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WHY JOURNALISM?

Principles of Journalism, Comms 239 Ben Whisenant

Sunday, January 22, 12

What Does the Public Think of the Press


From 1999 Only 21 Percent thing the press care about people 58 % respect press role as watchdog 45% think press protects democracy

Sunday, January 22, 12

The elements of journalism*


The purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing. The journalists rst obligation is to the truth. Journalists rst loyalty is to citizens
!* Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, 2000 Crown Publishers

Sunday, January 22, 12

Principles from Authors


Journalist agree and society should expect Journalisms rst obligation is to the truth Its rst loyalty is to citizens Its essence is a discipline of verication its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover It must serve as an independent monitor of power It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise It must strive to make the signicant interesting an relevant It must keep the news comprehensive and in proportion Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience Citizens, too have rights and responsibilities when it comes to news
Sunday, January 22, 12

Myths?
Journalists should be protected by a wall between business and news Independence requires journalists to be neutral Journalists take it as a given that they work in the public interest

Sunday, January 22, 12

Free Society

Societies that want to suppress freedom must rst suppress the press, they do not, interestingly, have to suppress capitalism e.g., Singapore, China

Sunday, January 22, 12

Lippmann vs Dewey
Lippmann-gap between journalists and public
Citizens are like theatre-goers who arrive in the middle of the third act and leave before the last curtain, staying just long enough to decide who is the hero and who is the villain.

Dewey-Agreed with the faults identied by Lippmann (p. 22) but said, the goal of democracy was not to manage public affairs efciently, rather, it was to allow people to develop to their fullest potential.
Sunday, January 22, 12

Theory of the Interlocking Public


Involved public Interested public Uninterested public

Sunday, January 22, 12

And if the Consumer wont Consume?


The central purpose of journalism is to tell the truth so that people will have the information that they need to be sovereign. Jack Fuller, Tribune Co. People crave news out of basic instinct--Awareness Instinct

Sunday, January 22, 12

A New Role
Help arm the public with tools to perform more active citizenship Help audience make order of whats available Veriability Does the reader have the time to do this themselves? Do they care if they dont have the time?

Sunday, January 22, 12

USA TODAY
1.8 Million Circulation easy to read and comprehend stories Only cover stories have jumps National news only

Sunday, January 22, 12

What a journalist reports


Often journalists want to avoid propaganda or being a voice for the loudest Can lead to misguided emphases Can citizens rely on the press to monitor the powerful interests in society. Do they trust the conclusions of the press.

Sunday, January 22, 12

Mind of a journalist
Whats a nice person like me doing in a place like this?

Sunday, January 22, 12

Why journalism?
Like to read, write, tell stories Intense curiosity Desire to contribute to society Independent Getting inside to nd out things rst Generalist

Sunday, January 22, 12

Why now?

There is still a demand for journalism Journalism needs youhelp develop the future Journalism will be better than ever

Sunday, January 22, 12

Mind of a journalist
Whats it like being a journalist? Whats opinion got to do with it? Whats ethical? How do I balance journalism with my faith? How do I balance journalism with celebrity?

Sunday, January 22, 12

Your presentations
Three people per group Approx. 30 minutes Bring topic to life Lead conversation Videos, slides, handouts, object lessons, roleplays, etc. Use BYU-appropriate material

Sunday, January 22, 12

Deliverables
Your PowerPoint le Links used in your presentation Digital copies of your handouts Group self-evaluation (each member of group)

Sunday, January 22, 12

Peer review
Grade the class assignment related to your topic Blog entries and/or Writing assignment Five exam questions

Sunday, January 22, 12

What to blog about


Discussions in class (particularly after the presentations start) Issues and topics raised by presentation groups Assigned readings Articles on the web

Sunday, January 22, 12

For next time...

Online reading assignment

Sunday, January 22, 12

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