By MAIRANY GARCIA CRUZ
Engaging with technology today has become easier, faster and in essence vital. From gaining access to the latest forms of entertainment to instantly becoming aware of news from all over the globe. Technology has become a widespread tool that allows communities to become informed from the moment they come into contact with the internet or media. This section will cover how the widespread use of technology has affected the discourse of media and its effects on journalistic integrity—especially that in political journalism. This exploration dives into the role of media today compared to before its rise, the sense of polarization in political journalism and the integrity of news. From the lecture of opinion-editorial journalists David Leonhardt and Ramesh Ponnuru conversing of the role of media in politics to research and data figures, this paper will analyze journalism in politics.
President Donald J. Trump expressing his opinion on Twitter over “Fake News” media and how it has affected public opinion in February 2017.
Technology has sparked worldwide revolutions taking place through millions of digital screens lighting up every second across the globe. It is in this fashion that many individuals have found themselves in a position where they rely on technology to keep themselves informed. Whether the topics they choose to digest be those of economic, entertainment or political findings, the irrefutable truth is that many of these individuals turn to vast technological mediums like social media, blog posts and online news outlets to consume information on them.
One of the aforementioned topics that has been heavily affected by public perception is politics and the journalistic integrity surrounding it. It is now because of these new emerging technologies and the wide access the public has to them that much of the information being presented to the consumers is occasionally found to be unreliable, fabricated and subject to tampering.
Often subject of scrutiny from the general public, political journalism is target of headlines such as Nimenlab’s Kate Myers’s article, Journalism continues to be bad for democracy. Provided that, as Americans become further dependent on technology and its access to news sources that help shape their opinions on politics, Americans can now be influenced by information provided online without them knowing. Thus, making political journalism questionable. So how does the public—especially those who heavily rely on technology to stay informed—distinguish what is objective truth from what many have labeled “fake news?” And how has the media challenged the perception of journalistic integrity in politics? It is through David Leonhardt and Ramesh Ponnuru, along with research facts and data, that has allowed me to reach the consensus that technology has hindered journalistic integrity; tarnishing political media perception.
Innovation and technology come in hand in hand and with them so does media. When examining the question of whether or not technology has affected the public’s perception of politics and its integrity a factor to note is the role of news media and the access to it. Because “news consumption habits are changing due to the increase in the volume of news and the variety of sources,” it is no doubt that the more information gathered through these variety of resources include online media.
Yet online media was not always the main source the American public went to consume their news. One of the fabrics of American history is transition from newspaper journalism to broadcast, radio and online journalism. Newspapers were an essential part to garner public and individual opinion, and unlike now where information over politics can be shared across the globe in seconds, in “1840 there were almost three papers printed per person.” What had once brought Americans the news is now rapidly disappearing as, “without the younger generation filling in the void left by older readers, the traditional newspaper industry will no longer be able to sustain itself.”
As technology threatens the circulation of newspapers and with the rapidly changing innovations in media, the gap between what once brought news to the American people has shifted onto the internet. According to the news consumption trends in 2006, 87% of individuals used TV, cable or satellite to get their news. However, when compared to the data in 2016 in all media, including cable news, reports show an 18% increase. Comparing those numbers with data gathered from the Pew Research center in 2013, 71% of younger Americans ages 18-29 cited the internet as their main news source outlet. Taking these data trends into consideration, online media will inevitably increase in viewership and gain influence and affect much more specifically those who are interested in politics.
Considering that in today’s media virtually anyone, anywhere, with access to the internet and social media are able to produce content can be one of the reasons as to why there is such a disagreement in politics. This concept of “fake news” is a reoccurring theme when addressing the integrity in politics and news. From allowing “virtually anyone [to] act as a journalist and spread their point of view to millions of people across the globe using social networks or by having an influential blog,” news can be tampered with in mainstream media to create propaganda for certain political parties or for personal gain. Thus, to the average viewer factual information from credible sites and blogposts and mainstream media with agendas of their own can become mixed. Research from the Pew Research Center expressed that “online news consumers see more press bias [and] less integrity.”
