write this task. Make it sound personal, about what "I" think:

Please write about 800 words on the purpose of journalism, and what can damage or destroy that purpose. You do not have to restrict yourself to what we discussed in class. Also, this is not a formal essay. You don't need footnotes or a bibliography (though you can certainly add those if you want to). I just want to see what you think about these questions.

Here some inputs to use:
First draft:
I firmly believe in the journalist's duty to present a comprehensive, unbiased (as much as possible) truth that transpires from facts. This doesn't mean to be neutral or to ponder different sides of the same event in the same way, for this wouldn't always represent the truth; but to use objectivity as a tool for fact verification and pursue a transparent disclosure of information. 
In my opinion, one of the key responsibilities of a journalist is to empower the public with every possible tool to comprehend and stay informed about the events happening in our surroundings that have an effect on our lives. To accomplish this, I think it's essential to convey even the most complex (or unexciting) information lucidly and unambiguously, allowing the reader to acquire the most current news available. For example, my reason for becoming a journalist, maybe a little utopist, is to unveil the truth behind facts and fight false information, aiming to help people navigate deceiving behaviours and misunderstandings. Furthermore, I sincerely believe it is utterly important to allow individuals to create their understanding and interpretations of issues on their own terms. Another pivotal aspect of journalism is helping the community by fighting for the outcasts, shedding light on the untold stories that often remain hidden, amplifying the voices of the marginalized, and advocating for positive change in society. I believe in that kind of journalism that fosters open dialogue and collaboration toward a sustainable future. 


Journalism, at its core, is a profession dedicated to the public good. It exists to identify and engage with its audience on topics that not only inform but also educate, stir public discourse, provide new perspectives, and inspire action. The purpose of journalism extends beyond mere reporting; it involves interpreting events, acting as a ‘watchdog’ against power, and offering a platform for consensus and education. In essence, journalism is about giving people a voice, spreading awareness of often hidden problems, and being a beacon of factual integrity that maintains the public’s trust. Moreover, it encompasses entertainment and the potential to galvanize positive social impact.

However, this noble pursuit is continually under threat from various forces that can distort, damage, or even destroy its very essence. These threats can arise from within the media industry or from external pressures that compromise journalistic integrity and independence.

Propaganda and commercial pandering represent significant internal threats to journalism. When news outlets serve as platforms for propaganda, they deviate from their mission to inform and educate towards manipulating public opinion for specific ends. Similarly, commercial pandering, where content is tailored to suit the preferences of advertisers or to capture the maximum audience, can lead to a compromise in the quality and integrity of the information presented.

Editorial interference from editors or owners can alter the fabric of reporting, pushing particular agendas and suppressing others. This kind of interference can steer journalism away from its impartial and informative roots. Coupled with the deformation of news, where facts are twisted or omitted, and sensationalism, which prioritizes shocking or emotion-gripping stories over significant but less dramatic news, the potential for the public to be misinformed grows exponentially.

External pressures further complicate the landscape. Government interference, through media capture, intimidation, or controlling information at its source, severely impairs journalistic freedom and objectivity. This type of interference aims to shape public discourse, frequently at the expense of truth and transparency.

The advent of social media has introduced distortion through source-agnosticism, where users often prioritize information based on its viral nature rather than its credibility. Misinformation, distinguished from disinformation by its lack of deliberate intent to deceive, nonetheless muddies the information waters, making it harder for the public to discern truth from falsehood.

Speed pressure, a relatively recent challenge exacerbated by the digital age’s demand for instant news, can lead to inaccuracies and a lack of thorough vetting. This pressure, alongside the loss of professional expertise due to financial strains within the industry or the undervaluing of journalistic skills, undermines the quality and reliability of news reporting.

Commercial and monetary pressures compel news outlets to please their audiences or cater to the whims of powerful advertising companies, potentially sidelining critical but less popular news. Self-censorship, whether due to fear of retaliation or loss of access, can silence important voices and stories that need to be heard.

The cumulative effect of these challenges can lead to a significant erosion of trust in the media, depriving the public of a critical tool for democracy and informed citizenship. When journalism strays from its purpose—serving the public good—it loses its ability to act as a watchdog, to educate, to inspire, and to foster a well-informed public capable of critical thinking and meaningful action.

In conclusion, the purpose of journalism is multifaceted, rooted in the principle of serving the public good by informing, educating, and engaging the citizenry. However, this purpose is continually threatened by both internal and external pressures that can distort, degrade, or outright destroy journalistic integrity and independence. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders—journalists, media owners, the audience, and governments—to safeguard the principles of accuracy, fairness, and impartiality that underpin journalism’s invaluable role in society. 


class discussion:
- identify an audience
- inform the population about current events & their impact on their life
- conduct, process, interpret info and/or events
- provide various and new perspectives on different topics
- to be a “watchdog” vs power
- arena for consensus
- education
- give people a voice
- spread and create broad awareness of hidden problems
- to be factual = keep’s people trust in order to be maintain news trustworthy
- entertainment
- inspire action = having a positive social impact

<aside>
👉🏻 JOURNALISM IS ABOUT ***THE PUBLIC GOOD***

</aside>

### What can damage or destroy the journalistic ideal?

- propaganda uses
- commerical pandering
- editorial interference = editors, owners
- news deformation
- social media distortion = social media users tend to be “source-agnostic”
- sensationalism
- **government interference**
    1. complete media capture and control = every media is absorbed by the State
    2. intimidation
    3. control of information at his source = controlling the narrative > shape the public discourse
- misinformation (vs DISinformation, which is *deliberately* changing the news and giving it wrong)
- speed pressure
- loss of professional expertise
- commercial / money pressure = audience pleasing, power of adv companies
- self-censorship

another idea to add:
I think that journalism is supposed to act as a link between the events of the world and the people, or between their representatives and the people. It means reporting, analyzing and transcribing in easy to understand, widely available format, to allow the average person to construct their own opinion.
Information should also be relevant; in the sense that people have limited attentionand time, and so the information proposed need to be truthful, concise and impactful to their lives.