Group #9

Journalism as a Public Forum

The Sixth Principle of the Press

The Hutchins Commission named this mission of journalism as "an essential obligation of the craft, second only to telling the truth." (Kovach & Rosenstiel, 165)

Journalism must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.

What is Public Forum?

An example... A place open to public expression and assembly Public forums are protected by the First Amendment o "no law...abridging the freedom of speech...or the right of the people to peaceably assemble"

Journalist is the Mediator

We encourage COMPROMISE!

The Process

Journalists report news and information People start thinking Public reacts Community is filled with public voice Public voice is heard by people in power People in power understand and act on public opinion

Rules of Public Forum in Journalism

Truthful, factual and verified Must be for all parts of community Must include broad areas of agreement, where most of the public resides and solutions can be found Remember that democracy is built on compromise Journalist is the mediator

Technology vs. Journalism

Does technology make forum in journalism better or worse?

Hypothetically: Better Realistically: Worse

Wikipedia

Citizen watching over citizen-produced content Factual errors inserted by one user will be corrected by another Not journalism

Wikipedia vs. Encyclopedia Britannica

Wiki vs. EB

162 errors vs. 123 errors

Argument Culture

Driving forces of such a culture: Talk is cheap

Expertise is devalued Poor media diet Nature of discussion

Talk is cheap.

In today's world, the forum is becoming increasingly distorted:

Blogs- Can blogs be a source of info?

Expertise is devalued.

Paul McCartney?

Dick Clark?

Poor media diet.

Nature of discussion.

Worries

Communications revolution is more about delivering news than gathering it. By 2006, only one talk show attempted to check its facts and correct them during the program- ESPN sports show.

Worries

Polarization whereas in the real world, there is a spectrum of opinion

Used to be debate..... ....by 2004 it was corrupted. ...by 2005 it was shut down. Crossfire Syndrome: First builds a small passionate following but shouting matches over time tend to alienate the larger public. Jon Stewart on Crossfire

So What?

"Technology did not create the attitudes of those who participate" (Kovach & Rosenstiel, 184). If the "deliverers" don't spend time verifying- assuming that technology frees them of this burden- then we are merely left with cyperspace chatter. Public discourse will turn into noise; debate will cease to educate; the public will be less able to to participate in solutions.

Compromise & Journalistic Principles

The role of journalists and the forum is not to agitate, but to illuminate.