Democracy and Parachutes

-->

Democracy is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. Well, it would be without journalism and the First Amendment, anyway. Without those two things, Democracy would fall faster and faster until it splattered on the ground like an egg on concrete. Luckily for Democracy and the United States, we made sure to strap on our parachute before we made the leap.

Journalism education in progress

            If you don’t believe me, just ask Benjamin Harris. He published America’s first newspaper, Publick Occurrences Both Foreign and Domestick. This newspaper was shut down after the first issue by the government and less than 100 years later, that government was overthrown. Censorship never bodes well for an oppressive government in the long run.

            The First Amendment allows journalists to act as a watchdog, a source of information for elections and as a teacher. These three duties are essential to the democratic system that we hold dear and without the First Amendment, the duties of journalists would not be protected or secured.

            If there’s one man who knows the loud, bone-chilling roar of watchdogs, it’s Richard Nixon. The Watergate Scandal, exposed by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post, is one of the most important moments in journalism. Bob Woodward said, “I believe that Watergate shows that the system did work. Particularly the Judiciary and the Congress, and ultimately an independent prosecutor working in the Executive Branch.” Watergate also shows the effectiveness of watchdog journalism and it’s role in democracy.

            This watchdog idea has shaped a sort of skepticism in the minds of journalists in this country. A basic distrust and distaste for all things murky and unclear. This skepticism clears the smoke that the Government and businesses use to keep the people at bay.

            “VOTE THE BASTARDS OUT.” This Facebook group may have only 30 “likes,” and perhaps this is due to their distasteful use of capitalization, but it represents something very important in a functioning democracy; Elections. The ability for the people to elect new leaders with new ideas and new policies is something the American people hold dear.

            Journalists are the reason that elections are effective and possible. Journalists provide the people with the information on the candidates that the people need to make informed votes. Voting would mean nothing without the knowledge of the candidate’s views, policies, and personal beliefs.

            “The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” William Arthur Ward explains the values of teaching in this quote. Journalism, as a teacher, is meant to inspire.

            Journalism teaches the people of their surroundings, their different subcultures, and how they, the people, are all connected. It’s a valuable role that allows the people to come together, as one, and solve the problems that their government never could.

            Ah, parachutes, how they save us from the power of gravity and the selfishness of wicked men. The powers of watchdogs, elections, and teachers are all powers that keep us from ending up splattered, like an egg on concrete.