Journalism's Not Dead

By Sophia Romano

Opening sequence to the first volume of “International Times,” or “It,” a super cool European underground newspaper of the late 60s.

I don’t have much faith in the high establishment order of journalism. The looming “Big 6” media corporations that feed Americans news care not about informing the people, but rather, the profit they’ll turn by polarizing them. Young journalists cannot push the status quo without fear of being expendably flicked into life as an unemployed writer—they’ll be killed by the circumstances of the current housing crisis and historic inflation rates if the doom and despair doesn’t do it first. 

There have already been numerous calls to challenge the status quo in traditional journalism. And while big (or as big as they can be) movements out there in the ether are really exciting and inspiring, I feel a sense of despair when I see no collective of young writers before me. Enter, perfectly, The Rival. 

I want to rally! I want to call upon my fellow young writers, my peers, and my friends out from pits of fear and idleness and do something grand! Something new and different! Journalism needs invigoration. It’s not dead, I tell you it’s not! But perhaps an electric jolt will wake it up properly… I want people to trust the media again. That begins, really, with concentrating on what news in America is now and comparing it to what it should be: the objective truth. And I only need you, the youth, courage, and the power to write! By the way, Rival editors… you’re cool with all this, right?

The new generation of writers and journalists are in an unprecedented position. A majority of the public believe journalists are among the most responsible for “fixing” the effects of fake news and misinformation, while also blaming them for being the source of those very problems. And to no surprise at all, these fires are fueled by the gravitational pulls of classic American partisanship. Often, independent journalists and publications are snuffed by the mainstream press, ensnared in a symbiotic web with politicians, bashing their credibility in blatant attempts to thwart media freedom. 

When, I beg, when will lines of political parties be erased when it comes to informing the people? Issues that deal with the livelihood and well-being of human beings get ignorantly categorized under either Republican or Democrat cries and outrage. I call for a change! Consider the human lives at stake when caring about issues and choosing to write about them, not whichever political ideology gets supported by your doing so. 

All I’ve ever known to do was write and be a part of the world of journalism. I believe everyone is entitled to the right to objective and honest journalism and information. I want to uncover the injustices that violate human rights and oppress civil liberties around the world in my work, and I will. I won’t participate in the traditional polarizing-for-profit journalism; would you board the ship bound to sink in the ocean like lead? Most of all, I want to work with you, the people, the young writers, the fellow human beings that want to see change in our world—the peer that knows it's up to us to make a difference if there will ever be one.

Let’s make this thing HAPPEN, youth of America! Our time is now!