Journalists Evolve and Adapt to Ever-Changing Narratives

As the world’s ideals evolve, news reporters find they must carefully consider how they inform their readers. Ideally, a journalist provides “citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing.” However, in a volatile political landscape with ever-changing narratives and the emergence of sensationalist reporting, it is not easy. Consequently, a reputable journalist must respect the power of words and diligent research.

During 2008-2020, U.S. newsroom employment declined more than 25 percent because of an increasing number of newspeople who started working from home. Unfortunately, this often limits access to valuable data found in newspaper morgues and timely communication with fact-checkers.

Working in isolation can limit access to colleagues with varying perspectives, resulting in a narrower focus in a journalist’s report. However, with ever-increasing internet content, a well-trained journalist has access to more research material and the ability to contact a wider array of experts willing to share their perspectives.

Nonetheless, wading through misinformation, sensationalism, and false claims is a necessity. While this can be an exhausting task, doing so will fulfill a journalist’s ethical responsibility to keep the public informed and wage war against fake news and misdirection.

As Samantha Lile explains the problem, so much information is spread that readers no longer know what to believe. As a result, the line between journalism and other content is obfuscated, making it more vital than ever for journalists to verify their facts and cite their sources.

While the term fake news is used to demean an unflattering report or discount one that goes against a person’s personal beliefs, it may not seem like an issue; it is a real problem because, thanks to the Founding Fathers, free speech cannot be repressed.

The guarantee of freedom to express themselves provided by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution made it possible for the following events to be filmed and historically preserved by journalists:

• VJ Day celebrations after WWII.
• Equal Rights activists’ voices.
• Protests against the murder of George Floyd.
• Scientists reporting the facts about COVID-19 — every time President Donald Trump lied to the public.
• January 6th insurrection where crazed Americans breached the Capitol, threatened Congress and created makeshift gallows to lynch former Vice President Mike Pence.
• Kamala Harris was sworn in as the first woman vice president who is also Black.

The future of American journalism is dependent on overcoming the harm inflicted by sensationalist and fake news reporters. Ethical journalists understand the Constitution’s guarantees do not come free and with that freedom, they know they are responsible to thoroughly research and report factual news. Moreover, they are obligated to report the good and bad with equal zeal and train the next generation of newspeople to record everyday events with utmost transparency.

Written by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

Pew Research Center: U.S. newsroom employment has fallen 26% since 2008; by Mason Walker
Berkley News: How did Trump change American journalism? By Ivan Natividad
Three Rivers Press: The Elements of Journalism: What Newspeople Should Know and the Public Should Expect; Revised and Updated 3rd Edition; 2014 by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

Images by Anthony Ezeanyim Courtesy of Gricelda Chandler – Used With Permission