viewpoints as equally distant and important or unimportant.  It is implemented by giving equal weight to all viewpoints and assertions.  The result is a laying out of facts in a sterile, noncommittal manner, and then standing back to let the reader decide which view is true.  

Objectivity helps journalists stay detached from the people and events that they are covering.  As discussed previously the purpose of journalism is to provide the citizens with enough information to make their own opinions and decisions.   If a journalist gets too involved in a story and begins to take a side then that is not supplying the citizens with the proper information to make the decision for themselves.  

Objectivity is a very important part of journalism.  It can be hard to achieve but is worth it in the end to achieve the purpose of journalism.  It provides a framework for journalists to function ethically because it gives citizens fair, accurate information without being too one-sided.    


http://www.unc.edu/~pmeyer/ire95pj.htm

motivation to be a journalist

I've always enjoyed knowing what is happening around me.  Whether it be in the paper or on the news, I have always liked to be aware of what's going on locally and in the world.  I've also always enjoyed reading and writing, being a journalists you are able to do both of those a lot.  I think good journalism is really important.  It's important to be honest and inform the public with enough information so that they able to make their own judgments and decisions based on the information.

At first I was interested in writing for a magazine or for a paper.  However, this last semester I've become more interested in broadcast journalism.  I've always enjoyed watching the news growing up and I've always been curious as to how the newsroom works.  I'd like to be involved in the news room and to be able to report on issues and events.  I didn't realize how much writing is involved with broadcast journalism.  I thought that reporters just simply reported but they also write as well as report.  I think I would enjoy the balance of writing and being on camera reporting.

http://www.poynter.org/uncategorized/27244/tips-for-getting-started-in-broadcast-journalism/

The flip-flop...Really?

The podiatric dangers of flip-flops

By Rachel Saslow, Published: May 2, 2011 in the Washington Post

In this article Saslow points out the dangers of wearing flip-flops.  When I think about the dangers of flip-flops, I immediately think to my self what dangers could be associated with flip-flops?  I mean you could say that there are dangers of walking around with or without shoes on.  The fact that flip-flops are posed to be dangerous to people is completely ridiculous and blown out of proportion.

"A few years ago, he broke his right big toe after slamming his foot into a rock while hiking in New Hampshire in his favorite summertime footwear."

Seriously?  Anyone who makes the decision to go hiking in flip-flops is already putting themselves at risk.  This individual refers to flip-flops as his favorite summertime footwear.  Flip flops leave your whole foot exposed except for the sole.  Obviously going hiking in flip-flops is going to have risks for your feet, ankles, etc...  If you hurt yourself while hiking in flip-flops I feel like it's your fault, not the flip-flops.  This individual put himself in danger, the flip-flops didn't contribute to him being in any sort of danger.  

"Flip-flops also leave the feet unprotected and exposed to the elements, which can mean cold toes, sunburns, cuts and bruises."

I feel like these facts are so blatant and obvious there is no point of even using them.  I mean if you wear flip-flops it's common sense that your feet are going to be unprotected and exposed to the elements.  It's not like some new information about the product has been released that no one has known about.  

In my opinion the fact that this story was actually published in the Washington Post is ridiculous. However being that it was published, I would recommend the author to not categorize the flip-flop as dangerous.  The author could rather write an article about what activities are appropriate while wearing the flip-flop.  The author could also write about how much time your feet should be spent wearing flip-flops on a day or week basis.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health/the-podiatric-dangers-of-flip-flops/2011/03/22/AFCNVobF_story.html

   

Sensationalism

Sensationalism is an editorial bias in mass media in which events and topics in the news over exaggerated.  Sensationalism can be controversial, shocking, attention grabbing, and can be published to attract readers regardless of whether the information is accurate or informative. 

Sensationalism is nothing new.  Mitchell Stephens is a Professor at New York University.  In his book “A History of News” he writes that sensationalism has been around ever since early humans began telling stories, ones that invariably focused on sex and conflict.

Journalists, however don't need to fall victim to using sensationalism in their work.  A well written title and lead can get enough attention if the event or issue is in fact significant or interesting.  I feel journalists need to build their reputations around the quality of their writing.  If they develop a good reputation based on their work then they don't have to worry about using sensationalism to grab reader's attention.

