The emergence of social media gives users the ability to receive news immediately and has shifted how people view journalism. With the changes in access and the phenomena of “fake news,†many people have started to distrust media as a whole.
An overwhelming majority, 90 percent, of people said they do not trust or have little confidence in the media because they think modern journalism lacks accuracy, according to a survey from the American Press Institute. With the advent of “fake news,†46 percent of people distinguished both poor journalism and opinion as fake news, according to the Reuters Institute.
At the end of 2016, 28 percent of people said journalists contribute significantly to society, a 10 percent drop from 2014, according to a poll from the Pew Research Center. After the 2016 election, 59 percent of people said the media should present facts only and add no interpretation or opinion, according to the same poll.
University of Memphis journalism professor Otis Sanford said politics play a role in how people view journalism nowadays.
“When you have politicians disputing information with ‘fake news,’ it really hurts the reputation of journalists,†Sanford said. “Even if a journalist is reporting accurate information, it can be discredited for no reason.â€
Sanford drew a comparison between journalists and police officers and said the need for journalists is much like the need for police officers.
People want to talk bad about both journalists and cops until they need them,†Sanford said. “Once they’re needed though, people can’t get to them fast enough.â€
Sanford said despite negative opinions, journalists must continue writing.
“It’s depressing that people are so down on journalism, but regardless of what people say, we must soldier on as journalists,†Sanford said. “All we can do is continue to report the truth, and no matter what just always be accurate and reputable.â€
Courtney Tuggle, sophomore nursing major at the U of M, said social media has made journalists appear less credible.
“In journalism, it used to be strictly news outlets that relayed information to the public,†Tuggle said. “Within the last few years though, I feel that social media has made it tough for journalists to do their jobs because of so much falsified information.â€
Michael Honore, sophomore biology major at the U of M, said journalism is becoming less appreciated as a profession.
“Nowadays, people are so information-hungry that they don’t care about the profession itself,†Honore said. “Journalism has started to be a thankless profession with the emergence of social media.â€
Chase Bearden, a junior business major at the U of M, said journalists are less reputable today.
“With the rise of social media, I don’t know who to trust anymore,†Bearden said. “You used to be able to turn on the news or read the newspaper, but now every time you get on Twitter someone with no journalism experience is trying to break a story.â€
