Journalism

Main thing

Journalism is the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting information to the general public.

The main goal of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to make the best possible decisions about their lives, their communities, their societies, and their governments. It's about checking facts, breaking down complex issues, and asking the tough questions.

A significant example of the influence of journalism is the Watergate scandal in the 1970s. Investigative journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of The Washington Post played a key role in uncovering the scandal, which eventually led to the resignation of U.S. President Richard Nixon. This case underscores the power of journalism in holding powerful individuals and institutions accountable.

Terms

• Journalism - The activity of collecting, evaluating, creating, and presenting news and information to the public. Example: The journalism of The Washington Post during the Watergate scandal led to a presidential resignation.

• Investigative Journalism - A form of journalism where reporters deeply investigate a single topic of interest, often involving crime, political corruption, or corporate wrongdoing. Example: Investigative journalism exposed the Enron scandal in 2001, leading to the company's bankruptcy and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

• Fact-checking - The process of verifying facts and claims in a text to ensure accuracy. Example: Fact-checking organizations like PolitiFact review political statements for their truthfulness.

• Media - The main means of mass communication, including television, radio, newspapers, and the internet, regarded collectively. Example: Social media has become a significant platform for journalism, allowing for real-time news updates.

An analogy

Journalism can be likened to a lighthouse. It guides the public through a sea of information, helping to navigate towards the truth.

A main misconception

Many people think journalism is just about reporting news as it happens. However, it's also about analysis, context, and uncovering the deeper story. A common example of this misconception is when people assume all articles are just straightforward news reports, without recognizing the investigative work that can go into in-depth journalism.

The history

1. The Acta Diurna, posted daily in Rome around 59 B.C., is one of the earliest known forms of journalism.

2. The invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg revolutionized the distribution of news.

3. The first American newspaper, Publick Occurrences, was published in 1690.

4. The era of Yellow Journalism in the late 19th century saw newspapers prioritizing sensationalism.

5. The rise of the internet in the late 20th century transformed journalism with digital news.

"Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault." - Henry Anatole Grunwald, former editor-in-chief of Time magazine, known for his work in journalism and media.

Three cases how to use it right now

1. A citizen reads an opinion column in a newspaper and understands that it's not journalism but a personal viewpoint of the author. This helps them to differentiate between factual reporting and opinion pieces.

2. A community uses a local investigative journalism report to start a campaign for cleaner drinking water, demonstrating the power of journalism to effect change.

3. A student studying journalism uses various news sources for a research project, learning to analyze and compare how different outlets cover the same story.

Interesting facts

• The term "muckraker" was used to describe American investigative journalists who exposed corruption in the early 20th century.

• The Pulitzer Prizes, established in 1917, are awarded for excellence in journalism and the arts.

• The Freedom of the Press Foundation was founded in 2012 to support journalists who expose wrongdoing.

• Mobile journalism, or "mojo," has journalists using smartphones to report, edit, and publish news from the field.

• The fastest recorded interview was conducted by BBC journalist Nick Robinson in 2015, lasting just seven seconds.