What is journalism?

Question 1

What Is Journalism For? (Give Four Reasons)

Answer 1

*Exercising and defending freedom of speech
(An independent/ liberal press= democracy but totalitarian states muzzle free speech and control the press)
*Holding power to account
*Exposing wrongdoing
*Giving a voice to the voiceless
*FROM: ESSENTIAL JOURNALISM: THE NCTJ GUIDE FOR TRAINEE Journalists

Question 2

How Does Journalism Serve Society? (Give Five Ways)

Answer 2

*Telling all what’s going on in the world
*Explaining, analysing, contextualising- Making sense of events
*Providing high standards of accurate and trustworthy information
*Exposing crime, corruption, wrongdoing
*Unearthing hidden stories (eg. data buried in documents or not easy to find online)
FROM: ESSENTIAL JOURNALISM: THE NCTJ GUIDE FOR TRAINEE JOURNALISTS, P28

Question 3

What is The Fourth Estate?

Answer 3

Referring to the Media as having power/influence in politics and society beyond just reporting.

Question 4

What is Freedom of the Press?

Answer 4

The right to publish News/Opinion without the government altering it.
Freedom of Speech- Human Right- Under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(However, sometimes the government can stop things being reported under the Official Secrets Act).