Whenever I tell someone that I want to be a journalist, I usually receive some kind of warning about the dangers facing my profession. They reference incidents where journalists got tackled to the ground during a protest or reporters who were arrested and detained by law enforcement agencies around the world.
A couple weeks ago, my mom texted me to ask if I had seen that an American journalist was abducted in Iraq. Shelly Kittleson had reported in the Middle East for several outlets in the past decade and was kidnapped on March 31 by an Iran-backed militia group while she was on assignment near Baghdad. Kittleson was freed last week in exchange for the release of some detained Iraqi militia members.
Earlier this year, independent journalist Georgia Fort and former CNN anchor Don Lemon were arrested by federal agents at an anti-ICE protest at a church in Minnesota. Fort and Lemon followed protesters into the church, livestreaming the demonstration and interviewing participants and members of the congregation. Both journalists were released without bail, but they still face charges related to the event.
In both of these situations, the journalists were prevented from doing their job: documenting the facts of the situation to share with the public. Reporting on matters of public interest is a protected act under the First Amendment’s freedom of the press. The actions taken against Kittleson, Fort and Lemon were a serious violation of rights guaranteed to these professionals.
More importantly, these examples illustrate an ongoing threat to the vital institution of journalism.
Journalism plays an important role in holding the powerful accountable. By exposing corruption and keeping the public informed, reporters send the message to those in authority that they are responsible for their actions.
Governments often view journalism as a threat to legitimacy, responding with legal attacks, physical harassment or economic sanctions in an attempt to regain control over the spread of information.
While this tension is not a new issue in American society, the Trump administration’s intensified efforts to silence the media are causing increased concern.
U.S. officials have threatened to jail journalists who refuse to turn over their sources, as well as targeted specific outlets and reporters as a penalty for publishing criticisms of the administration. Trump has even floated treason charges against respected organizations like The Wall Steet Journal for their coverage of the ongoing conflict in Iran.
These actions are intended to intimidate the media into reporting in a way that is favorable to the government, undermining the publication of necessary and truthful information.
Honest, fact-based journalism must persist despite these constant threats.
When journalism yields to government pressure, audiences lose trust in the outlets that are meant to give them a voice and empower them to take action against corruption. In the absence of free press, those in power are encouraged to continue their efforts to silence the people who oppose them.
I am completely aware that I am pursuing a field that is full of danger and uncertainty. I’ve grown up in an era defined by a global threat to democracy and the rampant spread of misinformation. Yet, I still believe in the power of journalism to create meaningful change in the community and the lives of those who consume it.
The responsibility of journalists to report the truth is more important than ever.
