Journalism has played a large part in shaping the history of America since the 1760’s. According to the book Mightier than the Sword, journalists that “fearlessly break from the pack” are the type that produce work that either goes down in history forever or that shape history itself. Reporters write pieces that urge people to join with or rally against causes as well as investigative pieces that provide readers important insight and answers on otherwise uncertain or unknown stories. Journalists helped rally colonists to Revolt against the British, they reported on the injustices of the KKK and found the answers for the public regarding high profile cases such as Watergate. Without these journalists, who knows what America would look like today. These are journalist and news media that lead society rather than just reporting it, as stated in Mightier than the Sword.

The news and how it is reported is a controversial subject, especially now with President Trump constantly accusing different mainstream news outlets of reporting “fake news.” I personally feel that the reporters and journalists that are talented and successful enough to be hired by a company like the New York Times or CNN, for example, have worked their way to the top by being reliable and interesting. If a journalist is caught constantly lying, they would never be successful enough to be hired by the New York Times. Since mainstream media is being reported and written by the best in the business, I believe that the news is reported in the most truthful way possible and should be trusted for the most part. There is no discernible reason to believe mainstream, dependable news outlets are reporting “fake news.”