Real News by Nardeen

Real News by Nardeen - June 2020 Scholarship Essay

With my major being Broadcast and Digital Journalism at Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School of Public Communications, I am aware of the significant amount of issues in the field of journalism and communications. The majority of Americans do not fully trust journalists or the media to inform them about the actual present issues. Many feel as if the media focuses on sensational news and profit margins, not serving the public. It is also unfortunately true that certain media outlets are biased and report their news in a way that aligns with the views of their demographic. All of this is highly problematic and causes public distrust of the media, which undermines the core purpose of journalism, which is more or less to provide citizens with reliable information so they can be educated about the world and form opinions based on facts, not propaganda.

My first real experience with journalism was during my sophomore year of high school during which I took a Broadcast Journalism class wherein we put on the school's daily news. Having had a leadership role, one of my duties was to keep an eye out for any school or community events to report on. Therefore, I was in contact with all clubs, activities, sports and any groups associated with the school in order to receive information directly from them. I often interviewed a dozen sources only to include two or three in the final product in order to verify the information with other sources. I was known for asking hard questions about difficult-to-discuss issues in our school and ensuring the answers were brought to the student body. My purpose was to educate the school of the lighthearted events and the tough realities alike. I had no ulterior motive, no bias, and no monetary incentive, and I hope to always hold these values close to me after graduating and entering the workforce.

Although I am hopeful for the future of the media, I am also a realist. I understand that I will not be able to change the face of the media overnight, but I hope to inspire change where I can. I hope to personally stay committed to the goal of providing the public with true and relevant information and ensuring that any company or station I work for does the same. I will not be afraid to take a stand and point out false or biased claims made by my coworkers and even my supervisors. Although this may not be the smartest move career-wise, I find honesty and integrity more important than any individual's career, including mine. I will hold myself and others accountable for every claim we make. I will dedicate a portion of my work to exposing news outlets or companies that are dishonest or have a strong bias. Through setting high standards for myself and others around me, I know I can make a change that will hopefully restore the public's trust in the media.