At the very start of this semester here at the University of Illinois, as a student just beginning to study journalism, I was unaware of what it really was. I figured that journalism was reporting the current news, but I had no understanding of the processes behind reporting it, and what makes facts we hear everyday worthy to become published news.

Learning about the expansive history of journalism has really helped me to understand how much it has done for America, in terms of being a watchdog, a marketplace for ideas, and a mirror that shows us who we are as Americans.

However, journalism has changed in modern days when it comes to social media reporting and the prominence of the web. An article on Cracked.com, accurately describes news reporting nowadays as a “fast-paced and hectic industry.” The main point of the article is to highlight the competitiveness of this new breed of journalism, and the issues which often arise when various news agencies need to be quick with a story.

Unverified news is becoming an issue of concern as news companies are spending less time verifying facts so they can be the first with the story. I worry about journalism now in today’s day of age because I see how desperate media companies are to generate publicity and make money.

With so many ways to publish news on the internet via Facebook, Twitter, etc, it is hard for people to distinguish fake news from real news. I don’t know if this is an issue that can ever be solved, but I believe that overtime, journalism will continue to evolve, hopefully for the better.

Detectives are still piecing together the story of what happened to a 6-year-old boy who disappeared on his way to school. The case, which is still in trial in Manhattan, seems to be at a stand still. It is difficult to think that the mystery will ever be uncovered, considering the disappearance occurred in 1979.

According to a ProPublica investigative article written by Joe Sexton, the trial involving guilt charges for a missing child case has the jury hopelessly deadlocked. Sexton explains how the indictment of Pedro Hernandez had been announced on Nov. 13, 2013 when he had confessed to the murder of Etan Patz, the young boy who had vanished. However, after 18 days of careful consideration, a mistrial was announced due to evidence that Hernandez was mentally ill and falsely confessed to the crime.

According to the article, the question of whether a man can be charged guilty based on his confession alone remains up in the air. The decision on if there will be a re-trial has not been made, so for now the enigma of what had happened to the young boy remains unsolved.

President Donald Trump seems to be growing increasingly discontent with the negative media press he receives from those who criticize him. In fact, he now threatens to alter the current libel laws established in the United States.

According to a Washington Post article written by Jill Colvin, Trump wants to make it easier for individuals to sue big media companies for libel and defamation. In the news story, it is stated that Trump wanted to adjust U.S. libel laws “so when they write purposely negative and horrible and false articles, we can sue them and win lots of money.” In the United States, it is fairly difficult for an individual to accuse a big media company of libel. According to the article, the laws regarding libel and defamation are established based on the First Amendment and in order for a libel accusation to be legitimate, the statements would have to be made with either “actual malice” or “reckless disregard.”

Nevertheless, Trump is determined to defend himself against the negative press via twitter and other social media networks. The President’s threats could pose a threat to protections against freedom of the press, and whether or not he will follow through with them is still up in the air.