Why true journalism will never die
Social Media as an outlet for news, information and analysis is the main challenge to traditional media
verge of a detrimental retreat. United States President Donald Trump has taken his attacks on media to unprecedented levels, using his public speeches to defame journalists — in some cases leading to his supporters in the public to heckle reporters or threaten them. Trump may not be the first among politicians, business moguls and public figures to take a stand against media and journalists, but his campaign goes further in smearing and agitating.
In his outbursts against the media, Trump is banking on one of the vices of social media — fabrication and spin. Recently, the Washington Post published a report fact-checking Trump’s statements and tweets citing thousands of wrong information points (fake facts) since he came to power. That’s the sort of true journalism, professional one, that Trump and many others attack everyday. I believe that as the attacks on media and journalism increases, it is a pointer that true journalism is doing its job properly and in so doing, it is rankling those who want to obscure facts.
As political and business groups are using social media to propagate their interests, whether in an ‘honest’ and factual way or through spin and propaganda (fake news and views), the public needs journalists and true media to keep themselves informed in an unbiased way by presenting correct facts and news. It’s the public that has a deep interest in true journalism and this trend will ultimately prevail. Demand for news and views is not decreasing, it’s just that the market is overcrowded with all kinds of platforms. As a result of which, quality and credibility has taken a hit.
Furthermore, true journalism is not about defaming people or entities. Mainstream media is ruled not only by laws of libel, but by its set of professional regulations.
For balanced journalism, we need media and journalists to investigate, verify and check information as an antidote to the era of fake news.