By Vinh Nguyen
Many journalists are being killed each year. According to Emma Daly, as stated in “Journalists at risk”, “38 journalists were killed for their work in the first 9 months of 2016, according to the Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ).” 73 journalists have been killed throughout the world this year according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
While covering the Civil War in Syria, James Foley, a 40 year-old journalist got kidnapped. He told his family to stay strong before he was beheaded by Islamic State militants and a video of his death was posted onto youtube on August 19, 2014.
With these reporters out there taking risks to present the news, it sparks a question in my mind. Why do they want to put their lives on the line just to present the news?
Sharon Noguchi, a reporter at Mercury News had this to say: “We believe very strongly in reporting the news, whether it’s about the war in Afghanistan, protests, and tax returns from our president.”
Karl Mondon, an award-winning veteran photographer for Bay Area News Group also had this to say: “I think those types of courageous journalists spend time weighing the danger to their own personal safety when faced with the responsibility of reporting a story and choose to put truth before their fear.”
Karl had faced a number of dicey situations threatening his health and safety. One that I heard was him confronted by hostile crowds that would try to block his camera, sometimes trying to take his camera. “It may seem contrary for those engaging in public protest not to be seen in the public spaces of our newspapers or web reports, but that’s the way it is sometimes.”
Journalists are not only exposed to physical attacks but they’re also verbally attacked. Whether it’s online or in real life, journalists have to constantly deal with others derogatory behavior. Internet trolls will often drop the words like “fake news” at journalists who wrote something they didn’t like or agree with. Journalists in United States who dare to oppose Trump would often be labeled as “fake news” or “enemies of the American people.”
According to Thomas Hughes and Jodie Ginsberg, as said in the article, “The biggest risk to American journalism isn’t posed by trump” written by The Guardian, “The fabric of press freedom in the U.S. has been frayed and weakened by political stigmatisation of journalist and cries of 'fake news,' but its risks are much greater, and more permanent, damage from other forces, including harassment, detention and criminalisation.”
In my eyes, journalists are passionate people, who willingly put their lives on the line to find and expose the truth. We should support their work and stop labeling them about something they are not. Yes, there is fake news out there and it deserves to be called what it really is. However, just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it’s fake or untrue.
Many journalists are being killed each year. According to Emma Daly, as stated in “Journalists at risk”, “38 journalists were killed for their work in the first 9 months of 2016, according to the Citizens for Public Justice (CPJ).” 73 journalists have been killed throughout the world this year according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
While covering the Civil War in Syria, James Foley, a 40 year-old journalist got kidnapped. He told his family to stay strong before he was beheaded by Islamic State militants and a video of his death was posted onto youtube on August 19, 2014.
With these reporters out there taking risks to present the news, it sparks a question in my mind. Why do they want to put their lives on the line just to present the news?
Sharon Noguchi, a reporter at Mercury News had this to say: “We believe very strongly in reporting the news, whether it’s about the war in Afghanistan, protests, and tax returns from our president.”
Karl Mondon, an award-winning veteran photographer for Bay Area News Group also had this to say: “I think those types of courageous journalists spend time weighing the danger to their own personal safety when faced with the responsibility of reporting a story and choose to put truth before their fear.”
Karl had faced a number of dicey situations threatening his health and safety. One that I heard was him confronted by hostile crowds that would try to block his camera, sometimes trying to take his camera. “It may seem contrary for those engaging in public protest not to be seen in the public spaces of our newspapers or web reports, but that’s the way it is sometimes.”
Journalists are not only exposed to physical attacks but they’re also verbally attacked. Whether it’s online or in real life, journalists have to constantly deal with others derogatory behavior. Internet trolls will often drop the words like “fake news” at journalists who wrote something they didn’t like or agree with. Journalists in United States who dare to oppose Trump would often be labeled as “fake news” or “enemies of the American people.”
According to Thomas Hughes and Jodie Ginsberg, as said in the article, “The biggest risk to American journalism isn’t posed by trump” written by The Guardian, “The fabric of press freedom in the U.S. has been frayed and weakened by political stigmatisation of journalist and cries of 'fake news,' but its risks are much greater, and more permanent, damage from other forces, including harassment, detention and criminalisation.”
In my eyes, journalists are passionate people, who willingly put their lives on the line to find and expose the truth. We should support their work and stop labeling them about something they are not. Yes, there is fake news out there and it deserves to be called what it really is. However, just because you disagree with something doesn’t mean it’s fake or untrue.