Christina jensen: The criticisms of journalism

On Monday, professor Dr.H informed us that an engineer professor by the name of Dr.K would be giving us a speech. I had no idea what the speech would be about, but I assumed it would have to do something with journalism. After I listened to about three presentations, Dr.K walks in slyly with a slight smile on his face. To be completely honest, I was expecting a blunt college presentation. I was expecting a presentation that would be plain out--boring. As sad as that may sound, I love my college education, but c'mon there are time where lectures can be tedious. During some lectures I might end up staring at blank walls or counting the number of dots on the cottage cheese ceiling. But, despite my preconceived notions I was completely wrong about this presentation. Dr.K had proved me wrong because he used excellent diction, precise fluctuation, and was HONEST. Shocking...but he was honest. He started his discussion with jokes about engineers and scientists, which was quite enjoyable. After that he started to talk about his life in Egypt and about being a muslim. He discussed situations in San Luis Obispo where he has experienced racial acts.

The funny part about this whole event was that he consistently asked us why the media portrays muslims in a negative light. As a journalism student, I really didn't know how to answer his question. Almost everyday I hear negative remarks about the profession I WANT to eventually go into. I hear that the media is bias, it has an agenda, its left or right wing, etc. I mean, there is even a show titled, "Reliable Sources," on CNN that discusses the negative aspects of the journalism industry. Why is it that the media is constantly being criticized?

I feel like I am consistently defending my profession. In my ethnic studies class last quarter I was randomly chosen to conduct a presentation of whether the media should be analytical or objective. I defended my argument by showing examples of analytical media that have failed, but my teacher (who used to work for the LA times and was a previous Pulitzer Prize winner) felt the media should be more analytical and less objective.

I went into his office hours one day to discuss the presentation. We drifted towards the topic of "whats wrong with the media today" and he starts discussing every negative aspect. He felt that journalists today are not being watchdogs for society, rather they are being lap dogs. In a sense, I completely agree with him. Today, I feel the media is focusing so much on tiger woods when we could be focusing on unemployment or the current health care. But, people who are not in the industry do not understand that the media is also a business. Yes, journalists should be watchdogs, but how can they be when most people don't like to hear about what is really going on. Im sure people know more about the life of Britteny Spears (is that even how you spell it?) that what is going on in Afghanistan. Journalism takes a lot of crap, (excuse my language) but it really does. Is it because we are one of the few professions that are consistently being watched. Do I watch my mother at her hospital make mistakes on live television or radio? or my sister make a mistake when she's sitting behind her desk? I understand the journalism industry needs to change, but that's why they have new up and comers like me! There are so many questions that need to be answered for this industry to be saved. I hope people realize that journalists are also humans and we do mistakes. Only time will tell what will happen to this industry, but I know I will be ready to watch.