REFLECTION - Terms and Concepts

Journalism History

Following our EOTO #2: Terms and Concepts presentations, I was enriched on the extensive history of journalism. I explored the History of Campaign Coverage while my partner, Savannah Williams, highlighted the History of Supreme Court Coverage. There were several interesting and informative speeches spanning a wide range of topics, from fashion to election night coverage.

During our JOU: Never Stay Silent recitations, our class frequently exposed violations of First Amendment rights in wartime. The presentation on war reporting, completed by Mia Thompson, underscored the event's prominence while providing significant background. An interesting and evolving point was how technological expansion impacts war coverage. With the development of artificial intelligence, advances often create falsified photos and videos, skewing viewers' opinions and fueling the spread of misinformation. 

Wartime Reporting

In light of First Amendment violations, press freedom has been declining in countries worldwide. Certain nations have criminalized critiques of governing bodies, their actions, and officials. These restrictions create blind obedience, influencing media publications while spreading positive war incentives. More prominently, the connection between citizens' rights, inconsistencies in war reporting, and resulting public opinion was highlighted throughout Thompson's presentation. 

The Television Revolution

Furthermore, the history of late-night coverage is closely linked to political reporting and society's insatiable appetite for information. Melissa Morales covered the Pre-Broadcast Era, the Rise of "Instant" News, the Broadcast Age, the Television and Computer Revolution, and the Digital & Data Era. These distinct time periods underlined the evolution of late-night coverage and a continued desire for political awareness. During the Television era, citizens began to receive late-night programming featuring ongoing breaking news events (e.g., JFK assassination). Continued technological breakthroughs, including the prevalence of social media, have enabled a 24/7 information feed, creating constant debates, frequent misinformation, and polarization. 

Types of Journalism

Overall, I was intrigued by the vast connections across each discipline of journalism, focused on informing the public, refuting false information, serving as a watchdog, and engaging civil society.