It is easy to see concern over whether or not information is objective, if it is reliable or fabricated. Many of the mainstream news outlets that Americans have trusted can turn out to be creating so called, “fake news.” For example, a journalist behind the major newspaper The New York Times, who was fabricating stories that ranged from emotional sniper shootings to the “anguish of families grieving for loved ones in killed in Iraq.” Or, in more recent times the fabrication of a fake video propaganda used on October 13, 2019, at a conference for President’s Trump supports; the video gathering support against news media and the Democratic party in the president’s favor. This fake video depicts President Trump “shooting, stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news… for his supporters.”
Although many believe that mass media has challenged the very foundations that journalistic practices were created on, it could not be any different now. Access to mobile phones or simple laptops has brought people together to collaborate on ideas and become, in theory, journalists. No longer do they need a degree as a journalist to write a piece of outlining the current politics occurring in the White House or for the upcoming debates. They have allowed the public to become the advocates—the press—that the Constitution abides for. Using the same quote from before and applying this mindset it no longer embodies the stigma that many carry for journalists. “Virtually anyone can act as a journalist and spread their point of view to millions of people across the globe using social networks or by having an influential blog,” in this way the people who believed that their voice in democracy is being lost can become reassured that is not the case. Citizens are able to exercise their first amendment right of free speech which “is the foundation of an open and liberal democracy.”
Furthermore, it is because of mass media outlets who report on the democratic processes occurring every day in the White House to the borders of the United States that permits journalists to become a safety belt; helping journalists keep their integrity and biases in check. For instance now, “[s]ocial media, blogs and community journalism are becoming increasingly important for many cases related to media monitoring [requiring] the collaboration of multiple communities both in the academic side and the journalistic one.” Due to this, it is fair to call the scrutiny for fact checking and doubt against the media legitimate, for it is because of it that proceeds to give journalists the push to become more aware of what they are publishing and presenting online.
One of the events that I had the opportunity to attend was David Leonhardt’s and Ramesh Ponnuru’s panel where they discussed the responsibility of civic literacy and the role of media in it. Throughout the lecture many interesting points were made about the responsibility that falls on media outlets. For instance, Ponnuru commentating that many major news outlets are affiliated with partisan views and such create, “no sustainable [journalistic] model that holds good, fair and subjective news.” Yet as major political news broadcasts responsibilities such like presenting the news in an objective way, Ponnuru insists that it also falls upon the citizen to stop providing the economic incentive for popular mainstream sites to present them with a “caricature”of the other sides positions. As the public becomes further politically polarized because of constant headlines grappling the latest news from both sides of the spectrum, it is imperative to note that there is a difference between stark truth and ideology.
Consider the news coverage of the President Trump’s White House Administration and the whistleblower complaint’s that has recently divided conservatives and liberals as they progress with Trump’s impeachment inquiry. Much of the whistleblower’s allegations have been called into question as some believe that it is propaganda devised by the democrats. However, with the release of official White House documents and transcripts, like Leonhardt stated, one thing that can easily be dismissed is “[sometimes] you end up in truth where it looks like you’re biased.” Media coverage can be influenced by the news organization itself yet presenting fair news is not always convincing to the general public due to their own prejudices that stem from their political views.
Hasan Minhaj presenting the Correspondents Dinner Speech in April 2017. Minhaj stating, “free speech is the foundation of an open and liberal democracy,” to “ we're living in a time where trust is more important than truth.”
As comedian and political commentator Hasan Minhaj said, “We’re living in a strange time where trust is more important than truth…”. It is because of the role of technology and the access to greater mass mediums than ever before that the need to stay Unformed has become greater and essential. Like this, it is evident there are number of reasons why journalistic integrity and the role of media are now closer related than ever.
Going forward, as the younger generations become aware of their future and are granted the ability to vote, they will turn to the media to influence their political views just like much of the older generations are. Whether the trust of these individuals in news outlets lack or if they depend on them, it is no question that media in politics will become vital. Nevertheless, while media is allowing journalism to thrive and explore a new niche, including how to handle public perception of political journalism specifically, it is attempting to both break and move beyond its connection.
ABC News. (2017, April). Hasan Minhaj full White House Correspondents Dinner speech. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDmSZX_zVuQ
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