Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Public service journalism in peril

Journalism spurred by the passion to orchestrate an informed citizenry, a truly functioning democracy, is for naught if the financial means are nonexistent. It seems as though the need for service journalism to join the money-making game is ever-intensifying. Service journalism may be perceived as a public good, but once the cards are dealt and the game has begun, this ideal becomes agitated by increasing concerns. How can a press retain its independence when startup funds are issued directly from the state? Can an article be published with a solemn pledge to fairness and accuracy when the reporter in question receives his salary from the very individuals he is covering? Such inquiries accurately illustrate the tense relationship between financial need and strict adherence to quality journalism. A journalist’s rendering of utopia would entail a press not bound by a capitalistic agenda, but free to serve the public with the untainted truth. Is public service journalism an idealist’s illusion, or is there a financial relationship of a more stable nature, capable of sustaining a free press?

1 comment:

  1. Good question, Kelsey. The concept of public journalism is surely in peril theses days for many reasons. My understanding is that a "free press" is an ideal that journalists have always aspired to attain because the concept of "free press" is associated to good things such as objectivity, truth and all the good stuff. Based on what I know now about journalism, I will say that any journalist who covers an issue and received some kind of rewards must admit it because this is actually PR in my humble opinion. Finally, I will say that free press can be sustained but not without challenges.

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