"Fake News"

“Fake news.” 

You’ve heard the term before. Whether it comes from the U.S. President or angry Facebook users, its commonly used.  

The 2016 U.S. presidential race saw much divisiveness. In an effort to promote their campaigns and shift the blame on others, candidates pointed fingers at each other, which is much anticipated. What is less anticipated was President Trump’s description of much of the media as “fake news.” 

Trump used the term to refer to outlets such as CNN and MSNBC, those of which featured more liberal political commentators. The term “fake news” quickly became a common phrase during the election and continued into Trump’s presidency. 

During a 2017 press conference, the president told CNN Chief White House Correspondent Jim Acosta, “Your organization’s terrible,” and “You are fake news." Using the term to refer to stories the president disagreed with, many in the general public now do the same. 

We live in a society where many use the term “fake news” to simply disagree with reported, credible information.  

Don’t get me wrong, “fake news” is definitely a real concern.

23-percent of adults have shared “fake news” on their social media pages, according to the Pew Research Center in 2016. Websites that pose as news outlets publish content all the time, which is concerning.  

People have a hard time depicting “fake news” from honest journalism, meaning journalists must make sure what they are writing is true before publishing content. 

Journalists should verify facts with relevant and reliable sources, talking to only those knowledgeable about a particular subject. 

If a journalist is willing to go out of their way to get correct information and is transparent and willing to make corrections, viewers and readers will notice. Journalists, now more than ever, must be critical of their work.

All of this raises the question: why do I want to go into this industry? Am I fearful of being called fake news?

Well, I have already been called “fake news,” but not because I wasn’t credible. People throw around the term when they don’t like what you’re covering. 

I am not fearful of being called that again because I will never intentionally lead people astray. I will never be fake news, as I practice honest journalism. If I ever slip up, I will make a correction. Simple as that. 

The world needs another generation of honest journalists to ensure the success of our democracy. I want to take part in that. 

Without journalism, people won’t know what’s happening in the world. I want to be a watchdog for the innocent and hold the powerful accountable.