As a student newspaper, we wholeheartedly believe journalism is an essential part of democracy. In reference to the importance of the freedom of the press, Thomas Jefferson once said, “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” The freedom of the press ensures that all Americans have access to information about what is happening in their government, allowing for the people to keep the government in check.
In recent years, however, we believe the media has not held up its end of the bargain. The media, whether intentionally or not, has played a large role in increasing polarization by catering stories to one political ideology. This creates confirmation bias and echo chambers that offer only one perspective, as opposed to presenting all sides of an issue and allowing the public to form their own opinions.
Rather than simply reporting on events within the country and government, corporate-owned media outlets have instead turned to using scare tactics and reporting in ways that fuel division and a decrease in willingness to compromise. In an age of increased social media consumption as opposed to reading and watching television, news outlets have found a way to keep making money: hatred and fear. To keep audiences engaged, media outlets use and sometimes even manipulate stories that generate feelings of anger, and pit parties against each other. This benefits no one, except for the large corporations that profit off the fear they have sown into people.
The news should not be about making money, it should be about keeping people informed. If we can’t trust the media to be responsible, we as news consumers must put in extra effort to understand the truth and stay informed. To ensure that we are getting the facts instead of falling victim to political polarization, we all must look at multiple sources before forming opinions, verify news we consume (especially on social media), and try to understand all perspectives on an issue, but above all, we must look for the best in people no matter where they fall on the political spectrum.
