In Rodger Streitmatter’s “Mightier than the Sword,” he discusses the implications of journalism on history, and specifically in the last chapter he lists ten ways that journalism has helped to shape history. Throughout history, Streitmatter provides examples of news organizations setting the agenda, because journalism is how the public receives information. I think this is a very important way that journalism shapes history because the news can choose what stories will be reported to the public or not; they are the ones deciding what is important.

Another way that Streitmatter describes the influence of journalism in history is by saying that the pen is mightier than the sword. This means that journalism can be a strong way to create influence. By drawing attention to something in the media, this creates an opportunity for public deliberation to occur. There are many instances in history of journalism coverage shaping the opinions of people. For instance, during the Civil Rights Movement many white Americans were taken aback by the images and stories of African American mistreatment and death that the movement was able to gain more momentum and support due to journalism coverage.

Shattered Glass is about a journalist, Stephen Glass, whose interesting stories that gain him attention and admiration by many are actually largely fabricated. Although his fabrications go largely unnoticed for awhile, he soon gets asked for a follow up and has to find ways out of difficult situations. Although Stephen’s character was young and charming, I did not like him because he was wrong to fabricate these stories. I am glad that he was eventually exposed for his wrongdoings. I feel as though this film demonstrates the need for verification whenever you read a story, whether it’s as a member of the public or as a journalist when you are gathering your facts.

This movie followed the story of four investigative journalists that uncovered sexual abuse in churches. It started out with only a few leads, but in the end there were over 90 priests that could possibly be charged with sexual abuse. I could not believe this was based on a true story, it is horrific that this happened. I was very emotionally moved by the film through the acting of the characters. I think that Spotlight encourages people to not take their everyday activities or people who have authority always for what they say, and that there is evil in the world even where you may least expect it. It is important to be vigilant as a citizen, and especially as a journalist.

This movie is the story of two reporters who pieced together the Watergate scandal. It started off with an arrest of five people with CIA ties, and the Washington Post said that there was not enough information to keep the story alive. However, these journalists chose to still continue the investigation that would end up changing the world forever.

I thought this movie was extremely interesting because I never really knew the story behind Watergate, only that it happened. And even though I knew what would happen in the end, I was still in suspense the entire movie as the article came closer and closer to being released. I feel as though this movie exemplifies the importance of investigative journalism, and that it is important not to give up on a story you think isn’t over.

In today’s society, fake news is an unfortunate reality. Although I do not agree with Donald Trump’s assessment of “fake news” being whenever someone publishes a story putting him in a negative light, actual fake news does exist.

Fake news is something that is talked about a lot in the media today because of Donald Trump, but fake news exists today and has existed as long as there has been news. People can fabricate, plagiarize, and flat out lie in their news reporting.

But this shouldn’t scare people away from reading or believing the news. Instead, people should take this as a lesson to always verify sources and only read news from credible, well-known sources.

There will always be a bias in the news, whether it’s as obvious as Fox News or MSNBC, bias is unavoidable. Although we learned in class about a journalist’s responsibility to always report without bias, even though they may have their own personal bias, this is difficult if not impossible to accomplish.

Through taking this course I have a lot more respect for journalism writing because it really is more difficult than it looks. I also never previously realized how difficult it can be to find sources and get an interview.

Overall, I think the news is extremely important, and I can’t imagine living in a time period where it is not as prevalent as it is today. I think that news brings the world closer together.

Car insurance is something that a vast majority of Americans can all agree is a painful monthly expense. My car insurance is $100 and it pains me to see that deducted from my checking account each month. But I live in a white neighborhood.

Imagine paying $130 for that same car insurance because you live in a minority neighborhood, not because of any previous hits on your driving record or any additional risk that you may have, but because you live in a minority neighborhood. This is the reality.

In an investigative journalism piece by ProPublitica, three journalists found through their extensive research in California, Illinois, Texas, and Missouri, that many major insurers charged customers living in minority neighborhoods as much as 30-percent more than customers living in white-majority neighborhoods that were otherwise evaluated at the same risk level.

This investigative report is the first of its kind to use industry payout data in order to measure the racial disparities in car insurance premiums by major insurers in the United States.

What the authors found through the results of their analysis of data is just another example of how racism is still very prevalent in the United States today, often in ways that we would not even expect. Racism is not always obvious, and that is why it is important to have investigative journalists to uncover the truth about happening in society today.

As a result of another storm of tweets attacking the media, author Madeline Conway of Politico covers in her news story the threats Donald Trump has recently made to change libel laws.

Trump tweeted at the New York Times on March 30, 2017 that “the failing @nytimes has disgraced the media world. Gotten me wrong for two solid years. Change libel laws?”

