I recently read chapter five of Neil Henry’s American Carnival. Henry discusses how the news media, after the War in Iraq, were acting as an extension of the government. Sometimes, the media outlets endeavored “to rally the American people behind the administration’s war, instead of serving as an independent watchdog for the truth” (Henry, 206). The author firmly believes that this should not be the case. The media should serve the interests of the public because the public has a right to know. According to the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics (which Henry believes should be a crucial document guiding journalistic ideals), journalists should seek truth and report it, minimize harm, act independently, and be accountable. With this in mind, he goes over what journalism should be and what it should not be. He explains that “professional journalism offers the most valuable vehicle for communicating enlightenment, truth, and clarity for holding our elected leaders accountable” (Henry, 215). If there should be a decline in journalistic professionalism, societal dysfunction could occur. One of the most interesting parts of the chapter involves his previous mistakes as a young journalist. He goes over the things he did wrong, on a practical level and on an ethical level. From these mistakes, a journalist must learn to verify all facts and remain loyal to what one knows to be true.
With new media emerging, a kind of fresh content is provided to the public. By using cell phones, high-quality digital photos, video capabilities, emails, and blogs, media outlets can go beyond the traditional. Now, there is a diversity of information at our disposal. This new media can be used “to investigate, to learn, to communicate” (Henry, 233). And while these elements are so helpful for researching and portraying a particular story to the public, it is of utmost importance to stay true to journalistic professional standards–independence, accuracy, balance, and public service.
Thank you!