The elements of journalism.

[OxQQme]

Here are 10 elements common to good journalism, drawn from the book.

Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth

Good decision-making depends on people having reliable, accurate facts put in a meaningful context. Journalism does not pursue truth in an absolute or philosophical sense, but in a capacity that is more down to earth.

“All truths – even the laws of science – are subject to revision, but we operate by them in the meantime because they are necessary and they work,” Kovach and Rosenstiel write in the book. Journalism, they continue, thus seeks “a practical and functional form of truth.” It is not the truth in the absolute or philosophical or scientific sense but rather a pursuit of “the truths by which we can operate on a day-to-day basis.”

This “journalistic truth” is a process that begins with the professional discipline of assembling and verifying facts. Then journalists try to convey a fair and reliable account of their meaning, subject to further investigation.

Journalists should be as transparent as possible about sources and methods so audiences can make their own assessment of the information. Even in a world of expanding voices, “getting it right” is the foundation upon which everything else is built – context, interpretation, comment, criticism, analysis and debate. The larger truth, over time, emerges from this forum.

As citizens encounter an ever-greater flow of data, they have more need – not less – for suppliers of information dedicated to finding and verifying the news and putting it in context.

Its first loyalty is to citizens.

more: --> https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/journalism-essentials/what-is-journalism/elements-journalism/

See also active links on top and left side of page.

[truedelphi]

1. This is a decent resource for anyone struggling with the ideas surrounding

"good journalism."

However, I don't know if the website addresses any of the huge challenges that face the modern day public.

Under the section "Interlocking public" and the discussion there of how the government once tried to enable the public, through education and through the post office, to have an adequate choice of various points of view regarding news, there doesn't seem to be even a mere mention of how the "airwaves" are now basically owned by a few outlets, all beholden to one or another Huge Modern Day Industry. How could we have had an intelligent discussion of our "need" to go to war against Iraq during 2002 and 2003, when GE is one of the biggest holders of TV airwaves?

Networks are also aware that at the beginning of any war, there is a surge in viewership. So it is to the economic advantage of any of the major TV outlets to have a war - they immediately begin to capture more of an audience and can charge more for the advertising!

And advertising itself brings a host of problems relating to truth and journalism. For example: We will not see any type of discussion of the serious health risks of "air fresheners" and disinfectants such as spray-able Lysol as long as the advertising budgets of many networks are held enthralled to the Big Monies offered up by the Household Product conglomerates. For whatever reason, young women are now being exposed to serious and fast acting lung cancers, even though young women are no longer exposed to second hand smoke. There should be a discussion as to whether or not Febreeze and Glade are shortening women's lives, but that is not likely to happen due to advertising and its stranglehold on news teams.

Likewise, there is a ban on any discussion of the vaccine risks vs benefit as long as the Pharmaceutical Industry keeps its advertising resources enslaving the local news networks to avoid the topic. Just as cigarette ads kept the dangers of cig usage out of sight for decades, now we have the same problem with vaccines. People in France re far more likely to understand what a specific vaccine's risk vs benefit is than any American here - our news teams are all under a "quash order" from the TV executives. (Less than 20 years ago, "The San Francisco Chronicle" was responsible for a scathing review of the Vaccine Industry due to the the dirt, bacterial material, viral material and filth that was apparent to reporters investigating the laboratories where vaccines are produced, but now that newspaper is enslaved by Big Pharma's ads.)

[OxQQme]

2. Thanks for the response truedelphi

You said, "However, I don't know if the website addresses any of the huge challenges
that face the modern day public."
I totally agree on your point.
Having been on this planet for 3/4 century I have witnessed the decline in integrity
of the current wave of "journalism".
Equal time/fair and balanced are a few decades behind us.
Thank you Al Gore for the internet....:0)

Bill Moyer is still a class act from the wayback.