Good Journalism Matters

It is no surprise that the media has become such a huge role in journalism today. And it also should be no surprise that throughout history journalism has exposed corrupted politicians, church officials and even a president due to investigative reporting.

These experiences can be seen in movies like Spotlight and All The President’s Men. An investigative unit composed to expose Catholic priests who had repeatedly been accused of molesting children while in their care. This lead them to church leaders who knew about the abuse and protected them by transferring them to new parishes, where they could possibly harm more children.

The media is very important for good journalism in the United States because without the proper media coverage of these issues they would not get the attention they need. These stories would be buried. No one would be held credible. Without good investigative reporting that back up the claims with hard evidence and facts no one would believe them.

For example, the investigation and uncovering of the Watergate Scandal that was portrayed in the movie “All The President’s Men” by the Washington Post was largest government that has ever occured. Bernstein and Woodward, the reporters tasked to cover the story, released multiple stories to the public, which eventually turned the public against Nixon.

Only when the public began to question him did Nixon decide to resign in order to avoid impeachment. This right here shows how important good journalism can be.

Media has the power to show citizens what’s important and what needs attention. Journalism can. entertain, stir certain emotions and experiences. It offers fresh perspectives and stories which help citizens make devious regarding government, communities, and society as a whole.

Without proper coverage do you think the Watergate scandal and the Catholic Church would be held accountable for their actions? Probably not.

The First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the press.Writers of our Constitution and Bill of Rights wanted the citizens to be able to speak freely about the government. The press is often called the “watchdog of the government” which basically means to keep the public informed so that we can make decisions on improving the situation in the voting booth when the time comes.

In order to further good journalism and keep the public informed reporters and the media have to maintain a tight relationship. Reporters maintain the facts and the media gives them the coverage they need to stay on top. Report news that is essential and pertains to today’s society.

With the spread of “fake news” many are lost on what and who to believe. Trust is important to get to the truth. I believe that with citizens want news that is useful and helps to solve solutions, and not just pointing fingers. They rely on in depth stories to help better understand people and places they know nothing about.

These examples of groundbreaking journalism is shown numerous times throughout American history. Without investigative journalism we would have never uncovered situations like Watergate and the Catholic Church. No one wants to go against the government or religion, two very touchy subjects, but without accountability the future of democracy is lost.