Even though Journalists don't need to use sensationalism to get readers, sensationalism is still a tool that works in getting people's attention.  We experience sensationalism everyday whether we notice it or not.  Whether it is your friend telling you about their date last night, or you find yourself telling your parents about how swamped you are with school, we all fall victim to sensationalism.  When we are telling people information it's natural to want to make it sound as exciting and interesting as possible to get the attention of our audience.  

Public Forums

A public forum is also known as a marketplace of ideas.  With modern technology and the internet it's become easier than ever to express one's opinion.  These public forums present a great opportunity for people to present their ideas and have discussions.  However people can say what ever they want, and that can mean less thinking and just simply looking to make an argument.  

Christine Chinlund of the Boston Globe states, "True, technology gives us the potential for a more open debate than ever before, and that should excite the little “d” democrat in all of us. But the new communication format, the authors warn us, already has demonstrated that the “urge to comment replaces the urge to verify.” It is often more about delivering news (and concurrent comment) than gathering it. As a result, it devalues expertise—thus, the rise of inexperienced young pseudo-expert commentators (sometimes misconstrued by viewers as being journalists) who are the rage today."

I think people get too excited about their comments before they actually think them through.  Before people comment on forums they should check their facts and use the system of verification.  If more people did this, it would provide a better environment for debate and would add more quality to the discussions.  

Chinlund says, "As if all of this were not enough to discourage public participation in the forum, one final thing might: Call it the “food fight” factor. Too many of today’s talk shows proceed on the theory that everyone likes a good fight. Polarization, not conversation, become the defining principle. We forget that the job of journalism is not just to foster an exchange of ideas, but to make that exchange a civil one in which truth is a requirement."

I think Journalists should provide a public forum, however it is out of the journalists cannot control who says what.  If I was the journalists providing the forum I would encourage people to review their comments and check their facts before posting.  

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/101687/Is-Journalism-Losing-Its-Place-in-the-Boisterous-Public-Forum.aspx

The importance of verification

According to Kovach and Resentiel being neutral isn't a core principle of Journalism.  When trying to accomplish the truth and informing citizens, independence is the key, not neutrality.    

"The second implication is that this neutral voice, without a discipline of verification  is a veneer atop something hollow.  Journalists who select sources to express what is really their own point of view, and then use the neutral voice to make it seem objective, are engaged in deception.  This damages the credibility of the whole profession by making it seem unprincipled, dishonest  and biased.  This is an important caution in an age when the standards of the press are in doubt (Kovach, 83)."


One of the most important parts of journalism is verification.  Especially in this present time where the standards of the news are in doubt.  From what I've learned about the importance of verification, it is essential in today's world or journalism.  If one wants to be respected and to maintain a good reputation, verification is crucial.  Journalists not being neutral doesn't really effect my perspective of the news.  I feel that good journalists do their best to get all the facts of both sides of the story.  They verify their facts and then try to inform the public of event or issue the best that they can.  They are dedicated to bringing the citizens accurate information.  

http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102544/Journalists-Must-Maintain-an-Independence-From-Those-They-Cover.aspx

Journalists Serving the Citizens

I believe that journalists truly do serve me as a citizen.  I feel that journalist work hard to report accurate information to present to the citizens.  When interviewing Todd Patton of KUER, I learned that he worked hard to get both sides of the story.  His beat is politics, and when reporting on politics it's important to give the citizens both sides of an issue or both opinions of the opposing parties.  This accurate information can educate the citizens and give them the freedom to make their own choice when voting.  






Josh Kearns is the director of journalism and public media campaign at Free Press.  Free Press is a nonprofit public interest organization.  In a recent article Josh states that journalism is based not on the idea that information is scarce but on the recognition that it is abundant.  Journalism is the service that taps that abundance in ways that empower citizens.  I agree with both Patton and Kearns.  I believe that journalism does empower the citizens.  Knowledge is power.  Without journalists working hard to provide the citizens with accurate knowledge then the citizens wouldn't have much power, if any at all.  I believe that Journalists really do serve me, and citizens all over, providing us with accurate information and knowledge.  


http://stearns.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/journalism-as-a-service-not-a-product/





    

Journalist Report the Truth

I believe that journalists for the most part do report the truth as they see it.  They do their best to report an event or issue as it is, at the time that they report it.  However for example after they report about an event or issue, more facts or information could possibly rise to the surface.  This can happen after they have already reported about it.  This doesn't take away from the facts that they already reported about, it just means that at the time the full story hadn't fully come out yet.  When reporting on a big event or issue, people want the story and the facts as soon as possible.  Journalists do their best to report the information as accurate and as timely as they can.  It's not their fault if a few days, weeks, months, or years later that more details, information, or facts come out about the event.   

