What is journalism? What is the purpose of a journalist?

While "journalism" is defined in the dictionary as simply, "the activity or profession of writing for newspapers or magazines or of broadcasting news on radio or television", the term, in fact, holds so much more significance than just a job.

Journalism holds a plethora of meanings and purposes to people across the globe. In today's world, journalism is an ever-changing phenomenon of not only television, newspapers, and radio, but texts, blogs, social media, and the internet in general. To me, journalism is the process of gathering information and sharing it with others. It connects people to the rest of the world and provides a human need to "know". Journalism remedies people of ignorance. It gives a voice to the voiceless. It inspires people to fight for freedom.

The duty of a journalist is to seek the truth and report it; to find interesting stories that others find meaningful and beneficial. A journalist's loyalty belongs to citizens, and doesn't tell them how to think but what to think about in an objective manner. "The Elements of Journalism" describes a journalist's obligations well, listing:

• Journalism's first obligation is to the truth
• Its first loyalty is to its citizens
• Its essence is a discipline of verification
• Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover
• It must serve as an independent monitor of power
• It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise
• It must strive to make the significant interesting and relevant
• It must keep the news comprehensive and in proportion
• Its practitioners have an obligation to exercise their personal conscience
• Citizens, too, have rights and responsibilities when it comes to the news

As a broadcast journalism major, I hope I can strive to abide by these elements in my work as a journalist!