Journalism

Journalism
Journalism is a discipline of collecting, analysing, verifying, and presenting information
regarding current events, trends, issues and people. Those who practice journalism are
known as journalists.
News-oriented journalism is sometimes described as the "first rough draft of history"
attributed to !hil "raham#, because journalists often record important events, producing
news articles on short deadlines. $hile under pressure to be first with their stories, news
media organi%ations usually edit and proofread their reports prior to publication, adhering
to each organi%ation&s standards of accuracy, 'uality and style. (any news organi%ations
claim proud traditions of holding government officials and institutions accountable to the
public, while media critics have raised 'uestions about holding the press itself
accountable.
Newspaper journalism
)ince newspapers began as a journal
record of current events#, the profession
involved in the making of newspapers
began to be called journalism. (uch
emphasis has been placed upon the
accuracy and fairness of the journalist -
see *thics.
+n the yellow journalism era of the ,-th
century, many newspapers in the .nited
)tates relied on sensational stories that
were meant to anger or e/cite the public,
rather than to inform. The more
restrained style of reporting that relies on
fact checking and accuracy regained
popularity around $orld $ar ++.
0riticism of journalism is varied and
sometimes vehement. 0redibility is
'uestioned because of anonymous
sources1 errors in facts, spelling, and
grammar1 real or perceived bias1 and
scandals involving plagiarism and
fabrication.
Professional and Ethical Standards
+t&s an old joke, yet sadly true, that journalists are so poorly esteemed by the general
public, they have been rated in polls higher only than lawyers and politicians. There are
many e/amples of journalists behaving in ways that are repugnant to most people in order
to get the story. 2et most journalists are e/pected to follow a stringent code of journalistic
conduct that re'uires them to, among other things3
.se original sources of information, including interviews with people directly
involved in a story, original documents and other direct sources of information,
whenever possible1
.se multiple original sources of information, especially if the subject of the report
is controversial1
0heck every fact reported1
4ind and report every side of a story possible1
5eport without bias, illustrating many aspects of a conflict rather than siding with
one1
6pproach researching and reporting a story with a balance between open-
mindedness and scepticism.
.se careful judgment when organi%ing and reporting information.
7e careful about granting confidentiality to sources news organi%ations usually
have specific rules that journalists must following concerning grants of
confidentiality#1
8ecline gifts or favours from any subject of a report, and avoid even the
appearance of being influenced1
6bstain from reporting or otherwise participating in the research and writing
about a subject in which the journalist has a personal stake or bias that cannot be
set aside.
)uch a code of conduct can, in the real world, be difficult to uphold consistently.
Journalists who believe they are being fair or objective may give biased accounts -- by
reporting selectively, trusting too much to anecdote, giving a partial e/planation of
actions, or engaging in one-sided gotcha journalism. *ven in routine reporting, bias can
creep into a story through a reporter&s choice of facts to summari%e, or through failure to
check enough sources, hear and report dissenting voices, or seek fresh perspectives.