Democracy’s gatekeepers

The media, in all forms, acts as the glue that keeps our country together.

Due to the watchful eye of such agencies, leaders are held to a higher standard of accountability, providing checks and balances between those in power and those who put them in power.

They provide an unseen blanket of security; they are the unofficial voice of the American people, work for the people and protect the people. However, we are now in an era where the people have started to turn their back on the media and view them with disdain.

This shift did not happen overnight. It has gradually picked up steam. A deeply rooted distrust of the media has been carefully cultivated, starting with the Nixon administration era and has been fostering a sense of anger towards reporting as we know it.

Although the Nixon administration ended long ago, America still experiences the effects of the Watergate scandal in present times.

As witnessed in the films All the President’s Men and Spotlight, if it weren’t for the media and the critical role they play in America, then criminals would go unpunished and justice would remain yet unserved due to lack of exposure.

Their work was the epitome of effective and efficient journalism, resulting in some of the most groundbreaking discoveries in history.

The majority of today’s top journalists invest much effort into providing Americans with facts and evidence. Some individuals work many hours, with very little pay, just to bring true and raw journalism to Americans everywhere.

Delivering cold hard facts is journalism’s bread and butter, however many people still refuse to accept it. They are blinded by the voices of famous political influencers found across broadcast media platforms.

There have been so many fallacies spread since the Nixon administration. The Trump administration picked up the baton and has continued creating these alternate realities, making it difficult to know the difference between fact and fiction.

This has effectively resulted in individuals becoming overwhelmed. Facts are then pushed to the side, causing people to run to safety, yelling from their side of the political fences.

This self-defense mechanism has only become progressively worse since the Watergate scandal.

Currently, the Muller case is now the new talk of the country, stratification of parties and the new ordeal that divides the media and the people.

What many citizens aren’t aware of is that the real problem isn’t about which party is right or wrong. It is our about our leaders.

The American people must identify those who cultivate lies, mistrust, and manipulation in order to turn the public’s eyes away from the truth while fulfilling an agenda of power, secrets and distraction.

Such disconnection occurs when citizens start questioning the media and its legitimacy. Fighting ensues over these matters, through tactics of distraction by those in power.

This is a strategy that has been continued by our current administration, who ironically, coined the term fake news. It is a tactic that has manufactured ignorance and stubbornness.

Those in power attempt to convince Americans that journalists are trying to convey or impose their own political opinions or positions upon their audiences, making them appear highly biased.

While it’s true that writers tend to have their own beliefs, the majority make an honest effort to stick with the facts for accuracy and trustworthy reporting. Only a few well-known broadcast outlets use misleading and biased tactics or feature commentators and analysts who do so. This behavior is not common among the press.

Chuck Todd, contributing editor at The Atlantic and moderator of Meet the Press stated in a recent article, “Journalists labor to correct common biases. However, critics may be accusing journalists of having deliberately and consciously shaped their reporting to serve some political end. That sort of overt bias is far rarer.”

The current campaign of the present administration has become highly dangerous for society and democracy in the United States.

If the press no longer has its power and credibility to provide facts and exposure, then power will go unchecked.

The government will become a deep vault of secrets and lies. The truth is what binds them to consistent morality and holds them accountable.

It is important that Americans see through the lies and delve into deeper research to become educated on matters at hand. The country needs to put their trust back in the hands of the media.

The foundation of a strong democracy is trust and transparency. These concepts are enforced and ensured by the media. Thus, journalists are the gatekeepers of our democracy and the true safe havens from the political storms that may head our way in the future.