Why journalism?

Journalism is being expanded and redefined with the rise of citizen journalists, bloggers and the 24-hour news cycle. So it may be somewhat surprising that most news gatherers still agree on the purpose of their profession: to provide people with the information they need to be free and autonomous, to make sound decisions, and to order the world around them. As the Supreme Court reminded us when it supported the right of The New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers, the press’ duty is to the people, not the powers that be. Most journalists take this duty very seriously and wince when people accuse them of being corporate lackeys just trying to make a buck for their employer.

The news media should be bull dogs constantly nipping at the heels of public figures, forcing them to justify their actions and be accountable to the public. As a keystone institution of free and democratic societies, the free press should tirelessly seek to give the powerless a voice in the public debate. But with the trend of consolidation of media ownership in the hands of a few mega-rich corporations, the independence of news organizations has been called into question.

Why do we crave news?

Red Square, Moscow, Russia

It’s called the Awareness Instinct, or Situational Sense Making. Whatever you call it, people crave news. They want to know what’s going on so they can plan, prepare and prevent. Knowledge gives us security; we know what to expect, and we can plan a response. If something happens, if a question is raised, we can seek information and assuage our uncertainty.

But in the digital age, not everyone has equal access to information. Thinking beyond the widely accessible sources of information like radio reports and newspapers, we have to consider who can access the wider information net and who cannot.

For many of us, the information found on the Internet is a vital part of our daily lives. It would be hard to imagine our jobs without the quick, convenient and vast reserves of information just a click away. However, most people around the world, and a surprising number in this country, do not have access to the Internet.

The innovation has spread unevenly across the globe. Perhaps one day installing general Internet connections in this country will be the new rural electrification movement, but for now some of us are information-rich while others remain information-poor.

The power of the media

Millennium Park, Chicago

Why do so many people harbor such resentment against the press?

If asked, a press-hater might respond that TV and newspapers forage for human suffering so that the mega-rich parent companies will profit. Another might add that the media occlude discussion on issues of real importance while only reporting information the government and the influential corporate interests deem acceptable.

While both these criticisms have value, a community without a functioning free press modeled on the First Amendment is nowhere any of us would want to live. The press is a fundamentally important check on the power and ego of public figures and officials. Any newspaper worth its salt understands that its loyalty must be to the readers. So every decision to publish or not to publish must take into account the public's right to know and the importance of wide open, robust debate in a democratic society.

Journalists have a hard job. Not only is life riddled with deadline pressure, the daily news cycle requires the news person to be on-call like a doctor, but for a fraction of the salary. The consolation is that journalists have incredible power. Writers of all kinds, but perhaps especially daily news writers, are in a position to shape the national discussion about important issues. Writers create culture, shape the public perception and dictate societal priorities.

The power of the press is not lost on those who wish to monopolize power in society. That's why every authoritarian regime moves quickly to restrict the media. (Check out the Cuban News Agency to see government censorship of the press in action, and conversely, check out the El Universal newspaper in Venezuela that staunchly opposes Hugo Chavez).

So as journalists, we must take our jobs dead seriously. At every opportunity we should ensure that our loyalty is to our readers. As teachers for the masses, journalists get a lot of flack, but we are in a unique position to impact the way the public feels about important issues. Perhaps it is precisely this power of the press that underlies the ever-present public distrust of the media. We have a responsibility to use the power wisely.