Truth, Justice and the American Way

What priority does journalistic honesty hold in an apparently "post-truth" America?

Photo from Boston College

"Truth, justice and the American way." It’s a well-known phrase, dating as far back as the 1940s when it was first used in a popular radio show about Superman. It has been widely used ever since, both as a rallying cry for American values and a satirical criticism of blind patriotism. But many today are asking: are truth and justice really the American way?

Americans, Journalists, and Truth

As a student journalist, I realize I don’t face quite the same pressures that journalists in the professional world do. There are no editors breathing down my neck, no contentious readers complaining about how I report on the issues (at least not yet). That doesn’t mean, though, that I’m not exposed to the issues and questions which journalists have to face daily.

One of those issues is the question of truth. A couple of quick Google searches will reveal that many believe that journalism should be truthful, but many Americans don’t trust the news media.

Clearly, truth matters to the general public—or at least, they claim that it matters to them. The next logical question to answer is why? Why does it matter that reporters present fact rather than fiction? The answers may seem cliché, but that doesn’t make them any less true.

Journalists exist to serve the public via information. In presenting the news, they are responsible for creating an informed public, which is the foundation upon which democracy may succeed and flourish. As Thomas Jefferson famously said, “An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as free people.”

The press is a vital instrument in creating a well-informed citizenry, but people cannot be considered to be truly well-informed if they have been informed with untruths.

Pursuing Truth as a Student Journalist

Reporting true information matters on the national scale—democracy itself depends on it. But what about on the small scale? Why does distinguishing between truth and rumor matter in an environment like Liberty University (@LibertyU)?

For one thing, the Bible affirms the importance of truth in all areas of life. It is clear that God not only values truth, but commands it from all who would claim to follow him. These values apply especially to presenting others with the truth as a journalist.

Former UCLA basketball coach John Wooden famously said “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” Though my audience may be small and this period of my reporting may seem relatively insignificant, it is still important for me to prioritize truth and factuality in my reporting. If I compromise on my #beliefs in this stage because it “doesn’t matter that much” or “isn’t a big deal,” how can I be trusted to uphold my convictions when the pressure is turned up on the larger stage? A practice and legacy of truthful reporting must begin now, with the “small” assignments.

Americans at large continue to struggle through truth, justice and the American way. It is the responsibility of every journalist (myself included) to hold themselves to the standards of honesty and truthfulness that society deserves and necessity dictates, regardless of whether anyone is holding us accountable to those standards or not. As Superman said, “It’s not about where you were born. Or what powers you have. Or what you wear on your chest…It’s about what you do…It’s about action.”

Photo from Polygon