Origins of Journalism
By Emmanuel Perilla
Since the beginning of journalism, the prospect of the news being a lucrative business has been a reality. While journalism is considered the trademark of any genuine democracy, the boundary between honest reporting and an industry that is driven by profit has become blurred.
The commercialization of journalism has led to many problems. For example, in “Understanding U.S. Journalism I: Corporate Control and Professionalism” it states, “The problem stems directly from the system of profit-driven journalism in largely noncompetitive markets that began to emerge over one century ago. “The concentrated private capital over the press, with the aim of profit maximization, has been the rudder directing U.S. journalism for more than a century (McChesney 57).
Clearly, the task of doing serious reporting will come into conflict with an industry that is being commodified and sold to the highest bidder. The press is supposed to be a democratic institution where reporters criticize all aspects of society, including the rich and powerful, and that can’t really be done if the owners of the press are influential men and women in society themselves. Reporters can’t be expected to do honest and essential reporting if the publication they write for already has an extremely bias position and perspective.
The commercialization of journalism stifles the real power journalism is supposed to have in a democracy because now the public service is in private hands.
Now, the reporter whose suppose to use their talents to bring objective truth to the public is subordinate to powerful business interests. If commercial interests are allowed to dominate the journalism industry then journalism can no longer be a genuine practice; it will simply become a mouthpiece for the powerful. When Jeff Bezos, the Ceo of Amazon, purchases the Washington Post, this is obviously a violation of the principle of journalistic integrity. If a reporter at the Post wishes to do a story on the exploitation of Amazon workers or any other type of criticism of Amazon’s policies there gonna hit a brick wall and this is a direct violation of their job as a journalist.
Journalism can thrive without the interference of powerful commercial interests. One way this can happen is if the public begins to do the main funding for newspapers.
While this sounds like a lot, if the public wants some type of serious, honest reporting there gonna have to pitch in themselves. Since journalism itself is supposed to be loyal to the public it makes sense for the public to be the main funders of this institution.
Community journalism should be encouraged and specific neighborhoods and regions in a given city can start their own publications and do their own reporting instead of waiting for commercially funded publications to report on the events in their area. Another way journalism can thrive without business interests is citizen journalism.
If regular, everyday citizens begin to investigate and report on the events that happen in their communities, the prevalence of commercially funded newspapers will began to dwindle. The public will begin to trust their fellow citizen to report on the events in society, instead of the big newspaper that is tied to business interests.
