Journalism is a career that is often the backbone of society, yet it is seen as very controversial. Since journalism works in the background of society, many forget just how important it is to everyday life.
When I tell people I am studying journalism, I get very contrasting responses. However, the most common is, “ya know, journalism is a dying career! You should have a backup plan!” That is one of the most common misconceptions about journalism, and yet they aren’t completely wrong. The availability of print journalism (newspapers) is decreasing, and since it’s what readers are used to, it feels like the whole career is dead.
Journalism as an overall career is actually on the rise. Every article and little piece of information you find is journalism. Because Google is so accessible, it is easy to forget the journalism that went into providing the information you find. While the career may seem like a walk in the park and a simple 9-5 desk job, it entails much more.
There are numerous types of journalism that range from all different specialties. For instance international correspondents often go overseas to gather the information needed to keep the public informed. In late August 2021, the U.S. officially pulled all troops out of Afghanistan due to the increasing Taliban threat. All parties involved were praised for their heroic acts. However, in the mitts of withdrawing military groups – the U.S. funded journalists, but many civilians and informants were left to fend for themselves. While highly respected, the U.S. not only neglected to bring many journalists back, they also neglected to admit that failure. Texas Representative, Michael McCaul, had many concerns of how the government handled the journalists. In a press release made the day after the withdraw, McCaul stated, “It is absolutely disgraceful the U.S. State Department claimed they evacuated their local employees when in reality they abandoned hundreds of USAGM journalists and their families.” The situation in Afghanistan was a very tough choice many officials had to make. I do believe there could have been many other paths to take that ensured the safety of not only our troops, but also our journalists and civilian informants.
While withdrawing from Afghanistan seems like the most recent endangerment of journalists, it has only been the tip of the iceberg. The CPJ – Committee to Protect Journalists – compiled vast amounts of data about journalists. According to the CPJ, there has been roughly 1,427 journalists killed in reported countries since 1992. That includes deaths ranging from murder, to crossfire, to dangerous assignments – even as far as assassinations. When a journalist takes an assignment, they are accepting all the risks that may come. In a nontraditional sense, journalists sacrifice themselves in order to provide for the public’s greater good.
Even when their lives aren’t directly threatened, there are still domestic dangers. For instance, the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Insurrection was a terrorist attack that required journalists to be present to get information. Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press executive director Bruce Brown released a statement saying, “We welcome the Justice Department’s steps to hold people accountable for assaulting journalists and damaging their equipment as they documented one of the worst attacks on our democracy in recent times.” This was released six months after Jan. 6 in light of the FBI looking to charge the people who attacked journalists and their gear. While this didn’t take place in a war stricken nation – every journalist who was at the Capitol that day didn’t sign up for that danger, and yet they reported anyways.
Don’t be mistaken, I am not asking for journalism to be thought of on the same level as police, firefighters, soldiers, etc. – I know this is not the case. However, I think it is time to start acknowledging the career and all that comes with it. In general, our nation is taking journalism for granted like it is disposable. I know there are a wide variety of journalists who abuse their power, but just like everything else, we can’t disregard the whole because of the few. Ultimately, without journalism we would be a highly underdeveloped nation.