Mid-Term Assignment

Jennifer Bundy

Mr. Twinning

Journalism- A3

16 January 2008

Mid-term
Journalism is defined in the dictionary as the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media, however journalism means so much more than that. Without it, the truth would never be heard and opinions or voices would be silenced. The purpose of journalism is not to just deliver news, but to also spread truth and justice to places were those two things may never be heard. Journalists risk their lives to bring news across the world from the most hostile environments such as war zones or dictated countries. In 2008 alone, 60 journalists were killed, 673 were arrested, 929 were physically attacked or threatened, and 29 were kidnapped. Although, these numbers decreased from 2007 were 1,511 journalists were attacked or threatened, it is still a very severe problem.
One of the most hostile environments in the world is the Middle East, and journalists travel there everyday to report the news. With the Iraqi War going on, along with terrorist organizations causing chaos such as Hamas and Al Qaeda, traveling to the Middle East is a huge safety risk. Not only are countries battling but also religious groups whose fight for Jerusalem has lasted centuries. With so much tension and danger all over the Middle East, reporting the news becomes a dangerous job. 137 journalists were arrested in 2008 in the Middle East alone, along with 124 others attacked. The Middle East also censored a total of 91 media outlets, the most out of any region in the entire world. If this continues, hundreds more new stories could go undiscovered and the truth may never be told.
When someone thinks of perilous regions for journalists, they may not instantly think of Russia. However, Russia falls only behind the Middle East in the number of censored media outlets, with 79 censored in 2008. In Russia, speaking out against the government or any of its allies is basically putting a target on your head. So many journalists are killed in Russia from speaking their mind and opinions. Although, the government has never been directly charged with these murders, it is speculated that the government hires outside sources to do the dirty work. With Russia as a country very depressed and in a deep hole, journalists are crucial to spread the truth so that maybe the problems within their country can be fixed. Sadly, as long as the censorship of the media is going on, the power of the government will always overtake journalism.
Not only governments can censor media outlets or kill innocent journalists. For example, in Mexico the drug cartels use their immense influence to basically run the country. These enormous drug cartels have corrupted the police forces and have taken control of the government, using bribes and violence. In Mexico it is not even safe for a citizen to travel alone in the streets at night or travel public transportation, never mind a journalist. In fact, 21 journalists have been killed due to their reporting in Mexico since 2001. Drug traffickers and gangs are believed to be behind the majority of these murders, along with several other disappearances and attacks. With the drug cartels so large, not even the police can be trusted. Therefore, with no law enforcement or protection, journalists are putting themselves in such dangerous positions, relying only on themselves for protection.
In my opinion, those journalists who travel to the most dangerous regions on earth to deliver the truth, are some of the bravest people in the world. They put their lives at risk and face danger head on, to just simply to do their job. As a journalist you are not only taking the responsibility of delivering the news but you are also becoming the one lifeline society has to the truth.

Five W's and an H :D

1. John Travolta’s 16 year old son, Jett, died at their home in the Bahamas on January 2nd due to a seizure.

2. After much scrutiny surrounding Apple CEO Steve Job’s health, Apple released a formal statement on January 5, 2009 explaining Job’s evident weight loss as a hormone imbalance.

3. Barrack Obama chose the new head of the CIA, Leon Panetta on January 6th, 2009 even though he lacked necessary credentials.

4. J.K. Rowling released the much anticipated story book called The Tales of Beedle and Bard on January 4th, 2008, which intertwines the world of Hogwarts and fairytales into one.

5. After one of the biggest elections in American history, Barrack Obama will with be inaugurated on January 20th, in our great nation’s capital Washington D.C.