based on the following information, write an extensive con argument citing specific examples and referring to the sources. The argument is for a debate and has to be not more than 4 minutes of talking 

Journalism has primary responsibility for combating misinformation → PRO

Journalism has primary responsibility for informing the public → CON

(We/I) will argue that journalism's primary responsibility is not combating misinformation but rather informing the public.
Roles and Responsibilities of Journalism 
Journalism is about the public good: EXPLAIN
Journalists aim to provide a comprehensive overview of current events and issues, fostering an informed audience, and focusing on giving people the best tools to comprehend what’s happening in the world around us. However, in our fast-paced digital society, misinformation spreads rapidly, often beyond the control of journalists. While we acknowledge that combating misinformation is one of the significant roles of journalism, we argue that it should not bear the primary responsibility alone. Misinformation is a multifaceted issue that requires a collective effort from various stakeholders, including social media platforms, government bodies, and the general public.
Journalists strive for neutrality, but they are not infallible. Opinions can influence reporting, and the concentration of media ownership can lead to biased narratives. During times of crises like wars or pandemics, the pressure to provide fast updates can lead to errors, highlighting the fallible nature of reporting and the challenges journalists face in combating misinformation.
Digital Media and Misinformation:
In today’s interconnected and digital age, the line between journalism, opinion, and misinformation is increasingly blurred. Social media platforms, driven by profit motives and personalized algorithms, often prioritize engagement over accuracy, creating so-called “echo chambers” that reinforce pre-existing beliefs. Therefore, we argued that the rapid spread of misinformation on these platforms cannot be solely addressed by journalists.
Moreover, in recent times, public trust in journalism has significantly eroded, making it increasingly difficult for reporters to be seen as the sole gatekeepers of truth. This erosion of trust derives from various factors, including perceived biases, sensationalism, and the pressures of the 24-hour news cycle. Additionally, the expectation for journalists to provide not only factual reporting but also high-value opinions can sometimes lead to the unintended dissemination of misinformation, especially when those opinions are based on incomplete or incorrect information. As such, relying solely on journalists to combat misinformation is not only unrealistic but also potentially counterproductive in the current media landscape.
Therefore, while journalists contribute to the fight against misinformation, their primary responsibility remains informing the public, providing the facts needed for individuals to make informed decisions and lending them the tools to navigate the info-maniac society we are living in, teaching them how to discern truth from falsehood among the overwhelming flood of data and information we are constantly bombarded with.

Collective Responsibility:
According to a poll by NPR, the public is divided on who should be responsible for combating misinformation: 39% point to the media, 18% to technology companies, 15% to the government, and only 12% to the public. This division underscores the need for a collective approach. Technology companies must develop better algorithms to detect and prevent the spread of false information, governments should implement regulations, and the public must become more critical consumers of information.

Challenges for Journalists:
Journalists face significant challenges, including limited resources for fact-checking and the pressure to publish quickly. During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, even experts' opinions changed frequently, leading to public confusion. Additionally, the erosion of trust in mainstream media and the influence of political and commercial interests further complicate journalists' ability to combat misinformation effectively.





Keywords:
defining what Journalism is = THE PUBLIC GOOD
defining “primary responsibility” = what is resp/what we mean by that for journalism
defining misinformation
GIVE THE PEOPLE THE INSTRUMENTS TO ANALYZE INFORMATION/FACTS/NEWS ecc

EXAMPLES:
covid
pizzagate
war times = israel / gaza, ukraine / URSS
data and statistics



Sources:
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/10/19/the-future-of-truth-and-misinformation-online/
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/10/19/shareable-quotes-from-experts-on-the-future-of-truth-and-misinformation-online/
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44159-021-00006-y
https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/digital-news-report/2022/dnr-executive-summary
https://www.apa.org/topics/journalism-facts/how-why-misinformation-spreads
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8853081/
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000265552 








PRO
https://www.statista.com/topics/3251/fake-news/#topicOverview 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zcr8r2p 
Responsibility as “watchdogs”
trust towards the media 
Newspapers also have social accounts
purchasing newspaper articles → reliable information → buying news = information reliability 
Social media — most people don’t fact-check, and many platforms don’t do anything to stop the spread of false news (some even encourage it to some extent due to the biases of the owners)
social media platforms seek for profits 
Disinformation leads to terrible things
A small group of people who own the newspaper = misinformation more controlled
Once it hits the Internet, it’s out of their control, so you have to be right the first time




CON
social media problem
fact checking = problem during war times 
fast-paced digital society 
the reading is expecting some kind of “high-valued” opinion from journalists = opinions can be wrong > the public is expecting not just facts 
neutrality is impossible 
small group of people who own the newspaper = journalists can lead the reader in thinking what they want 
no trust anymore 

https://madison365.com/were-all-responsible-for-fighting-fake-news-experts-say/