In an argument defending Harry Croswell, a newspaper editor who published an unflattering opinion of then President Thomas Jefferson, former Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton said Americans must be given “the liberty of publishing truth, with good motives and for justifiable ends, even though it reflect on government, magistrates, or private persons.”
The freedom of the press and freedom of speech are granted to Americans by the United States Constitution. These freedoms allow journalists to publish articles and opinions about politicians and the government.
However, with the recent mass shooting at the newspaper publisher Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, this freedom is in jeopardy. Not only are journalists being attacked and threatened through social media platforms, but now they are the targets of violence.
News, in its simplest form, is factual information regarding an event. However, “fake news” does not tell the truth and consists of lies and falsehoods used to mislead audiences.
The Guardian defines “fake news” as articles that are “completely made up, manipulated to resemble credible journalism and attract maximum attention and, with it, advertising revenue.” These articles are designed to fool the audience and make a profit while doing it.
This means that satirical outlets like “The Onion” and “Saturday Night Live’s” long-running sketch, “Weekend Update” are not considered fake news, as they are satirical publications.
The concept of “fake news” did not randomly appear. The undermining of the credibility of journalists and journalism has slowly developed over the years. In 2016, this concept exploded with the case of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica.
Cambridge Analytica, a now-defunct British political consulting firm, used data mining and data analysis to provide information to clients during the electoral processes before it shut down on May 1. However, with Sen. Ted Cruz and Ben Carson as clients, along with former Vice President of Cambridge Analytica Steve Bannon, the firm leaned towards a strong conservative bias.
The firm used the data mined from the social media platform and targeted certain audiences who would be the most susceptible to the persuasion. As part of their tactics, they often posted and spread articles written by citizen journalists who rarely told the truth or only told one part of the truth. This was the start of the “fake news” cycle.
Our society is set up in a way that allows journalism to be the watchdog of the government. This means private individuals have a duty to keep the government from lying. While this is an imperfect system, it has allowed for investigative teams to expose the government’s corrupt actions such as Watergate and the Pentagon Papers.
Trust in the news and in journalists is at a low in America, but with so many variations on how to obtain news, the numbers reflect that variability. A Gallup poll in 2017 reported 27 percent of Americans have a great deal of confidence in newspapers, up from the 20 percent in 2016 but down from the 39 percent in 1990.
News found on the internet fares worse with only 16 percent of Americans having a great deal of confidence in newspapers. This number is alarming when one considers the fact about 43 percent of Americans receive their news from the internet.
Citizen journalism has made it increasingly difficult for trained journalists to be taken seriously. This is because these “journalists” have little to no formal training or education in journalism, therefore they are not often using credible sources to portray the news.
Through social media, these citizen journalists’ blogs and vlogs are often treated in the same regard as legitimate news outlets such as “The New York Times” and “The Washington Post.”
Legitimate news outlets use ethical guidelines and fact-based reporting to frame their articles. These news outlets tend to use traditionally accepted means of gathering information, fact-checking and editing before the information is sent to the public.
While some newspapers and television news sites are considered to be either more liberal or conservative in their reporting, it does not mean that the news presented is “fake” or untrustworthy. Framing and agenda setting is extremely common within the journalistic field, and it is rarely by the journalist’s volition. Usually, the owners and business leaders of news outlets are the ones who set the agenda.
In the current climate, the press is often bashed by politicians, especially President Donald Trump who has banned various media sources from attending the White House press briefings. By excluding newspapers from the White House and tweeting about “fake news,” the president has done nothing but escalate the American people’s disdain and distrust of journalists.
The Trump administration’s desire to muddy the water and allow for the deliberate discrediting of journalists allows for non-legitimate news sources to rise. This is a way of misleading the American people.
Before readers claim “fake news” on articles posted online, they should do three things. First, fact-check the information presented. Then, verify the information against other news sources. Finally, point out any corrections. Journalists are not perfect, but they should always aim to be accurate the first time.
While journalists can, and do, make mistakes sometimes, it does not mean their publication is at fault for spreading “fake news.” When a trained journalist working for a legitimate publication makes an error, a correction should be released. Transparency is one of the easiest ways to distinguish “fake news” from the journalists who make mistakes.
The news is not passive; it is an active process of obtaining and digesting the information from around the world. In order to make this process easier for the American people, journalists are trained and educated in ways to report this information to the masses. This is why journalism is important.
Without journalism, it becomes easier to mislead and manipulate the public. For those who do not believe this fight to protect the credibility of journalists and journalism is important, remember this, the foundation of our democracy is at stake.
Also published on Medium.
Excellent article/editorial, guys. You really made me look up a great deal to understand everything, but now, thanks to your links, I feel I have a fair, unbiased picture of journalism today. Thanks again.