Journalism Blog- Week 2

Chapter 1- Answers

1) I don't believe journalists should risk going to jail or should accept dangerous assignments however I do think it is important that journalists take difficult stories. Journalists act as messengers but unfortunately are seen as the bad guys and face new defamation laws. Journalists actually keep the public safe in a way. They inform us, educate and entertain us. Society needs journalism to keep us out of the dark especially on topics that may attract negative attention for being published.

2) It is very hard for them to improve it. I can only suggest, completely avoid bias, provide a broad range of coverage on all topics and include interviews from both parties when it comes to publishing conflicts.

3) It can teach you about the way the media world works. You can be better educated in the way the industry runs. You gain many skills such as better communication, creative thinking, problem solving and time management. You also gain confidence in yourself to ask difficult questions and seek answers.

4) Yes, I believe so. Newspapers were the first form of media. They cover many functions- to inform, educate and entertain. Newspapers provide you with written evidence. The text in front of you is left for you to interpret in your own way. Newspapers can be kept and referred back to where as media on radio and television is often quick, less detailed and not as likely to be remembered. Newspapers can also fill in time and expand your vocabulary. They provide many different sections such as real estate, profiles and international news. They cater for a variety of different people and cheaply too. It is easier to provide feedback and have it shown to the public as well (opinion section). I do think they will become more entertainment focused however. New generations tend to lack interest in the news/facts/figures and I believe they will want more entertainment, more crosswords etc.

5) Yes they do. As it says on page 20 of this weeks reading, a journalists job is about 'seeking the truth in the public interest and about telling those truths in a way the public can understand. Journalists provide a lot of information on politics. They help run the system by informing the public on such things as where their tax is being spent, issues raised in parliament, new laws and campaigns for politicians.

6) I think newspapers newspapers, even if a 3rd party (journalists) have written it. It is meant to be objective and provide detailed information including quotes from interviews. Research goes into writing these stories. Newspapers focus more on the news thus would be more credible then television or radio who focus mainly on entertainment.

7) No, we need journalists to do our research and provide information to the public. The media inform us, educate us and entertain us. The news media is a main source of knowledge about what is happening in the world. This communication is needed to avoid a breakdown in society.

* I don't really like the idea of how journalists are perceived as talked about in the beginning of this weeks reading. Journalists are simply messengers and performing their duty to the public and their bosses gets them in trouble.