Loyalty and Journalism

Journalism's first loyalty must always be to the citizens. When journalists keep their loyalties straight they serve a great purpose to the world, but when journalists lose sight of where their loyalty lies they become useless to the citizens. Much like superhero journalists can save their audience from harm when they remain loyal to the right people, but each superhero has its villain. What are the kryptonites to journalism's super strength, what is killing journalism's loyalty to citizens? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkSaAhbceBk

1. Money

Money is the root of all evil, especially for journalism. When money is brought into the equation the integrity of news reporting gets weaker and weaker as the dollar bills multiply. One great example is the Rose Bowl http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2011/12/canzano_at_espn_money_talks_jo.html. The Rose Bowl is considered by many to be the best college football game of the season, but a closer look can reveal a money driven media parade. The reporting of football is left in the rear-view mirror as  ESPN turns the weekend into three day money making machine. 

2. Customers

Customers are citizens, but there is an important line that must be drawn between reporting for the customer and reporting for the citizens. It is the difference between reporting what the people want to hear and reporting what the people need to hear. When you are reporting for the customer you feel obligated to write what the buyers will want to buy. The National Enquirer http://www.nationalenquirer.com/ is a great example of a publication that writes for customers. The New York is an example of a publication that writes for the citizens. Even the greatest journalists are guilty of writing for the customer, but to have a lasting impact in journalism the citizen must come first.

3. The Boss

Loyalty to citizens is often muzzled by the owners of the business. At the end of the day every journalist has to make a living. The boss controls the money, and if the boss can dictate the money he can often dictate the writing. A bad boss can mean bad journalism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuGIgf-ICHM.

All you superheroes out there fly high above the kryptonite http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#chastity-what-are-the-limits and it will be all right.