According to
McNair(1998.21) Journalism should serve in the interest of the public in every
society they find themselves in. By the principles of journalism, journalists
are to serve in the interest of the public but on reality, they do not.
According to Robert
Niles(2007), Journalism is a form writing that
tell people about things that really happened but they might not know
about already.
The Public Interest is
the welfare or wellbeing of the general public and society (Wikipedia).
Journalist to serve in
the interest of the public means that a journalist pursuing information that
the public has the right to know. This is so because, journalists are to serve
in the interest of the public, reporters undisclosed information affecting the
public that the Government communication and other powerful interest hold would
remain hidden. This means that public interest journalism involves playing of
the watchdog role or investigation or investigating reporting. It must include
other factual content that serve the public interest either by providing the
platform for debates or informing the electorates.
The journalist serve
obligation is to serve in the interest of the public means; it means that in
practice of journalism, whatever we cover should serve in the interest of the
public. These are so because, any contents a journalist will cover broadcast
should be a motive of informing, educating, and entertain the public. So if a
journalist is not doing these basic principles of journalism practices. It means
that you are not serving under the interest of the public.
Moreover, some people
have argued that, it is not every information should be made available to the
public. The reason is that, should the information you are broadcasting is
about national security, if you made it available to the public, the journalist
might end up hurting the public at the end or you might end up destroying some
norms, values, culture, etc that the society has.
The public
interest is not just what the readers, listeners or viewers want either as
consumers or people who want to be entertained.
It is about
issues which affect everyone, even if many of them are not aware of it or even
if they don’t appear to care.
Normally, it is clear to journalists and editors what is and what is not in the public interest, but sometimes it’s a complex question, particularly where privacy is concerned.
It may be useful, therefore, to try to apply a public interest test.
The first task, however, is to separate what is in the public interest from those things members of the public are interested in; they are not necessarily the same.
Many people may be interested, for instance, in celebrity and popular culture, and demonstrably less interested in the dull realities of public services. But the potential for dramatic impact on peoples’ lives makes the provision of basic services – transport, education, health, sanitation, for instance – absolutely vital matters of public concern.
Just because the public is interested in something has nothing to do with whether it is in the public interest.
The public interest is in having a safe, healthy and fully-functioning society. In a democracy, journalism plays a central role in that. It gives people the information they need to take part in the democratic process. That is why there is a public service ethic at the heart all of serious journalism.
If journalists are good at their job, and to win the rust of the public they must hold governments and other institutions to account and they must act and behave ethically.
The Media Helping Media site’s training modules on editorial ethics cover many of the issues involved.
Normally, it is clear to journalists and editors what is and what is not in the public interest, but sometimes it’s a complex question, particularly where privacy is concerned.
It may be useful, therefore, to try to apply a public interest test.
The first task, however, is to separate what is in the public interest from those things members of the public are interested in; they are not necessarily the same.
Many people may be interested, for instance, in celebrity and popular culture, and demonstrably less interested in the dull realities of public services. But the potential for dramatic impact on peoples’ lives makes the provision of basic services – transport, education, health, sanitation, for instance – absolutely vital matters of public concern.
Just because the public is interested in something has nothing to do with whether it is in the public interest.
The public interest is in having a safe, healthy and fully-functioning society. In a democracy, journalism plays a central role in that. It gives people the information they need to take part in the democratic process. That is why there is a public service ethic at the heart all of serious journalism.
If journalists are good at their job, and to win the rust of the public they must hold governments and other institutions to account and they must act and behave ethically.
The Media Helping Media site’s training modules on editorial ethics cover many of the issues involved.
REFERENCES:
Andrea, C.(2017). What
is public interest journalism.
university of Malborne
McNair, B.
(1988). The Sociology of Journalism. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.
Niles, R.
What Is Journalism. Pasadena Calif.
Desmondlamptey.blogspot.com
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