Harmony Chen (9) | STAFF REPORTER
Journalism plays a key role in keeping citizens informed of ever-changing issues, matters, and events around the world. Its duty is to provide people with the sound knowledge needed to make informed decisions about their lives, community, and government.
Within a healthy democracy, there are many foundational principles, such as the protection of individual rights and fair, free, and transparent voting. A free press is critical in maintaining these guidelines, and keeping administration and the government accountable.
The press is responsible for gathering, verifying, and distributing information to all people. It is a voice of awareness about social injustices, malpractice and corruption, and informing citizens about public affairs and government activity.
Without freedom of the press, it would be impossible to maintain truth and awareness. When the press is silenced or controlled by those in power, information becomes unreliable. This causes citizens to be misinformed or uninformed, which, in turn, leaves them completely powerless in making crucial decisions, such as voting.
On the other hand, a free press offers voters valuable insight into policies and politicians, leading to more well-informed voters and a stronger democracy. It holds the government accountable by acting as a watchdog on power, and publicizing any abuse of power. A free press is also able to uncover the truth of complicated issues that are otherwise not widely accessible to the public.
Unfortunately, freedom of the press is threatened and oppressed in many parts of the world. This causes journalists to be at a risk of many legal and governmental threats, as well as physical violence.
Reporter Without Borders is one of the many organizations that shed light on the seriousness of this problem by tracking the number of journalists harassed, imprisoned, or killed. Currently, there are a record-breaking 533 journalists being detained world-wide due to their work.
Even in well-developed countries, such as America, the free press is often under attack. For instance, Trump and his administration branded reputable media outlets as “fake news” and threatened journalists with lawsuits. Obama’s administration prosecuted a record number of eight whistleblowers for revealing government secrets to the media.
For this reason, it is paramount to instill legislation that protects journalists and their sources. An example of this are “Shield Laws,” which permit journalists refusal to reveal their sources. Furthermore, citizens can protect freedom of the press by supporting free media. When this pillar of democracy is held soundly in place, a democracy is able to thrive, with reliable and complete information accessible to all citizens.
