In professor Abigail Goldman’s “Media, Ethics, and Digital Age: Case-Study Approach” class, students go over various cases biweekly to discuss how a newspaper should deal with different aspects of news development. This often leads to the final question of whether to publish or not to publish.
An equally important question that arises in nearly every discussion is, “What is the job of a journalist?” This also asks about the obligation newspapers have to their employees and their audiences – we often asked what to do when the two come in conflict.
Journalists have both the responsibility to inform and the responsibility to minimize harm. Throughout my experience as a writer and reader of news, I’ve learned to appreciate this balance and the team efforts that go into ensuring writers meet these standards.
Student journalists in particular have an even tougher job.
Not only do they express concerns about state and national interests, but they also advocate for their own age demographic, which is often overlooked. They must also hold their educational institution accountable, which adds the pressure of representing an entire student body.
I’ve found that it’s through the genuine sense of responsibility journalists feel to their readers that they produce the best pieces. Journalists value their readership’s right to know about events and laws. That impact encourages journalists to put in the effort to do research, conduct interviews and write pertinent pieces.
This admirable effort is the backbone of our democracy.
Without someone to do the reporting, only a select few will ever be able to know the real ins and outs of their community. The efforts of reporters allow their readers to enact real change and sway major decision-makers.
Wherever my career may progress, I hope to continue abiding by these core principles.
Zar was an Opinion contributor 2025-2026.
Comments are closed.