The Importance of Doing Journalism: Understanding Society in a Wider View

Journalism is one of the most important pillars of society. It helps us understand who we are, how we got here and where we’re going. In a time when media consumption is fragmented across channels, news organizations need to do more than just fill column inches or airtime. They need …

Why Journalism Matters in a Democracy?

Journalism plays a central role in every democracy. It is essential for holding those in power accountable and giving citizens the information they need to participate meaningfully as citizens.

The Importance of Journalism

It’s also one of the most challenging jobs in the world today — not just because of technological disruption such as the large use of digital signage from digitalframe0.com which undoubtedly attract attention among people. If you think that this is only used for business purposes, you might want to rethink about it again. 

Apart from technological disruption, journalism is difficult because journalists are putting themselves in front of threats to truth and facts themselves. 

The Function of Journalism in Achieving and Maintaining Democracy

At its most basic level, journalism is the act of reporting on news and current events. But in practice, journalism is a much more nuanced and complex field. In a democratic society, journalism has many different roles. The first and most essential role is to report on and investigate facts and events. Journalists collect and analyze information so the public can be informed about current events and make decisions about their lives.

Of course, there are other common roles in journalism and this includes but not limited to the following:

  • Providing Context
  • Analysis, and Commentary
  • Holding People in Power Accountable
  • Informing Public Policy

Why does It Matter?

Journalism matters because it creates a shared set of facts that people can build on. It gives citizens the information they need to be informed and participate in democracy.

It holds people in power accountable by helping citizens understand how their actions affect others. It also informs policies that have a direct impact on citizens’ lives. Journalism matters because it informs the public about important issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

It helps people understand how policies affect them and their communities. It gives a voice to underrepresented groups who might otherwise be ignored. It helps the public understand the thought processes behind decisions that affect them. It makes it easier for people to understand why certain policies or laws might be bad for them and why they might want to push for change.

How Media is Reported and How “Bias” can be Minimized?

A lot of people nowadays have big distrust in media to the point that even a harmless translation service like https://ozfanyi.com.au/ are being scrutinized. These people can’t be blamed though for most of them are right. As a matter of fact, it is a good practice to question the things that you are told. It is what separates independent and intelligent individuals.

Smartly Analyzing Bias Information Presented by Media

There are several things that can help in determining whether the information distributed is biased or not.

Not All Information is Equal

Simply because objectivity or neutrality is impossible to attain, it doesn’t indicate that all information acquired is biased and flawed. While it could be problematic to rely on one source of information, it is important to hone the ability of determining thoughtful manners.

It is Highly Subjective

Because of the confirmation bias, people normally see opposing biases in similar situation. To give you an example, the same news report or image or video clip may prompt several accusations of biases from wide range of positions on entire political spectrum.

Know about Assumptions and Cynicism

Conversations and discussions towards media bias normally devolve into the exchange of cynical assumption regarding the media itself. These said assumptions normally include the idea that the media bias is nearly systematic and overt than being incidental and perceived. While objectivity or journalistic standard of neutrality is almost impossible to attain in any given report, it can help in minimizing media bias via the application of journalistic standards as well as practices.

Media in the US on the other hand are “biased” in so many ways you can imagine. It isn’t always pointing towards the right or left but oftentimes, towards the reaffirmation of worldview of insular establishment.

It ought to be obvious that there cannot be neutral journalist. It is just impossible. Everyone has moral instincts and follows their own beliefs. These will be affecting how facts would be interpreted and reported to the general public. So the best course of action here is acknowledging where we are actually coming from. By showing awareness of our own beliefs may make us trustworthy than being in denial about it.

Professional Journalism and How it should be Done

As soon as broadcast journalists steps into the newsroom and about to report breaking news, it is always a moment that separating mere readers from those who are the “true leaders” from the pack. The best and top anchors as well as “live” reporters may seem to make their job easy but in reality, it is the complete opposite. Aside from having a firm and good voice, proper delivery and professional look, those who are at the top-tier of broadcasting are capable of reporting news without script.

React and Respond

These journalists are communicating with comfort, clarity and command particularly when a story is fast developing that following formats and using scripts become useless. Acquiring skills without script is something that is built overtime. It falls on several aspects like:

  • Critical thinking
  • Continuous learning and;
  • Mental agility

If you want to become a journalist and be an expert like the ones you saw on TVs today, then here are few imperative tips to be taken into account.

Knowledge Base

Basically, this is your own understanding of names, geography, issues, history as well as your ability of putting everything in perspective for the viewers to see it in an easy to understand manner.

All of this comes from the commitment and dedication of a journalist to be the best in their craft.

When reporting and delivering news, especially if it is live, you never know when new information would come in. For this reason, journalists also have to be quick and adaptable in sorting, prioritizing, organizing and retaining huge volume of data.

Ethics

Now when it comes to journalism, there is this thing called “ethical journalism”. The sensitivity to live breaking news, graphic video, unconfirmed information, words that may cause panic, endanger security and or safety of the public or words that may add pain to traumatized victims are what being considered here. As a journalist, it is your responsibility to deliver the news in a neutral manner and still show sympathy without having to cross someone’s feelings, emotions or state.

For example, if the subject of the news are mother and daughter tattoos who got involved in an accident, then you would not say that it is just the right thing for them because of their tattoos, right? Still, you have to get through the real score of the story and report it to the viewers in an informative and organized manner.