Pew Media Study

Times are changing and news organizations are figuring out how to modify and adjust to the change in industry. “There really is a nuanced ecosystem here with very old and very new sources blending,” said Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism. In the reading I was surprised to find that Americans still rely more heavily on television than any other source for local news and information.

The Pew Research Center’s survey concluded television news is the primary source for weather, traffic, and breaking news stories. However, for local government updates, and 10 other topics, newspapers and their websites are the main source. After taking a statistics class I realized how the sample group can heavily alter the statistic outcome. My guess is the sample group for this statistic included more older people than younger people.

Generally speaking, younger people often utilize the world of information at their finger tips, via smart phones. “There’s a feeling, I think, that in the digital age, information is a commodity that’s just available — and there’s not always a sense of how it’s generated or produced,” said Rosenstiel. This is proved true as youtube videos and blogs become a more common source of news. 

Pew Media Study

Times are changing and news organizations are figuring out how to modify and adjust to the change in industry. “There really is a nuanced ecosystem here with very old and very new sources blending,” said Tom Rosenstiel, the director of the Project for Excellence in Journalism. In the reading I was surprised to find that Americans still rely more heavily on television than any other source for local news and information.

The Pew Research Center’s survey concluded television news is the primary source for weather, traffic, and breaking news stories. However, for local government updates, and 10 other topics, newspapers and their websites are the main source. After taking a statistics class I realized how the sample group can heavily alter the statistic outcome. My guess is the sample group for this statistic included more older people than younger people.

Generally speaking, younger people often utilize the world of information at their finger tips, via smart phones. “There’s a feeling, I think, that in the digital age, information is a commodity that’s just available — and there’s not always a sense of how it’s generated or produced,” said Rosenstiel. This is proved true as youtube videos and blogs become a more common source of news. 

First Loyalty to Citizens

In the study of journalism we learn that a journalists first loyalty is to the citizens. The group handout said news coverage is not bought or influenced by those in power, slanted from friends, or clouded by self-interest. I am aware this is what the books teach us, but I am hesitant to believe it.In ideal situations those in power do not influence the news. However, those ideal situations are few and far between. In smaller markets I feel there is less slanted influence, but in bigger markets companies often manipulate news organizations by threatening to remove all advertisements if the news airs a certain story that would be detrimental to the powerful company or person.

As future journalists I think it is important for us to commit now to do all we can to prevent those in power from manipulating us into influencing the news to their benefit. News is news and we are the ears of the people. Society depends on us to accurately inform them. Our role is to tell the audience the unvarnished truth as best we know it. I like what the group said, “Journalism works best when both sides are committed to the profession’s values, not one side to business and the other to public service.” When I land my first job I want to work for an organization explained in the book, where commitment and understanding flow down the organization.  

http://amlibpub.blogspot.com/2007/01/slanting-news-on-global-warming.html

http://thenewpress.com/index.php?option=com_title&task=view_title&metaproductid=1534

http://www.anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/jason.snyder/Jason_Snyders_Website/CV_&_Research_files/hearst110308.pdf

Truth in Journalism

It is clear that truthful information is elemental for societies. I find it interesting that as journalists our quest is to find the truth and report it, yet news and truth are not the same thing. News is reporting of the facts from sources in order to signalize an event. But what differentiates news and truth is that the facts from the sources may not be truthful facts. According to the reading, “Truth it seems, is too complicated for us to pursue. Or perhaps it doesn’t even exist, since we are all subjective individuals. “ I will leave that up to philosophy majors and stick to the definition of truth as the truth of what the sources tell me.

Journalisms existence is absolutely paramount in order for societies to have access to credible and reliable accounts of events pertaining to them. Truth in journalism provides individuals with the information necessary for them to govern themselves. According to the reading, Journalism is after a practical or functional form of truth. It is not truth in the absolute or philosophical sense. It is the truths by which we can operate on a day-to-day basis. It is fundamentally important that journalists report truthful information because entire societies operate on the information journalists submit.  

http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syZMnIwij0s

http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

The Mind of a Journalist

Journalism’s main purpose is to bring information to the general public so they can make informed decisions based on truth. The way I see it, journalism is a key foundation to society. In order for a democracy to function properly, people have to know the truth about what is going on. A common knowledge of current issues builds communities and nations by getting people involved. Journalists are professional truth finders and storytellers.

As the reading puts it, “Journalism is a medium that provides citizens with information to self-govern their lives.” I feel like journalists have a responsibility to be creative enough to get people to care about things they otherwise may not care about. The mind of a journalist is a curious mind, eager to get down and find out what really happened. Journalists serve as watchdogs to the government. How often do we hear the phrase, “we can’t do that cause if the media discovers it, it will cause a total uproar?” If anyone steps out of line in a significant way, you better believe journalists will be there to report it, and in this way it seems journalists keep individuals and more importantly, the government in line.