My Views On Journalism

The Journalist: a distributor of information. One could very rightly say that they have an immensely important job. Journalists are relied upon by the public for accurate information on local and world events, both present and past. This is extremely important because we all know today that ignorant people are easier to control then educated people. This is, unfortunately, what the “mainstream” media is accomplishing. Withholding information, which is leading to growing ignorance in our society.    

  Being a journalist can be a grueling job. Not only is it stressful and demanding but it is also consuming. Depending on where they’re employed, the effort put in, and subsequently, the quality of their reporting can vary significantly. This difference in quality is not always due to the journalist’s negligence. They are, generally speaking, simply following orders.

   The popular, or “mainstream”, media networks can be blamed for their journalist’s aversion to covering the whole story. This is partly due to the fact that these journalists are assigned what to report on, as well as having restrictions on what they can and cannot say. Also, “mainstream” news does not cater to their viewers’ needs and demands, but rather to their (often corporate) sponsors. Saddening as it is, the news’ sponsors wellbeing and good name are often prioritized over the true story.

   If a journalist wishes to stay employed under these mainstream news entities, it is important to “follow the rules”, and to never report a story disparaging the news’ sponsors or powerful corporations. One example of this happening was in 1998. Two investigative reporters were fired from Fox News for their story on rGBH (bovine growth hormone) in milk and its health effects on the human body. These reporters were not fired for the quality of their reporting, but for disparaging Monsanto! In this and many other ways, “mainstream” media has successfully demised the integrity of journalism.   

   In the face of these enormous news powers it is easy to despair and question how the integrity of news can ever be restored. This is where small grassroots news organizations (independent media) come in. They will bring back the integrity of news and journalism by reporting the whole truth. Independent media, such as its name implies, is independent of corporate sponsors and is instead funded by the people they report for. This allows them to cover the whole true story and not have to white wash certain points in order to please their wealthy sponsors.

   There’s no doubt that journalism is an exciting job, but it also has its risks because there are always people who don’t want the truth to be known. The first risk is people getting angry with you for questioning their reality. These people then refuse to listen to you, and try to persuade others that the information you’re sharing is wrong. This is called cognitive dissonance. Another risk faced by journalists is being targeted by the government with small things such as TSA singling you out at the airport and cops giving you a harder time than usual.

   What has the government got to do with media? You might ask. Well, in the 1950s the CIA launched Operation Mockingbird, a secret operation created to influence the media. They would pay off journalists and threaten news networks to comply with their commands. They ordered them to write and publish misinformation and propaganda to influence the publics’ opinion. They also used it to cover up many different covert and illegal foreign interventions such as the over throw of the democratic Iranian government in 1953 and the Bay of Pigs fiasco in 1961. We are still subject to this type of propaganda every time we turn on the TV because Operation Mockingbird never officially stopped.

   Despite the many risks journalists face, there are also many rewards, such as the satisfaction of exposing the well hidden lies of our society. Journalists’ also have the power to help people wake up, show them how much we need change, and inspire them to make it. They also empower people with knowledge they wouldn’t have otherwise had. Many would say that these rewards far outweigh the risks, and I am in agreement. I believe journalism is a career more people should join. I myself want to be a journalist for more reasons then what I’ve listed above. Such as, the ability to combine three things I love, writing, expressing myself, and helping people. As well as the fact that I to can share the truth with the world; in so doing, help to create a new paradigm where money, threats, and abuse have no power over the true story. 

My first ever video on the topic of independent media journalism