In an era of deceit and political tension, people are often fed misrepresentations of the truth. Journalism is one of the key components to a functioning society due to its influence on perception and its ability to inform people about the world around them.
Scholastic journalism allows students to study one of the most important pillars of society in a hands-on way, while also building a sense of community in their school environment.
Our country’s form of democracy depends on reliable journalism as it is one of the most powerful weapons in influencing perception and molding people’s viewpoints. Without independent, unbiased journalism, people would be left only with government-approved information, which could lead to systematic corruption, according to Columbia Journalism Review. As written in Sarah Nerwinski’s article, “The importance of investigative journalism”, “without investigative journalism, citizens could be totally left in the dark about all political issues and wrong-doings, including murders, that occur.” Within the field of journalism, there lie a multitude of regulations and restrictions in order to ensure that the work does not manipulate the readers into believing false realities. Reporters are required to follow a Code of Ethics that specifies how they are expected to act in certain situations.
Studying and implementing journalism in an academic setting allows students to learn about and better appreciate the value of journalism in society. It enables them to educate themselves and their peers on real-world issues that are not often talked about in class. School newspapers help build a strong sense of community as they provide a platform for students to connect and share ideas, according to Oxford Scholastica Academy. Our country’s government relies on a well-informed and active citizenry. Scholastic journalism contributes to the development of a healthy democracy as it teaches this generation’s youth valuable lessons in analysis and ethics, and it plays a crucial role in fostering civic engagement among students.
In order to support scholastic journalism and the future of our country’s democratic system, it is essential that people promote educational opportunities for students nationwide. There are a plethora of organizations that aim to increase both the quality and quantity of scholastic journalism. The Journalism Education Association, for example, supports free and responsible journalism in academic institutions by providing resources and creating a sense of unity among students. By donating to nonprofit organizations or by simply spreading awareness on the issue, people can help support scholastic journalism.
