MY ESSAY!

Candace Burr
Aug 31, 2009
Comms 239 – Cressman
Essay #1

Journalism Defined: What it is, Who Does it, and Why It’s Important

Journalism is inescapably woven into the fabric of American Society. In societies of the world where freedom of speech is available, journalism, or the free exchange of ideas and information, is also a permanent and vital institution. Journalism is about conveying information to better educate society. Journalism creates an open forum for the exchange of information, ideas, and events. Information sparks the desire toward change for an increasingly functional society. For this to happen people needs to be connected and informed and journalists facilitate that need.
Journalists are information gatherers for the public. Information drives people’s reactions, and reactions drive change for the future. Journalists take upon themselves the duty of improving democracy by becoming an open and unbiased channel for communication and information. They dedicate time and effort to help inform the public of events that impact their communities and personal situations for better or worse.
To be a good journalist it takes time, commitment, meticulous investigative skills, and proper education. One of the most important qualities of a journalist, though, is the constant curiosity they carry with them. Journalists are never satisfied that they know enough, a good journalist is not a lazy person.
Journalists are also part of an extra check and balances system. They take upon themselves the responsibility of being a societal watchdog. By exposing what others don’t want known, journalists protect and warn the public. People want to know that their representatives are being held accountable for the actions that they take on their behalf, and journalists make this possible.
It seems to me those who choose journalism choose a very patriotic path of life. Journalists are directly involved with democracy. They do their job so that I don’t have to walk blindly as a citizen of this country. People say that “journalism is so negative these days”. I disagree. Although many unfortunate things are reported on, journalism fills me with confidence, not negativity. Journalism gives me the confidence because it lights the sometimes ambiguous world with bright, shining truth.