Journalists need to continue to unmask the corruption

If there is anything that we can learn or sadly be reminded of the past two weeks is the old adage of “absolute power corrupts absolute.”

There have been numerous cases of this in the last while as more horrible situations are coming to light recently. Kyle Beach and the Chicago Blackhawks and National Hockey League cover-up, reports of intoxicated Alberta cabinet ministers wondering the halls of the Alberta legislature harassing other staff and the most important of all, the continued search of unmarked graves at the so-called residential schools and what will be done in the future to address the situation with the Indigenous communities.

The other old adage is that the easiest way to handle a difficult situation is to sweep it under the rug and pretend it never happened. We are finding that this ‘strategy’ no longer works. This is signs of weak leadership, lack of compassion and empathy towards those they serve and the only real work being done by those in positions of power is to maintain the status quo.

The amount of cover-up in government and organizations is scary and frightening. Somehow they need to be held accountable.

While the role of journalists have been attacked in smear campaigns initiated by Donald Trump … aka “fake news.” Smear campaigns are just ways those who have power try to ensure that they maintain by discrediting the messenger. Being able to do what you want, whenever you want is dream for those who are “corrupt absolute.”

This has been the case for years in countries where criminials or corrupt governments want journalists eliminated or even killed.

The trouble these days is that with no way to verify where some of this news is coming from, there is so much out there and confusing people. Someone floats an idea out there, especially as we have seen in the pandemic, and if it catches fire, becomes the truth.

In North America, the pandemic has been a very polarizing issue for society and for the media to report on. Demonstrations, acts of defiance which need coversge have seen reporters be attacked if not physically but verbally. It is almost sport.

Some female reporters are accosted when doing live reporting, having some extremely offensive, misognystic and abusive things screamed at them.

There have been calls about media bias, plus some shoddy journalism from some supposedly reputable sources, such as CBC Edmonton and its mannequin in the Covid-19 emergency room, there has been a lot of solid reporting recently. TSN’s Rick Westhead and the Beach situation comes to mind.

Make no mistake, the media industry has been just as susceptible to the poor economy and with the changes in technology and new sources which could be true independents to those looking to grind their specific axes, journalism is shifting.

There will be more to come in the future regarding Indigenous rights, the Indigenous schools, who knew what when and why wasn’t anything done?

The importance of honest and thorough journalism is so important, that will never change. It is needed.

Sometimes the truth hurts but it can’t be ignored, covered up and just denied.

Unearthing that corruption will always be needed.