The news is an important source of knowledge for all of us about the world, especially in this era of technology. Journalists are mainly responsible to bring this news to us but not all of them are true to their responsibilities and ethics. How much can we trust the journalists? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.
In recent times, the world has been dubbed a global village due to the easy flow of relevant information from various newscasters across borders, which is made possible with modern technology. These journalists in charge of broadcasting news have been deemed by many as not living up to expectations because of numerous factors, which shall be explored in detail in subsequent paragraphs.
Every occupation has a code of professional ethics that it abides by. However, the credibility of news articles and the journalists behind them are becoming questionable by the day. Most journalists would rather jump on the bandwagon of reporting on the daily lifestyle of a celebrity than investigate actual newsworthy situations such as drug abuse by these celebrities.
Moreover, owing to the fact that sponsors of news companies are major bigwigs, real challenging societal issues are swept under the carpet, whereas articles favourable to the sponsors make the headlines. For instance, in Nigeria, the case of a bottled water company that was under investigation by the Food and Drugs Authority for unhygienic practices received very limited coverage from several media houses because the said company was a major sponsor of many of their programs. Contrary to ethics, they frequently broadcast charity works done by the company. Can works of charity outdo the harm of unsafe drinking water? The line between right and wrong was evidently blurred.
Furthermore, political powers play a pivotal role in what gets published as news. To safeguard their own jobs, journalists often have to engage in deals with the big names in power to only report on the sunny side of their party. The corruption and embezzlement that often besets many nations of the world remain obscured. How then can one rely on reported news?
Undeniably, the news is a great source of information globally, and not all journalists breach work ethics. Nevertheless, there is often more to it than meets the eye and must be taken with caution lest one is led astray by unscrupulous journalists.
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