The media industry has undergone an immeasurable number of changes since the birth of the digital age. In a time where information is as instantaneous as it is right now, journalists, along with other media practitioners, must remember their core values more than ever.
Integrity, objectivity and responsibility are three of the most important values for a journalist to have.
These three values all stem from the role journalism plays in broader society. Journalists have a unique responsibility to report information that would otherwise be left unheard. Digital advances in technology means information is so readily available, that it isn’t subject to the same checks and balances of yesteryear. This means that journalists must not abuse this power, and report facts and the truth with objectivity and integrity. It is their job to inform the public, rather than using their work as a propaganda vehicle for their own beliefs.
On the other hand, journalists also have a responsibility to adapt to the changing media landscape, and to utilise the new tools that have become readily available to them. Whether this is changing their writing style to incorporate more multimedia elements to their work, or learning a whole new media skill to make them a greater asset to their employers, it’s naive to think that you can stay stagnant in a changing landscape.
A great example of responsible and objective journalism is an article written by Calla Wahlquist in The Guardian (read here) about the furore over the sentencing of Elijah Doughty’s killer. The article aims to ask several questions of the Australian judicial system and the overall culture surrounding the “black lives matter” movement around the world. While these questions are raised, they aren’t distinctly answered, leaving room for interpretation and remaining objective. Also, the incorporation of the twitter and instagram feeds are great examples of multimedia journalism, and add another dimension to the piece.
