More journalism jobs have been lost in 2023 than any other year in history. We live In a time where democracy is being threatened around the world, innocent civilians are being killed, and discrimination and xenophobia continue to rise. Yet we no longer value those who work to hold people accountable for these atrocities, journalists.
Journalism is a dying industry but however, still a necessary one. Journalism is the core of our society, it is how we expose systematic failures and it is how we foster change in our world. And still, we see the industry dying.
Advertising revenue in the news industry has declined 20%, from $49.3 billion in 2006 to $9.8 billion in 2022 according to Pew Research Center. Showing the stark decline in profitability in the journalism industry.
The money in the journalism industry just isn’t there like it used to be. Even here at The Eagle, we lose money every time we publish and rely on fundraisers to keep our paper afloat, with 2023 being our worst business year in modern times.
That is because journalism is no longer valued in our society, legitimate news organizations such as the New York Times are attacked and labeled as “fake news”. All while illegitimate tabloids such as TMZ continue to run Hollywood while breaking every ethical boundary in their path. True journalism just is not viewed as a necessity anymore.
This has resulted in a decreased trust in the reliability of journalism; only 34% of Americans have trust in the media to report the news accurately compared to a whopping 72% in 1972 according to The New Yorker.
This can in part be attributed to the failures of news organizations. News organizations are businesses, which means that they prioritize what makes them the most money. This often leads to news organizations highlighting what gets the most attention without providing the big picture in exchange for a greater profit.
NBC in August of 2021 received major backlash for failing to provide the big picture by ignoring the July job report on their nightly news. The report showed over 1 million jobs gained in July showcasing a roaring U.S. economy but NBC chose to focus on inflation and ignore the economic positives.
The desire for the biggest “click-worthy” story can even kill. On Nov. 1, 2023, Alabama news organization The 1819 News published a “media hit” on Smiths Station mayor Fred “Bubba ” Copeland. Copeland was outed as a crossdresser despite the request from Copeland to not publish the article. Two days later, Copeland committed suicide.
But while journalists have had their fair share of mistakes, they have also shown us why they are so important.
On April 6, 2023, ProPublica uncovered that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted millions of dollars in luxury gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow. Sparking national outrage and forcing the Supreme Court for the first time in U.S. history to create a code of ethics.
Journalists have also proven that they can maintain an ethical standard while simultaneously ensuring the American people stay informed.
On Nov. 16, 2023, The Washington Post published “Terror on repeat”, going further than any news organization has gone before by utilizing videos, photos, and first-hand accounts from the victims. The result was a shocking piece that described the horrors of mass shootings while also maintaining the privacy of victims and their families.
Journalism has proven to have the power to create change itself. From the publishing of the Federalist Papers in 1788 motivated the ratification of the Constitution. To the ability to spark change in today’s modern world.
One of the biggest movements in today’s modern world is the #MeToo movement which was catalyzed by an article by the New Yorker. Numerous women’s stories are told of their sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein, a powerful film producer who abused his power in “From Aggressive Overtures to Sexual Assault: Harvey Weinstein’s Accusers Tell Their Stories” by Ronan Farrow. This story turned the #MeToo movement national, making it one of the largest global movements in modern history.
Our idea of the news is dying, but journalism can not and should not. As Thomas Jefferson warned us “You can’t have liberty without the press.” Journalism is far too important to be silenced.
In a world of “fake news” and lack of news literacy in many Americans. It is our responsibility as the American people to ensure journalism stays alive. We must continue to support legitimate news organizations to ensure the continued exposure of the faults of society and to facilitate global change.
That change is our dream as student journalists, to inspire that same thing that journalists before us have. Our dream is to save our dying industry before we see our country dying without it.
