Gene Denton Essay 31

My community is in need of a lot of things. Affordable housing, better healthcare, better opportunities, you name it. These things I can’t give to people, because sadly, that’s up to the government. However, I plan to help with something our entire country could benefit from, and that is a reliable news source. Since the rise of digital and social media, there has been a multitude of misinformation spread throughout the internet. After high school, I will be studying journalism, and I plan to dedicate myself to the full truth of every story, and I will make sure everybody, not just in my community but in my country, will know the full story.
Fake news spreads like wildfire throughout platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), or Facebook, and sometimes even causes a nationwide panic throughout the American population. I’ve seen my friends and loved ones panicking over something they saw on the internet and deemed to be true. The rise of social media has proven to be dangerous to journalism, because it takes the spotlight away from reliable news media and shines it directly on social media. I want to create a news outlet–or at least a panel within an organization–that directly appeals to younger audiences who are more likely to fall victim to misinformation on the internet. I plan to create a good name for myself, establish my credibility, and attack the misinformation head on.
I remember a time when there was a mass panic in my household based on rumors that were spread about my school district. My mom came into my room freaking out, nearly in tears, asking me about what was going on and such. I brought the information to school and asked around all the faculty, asking if they could give me any information, and the rumor ended up being false. While there was no tangible damage, my mom stayed home that day worried sick. The good news came, but the damage was done.
There are popular news outlets that pander toward political parties. FOX 4 News is a great example. They’re often credited for being a Republican news outlet, catering specifically to what Republicans want to hear. On the contrary, there are outlets like CNN who cater more to Democratic audiences. I hope to be the source that all Americans can go to, the source that they can trust gives no bias toward any particular party. With all the important things happening in our country right now, it’s important to have a reliable news source. It is crucial that all American citizens can have somewhere to read actual news, free of political bias.
While this doesn’t directly fall back on my community, it ultimately benefits all of society. In America, it is up to its citizens to keep it running. It’s up to Americans to vote and keep their country in order. It’s up to Americans to stay informed, but it’s hard when the mass media is misinforming us. If I could be that breath of fresh air for my country, that trustworthy source, I could help not only my community, but my country.
My specific field of study within journalism will be investigative written journalism. I plan to devote myself to the truth–whatever it takes. I will make sure my voice is heard through strong writing skills and great sources of information, and I will build my credibility as I build my career. I want to make a wider difference in the world, not just my community, because we, as Americans, should have an undeniable right to information pertaining to us. My fellow Americans deserve more than half-truths and misinformation. They deserve to have all the information they need to make strong, informed decisions for our country, and I plan to be the one to do so.