We are young, and sometimes we have so much going on that many of us can’t really keep up with ideas and concepts that matter. We keep up with the news through yahoo highlights or word-of-mouth. Sometimes though it is important to really delve into journalism and the reporting of the things that are happening in the world around us. After all, journalism and democracy go hand-in-hand to protect our freedoms and give us the rights we have which ALLOW us to be young, to be “hooligans” or to be carefree. It is these exact “journalism” concepts that we all feed into this blog on a daily basis, and it is the freedoms we possess that enable us to say the things we feel or believe. So in a way, if Journalism did not exist it is highly possible that blog sites, like this very one may not exist.

A democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment to keep society and the government in check, and to maintain a balance of power and information. There are three main reasons that any democracy needs journalism and the First Amendment: 1.) Education of  the voting populace, 2.)To keep government powers in check / expose corruption, 3.) to display to the best of its ability, the truth in our society.

A democracy is a very egalitarian government and society in  which the citizens vote in leaders, and ultimately make legislative decisions. Each citizen plays a vital role in their government and society. It is important that these people are aware of current events, news, elections, and various pieces of information about the government, society, scientific advances, discoveries, and various other pieces of vital information which is constantly changing the world we live in. Together the First Amendment, giving citizens the right to free speech, religion, assembly, and free press; and journalism allow officials, experts, and normal citizens to all engage in dialogue about important issues. It is this cultural/societal conversation that is bolstered and maintained by journalism and the First Amendment. If we were to lose either of the two, our society’s knowledge of their government would decline and ultimately someone in power would take advantage of this lapse in information.

Power and corruption are always hand in hand. Whether this is due to the fear of losing  the power attained, or something else, oftentimes it is the person in a high position who trys to take advantage of citizens. The U.S. government is broken into three branches to try and dismiss any imbalance in our legislation. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branch all serve one another as a checkpoint. Journalism has become a sort of fourth branch with a watchdog purpose. Because of journalism’s display of current events, and government information it keeps corruption in check for fear that it will be exposed.

Finally, possibly the most pure and important purpose of journalism and the First Amendment is to engage our society in truth. The First Amendment gives each citizen the right to speak their truth, and the freedom of religion allows citizens to follow their own different truths, while journalism provides the public with facts that have been checked several times, and displays information that allows citizens to make their own personal opinions about issues that may have several truths.

On Journalism

1. Now tell me again, what is your definition of journalism? 

  A- Journalism is the profitable art of engaging citizens and others in truth to improve their lives and the lives of the community.

2. How many different models of journalism exist today?

  A- 3 Models are the Advocacy, Traditional-Elite, and Citizen 2.0 Interactive Model. (Blogs are a form of Citizen 2.0 Journalism).

On Democracy

3. What is your definition of democracy?

   A- Democracy is an egalitarian type of government in which essentially PEOPLE have the power.

4. What is the difference between “election politics” and “public politics”?

   A- “election-politics” deals only with voting and who is elected to office. “Public politics” are a much more less represented type of politics in which the actual issues really matter.

5. What was the Lippmann v. Dewey debate?

 A- Lippman and Dewey were both journalistic philosophers who argued over the role of journalism in terms of a democracy. Lippman expressed an elitist view while Dewey advocated public forums on issues.

On the First Amendment

6. What does the First Amendment say exactly?

    A- freedoms of religion, speech, right to protest, and freedoms of the press.

7. Are any of those protections important in your life?

    A- All of those freedoms are important in everyone’s lives

On Diversity

8. Everybody keeps talking about diversity: Why is diversity in religion, speech, press, assembly and petition so important to a democracy?

    A- Because it allows our society to examine issues from all sides, angles and viewpoints. This creates a more well-rounded societal outlook and helps those who make the decisions in a democracy (the public) well informed.

9. How do journalists and the First Amendment ensure that people hear diverse voices in the marketplace of ideas?

  A- By presenting truthful information and allowing people to come to their own ideas about it

10. Can you speak from personal experience about how diversity, protected by the First Amendment or championed by journalists, made a difference in your life?

   A- As a student we are given opportunities to voice our opinions on any number of issues

Smoking half naked in bed, jazz on the radio, and Amy Winehouse in my head… Today is a spiritual celebration.

when will the fantasy end, when will heaven begin?