COMS220 blog 1

Justin Smith

COMS220

Alban

1/24/11

Blog 1

            If I properly understand the article and have accurately interpreted what Aikman is trying to say, then I would agree with him in saying that journalism these days portrays, in many instances, “self-worship and idolatry.” Journalists are so wrapped up in creating a ridiculous and often outrageous story for the sake of shock value, gossip, popularity, etc. that they’ll write about anything. Aikman states, “Much of the decline in respect must derive from a widespread sentiment that journalists have gradually distanced themselves from the standards of integrity that were once broadly practiced by the profession.” To say that there is a decline in respect, in this day and age, for journalists may be an understatement in my opinion; furthermore, there’s more evidence than just my opinion alone. James Fallows, writer of the book WHY AMERICANS HATE THE MEDIA, points out that there are patterns in movies and television shows for just about the last 20 years showing the utter pestilence of journalists. In regards to journalists, he says they have “been portrayed, on average, as more loathsome than the lawyers, politicians or business moguls who are the traditional bad guys in films about the white-collar world.” Now this is all since the 1980’s, and I don’t feel that the situation or outlook on journalists has improved much since then.

            This all leads me to a logical question: is there a solution? Now, for the secular world, I’ll say no, certainly not. There probably isn’t a solution or a hope of redemption for secular journalists – it’s just a slippery slope into deeper muck and mire and “self-worship and idolatry.” However, Aikman points out later in the article regarding the definition of Christian journalism that the key to how successful a journalist you are relies on how truthful you are. It’s simple, yet powerful. Aikman closes with this point: a Christian journalist will only be as successful as his or her degree of holiness extends. So what does that say for Christian journalists? It says that we have a big opportunity to make a big difference in the way the world views journalists and we need to be good stewards of that responsibility.