Dear Scripps Journalism Students,
Each day, maybe hour, we are ingesting media from various channels. Where are these media coming from? What kind of information is being disseminated? Are media informing the public of issues that facilitate a democratic society? How many of those channels are feeding you the same kinds of information?
This Journalism Day, May 16, we are challenging ourselves to tackle these questions. Less than 24 corporations own the major media outlets in our country. The existence of diverse viewpoints is imperative because without representation, there is little motivation for individuals to engage and contribute to a democratic society. When practiced properly, journalism, as collaboration between citizens and journalists, allows for a robust citizenry. However, as media are owned by fewer entities and sold as products, the critical role media play in serving the public's interest is lost.
Concentrated media ownership begets a narrowing worldview with limited viewpoints, topics and events covered. As media markets expand into cable television, the Internet and satellite radio, the facade of media variety disguises the repackaging of a homogenized message to a wide variety of media outlets. True diversity ' a diverse representation of ideas, cultures and people ' gets lost in the mass production of media content. The flow of news and information becomes only what big corporations deem newsworthy and profitable. In doing so, democracy is compromised for the sake of capitalism. When commercialization or market-driven journalism is the backbone of media, communication becomes top-down rather than organic; individuals are no longer able to express themselves or react constructively to a media agenda set by a powerful few.
If media are essential to a strong, functioning democracy, then we have to wonder whether people are getting the necessary information to make the important decisions in our society. Instead of learning about the issues in our world, media are concentrating coverage on Britney Spears' latest adventure, the racist comments of a talk show host or the debate over the father of Anna Nicole's baby. Mainstream media have let profit concerns override providing information necessary for individuals to make informed decisions and contribute to their surroundings and communities.
As citizens and journalists, we need to think about what the media's role should be as well as work to address issues of responsibility and accountability to the needs of the public. This conference is one step in bridging the chasm between journalism and democracy. It opens up an important dialogue that we, as present and future journalists, must initiate. It is imperative to question the values and directions of our evolving profession and to decide what function we can play in reforming the system from within, or choosing to pave an alternative route altogether. As students, we must be aware of the many roles media play and be critical of the communication structure in our society. As journalists, we must be committed to serving the public in the best way that we can. Imagining and pushing for better media is our job as future journalists. We can contribute positive change by joining together in idealism, combining our voices and creating innovative new dynamics between media and society.
We invite you to come share in the debates, panels, presentations and dialogue of Media Consolidation and Media Reform. Visit www.scrippsjschool.org for full session details. ' Jennette Lovejoy, Katie Horn, Dave Sennerud, Bridget Whelan, Jordan Robinson, Brittany Hughes, Kelsey McCoy, Jeff Smith and Bethan Eynon are student organizers of the conference.
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Letter to the Editor
