Journalism has traditionally been considered the ‘fourth estate’, in that it is often cynically viewed as the fourth branch of government after the exectutive, legislature and judiciary. It has been argued that journalism is an integral part of a healthy functioning democracy and that journalists are crusaders of truth and justice who expose wrongdoing. Classic liberal theory, as emphasised by Siebert et al, stipulates that the objective of the media is to uncover the truth and help with social, political and other societal issues by animating all the known evidence. In this context the media is supposed to be a safeguard for the masses, it should be a pioneer of free expression, resisting oppression and exposing corruption particularly political corruption. However, this view is simplistic and does not give us the whole story by any means.
We all know how cynical the news media can be. We know how they can manipulate facts and engineer fiction. We know they have an agenda and that agenda is not always a healthy one. However, thankfully someone decided to gives us the internet, then social media came along and then we were given something even better - a unique and uniting, empowering and truth advancing platform called Steemit. This is no overestimation. I believe that Steemit has the capability to navigate around and circumvent all of the lies and disinformation we are offered in the mainstream news media.
There are economic and political forces which influence the power of the media and morality is often a last consideration when it comes to journalistic practices. Steemit does not have these considerations to worry about. Steemit has the ability to be a platform that deals if not entirely then virtually entirely in truths and only truths. In fact add in the reward system that Steemit provides us with and we are given the ultimate incentive to ensure our content is original and honest. Now which news outlet can you point to that truly incentivises honest content? Not many that's for sure.
In reality it is quite difficult to reconcile the traditional liberal sentiments of the news media with how it functions today. When considering the press as agents of news manufacturing, and not just delivery, it is more understandable why certain commentators like state that we should reconsider the scope of labelling the media the fourth estate and question whether it really ever has been. The news media is a very powerful and versatile carrier of information, that is capable of manipulation. It therefore should always be treated with both curiosity and caution.
There can be no doubt that during the long history of news reporting we have indeed witnessed the exposing of state or corporate corruption and illegality, and we have equally seen parts of the press help achieve justice for ordinary members of the public as a result of investigative journalism. However journalism is a profession that also seems to be predisposed to a more dangerous and unhealthy objective which serves commercial interests more than it does the interests of high quality news reporting.
On Steemit we can all be journalists if we want. So let's make sure our journalistic integrity is mightier than any that has been before. Together we can really show the world how reporting and delivering information does not need to be contaminated by commercial and proprietor interests.
Let's make Steemit the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
I'm sceptical of steemit's ability to fill the void left by the msm, mainly because it is packed with short term opportunists desperate for upvotes. there is little incentive to deliver thoughtful quality content over the long term.
Yes there are some of those people on here, but I think most are making a valuable contribution and if we can encourage this then the quality of content should increase.
How do you propose we do that?
Well there are some things that are in our control and others that are not, Steemit chiefs need to be better at preventing abuses of the system and screening out fake accounts. That's one suggestion. I will tell you some others but first do you have any suggestions?
I was thinking along the lines of some sort of 'code of conduct'. It would be agreed by consensus and enforced by downvotes.
Ah yes that's a really great idea. I think many Steemers would jump on board with that one.
We'd need to tlk about it a lot first. Things like this have been tried before but fallen flat through lack of whale support.
Your last 2 paragraphs are, I believe, the key to Steemit journalism. If I go to a "news' story, i want news and analysis. What I see most often is just a link to some media site with nothing about what the story is. Hopefully that will become a thing of the past and and there will be real news stories here.
Yes john I do hope that Steemers will be more encouraged to produce their own content and stories instead of directing us to external websites, which although can be useful and entertaining it would be more favourable if we made Steemit a massive independent fountain of knowledge.
You're right. However, by what criteria can we distinguish truth from opinion? By the way, opinions, often form the same media
Yes this is it, there is always going to be a subjective element. However, removing commercial and proprietor interests from the equation means Steemit is in a unique position to encourage more independent information sharing and therefore achieving more honesty.
@freedomexists, did you read this piece by Rolf Dobelli entitled "Avoid News: Towards a Healthy News Diet": http://www.dobelli.com/en/essays/news-diet/
I think it concurs with your perspective.
Here is a quote from Dobelli's essay:
"Society needs journalism – but in a different way. Investigative journalism is relevant in any society. We need more hard-core journalists digging into meaningful stories. We need reporting that polices our society and uncovers the truth. The best example is Watergate. But important findings don’t have to arrive in the form of news. Often, reporting is not time sensitive. Longish journal articles and books are fine forums for investigative journalism – and now that you’ve gone cold turkey on the news, you’ll have time to read them."