Who Are America's Heroes - Essay Example

Heroes If the History Channel broadcast a series en d ‘America’s Top 100 Heroes,’ the s would undoubtedly consist of soldiers, statesmen, astronauts, firemen and civil rights activists among many other occupations or group associations and deservedly so. Of course the list would be arguable as the definition of hero is subjective. Some would not include entertainers in this prestigious classification unless they had saved someone from a burning building. Others would never elevate a politician to hero status unless they had served their country in another fashion such as Bob Dole or President Kennedy. A group that might not make this list in many peoples’ minds is journalists. However, without the press and the constitutionally guaranteed freedom it enjoys in this nation, democracy could not endure. The watchdog of the government known as the ‘fourth estate’ along with the executive, judicial and legislative branches; the press protects the concerns of the people by reporting what the other three estates are engaged with. If they were to overstep their powers, the American citizens would not know if it were not dedicated journalists who consider it their patriotic duty to guard the interests of the public. This paper underscores the vital role journalists play in the continued freedom of the nation and identifies the idealistic yet unattainable goal of achieving objectivity to everyone’s satisfaction. It is a thankless, often dangerous and demanding job but essential to the survival of the American way of life thus worthy of the title ‘American heroes.’ Journalists, as part of a free press, serve to enlighten the public regarding governmental activities as well as other items of common interest. The value of uncensored information to the continuance of democracy cannot be understated. In a society that governs itself, such as the U.S., the ability to make knowledgeable decisions based upon unfiltered information and open discussions is vital to its continued existence. Perhaps Abraham Lincoln articulated this sentiment as well as anyone when he stated, “Let the people know the facts, and the country will be safe” (Krimsky, 1997). The author of the Declaration of Independence, founder of America’s first University and third president Thomas Jefferson believed that liberty depended upon a free press and to limit this fundamental freedom would be to lose it altogether, along with it the freedoms of the nation’s citizens. According to Jefferson, “The basis of our government being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter” (Kann, 2006). The founders of the nation created the government of and thus answerable to the people. Journalists are the conduit that carries this right of the people. The Watergate scandal which exposed criminal activity by the highest level of government and caused the downfall of the Nixon administration was uncovered by investigative journalists employed by the Washington Post newspaper. Those journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, should be considered heroes because, through great effort and perseverance, they discovered and publicized the misdoings of the leader of the nation. They did so even though they were under enormous pressures including threats of physical and professional harm. They are true patriots and proved the system that provides Americans their unique style of freedom does indeed work as intended (Krimsky, 1997). True journalists, unlike those at Fox News for example, pride themselves on rising above partisan politics and personal viewpoints in their search for and reporting of the truth, an admiral trait in a polarized society. Setting aside personal beliefs is difficult especially when the issue at hand is emotionally volatile, but journalists do this on a daily basis. They hold themselves to high ethical principles but being truly objective and neutral is an impossible standard to attain. Many subjective choices must be made when developing a story including what questions to ask whom and which pictures to use that would define the moment accurately. Reporters have been criticized for showing only violent photos from Iraq, but are these accurate depictions of the situation or are they sensationalism designed to sell newspapers and television ads? Those that criticize are located half a world away unlike the brave unarmed reporters who subject themselves to explosive devices and flying bullets while in commission of their patriotic duty. One of the most famous and universally respected journalists Christiane Amanpour spoke of objectivity during an interview with the Guardian, “Objectivity, that great journalistic buzzword, means giving all sides a fair hearing, not treating all sides the same, particularly when all sides are not the same” (Cutter, 1999). Amanpour has traveled to all parts of the world in her crusade to illuminate world crises including Darfur, Sudan, Eritrea, Afghanistan and Iraq to name but a few and can be counted as a hero to those that have benefited from her reporting and those that seek the truth. She is not alone, far from it. Many journalists have been tortured and/or killed in Iraq alone simply because they had a passion to bring the truth to the world. From the beginning of the war in 2003, more than 85 journalists have lost their