If you study journalism, one of the first things you’re taught is about the critical role journalists play in the functioning of a healthy democracy. The Fourth Estate, as it is less commonly known, represents the press and media – the symbolic fourth branch of government, humming alongside our executive, legislative, and judicial branches, providing oversight, and disseminating important information to the masses. At least, that’s how the system was intended.
The last several years have thrown US democracy into a free fall, and one institution that has been dealt a significant blow is the nation’s news media.
We can all agree that not all reporting is created equal, nor should any news outlet be given carte blanche over their reporting – particularly when the strategies and tactics used by some are both questionable, and troubling, at best. With the 2024 presidential election looming on the horizon, let’s explore some of the reasons why safeguarding the Fourth Estate is imperative to our democratic survival, and why fostering a new generation of journalists through programs like an online journalism masters degree, is more important than ever.
How Do Journalists Support Democracy?
Information and Education
The primary role of the media is to advise the general public on government policies, current events, and other notable issues to keep people aware of important matters that affect them, and to help them make well-informed decisions when electing public officials.
For participants of a democratic system of government, it is vital that accurate and unbiased reporting be available to voters so they can feel confident that the people, policies, and practices of their leadership align with their needs. Without reliable resources capable of disseminating this valuable information, the voting public would become disempowered and unable to adequately advocate for themselves and their families.
Accountability
One of the most important roles of journalism is the ability to hold government officials, institutions, and those in other positions of power accountable for their words and actions. It is a level of oversight that ensures the voting public is not only informed on policies and decisions that affect them, but that the people who are making the decisions are transparent, truthful, and moral in their practices. Perhaps the most famous example of this exercise in action was the 1972 Watergate scandal that revealed President Richard M. Nixon’s role in a series of 1972 break-ins and thefts at the Democratic National Committee’s Watergate Hotel offices in Washington D.C. Washington Post investigative reporters, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, were key to uncovering the conspiracy that ultimately led to President Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974.
Checks and Balances
In the United States, we have a system of checks and balances, a principle enshrined in the Constitution by the framers. This system is what separates government bodies and ensures no single branch of government can become too powerful; thus protecting the safety and liberty of all Americans. Without checks and balances or a free press to critically examine our institutions, lawmakers, or executive leadership, we would be free to make decisions that may not be in the best interests of the American people.
Citizen Engagement
One of the healthiest aspects of a free republic is the ability for all citizens to partake in the discussion around local and global issues, policies, and events. Not only does the media provide a forum for this, but it allows the public to listen to an array of different viewpoints and interpretations of the topics at large. Unfortunately, the challenge today is the partisan filter bubbles we now circulate in – thanks in part to social media, industry lobbyists, and other tech algorithms – that deprive us of these wider perspectives. This in itself demonstrates the importance of preserving credible, bipartisan press platforms that can reach the masses.
What’s at Stake Without Reliable Journalism?
Lies and Misinformation
The etymology of the term ‘fake news’ dates back to the 1800s, however, the 2016 presidential election cycle revived and contemporized its use, and has since entered the global lexicon as a reactive, catch-all term for any fact or idea that may stimulate a sense of personal disagreement. While today’s use of the term is often a propagandist tool, the abundance of genuine mis(or dis) information now available is very real, and a direct result of the speed and reach we can now disperse information online.
The deluge of misinformation from the Trump Administration that permeated the airwaves reinforced the need to provide transparent, real-time fact-checking by legitimate journalists – and the need for this seems only to grow. As the circulation of unfactual news continues to spread, and the ascertainment of what is and is not real falls to the consumer, ethically-rooted journalism institutions must strive to be at the forefront of public information distribution.
Uninformed Public
Political ignorance is a ticking time bomb when it comes to democracy. How informed a citizenry is determines the quality of its leadership. Lack of understanding of policy positions, values, and other vital information can be detrimental to the rights and needs of the general public – particularly to minority groups that don’t represent the voting majority. Given this, it must come as no surprise that dictatorships and fascist regimes facilitate and prey on the uneducated and the uninformed, as it paves the way for enacting self-serving and corrupt agendas that would otherwise be disavowed.
Abuse of Power
A system of checks and balances can only be effective if there is oversight to enforce its practice. As mentioned above, an uninformed voting body still has the power to elect unsavory officials into office – no matter the consequence to their personal well-being. While the majority of those lawfully elected into government leadership positions strive to honor and uphold the values and duties of their office, the reality is, that there are always some who will seek election for, or eventually fall prey to, the trappings of exploitative power. And while these few bad eggs still manage to fall through the cracks of a well-oiled democracy, it is hard to fathom the vast implications that a completely unchecked system of government would have on the future of the United States.
Reliable journalism – or the Fourth Estate – has always been the cornerstone of a well-functioning democracy. Today, however, the institution is at an impasse as we try to navigate the uncertainty of our current political and ideological turmoil. It may feel quixotic to some, but with the investment of time, energy, faith, and trust into our most reputable journalism networks, the harmonious balance of US democracy might just prevail.