Journalism. Without articles, you wouldn't be aware of much of the world's news, let alone the performance of your favorite sports team. Almost inconspicuously, journalists have immersed themselves into a huge role in many people's daily lives.
As a journalist myself, I am driven by my duty to the people I write for. Working in the field of sports, I know it's my job to explain what others know, but can't exactly put into words. I take great pride in my craft and know I am fortunate to be able to articulate my thoughts and opinions and speak on behalf of those who can't.
Unfortunately, Donald Trump's war on the media casts us in a much different spotlight. We're "crooked" and "dishonest" and "sad." He even characterized reporters as "the most dishonest human beings on Earth." Through 140 characters and ongoing statements, both physical and vocal, Trump has made it clear that he is not a fan of the modern media.
Not only that, he has made them a target and got others to believe in casting the media in a negative light, leaving journalists as the scapegoat if he dislikes what he hears through the newswire. As Trump said himself, he is in an "ongoing war with the media."
Just a week into Trump's presidency, there have been multiple battles between the media and his administration. It all capped up with a debate over the size of the inauguration crowd. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer inaccurately and falsely tweeted about the size of the inauguration, and when Meet the Press host Chuck Todd confronted Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway about the issue, she told him he tweeted "alternative facts."
The expression has become a viral Internet meme, but should honestly concern the American people. White House representatives, as well as leaders of this country, are presenting lies as "alternative facts," and the media can't protest or say otherwise. Seeing that the leaders of the nation are already presenting lies to citizens is chilling, and seeing the press disregarded in such a way is sickening.
This past week, chief strategist Steve Bannon called the media Trump's "opposition party," and Trump backed him, pointing out how "media is the opposition." In addition, Trump blames the media for protests and backlash to his presidency, and his administration and supporters back him. With him in office, the media is being cast in a completely misguided, negative light.
Taking this, and the fact that he has barred multiple publications from his campaign and has even placed the press in undesirable places, his "war" with the media is going too far. His censorship and ridicule of journalists reminds me of a future dictatorship and makes me concerned that my voice won't be heard for too much longer.
However, I can't let him stop me from speaking. And neither can anyone, journalist or not. As Americans, we have a First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Journalists are not malicious figures; we don't strive to bend people's opinions or cast someone poorly, and more importantly, we don't use inaccurate information. So, if we want the truth to stay in this country, we must fight for our freedoms and our voices.
The first ethical rule of journalism is to seek the truth and report it, so Trump's claim that the media is dishonest is false. But of course, we could just call that an alternative fact.