Why does a democracy need journalism and the First Amendment?



The newspaper from Louisville, my notepad, my text book from my JOU 101 class, pen, pencil and a notebook with my thoughts and ideas. Everything relates to democracy, journalism and the First Amendment. 



Democracy as a planet would orbit in journalism and the First Amendment to maintain its designated course. 
A democracy does need the First Amendment and journalism in the sense that all three go hand in hand.  The First Amendment and journalism are vital components to the correct definition of a democracy.  Take in account that if democracy was a dictatorship, an anarchy or any other form of government that prevents the people to report, inform and speak the truth of what is going on inside the government, then democracy would be called something else, its name would cease to exist.

The Lincoln Memorial. Me in
Washington D.C. during the
summer of 2010. President
Lincoln gave a meaning to
the word democracy.

    “Of the people, by the people, for the people,” words by Abraham Lincoln, from the Gettysburg Address, certainly a perfect and simple definition of what democracy is.  Without the First Amendment there would be no of, by, or for the people.  The United States serves as a great example of a democracy, in terms of the First Amendment it is devoted to every single citizen.  “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition government for a redress of grievances.”

     Without the First Amendment, there would be no journalism in the United States.  To be able to exercise the freedom of speech and press are the core to journalism.  Democracy exists because of journalism.  Without the various models of journalism, the voice of those citizens would not be heard and government would run things as they pleased because there would be no insight to the issues at hand in congress and what the people need would not be a thought of care for politicians.  Journalism has its way to put a spot light on people that are in the need of things necessary for a better life in a state, city, county or whatever community it may be.  However, journalism works both ways, as well as to provide people with details of what the government is doing and if it is in a democratic perspective or not. 

     Democracy spins in an orbit made up of the First Amendment and journalism.  For democracy to have its correct definition, we must take in account what the First Amendment says and what journalism does.

Q&A on Journalism, Democracy, the First Amendment and Diversity

On Journalism

1. What is the definition of journalism?



I consider journalism to be the profitable art of improving lives. It is the story telling of people’s lives and shining the light on the voiceless. Also, journalism is non-fiction and exactly because it is the truth it should be non-bias as well. Keeping a story clean and original to its first source helps maintain that sense of credibility. Journalism is the meaning of free speech and press. On free speech, it is the dangerous kind that gets protected the most and what puts stories on the laps of journalists. On press it is the publishing of stories that a focused reader will get and help them think. Journalism cannot tell you what to think, but help you to think.

2. How many different models of journalism exist today?

There are four models of journalism today. They are advocacy, traditional-elite, public and civic, and citizen 2.0.

On Democracy

3. What is the definition of democracy?



My brother and I on our way to the
Lincoln Memorial. So many people
visiting one of the most eloquent
presidents ever.



Democracy in all simplicity to me is exactly what President Lincoln said, “Government of the people, by the people, for the people.”

4. What is the difference between “election politics” and “public politics”?

To be honest I am not totally sure what they are, but I will give you my opinion on what I think them to be, leave a comment if you know what it is for sure. Election politics I think refers to the political process candidates in a race and what they do to convince the public to have the same points of views as the candidates. As for public politics to me it seems to the influence of politicians on citizens on public issues.

5. What was the Lippmann v. Dewey debate?

In the 1920’s Walter Lippman argued that democracy should be left for all the educated citizens, more specifically the politicians who should control government and that the journalist should act as the specialist who explains the information of the decisions being made in government to the rest of the population, because to him the rest of the citizens were not well informed or well educated. John Dewey thought that the decision should be invested to the people, the journalist should act as a fact seeker and the politicians should examine the law. Overall it was a debate on a journalist’s role to citizens.

On the First Amendment

6. What does the First Amendment say exactly?

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

7. Are any of those protections important in your life?

Of course all of those protections are important to me. The most important I think in my life is the freedom of speech. I am a very opinionated person, maybe because that is how I was brought up. My parents, especially my mom has opinions relating to government, religion and every other life perspective. I enjoy having long discussions with her about current events; after all we do have a lot of opinions in common. It is more difficult to speak with others about things going on because they have such different opinions, I respect their opinions, but sometimes I feel like people are so closed-minded. My perspective in the world is always open, however, there are standard morals I look up to and I will not change my mind about them. Maybe that is why I can’t become a journalist, I am not completely objective. As for the other protection and freedom important to me is religion. This to me personally is such an important aspect of the democracy in the United States because there are so many cultures with many different religions. I consider myself to be very open to religions and I love to study them because they all teach something that the other didn’t.

On Diversity

8. Why is diversity in religion, speech, press, assembly and petition so important to a democracy?



Like these teddy bears, no matter what
color anyone is or where they come
from should get along and accept
everyone's diversity.



OK to be honest you can have all of these in a democracy and still be unsuccessful. The important part is tolerance for different religions, forms of speech, press, assembly and petition. Without tolerance you get racism and prejudice that makes a democracy filthy. It is important to have all of them written down like the United Sates does in the Constitution, but citizens must respect it and be understanding of everyone’s different cultures. A democracy should be open to all not just to a group of elite men.

9. How do journalists and the First Amendment ensure that people hear diverse voices in the marketplace of ideas?

Take a look around; do you only see one race? No, of course not, there are all different kinds of people everywhere, therefore the news stories come from all types of people. Journalists ensure diverse voices because they are the ones that go to look for the stories and maintain objectivity to the greatest extent if they are true journalists. The First Amendment makes sure all sorts of opinions are protected, even the disturbing ones. Now in a world full of technology anyone can post their opinions online and be heard by millions without any harsh consequences because they are protected by the freedom of speech.

10. Can you speak from personal experience about how diversity, protected by the First Amendment or championed by journalists, made a difference in your life?

Well, I am from El Salvador originally and I think that being a foreigner I feel privileged to have never experience racism. The people I have encountered have been very open-minded and I feel like if I surround myself with them I will be OK. I know that possibly some day I might experience it first hand, but I will be ready to handle it because I know that those people are do not represent the greater population. However there hundreds of topics that make me angry because some people are not tolerant at all and think they are always right. I am glad I got to see the first African-American president and to end on this note for my Q&A because I consider that a milestone and a significant part to the last question.

JOU 101 Week-in-Review

Here is my awful newscast for my class. It took me forever to get it done, I am not technologically savvy and do not plan to be an anchor. I admire anchors now. So many takes to get it close to what it supposed to be. Enjoy my painful experience. I got an A on this :)