Elements of Journalism: Introduction

Why is news important? Because it satisfies a basic human impulse to know what's occurring beyond your direct experience. News feeds something called a "hunger for awareness" or the "awareness instinct."

Being aware of events engenders a sense of security, control and confidence. For example, if you know a tuition increase is coming in advance, you can start saving money or protest school officials before the decision becomes final.

Also, people form relationships, choose friends, and make character judgments based partly on whether someone reacts to information the same way you do. For example, whether someone roots for the same sports teams as you do, or supports the same politician you do, or whether someone is pro-abortion or anti-abortion of doesn't care about the issue.

Why is journalism necessary? Traditional media no longer holds a monopoly on information. Many sources of information are available today: YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, TMZ, ESPN, blogs, Google, email, advertising online and by mail and on billboards, direct information from government, businesses, special interest groups, ect.

But journalism uniquely provides independent, reliable, accurate and comprehensive information that makes it possible for citizens to take part in governing themselves.

For example, one spring a few years back The State News reported on MSU planning to hike fall tuition by 7 percent. MSU said that was only an option, even though The State News found the number in an MSU planning document that has been around for about one month. If journalists didn't tell readers that such a hike was possible, who would have? (And yes, the hike went through, as-is.)

How does journalism fulfill its goal to provide people with information they need to be free and self-governing? In several ways: by having an obligation to the truth; by being loyal to its audience; by a "discipline of verification" (applying a rigorous scientific-style standard in verifying facts); and by maintaining an independence from those who are being covered (journalists are representatives of the audience; publicists -- and NOT journalists -- are representatives of news sources).
 
Also, by serving as an independent monitor of power (by watching how government treats citizens, taxes and laws; by watching how businesses treat customers, stockholders and employees; and by watching how schools treat students, staff and tuition money); by providing a forum for public criticism and compromise (through reader letters, online comments, and the seeking of broad relevant viewpoints from various sources); and by making significant stories interesting and relevant to readers' lives (for example, if writing about a tuition increase, write about how it may impact students, how students can blunt the effects of a hike, ect.).

Also, by keeping news comprehensive and in proportion (by reporting all you know and not hyping a story when the interest and relevance just isn't there); and exercising your personal conscience (by doing the right things for the right reasons, not simply to get a story or do what the boss wants you to do).

How do those principles help keep traditional journalism viable? By breeding clarity of purpose, confidence and execution, and public respect. That is, by becoming a trusted and reliable source of information relevant to the lives of your audience, as opposed to simply being a site with information that may or may not be correct, complete or relevant.