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.