Journalists provide knowledge to society because people depend on accurate and balanced information to make decisions in everyday life. Knowledge is power and journalism is the vessel used to enlighten and empower society. What separates the journalist from the academic is journalists do an interrogation and interpretation of events on a daily basis and present their findings to a broad public audience as accurately as possible. This daily process of sifting and presenting information is vital to a free and informed society.
At the foundation of democracy is the free flow of information. Journalists serve as the watchdog of society, bringing issues and situations to light that have a public interest. As the world has seen in totalitarian regimes and dictatorships, information is tightly controlled, but democracy thrives on the institution of the free press. Because of freedom of the press, a well-informed society can set their own policy course and govern themselves.
I worked for a year and a half at the Kootenay News Advertiser, a small community newspaper in Cranbrook, British Columbia, to test the waters of news reporting. I quickly learned the importance of meeting deadlines, reporting accurately and identifying news items. I found it to be a rewarding profession and saw that a well-produced news story could make a positive difference.
Technology has changed the way journalism is presented, but the art of seeking out and crafting news stories has not. Citizen journalism has risen in profile in the digital age because anyone with access to the internet can post information. However, citizen journalists do not have proper training and fail to consider the importance of context, background, balance, accuracy, impartiality and social responsibility.
Journalists are bombarded with information on a daily basis and their role is to filter all the noise and pursue items that impact and concern the public interest. Journalists are interpreters who must grapple with doing proper background research all the while anticipating the direction of the story. They must be above the fray, without any vested interest in the news reported. Journalists must be credible because the public can, and will, find out those who are not and blacklist them, discrediting the entire industry, not just the individual reporter or publication.
I was in Copenhagen, Denmark during the month-long Israeli military campaign against Hezbollah in 2006. There was an open demonstration for what Western democracies have labelled a terrorist organization. I was taken aback at such open support and it served as a powerful reminder that there are always different sides to an issue or situation.
Ultimately, journalism is a profession that encourages communities to interact and engage themselves. I chose to step down the career path of journalism because I want to help facilitate community engagement. My immediate goal is to win one of the two internship opportunities at the Vancouver Sun over the summer. Despite the seeming decline of traditional newspapers, the industry is constantly evolving with new technology. I believe that the the future will only hold good things and that now, more than ever, journalists must rely on their creativity and training to keep up the profile of good journalism.
