Role of a Free Press     

     The proper role of a free press in a society is to share the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in an objective manner to an audience.  In fact, journalism can be defined as, the action of acquiring details of information by inquiring with the intent to inform via the impulse to document.  John Grierson’s definition of documentary which is, “the creative treatment of actuality”, can be applied to the arena of journalism because each complied packet of details is actually a document” (Cowie 232). With this in mind, the free press in a democratic society is ethically bound to convey reality without bending the truth.  

     To open, reality is one’s perspective lens of events taking place in life itself.  The irony within the element of reality is that what is perceived as real is generally different for everyone because each human being possesses a unique insight which translates into a plethora of viewpoints.  Therefore, the one answer which can be brought to the round table here is that, integrity must be maintained when journalists are confronted with the challenge of depicting the inward and outward viewpoints via the camera lens, microphone, or printed piece.  Additionally, governments and corporate entities must allow reporters to fully share both sides of the window objectively so audiences can be informed while arriving at their own opinion.  

     Ultimately, by peering through the historical binoculars, we can see that the works of Jacob Riis illustrate a lucid example of how a free press can operate to bring about change within our world.  After the Civil War, overpopulation, low wages, and culture shock caused a variety of social problems that muckrakers such as Jacob Riis felt compelled to address in the Progressive Era of United States history.  In his book, How the Other Half Lives, Jacob Riis documents the living conditions of the poor in order to shed light on the immediate need for sociological reforms in New York City.  “Muckrakers sought to improve society with their stories as they investigated and uncovered corrupt and unethical business practices”(Straubaar, Larose and Davenport 305).  It is this writer’s contention that, muckraking journalism is the proper role of the free press in a democracy.  

Social Media as New Communication 

Despite the many classes and diverse cultures throughout the world, the elements of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Pyramid consisting of physiological, safety, belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization link us together as human beings.  “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five-tier model of human needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels within a pyramid” (McLeod, 2018).  A more profound investigation into each of these elements reveals that communication (either verbal or nonverbal) plays a vital role in securing these elements while forming mutual respect across pluralistic societies around the globe.  

     To start, by looking through a historical lens, the art of storytelling has provided humanity with a plethora of attested records including photographs, sound clips, video footage, writings, and artistic impressions.  A perfect example of this can be seen within the culture of Indigenous Peoples.  “Oral traditions are often expressed in parables and include mythological components in addition to genuine historical and factual elements that are usable in understanding the past. For several thousand years, oral tradition has been the primary vehicle for Native Americans in North America to record facts and events”(Smith).  To enumerate, communication through oral tradition in combination with the elements of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is the driving force which aided Native Peoples with their communal society practices.  In addition to this, we can see storytelling as a form of communication in all cultures.  The Egyptians used Hieroglyphics.  God used humans that He inspired to communicate His Word to the world.  

     With all of this in mind this begs the question, is today’s social media a form of communication?  The only answer is yes, because exchanges of information are taking place that are coinciding with the elements of Maslow’s Hierarchy.  “Social media are media whose content is created and distributed through social interaction”(Straubaar, Larose and Davenport 20).  Politicians use social media to relay information to the public to promote themselves.  This is a form of self-actualization which we see listed in Maslow’s Pyramid.  News outlets send out weather alert warnings with the intention of promoting safety.  Interestingly enough, safety also fits into the Maslow Pyramid.  Each posting on social media is essentially an open diary to the world thanks to the convergence of technology that allows the interaction with people worldwide. 

     All things considered, communication really comes down to the word “document”.  The word “document” itself can be either a noun or a verb depending upon usage, yet both forms coincide with an investigative purpose in relation to storytelling, and the engagement of others.  Rene Descartes is quoted as saying, “The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries”(Hargreaves).  If we perceive the internet as one giant archived book then, each post on social media allows every human being connected to the interwebs to become an author.  With all of this in mind, aren’t the social media platforms of today communication with the intent to document via convergence?   

Works Cited

Cowie, Elizabeth. “Recording Reality, Desiring the Real.” Visible Evidence 24 (2011): 232. <https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5749/j.ctttsm8z >.

Hargreaves, Abby. 22 Great Quotes About Reading and the Reading Life. 12 January 2018. <https://bookriot.com/2018/01/12/quotes-about-reading/>.

McLeod, Saul. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. 21 May 2018. <https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html>.

Smith, Cathay Y. N. Oral Tradition and the Kennewick Man. 03 November 2016. <https://www.yalelawjournal.org/forum/oral-tradition-and-the-kennewick-man>.

Straubaar, Joseph, obert Larose and Lucinda Davenport. Media Now, Understanding Media, Culture, and Technology. Boston,MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2012.