A century ago, journalism was once considered a "fourth-estate" profession, after lawyers, doctors, and priests. Journalists are entrusted with the sacred mission of oversight, exposing the truth, and safeguarding the public interest. However, in today's world
In the commercial world, some media outlets are beginning to deviate from this original purpose, focusing on increasing viewership and advertising revenue.
Coincidentally, this trend is evident all over the world. From the accusations of over-entertaining news by powerful media outlets in the United States, such as CNN, to the fabrication of fake news by some news portals in China to gain traffic, to the marketing tactics of the Albanian TV station mentioned at the beginning of this article, which made the anchors "dressed ambiguously", there are indeed some worrying phenomena in journalism.
In the face of this situation, we cannot just point the finger at media outlets. As a business entity, they are understandably in pursuit of profit maximization. More importantly, we need to reflect on what causes deviations and shifts in media behavior.
First of all, the capital-dominated media ecosystem determines that it is impossible for them to completely get rid of the impact of commercialization. As in any industry, media organizations are accountable to shareholders or investors to generate good economic returns. In this case, ratings become their most important metric. Ignoring the laws of the market in pursuit of professional idealism will put these institutions in an existential crisis.
Second, the diversification of audience needs has also had a huge impact on traditional journalism. Contemporary people are no longer satisfied with simple factual reports, they expect news videos or text content to give emotional experience, aesthetic enjoyment, and even a certain degree of entertainment. Blindly sticking to the traditional model will inevitably make the audience unable to keep up with the rhythm.
In addition, the rapid development of new media technology has also exacerbated the pressure on the survival of news media. In the era of mobile Internet, anyone can speak out in real time on hot events, and professional media has lost its monopoly position in the past. They can only attract attention if they are constantly innovating and trying to make content that stands out from the rest.
In the face of the above reality, many media have to win the market through various means, which can lead to a decline in professional ethics. But we can't just choke on food, we can't rest on our laurels, we can only try to find a balance between the two.
First, media organizations need to re-examine their social responsibilities and missions. As important players in the field of public opinion, they must have the principle of objectivity and impartiality as their core values. In addition to business, it is necessary to adhere to the basic principles of journalism, not only to report the truth, but also to guide public opinion to rationality.
Second, individual journalists should be more disciplined in their professional ethics. We need to avoid over-catering to entertainment tendencies, and we can't completely ignore market demand or be completely dominated by ratings. In the reporting process, it is important to uphold the principle of being based on facts and evidence.
Third, the news media need to be more innovative and keep pace with the times in terms of content form and presentation means. On the one hand, they can use new media technology to broaden communication channels and make content closer to the lives of audiences. On the other hand, multimedia and other means can also be used to enhance the tension and attractiveness of the content, but it must not be empty.
In addition, the establishment of a good news ecosystem is also an indispensable part. It is necessary to improve relevant laws and regulations and clarify the rights and obligations of journalists; It is also necessary to improve the internal management of the industry, strengthen vocational education, and improve the professional quality of personnel in the industry.
Finally, awareness raising among the general audience is equally crucial. We must realize that although the content of entertainment to death is unstoppable for a while, in the long run, it will inevitably make the news media lose its professionalism and authority. Therefore, people of insight from all walks of life should jointly resist vulgar and brainless news gimmicks and guide the media to develop in the right direction with a rational attitude.
In general, there is a certain contradiction between the pursuit of profit and the adherence to professional ethics, but it is not irreconcilable. Through the joint efforts of the whole society, mutual supervision, and checks and balances, we will certainly be able to keep the course of journalism in this commercial torrent and continue to advance toward lofty ideals.