The Golden Press Pass

In class we discussed whether journalists were “more equal” than other people and if they have earned the privilege of meeting presidents and esteemed figures.

I think it’s important to remember the role of journalists in society. In Elements of Journalism, Kovach and Rosenstiel list monitoring power and giving a voice to the voiceless as two of the responsibilities of journalists. In order for us to do that, we need to have access to places and people that are not accessible to the average person. This is not saying that journalists are above average. It means that we represent the average person.

I think giving a voice to the voiceless is the most important role a journalist plays in society. Not everyone has the opportunity to fly to Baghdad and see the war.

Journalists bring the war into people’s living rooms. How else would a person living in Columbia’s First Ward learn the differences between two candidates? Most people are not willing to or do not have the time to sift through information and get stories for themselves. Journalists go out, experience the story and bring it back. We aren’t aristocracy, we’re liaisons. We can’t provide information without access to whom the information is about.

An example of journalists giving voices to the voiceless is the Missourian’s coverage of the last election. The reporters served as representatives and when asking a question phrased it, “Jackie Smith from the Third Ward wants to know….” This is also known as civic journalism.

Also, we need the special access to monitor power. If the elites are the only ones with access to meetings and hearings, or they didn’t have a physical person interrogating them, we’d be in trouble.

As journalists you get to see things you would never have the chance to otherwise. I think that is what draws some people in. I do NOT think most newspaper journalists go to school so they can be famous. If they did, they should try Hollywood or politics. I decided I wanted to be a journalist because I love to learn. When I do a story I want to learn everything there is to know about that subject. I find it fascinating. I also wanted to save the world, of course. I have a strong distaste for injustice and decided journalism was the best way to fight it, or at least, tell everyone about it.

I thought the discussion in class on this topic was rather negative, like journalists don’t deserve the access. I disagree. I’ve worked hard in journalism school and I take my job seriously. I’d like to think that the citizens of wherever I work will trust me enough to know that I don’t take that access for granted, yes, I earned it, but it has also been grated to me by the people.