lives which do not include the three dozen media support staff that have been killed (Journalists Killed, 2006). Close to 1400 journalists have been killed while in the performance of their duties since 1812. If the willingness to give up one’s life in a quest for the truth doesn’t make one a true American hero, then what type of action would constitute this label? Armed with only a microphone, camera, pen and paper, journalists embed themselves with troops so that their countrymen back in the states would be informed. Through these journalists, the citizens of the world are informed about both the method in which the war is being conducted and more importantly, its effects on the people of the region and historical consequences. “Journalists give voice to those who would otherwise remain unheard, tell stories that otherwise would remain untold, they construct conduits between those trapped in a conflict zone and those outside” (Cutter, 1999). Often, the mere presence of a journalist averts atrocities during wars or conflicts.  In addition, journalists warn of impending tragedies and conflicts which forewarn those outside the situation and therefore can prevent a further escalation of a catastrophe. Journalists and the media in general are often rightly critisised for sensationalistic reporting. In an effort to gain a larger readership or higher ratings, journalists have the propensity to abandon their patriotic responsibility and, instead of covering ‘hard news,’ they will resort to ‘tabloid journalism.’ A recent example is the seemingly endless coverage of the Anna Nichole Smith saga. For a group that touts its ethical standards, journalists flock to stories such as this which contain no intrinsic value to the public it serves. Of course journalists blame the public’s insatiable desire for gossip as the motive for covering this type of story and that they are only giving the public what it wants. However, if journalists followed their own ethical standard in determining what to report, this type of ‘news’ would seldom be covered. A growing concern is that journalists do a substandard job of reporting relevant subjects of substance. Journalists such as Amanpour would not cover tabloid news nor would Walter Cronkite, Edward R. Murrow or Mike Wallace. Some also criticize journalists for being too cynical or for biased reporting. ‘The liberal media’ is a commonly used phrase which is at times deserved but the bias swings both ways. Journalists who blatantly and consistently inject their own political agenda into their reporting undermine not only the profession but the right of the public to know the truth. Journalists are also deservedly accused of being influenced by politicians; that they are too close to the very people they are supposed to watch which does not serve the public’s interest. This, combined with tabloid journalism, leads many to believe that the press is not ‘in touch’ with the typical American. It is interesting to note that two-thirds of journalists agreed with this assessment (Kohut, 1995). Should journalists be considered heroes to the same degree as police officers and fire fighters who put their life on the line everyday? Yes. Journalists also risk their lives in an effort to protect the concept of an open democracy. They investigate and publicize important information including the doings of the federal government, world events and natural disasters. A country is only as free as the press that covers it. New York Times reporter Anthony Lewis characterizes the press as “a canary in a mine, when the press is suppressed, it’s a clue to other terrible things that may happen” (Defending, 2000). Despite the criticisms of the press, would anyone in this country actually want journalists to stop doing their job? Without journalists, the ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, Darfur and Cambodia among others would not have been known to the outside world. Politicians are corrupt now, what if there was no oversight in the form of journalists? Journalists are enjoined everyday in a fight to protect the First Amendment of the Constitution so that other Americans can take this freedom for granted. America probably needs journalists today more so than in any other time in its history. The current presidential administration has stripped away freedoms at an unprecedented rate and ignored global and domestic concerns. The nation is involved in an illegal and immoral war and politicians are as corrupt as ever. Journalists should be held to the high standard they set for themselves and revered and recognized for the vital function they provide the country. Works Cited Cutter, Ann Grier. “Journalists: Must They Remain Neutral in Conflict?” United Nations Chronicle. Department of Public Information, Vol. 36, N. 2, 1999. “Defending Press Freedoms.” Corpus Christi Caller. (May 22, 2000). April 19, 2007 “Journalists Killed During Iraq War.” Iraq Updates. (October 13, 2006). April 19, 2007 Kann, Peter R. “The Power of the Press.” Wall Street Journal. (December 13, 2006). April 19, 2007 Kohut, Andrew et al. The People and the Press. Times Mirror Center for The People and the Press, May 22, 1995. April 19, 2007 Krimsky, George A. “The Role of the Media in a Democracy.” A Free Press: Rights and Responsibilities. United States Information Agency, 1997. Read More