No. 2

First, I will explain the purpose of journalism. Second, I will explain the definition of media. Third, I will tell you why this matters. This is the short version here. If you want more, talk to me.

Journalism exists as a watchdog, its job is to make the truth public. It is not the property of business, of government, or of any one corner of a free republic. By relaying true accounts to the public, journalism sounds the alarm against tyranny. Think of the purpose of journalism as the “Paul Revere” of a free people. Paul Revere rode to warn the Minute-men that the British were coming, and his midnight ride saved their lives. Journalism watches over the government, and warns a free people of corruption and oppression wherever it is present, allowing the citizens to take action against it by speaking out and voting etc.

The ‘media’ as we know it today is a business. It can be thought of like a huge barge that brings us information. Journalism, advertising, and entertainment all ride on the barge. It is an unfortunate necessity for journalism to use it, but do not confuse the two. Real journalism is bringing the news- true events, words, and deeds-to the people. The vehicle is inconsequential. What often happens today is that the vehicle of journalism compromises its purpose. This is why we get fed up with the media-because we don’t get journalism straight up. Because the national media ‘barge’ is such a huge business, advertising and entertainment are tangled around journalism, and this can be thought of as chaining and muzzling the watchdog. If government takes charge of the barge, journalism is thrown overboard.

Keeping this in mind, we now understand that we have to filter out advertising and entertainment ourselves in order to get a true account. We can then act on correct information. Many of us for a long time have put a bark collar on the watchdog by turning a blind eye to the news. The result will be that abuses to our liberty will come out of nowhere, and we will be defenseless. So we have to pay attention to the news. We have to listen to the warning of the watchdog.

Journalism, remember, is not the voice telling us what to think about what is happening. It is the voice telling us what is happening. We must be informed citizens who know the Truth (we have read the Bible, we know the Constitution, we know who we are and why), so that we can prepare and act upon the warnings we receive. Like the minute-men in the story of Paul Revere, we are those who wait, willing and ready to defend our liberty. We are not those who roll over and go back to sleep.

It is important to watch and read the news, especially the local news. We can content ourselves by saying we are vigilant because we watch the national news, but that is far away. Some around you need your support, for they have chosen to be informed and know the truth. They need you. You must know your community. You’ve got to know what is going on around you as well as what is going on out there. To proceed blindly on in denial is a betrayal of all those who have bled to give us what we have. Stand ready. Stand with us, and we will stand together.