"Journalists first obligation is to the truth."

In the book, The Elements of Journalism, Rosenstiel states, 

"The desire that information be truthful is elemental.  Since news is the material that people use to learn and think about the world beyond themselves, the most important quality is that it be usable and reliable.  Will it rain tomorrow?  Is there a traffic jam ahead?  Did my team win?  What did the president say?  Truthfulness creates, in effect, the sense of security that grows from awareness and is at the essence of news."


I think that it's important to have more than one source when reporting and to always double check your information.  I know that journalists can be bribed or persuaded to report things a certain way.  However, I believe that the majority of journalists first obligation is to the truth. 

From the Pew Research Center it's easy to see that the believability of News Organizations' has dropped by almost 20% in the last decade.  However, I don' think that this is because of journalists not reporting the truth.  I think this is because of controversy with 9/11 and the war on Terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq.  I believe that the majority of journalists do report the truth.  

Kovach, Bill, and Tom Rosenstiel. The Elements of Journalism. New York City: Crown Publishers, 2007. 36-37. Print.

http://www.people-press.org/2012/08/16/further-decline-in-credibility-ratings-for-most-news-organizations/1/ 

The purpose of journalism in my life

Unless we experience and event or issue first hand we have no way of knowing what is going on in the world around us.  From my last post journalism is the reporting or investigation of events or issues.  For example If a student attended the BYU football game then they would have a first hand account of that experience.  However if they were not able to attend the game then they would have to find out about the result from a form of journalism.  They could watch the news on T.V. or check the sports section of the newspaper the next day.  How we find out what is giong on the world around us is all linked back to a form of journalism. 

I like William F. Woo's statement on journalism's purpose.  Woo is a professor of journalism at Stanford University.  He states, "the purpose of journalism is not doing journalism—any more than the purpose of surgery is cutting patients open and sewing them back together again. The skill of the knife is important but only so far as it serves the larger purpose of surgery: restoring patients to health and productivity.  Similarly, the skill of journalists—their ability to report and edit well—is necessary for journalism to serve its purpose, which I consider a public trust. 

William F. Woo

I like how he states that journalism's purpose goes deeper than just the act of reporting and ivestigating events and issues.  Journalist need to be able to report and edit well so that the public can get the accurate information about news and events.  Through journalism we we can stay connected with what is happening without actually being presently there.





http://www.uuworld.org/2004/06/bookshelf.html


 

What is Journalism and what does it mean to be a Journalist

According to Ask.com Journalism is the investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience about topics ranging from government and business organizations to cultural aspects of society such as arts and entertainment. The field includes editing, photojournalism, and documentary.  I don't have a lot of experience in Journalism.  However I've always enjoyed writing and I like to read articles.  I like to read articles about people and their experiences.  I am a people person and I'm excited to get into the field of journalism so that I can hopefully have the opportunity to interview people.  To me a journalism is finding out the real story and reporting it.  I feel that being honest in the field of Journalism is very important.




What does it mean to be a journalist?  I don't really know how to answer that question yet.  However I found some information about what qualifications are necessary to become a journalist.  As a journalist you will need a good appreciation of the English language, but more importantly you will need determination and enthusiasm for the role.  Most jobs, especially top journalism jobs are very sought after and no matter how many qualifications you may have, you will need to convince the editor that you are the right person for the job.  I also learned that you need to be perceptive which means that you need to ask the right questions at the right time.  You have to be able to write at the correct level for your audience.  You have to be determined to get the story at all costs and your information has to be accurate or else it could have legal implications.  

My previous major was Psychology, this is my first semester getting into journalism.  I know that I have a lot to learn but I'm excited to find out what it means to be a journalist in the future.      




http://www.ask.com/wiki/Journalism?
http://www.whatqualifications.com/WhatQualifications/Journalist