Democracy, Journalism, and the First Amendment

                                                                               Photo Courtesy of Deliberative Democracy

            The question, “why does democracy need journalism and the First Amendment?” poses three probable answers. Before further examining the answers, however, one must define the following terms: democracy, journalism and First Amendment.

Democracy—a system of government that allows the people to represent the populous and govern the makings of our country.

Journalism—“the profitable art of engaging citizens and others in true to improve their lives and the life of their community,” acc. to Buck Ryan.

The First Amendment --“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

With the follow terms having been defined we can now examine the following answers:

1.      A democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment to create an educated populace, which in turn is the cornerstone of democracy.

2.      A democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment to act a watchdog to check against government corruption.

3.      A democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment to ensure that needed change occurs in society and oversee that it is kept vibrant and successful.

                                                                                                                                  Photo Courtesy of visitingdc.com
Continuing with the first point, if a democracy were to be without journalism or the First Amendment the future of country would be in shaky hands. It is due to journalism and the First Amendment that our democratic officials are in turn educated. In order to be a successful and thriving country, we need reliable and well educated representatives.

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It is a journalist’s duty to dig for information, to reveal hidden secrets, and to find the stories that lie beneath the beaten path. Hence the reason one of the number one topics journalist’s cover is government and politics. Without the nosey, prying, journalist’s in our society, society would be unaware of scandals occurring within our government; take the Watergate scandal for example with journalists Woodward and Bernstein. Without the work of these two men, who knows how long it would have been before this valuable information was revealed. Hence reason number two, that a democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment to act as a watchdog to check against government corruption.

                                                                         Photo Courtesy of UBMSP

Finally, without journalism and the First Amendment, our society as we know it would come to a standstill. Both journalism and the First Amendment ensure that needed change occurs in society and that it is kept vibrant and successful. This happens because the First Amendment allows the freedom of speech and journalism then promotes the ideas of those wanting to see these changes.

In conclusion, there are multiple reasons as to why a democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment, the ones outlined above are merely just a few of many more that could be addressed in the future.


Question and Answer:
On Journalism
1. Now tell me again, what is your definiton of journalism?
A. To me, journalism is the very thing that molds and shapes our society. It is how people stay informed about the world going on around them.
2. How many different models of journalism exist today?
A. There are varoius models of journalism today, ranging from print journalism to online jounalism sites such as Twitter and Facebook.
On Democracy
1. What is your definiton of democracy?
A. Democracy is the system of government in our country that allows the people to represent the people.
2. What is the defintion between "election politics" and "public politics"?
A. Election politcs is the process by which we select people to represent our country. Public politics is the process by which people come together to make a collaborative decision.
On the First Amendment
1. What does the First Amendment say exactly?
A. It says that we the people, are allowed to express our opinions and speak our minds whether it be in groups or in what we write.
2. Are any of those protections important in your life?
A. They are extremely important in my life. As an aspiring journalist, it is this amendment that allows me to speak freely and hence do my job.
On Diversity
1. Everybody keeps talking about diversity: Why is diversity in relgion, speech, press, assembly and petition so important to a democracy?

 A. Diversity is extremely important in each of the above. It provides a well-rounded soceity which is essiential to being considered a successful society.

2. How do journalists and the First Amendment ensure that people hear diverse voices in the marketplace of ideas?

A. Journalists do so because it is in their best interest to be diverse, no one wants a closed minded reporter. The First Amendment does so because it does not place limits on who the Amendment applies to.
3. Can you speak from personal experience about how diversity, protected by the First Amendment or championed by journalists, made a difference in your life?
A. I think it has probably made a difference in everyone's life. Without diversity, protected by the First Amendment, and championed by journalists, the news we recievce today and the way in which it is covered would be entirely different.