As technological innovations, economies, and institutions are relentlessly compressing the world through space and time, news media is being challenged to follow suit. I find it extremely interesting to consider the future of journalism as it relates to globalization because the two will only come in contact more and more as time moves forward. News organizations such as CNN and BBC are already branded in their own native countries but they are now working to present themselves in multiple ways to multiple countries around the world. I believe that these two organizations are fantastic examples of the direction the news media in general should take. CNN and the BBC have had dramatic increases in their international exposure because of new media technologies such as the internet and smart-phones.
Wars and natural disasters also have played a major part in helping news organizations on an international basis. There were many people who had never heard of Al Jazeera before the political chaos that erupted in Middle East and Northern Africa, though now Reports show that Al Jazeera's viewership has gone up 135 percent in some places. People all around the world are realizing that there are alternatives to their own mainstream news and are turning to non-domestic sources to receive what they believe to be a more nuanced, less biased news product. I think this is an excellent trend. It does not matter if the international sources are truly unbiased, what matters is that people are less inward-looking and are more accepting of information and opinions from a range of sources.
The effect of globalization on the news media is certainly something that will be fascinating to watch in the coming years. There is a possibility for a reshaping of cultural boundaries in every country which in turn leads to the likely possibility for the reshaping of news media.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
What is Journalism?
In democratic governments, the news media is beginning to play an increasingly central role. This is because political communication in the United States seldom goes directly from the government to citizens without passing through the media. In the book The Elements of Journalism, the authors put forth a list of nine elements that are required for journalists to follow if they truly desire to do their job correctly. The nine elements are:
1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the news significant, interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.
I thing that these are fantastic guidelines. Unfortunately though, I often see them being violated. I was honestly surprised at number five, 'It must serve as an independent monitor of power.' I see this element breached daily. I am not at all convinced that bias, and the removal of it, is always in the mind of the journalist when they are writing or discussing a topic. But I believe wholeheartedly that it should be. There are many media that claim to be 'news sources' but there is an apparent bias in much of their reporting that worries me. Instead of watching the news and being able to form your own opinion, the opinion is being formed for you.
I wish I could say that I have have optimistic hopes for the removal of bias in news media but I would honestly be lying. I believe that the removal of bias is impossible, so instead, I will fight for the next best thing: balance. Because of bias, regardless of party identification, simply watching only one news station leads the viewers feeling positive to one side and negative to another. Rarely are both sides of the story treated fairly. But I think that if the media cannot rid themselves of bias, then they can at least balance the bias by showing both side of the story equally and objectively. If this does not change or progressively gets worse, I believe the responsibility will be left to the viewer to make a balance in their own personal news gathering process each day which means that the journalists are no longer doing their job correctly. I think that every journalist out their needs to read or re-read this book and then pound the fifth element into their heads over and over. News media should not be hindering the viewers abilities to make opinions in the first place, yet sometimes it is clear that rather than reflecting public opinion it is creating it.
1. Journalism's first obligation is to the truth.
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens.
3. Its essence is discipline of verification.
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover.
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power.
6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.
7. It must strive to make the news significant, interesting, and relevant.
8. It must keep the news comprehensive and proportional.
9. Its practitioners must be allowed to exercise their personal conscience.
I thing that these are fantastic guidelines. Unfortunately though, I often see them being violated. I was honestly surprised at number five, 'It must serve as an independent monitor of power.' I see this element breached daily. I am not at all convinced that bias, and the removal of it, is always in the mind of the journalist when they are writing or discussing a topic. But I believe wholeheartedly that it should be. There are many media that claim to be 'news sources' but there is an apparent bias in much of their reporting that worries me. Instead of watching the news and being able to form your own opinion, the opinion is being formed for you.
I wish I could say that I have have optimistic hopes for the removal of bias in news media but I would honestly be lying. I believe that the removal of bias is impossible, so instead, I will fight for the next best thing: balance. Because of bias, regardless of party identification, simply watching only one news station leads the viewers feeling positive to one side and negative to another. Rarely are both sides of the story treated fairly. But I think that if the media cannot rid themselves of bias, then they can at least balance the bias by showing both side of the story equally and objectively. If this does not change or progressively gets worse, I believe the responsibility will be left to the viewer to make a balance in their own personal news gathering process each day which means that the journalists are no longer doing their job correctly. I think that every journalist out their needs to read or re-read this book and then pound the fifth element into their heads over and over. News media should not be hindering the viewers abilities to make opinions in the first place, yet sometimes it is clear that rather than reflecting public opinion it is creating it.
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