Four reporters on 'why journalism?'
“Journalism is ... the bedrock upon which the very essence of democracy rests,” says Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and chief executive of the Knight Foundation, an organization that supports local news organizations with grants.
“A well-informed community is essential for people to participate in the decisions that impact their lives and determine their future,” she says.
Meet four journalists — from students just starting out at their schools’ media outlets to working reporters who are more advanced in their craft — as they talk about their work and its place in America’s democracy. Their answers will inspire you.
“History teaches that without free speech and a free press, all other freedoms can easily be lost.”
James Faris, reporter, Business Insider
James Faris decided to become a journalist after blogging about sports in high school. Now, he’s a senior investing reporter for Business Insider and works in New York City.
Why do you think a free press is essential to a democracy?
In America, we often take our First Amendment freedoms for granted. History teaches that without free speech and a free press, all other freedoms can easily be lost. Those two freedoms go hand in hand and are vital for securing all other freedoms.
“I liked the idea of a job that would allow me to talk to a bunch of passionate people and then write about it.”
Katy Golvala, reporter, the Connecticut Mirror
Katy Golvala, who reports for the Connecticut Mirror in Hartford, believes that it's important, both from a personal and societal perspective, to “keep an eye on the institutions that impact the most important parts of our lives.”
Why did you decide to become a journalist?
I liked the idea of a job that would allow me to talk to a bunch of passionate people and then write about it. I specifically got interested in investigative work when I was freelancing for a hyperlocal outlet based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. I analyzed a dataset of complaint calls to the city government and found that the building with the most complaints in all of Brooklyn was in Bushwick. Since then, I've been hooked on finding abuses of power hiding in plain sight.
“Press freedom means I can show readers that nuance, rather than having to promote science even when it’s flawed or disparage it even when it’s well-done.”
Sean Cummings, intern, Science magazine
Sean Cummings, who is a news-writing intern at Science magazine in Washington, says the work combines his love of writing with his fascination with biology.
Why does a free press matter to you personally?
Some people either mistrust science or treat it all as infallible, both of which are incomplete perspectives; like any human enterprise, science sometimes contains flaws or biases, but the rigor of the scientific process means it usually offers the best available explanations of the world around us. Press freedom means I can show readers that nuance, rather than having to promote science even when it’s flawed or disparage it even when it’s well done. It also means I can choose my sources freely, to show readers that scientists can come from any background or identity.
“A free press is essential to a functioning democracy.”
Grant Johnson, editor-in-chief, The Breeze
After becoming a copy editor at his university newspaper, The Breeze, Grant Johnson realized he enjoyed writing and editing news. He is now a senior at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and the editor-in-chief of The Breeze — and he’s already experienced a range of First Amendment issues.
What role do you think journalists play in society?
Journalists play a massive role in promoting media literacy, which starts with reporting that includes sources from many different perspectives and backgrounds, and owning up to mistakes when wrong. A free press matters to me because without one, The Breeze would be hindered from holding powerful JMU figures to account, leaving parents and others who pour money into the university without knowledge of what's going on.
“Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost.”
Thomas Jefferson, founding father of the United States, 1786
Want to learn more about the U.S. State Department’s commitment to protecting journalists and free speech around the world? Follow the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor on social media and read more on ShareAmerica.
Writer: Noelani Kirschner
Senior video producer: Maxine Moore
Video producer: Amaya Gomez
Photo editor: Suzy Mast
Copy editor: Peggy Hu
Digital storyteller: Pierce McManus
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