My Thoughts of the Role Media and Journalism Should Play in Society

 

The development of journalism has witnessed global conglomerates and the unprecedented prevalence of globalization as well as high-tech products are widely used in people's daily life, which has given rise to “media industry” accepted by all kinds of readers and users. Making fast money become a trend, by reporting some inaccurate or even fake news, which mislead readers to one-sided understanding to certain events, especially when discussing some social hot events.

 

Nevertheless, I don't object to the media getting benefits through the content they published, but for the content, the media itself and the journalist need to build a wall, draw a line, set a frontier. Instead, I have to admit that the news media is a participants in social issues most of the time. This is an avoidable fact, and it also brings unshirkable responsibility. Because news tell people what is happening outside and how do most people respond, at the same time give comments and offer appropriate solution to the issue as a comprehensive view. That is to say, they discover, they explore, they expose issues in front of people, but they can't sit there and wait for the event to ferment, because it will cause panic among the masses, and even make social problems more serious.

 

Media has the responsibility to act as a guide, and report any changes during this process, at the end of the issue to make a correct summary and reflection, giving the government and the masses the right guidance. In addition, media has responsibility to do certain public services even there’s no direct profits, for instance, post announcements, weather forecasts, tracing notices, etc, meet some basic needs of people. Moreover, in the critical moment of society, I hope that the media can objectively report on social changes and crisis events in accordance with professional ethics and legal requirements, without prejudice and misleading. And when many people lose hope and become confused about the status quo of society, media can stand up and encourage the public by expressing positive opinions and help the society get out of the woods.

 

Just like now. When the situation in Hong Kong is becoming in to chaos, and the public is increasingly unable to understand the development of the situation, with many negative emotions are growing. Then, the media shouldn’t turn more people into resistance but to tell more people how the constitutional incident argument happened, should provides people with the motivation to think correctly, should tells young people how to vent their anger correctly, and should shows the government what people think right now.

 

Therefore, the one who put all these into practice is called journalist. The presence of journalists is from the interest of society, the responsibility to tell the truth and the sense of mission to correct mistakes. When a person wants to express his own opinion, wants to understand the society, understand the world, and when he wants to promote the development of a society, realize his rights, and achieve democracy, this is the journalist.

 

The purpose of journalism is to provide information, promoting the development of society, the development of democracy and freedom, to tell the truth and expose the facts. Only in this way can the well-being of all be promoted. Especially with the participation of science and technology, journalism should tell the truth and play a supervisory role. After read “The Elements of Journalism” , I think the purpose of journalism is not determined by technology, nor by journalists or the technologies we use. The purpose of journalism work are determined by something more basic - the convenience and influence of news on people's lives.