The Fourth Estate...Keeping an Eye on the Other Three

Last class we talked all about the role of journalists as watchdogs for the government and any other group that may be trying to take advantage of American citizens. In the article, Watchdog Culture: Why You Need it, How You Can Build it (http://www.poynter.org/column.asp?id=34&aid=82985), author Butch Ward quotes Orlando Sentinel Editor Charlotte Hall who said the following, "Watchdog journalism is a state of mind for the whole newspaper: Journalism that gives power to people." I absolutely love this quote, because its so true. The government cannot do deceive the American people without having to look over their own shoulders to make sure the press doesn't get wind of it. And that's the way it should be. Government shouldn't try to deceive us anyway. The role of watchdog journalism in our culture gives individual citizens the power over them and everyone else.

Something that I feel goes hand in hand with watchdog journalism is the idea of credibility. Newspapers and journalists must do their best to stay credible so that people will continue to trust them with this huge responsibility. This goes not only for the New York Times and the Chicago Tribunes, but also the small town newspapers who have the same responsibility on lower levels. Clearly the Daily Herald is not going to uncover the next Watergate Scandal or  print the next Pentagon Papers, but they still have a responsibility to keep their local leaders in check. Every journalists has this responsibility, and I think its important that they don't forget that.