Anything to say? There’s power in your words

By Stephen Parker
The TC News reporter

Amateur journalism is in contention for the new Great American Pastime. Millions of people blog on Facebook, comment on Twitter, and display pictures with captions on Instagram. Individuals are not enjoying the real events happening in their actual lives, for they are too busy playing junior producer: trying to get the right shot, thinking of something cute to say, and wondering what-all social media outlets are ready for their take on these presently occurring events. Life is to be lived, not documented, unless that is your profession. Social media is to journalism, what, karaoke is to singing. A Karaoke DJ is hired to provide the platform, amplification, audience, atmosphere, and even words, so that one might feel like a real singer, if only for a short time, then returning to their seat to consume more food and drink from the establishment who hired the karaoke DJ to procure just such an outcome. Likewise, social media provides a platform, distribution, subscribers, topics, so that one can be a part of the discussion, while their eye is ever drawn toward the new freemium game-of-the-month. The ease in which one can express themselves should only raise concerns as to the likelihood of receiving any significant attention. The best way to garner substantial exposure is to be published by as established media outlet.

“The primary purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with the information they need to be free and self-governing,” write journalists Tom Rosenstiel and Bill Kovach. A society that is ether uninterested, unqualified, or unsupported to report on the powers-that-be, such as governments, big business, and organized religion, will be to the mercy of these institutions. Examples from history abound of unchecked corruption: Adolph Hitler, Enron, and Pontius Pilate. Whistle blowers can be a nuisance to those with power and a god-send to those without. Perhaps a general malaise has captivated our awareness. There is so much more to the world than popular culture. The fact that we are somehow shamed into paying attention to the Kardashians, because everyone else seems to be, is absurd. People are doing things right now that are unsavory, diabolical, and self-serving. Hopefully, we are not paying them with our taxes, allowing them to invest our 401K’s, or leaving our children with these types of folks, but if so we all have the RIGHT to find out! Journalism is necessary to investigate and report on what is not common knowledge, yet. Journalists must maintain the utmost professionalism in the crafting of their work and the company they associate with, in order to cultivate credibility. Credibility will inevitably be checked by whatever heavenly demons one is attempting to lasso. Having the back-up of a journalistic organization is paramount. This will become evident when law-suits and harassment-attempts try to halt the investigation, but the chief insists, not to worry. The legal department will handle the frivolous law-suits, security is surveilling the building, parking lot, and phones, so journalists may focus on doing his/her job. Famous reporter, Walter Winchell was harassed in the late 30’s when he started to report on the new charismatic German leader. The Nazi party had accomplices inside the U.S. that truly intimidated Winchell, and only after a private meeting with President Franklin D. Roosevelt did he realize that some stories must be written, no matter the cost.

Enrolling in Texarkana College’s Journalism program is the first step in becoming an investigative-writer whose words will do more than just inform. With instruction, and practice in professional journalism environment, one can learn how to illuminate truths in such a manner, that to ignore them would be folly. Introduction to Mass Communication is the perfect place to begin understanding the mechanism of how information has been uncovered and dispensed throughout history. Mass Comm counts toward a philosophy credit that is necessary for most degree plans.
The war of words continues today as it has since the inception of language. With as many people as there are blogging and tweeting about nonsense, it seems more important than ever to differentiate oneself from the pack by traditional means. Like the little boy that cried wolf, whose pleas fell on deaf ears due to a lack of credibility, your words should not be dismissed, for one day you might have something to say.