Television - Does It Give Us the Truth - Essay Example

Television - Does It Give Us the Truth? The term ‘mass media’ is commonly used to indicate a variety of institutions and individuals that distribute information to the masses, typically in the form of news. Each of these avenues of information strives to deliver their message in different ways and each has its own guiding purpose in mind when creating their presentations. In general use, though, the term defines groups who make up the communications profession in the news industry as it is found on television, in newspapers, on radio talk shows and now even on the internet in a variety of formats. The most popular of these formats today is the television. Ideally, the responsibility of television news is to distribute important information to the public as quickly as possible in an objective manner. However, human nature imposes a natural subjectivity that cannot be avoided. The specific role television should play in society is often debated, including consideration of the level of individual interpretation and analysis that should be permitted, but what is not argued is that access to reliable, complete information is essential in the maintenance of a healthy democratic society. Newspapers, radio, television and the internet all provide citizens with the opportunity to make informed choices about the world they live in. Thus, the media serves as part of the necessary checks and balances of democracy, a ‘fourth branch of government.’ Television is necessary to ensure that those in public office are held accountable for the decisions they make. It functions as the connection between people’s personal lives and events occurring outside their normal sphere. In operation, television reflects and reports, some argue it even shapes society. Professional reporters understand the tremendous influence they can exert over their audience and approach their profession with a dedication to delivering a truthful and verifiable report yet they can never be fully objective. The purpose of the present study is to discover why television news can never be completely objective, what steps are taken by the news to overcome impediments to objectivity in order to represent truth and how the internet has affected the representation and reception of news in today’s society. Established Importance of Perceived Objectivity Of the many different forms of mass media, one of the most popular forms is the television. This was once, and in many respects can still be, considered a truly democratic medium because it spreads information uniformly through the public without dependence on wealth, position or education. Anyone who owned or had access to a television could tune in to one of several stations to receive reports regarding numerous topics. This was true whether they had one at home, went to a neighbor’s house or even took a stroll down to the neighborhood pub. It has only been limited recently by the cessation of radio transmissions by many stations now available only through cable or other paid services. As a result of this wide access, though, the television is capable of significantly broadening the political dialogue. The only rival to this medium at present is the internet, which has not yet matched the television in terms of accessibility, even when taken in context with new changes in broadcasting standards. An average community in developed nations receives hundreds of channels of television in a majority of homes (European Audiovisual Observatory, 2010). Numerous communities have access to literally hundreds of channel choices on demand. This diversity of programming permits the presentation of perspectives regarding every conceivable characteristic of society. Within this environment, the role of television news remains critical to the preservation of freedom and democracy. Effective television outlets must maintain editorial independence and serve a diversity of public interests if it is to maintain any chance at autonomy. To protect its ability to fully explore the information the public needs to know, the reliable television outlet must remain uncontrolled by either government or ideological influence. Adversarial relationships frequently develop among these various entities as differences in opinion and focus are brought forward and the news is considered the correct place for fair and balanced public discovery of the truth (Center for Democracy and Governance, 1999, p. 5). Those who have first-hand knowledge of important information must feel secure that they will be treated fairly when they turn to these news organizations or they will choose to remain silent instead. These are the principles that lead professional reporters, regardless of the medium, to work toward an objective approach to their stories. Strategies Adopted to Present Truth In putting together a story, professional reporters will attempt to include at least two named sources for the important information they present. Many reporters feel it is their duty to inform the public about unscrupulous dealings by those in power, yet this can threaten their own security as they must place themselves in opposition to these same people with the inside information on other issues. In recent years, television outlets have started to accept the use of a single primary source for information as a means of saving time or allowing sources that are less well-known. Without expert sources, reporters may also seek corroborating data to help them prove or disprove the story they’re following. Investigative journalism like this, with its strong adherence to facts and to named and authentic sources, is essential to the operation of a just society. It is also a means of building trust with the audience. However, there are legitimate situations in which these sources cannot be identified. There are some general rules followed within the industry regarding protecting the identity of sources such as when the individual is in a sensitive government or business position or when revealing the individual’s identity would jeopardize their safety. When used sparingly and by a news organization with a proven track record of digging for the provable truth on an issue, the conscientious use of anonymous sources is forgiven when the significance of the information has relevance to the public’s welfare. There are several historic cases in which ‘anonymous sources’ were the only means of acquiring access to essential information necessary to prove or disprove a given story. One of the most well-known historic use of the ‘anonymous source’ happened in 1972. Washington Post reporters Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward launched an investigation into suspicious activity that would eventually become known as Watergate (Willing, 2006). They broke the case by agreeing to protect the identity of their anonymous primary source, an individual who came to be known only as Deep-Throat. Because they were already respected journalists who had already been working with a respected news media outlet, many of their readers were willing to believe that the reporters had logical reason to trust the information provided by their source and that there was sufficient reason for the reporters to protect this person’s identity. There was also significant opposition to their stance as the reporters were strongly pressured to reveal their source’s identity, but they gained greater credibility for their convictions by remaining quiet (Willing, 2006). In fact, their dedication to protection increased the public’s perception that the reporters were trustworthy. They adhered to their journalistic responsibility by exposing unlawful conduct that was actively committed by government officials including President Nixon. It was because of the pressure of this scandal that Nixon resigned his position in 1973, acknowledging that he was no longer capable of conducting his duties as President because of the revelations that had been made. This single anonymous source was able to bring down one of the most powerful men in the world thanks to the responsible approach of Woodward and Bernstein (Willing, 2006). Although the practice is not encouraged, it was also an anonymous source that helped break the Abu Ghraib prison scandal. The anonymous source can be a significantly valuable tool for the discovery of truth in the television news arsenal, but it only remains valuable if the news outlet maintains a strong reputation of objectivity and dedication to truth. The Role of the Internet in Shaping News While not yet as widely available as the television, the internet is gaining momentum when used in conjunction with television programming. With this system in place, the public gains the opportunity to watch Parliament in session, fostering greater active interest in decisions that will have effect their lives at home. The ability to switch to other channels or to conduct an internet search provides citizens a chance to check facts, compare interpretations or even become a part of the debate. This enables them to make wiser decisions during election cycles and forces discussions in sometimes uncomfortable areas, leading to the evolution of social thought. “Over the next 10 years, as a new political generation comes on-line, the Internet will probably surpass television as the main mode of communication. And with the Internet will come an even greater ability for the public to talk back” (Ansolabehere, 2006). At the same time, there is much greater opportunity for political leaders to make their policies and ideologies known. Reporters now have increased access to important documents and databases, public and private libraries, and archives of newspapers and other publications. In spite of this increased access to information to all, it is still considered the job of the reporter to ensure that accurate information is distributed. With this trust comes great responsibility. References Ansolabehere, Stephen. (2006). “The Role of the Media.” Illinois State University. Center for Democracy and Governance. (June 1999). “The Role of Media in Democracy: A Strategic Approach.” Bureau for Global Programs, Field Support and Research. Washington D.C.: US Agency for International Development. European Audiovisual Observatory. (January 2010). “Growth of the Number of Television Channels and Multi-Channel Platforms in Europe Continues Despite the Crisis.” International Television Group. Willing, Richard. (September 13, 2006). “Journalists See Troubling Court Trend.” USA Today. Read More