Drew's presentation on Radio Free Europe got me thinking about the importance of the media in society. Hearing how honest journalism can make such an important difference to the public helped me realize the journalist ' s role as a civil servant in their own way.
Earlier this week I went to a seminar about investigative journalism put on by the Huffington Post Investigative Journalism Fund. They showed us a video that brought up the issue that many in Baltimore are having ; specifically, people are losing their homes due to small , unpaid water and utility bills. The journalist explained the investigative process from getting the initial tip to finding and reporting on the in-depth information featured in the video. Another journalist in the room raised their hand to ask, "Why didn't you just help her pay her bill so she didn't have to get kicked out?" While this idea sounds good in theory, this is not the role of a journalist. The speaker explained that a journalist is not a player in the situation and therefore cannot actively participate in fixing the individual problem directly. However, they are not simply spectators either and that the value they bring and the impact their job can have is to bring issues like this to the public's attention. This is particularly important because there are likely more than a single individual with this same issue. Raising public awareness can effect a more broad reaching and longer term solution to the problem.
This concept of uncovering issues and bringing them to the surface is an extremely important role of the journalist. While our government is set up with a system of checks and balances, journalists also work to keep the government held accountable by holding up to public scrutiny issues that need to be addressed. While journalists do not create or pass laws , they are constantly participating in the process for the public good.
-M.T.
I agree with Mal that integrity is important in reporting. As a member of the general public, I rely on the media to provide accurate, unbiased information about the world for me. I watch the news because I do not have time to individually research each current event. Often I think it is hard to find unbiased news reporters, but I find it reassuring that some journalists still see their job as providing the most accurate, unbiased version of a story as possible. - K.F.
ReplyDeleteOne can relate this debate to the academic theory known as the principal-agent theory. The principal-agent theory is when one person or entity-the agent, acts on the behalf of another-the principal. A classic example of the principal-agent relationship is when stockholders of a company (the principal) hire managers (the agent) to act on their behalf. A problem with the principal-agent arrangement is that the interest of the principal and agent sometimes differ. Agents may be tempted to put their own self-interest ahead of those of the principal.
ReplyDeleteAs consumers of news, we are the principals and journalists are the agents. However, consumers only see the end results of news stories. One does not truly know whether all the information is accurate and unbiased. Asymmetric information is a fundamental problem in the principal-agent relationship. For journalists there is an incentive to exaggerate or withhold some truth to their principals (consumers) in order to look better or further their career. I don't know how this problem can be resolved. It is not possible to perfectly monitor journalists' actions therefore how do consumers make sure the truth is always told?
-OI