Trump’s proposal to change the libel laws stems from his distaste for the way that the New York Times and other, mainly non-conservative, news outlets report about him to the public. Many believe that Trump considers any news story putting him in a negative light to be “fake news” although this is not necessarily always true.

Changing the libel laws is one legal way for Trump to attempt to gain control over the media by shutting down any negative reports about him claiming they are libel, saying that these negative reports are damaging to his reputation.

However, a change in libel laws where there can be no negative news reports about someone or else they will be sued for libel, especially regarding someone in a position of power, is very dangerous to the freedoms of the American people. The first amendment promises both freedom of speech and freedom of press.

Only time will tell if Trump will actually propose a change in libel laws, but in the meantime the number one concern of the media should be to continue reporting the truth to the public, which does involve different perspectives and interpretations.

In the first month of Trump’s presidency, author Jon Healey of the Los Angeles Times points out in his opinion column the recent luck of Donald Trump to inherit the economy on an upswing, unlike his recent predecessors.

Trump of course takes credit for this upswing even though no president can really claim the success or failure of the United States economy during their first month in office. One month isn’t enough time for anything a president does to really take effect. I believe that this upswing was given to Trump by the economic policies of President Obama that are now in full-effect after his 96 months in office as Trump takes on his first.

Some say that Trump did cause this upswing in the economy through his promise of corporate and individual tax cuts. However, these are merely promises and should not be something to act on enough to cause an upswing in the economy.

To me, Trump seems like a wild card and although he may have promised a booming economy under his presidency, I think that this is too much for any president to promise. There are so many outside factors that impact the economy, like the housing crisis or 9/11. While he offers solutions to the wealthy and corporations, I feel like he doesn’t take into account the other 99% of people that influence the economy.

I think that Trump has the potential to hold his promise of a growing economy in his presidency, though unlikely. Doing this would be luck more than anything. Only time will tell if the luck Donald Trump has come across in his first month will run out.

After a late-night national newscast, Univision anchor Enrique Acevedo took on some investigative work in attempt to verify rumors circulating on Twitter and recent reports by the Washington Post of Trump’s portrait being in one of Trump’s hotels.

Now, a portrait of someone in their own hotel, besides being a tad narcissistic, wouldn’t normally raise any red flags. However, this portrait of Trump was purchased by Trump’s own charity, the Donald J. Trump Foundation, for $10,000.

Purchasing this portrait with charity money means it would have to be put to charitable use or else is is considered an illegal use of the charity’s money. Acevedo decided to investigate the recent reports by walking through the halls of the Doral Hotel himself.

It turns out, reports were right and Acevedo confirmed with his own pictures that the Trump portrait was in the bar of Trump’s for-profit hotel, breaking the law.

This discovery would not have been possible without social media. It was the picture of Trump’s portrait in the Doral Hotel being posted to Tripadvisor.com that sparked interest in the whereabouts of the charity-purchased portrait.

Due to the large reach of social media, these rumors were able to be further investigated by a reporter who was then able to broadcast his findings on television to an even greater audience.

Source: David A. Fahrenthold of the Washington Post

In breaking news yesterday, NASA announced the largest number of Earth-sized planets ever discovered orbiting a nearby star only 40 light-years away. Three of these seven exoplanets discovered are in the habitable zone for humans.

Not surprisingly, Twitter had a lot to say about this announcement with users volunteering to leave for the planets in the habitable zone within a matter of minutes. Jason Parker of CNET News followed these hilarious tweets picking out his top eleven.

Here is my personal favorite:

"NASA found seven planets that are similar to earth and three of them are most likely habitable" pic.twitter.com/02N7mIp1v2

— Thyra (@pianomendes) February 22, 2017

Although Parker covered several of the thousands of tweets volunteering to flee our current planet, the tweets soon became political:

*trump becomes president*
NASA: Shit
*a few weeks later*
NASA: we've found 7 planets, 3 we can live on and there's enough room for everyone pic.twitter.com/R4RDoAtHJC

— Sammy☠️ (@SammyAlbon) February 23, 2017

Under Obama, NASA Loses A Planet. Under Trump, NASA Finds Seven In One Month https://t.co/EIcDYA1NDL pic.twitter.com/QTn5dDPvJ9

— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) February 23, 2017

Whether you’re leaving our planet because of Trump’s election to the White House or arguing that his administration is better than Obama’s due to this discovery, one thing for certain is that NASA’s announcement only leaves us with more questions about life beyond our solar system.

Earth to #TRAPPIST1…we read you loud and clear. Thanks @NASA for this cosmic discovery! #GoogleDoodle pic.twitter.com/EDh6sDjKIQ

— Google Doodles (@GoogleDoodles) February 23, 2017