Keywords

journalism, truth, Watergate, news literacy, gospel of Jesus Christ, skeptical, news

Abstract

Now, after twenty years of teaching journalism as a college professor and fifteen years of periodically representing journalists as a lawyer, I believe the viability of our system of government at local, state, and national levels depends more than ever on good journalism. But amid rapid and unsettling social and technological change, journalism and government are degenerating. Journalists and public officials need to do better, and I believe informed community members should influence reforms and innovations while insisting on adherence to core values. Doing so will require community members to set aside some selfish interests and ask the same of journalists and government employees and officers. Although citizens do not vote for their journalists like they do their elected officials, community members nonetheless impact the quality of their community’s journalism by the news they tolerate, consume, and support financially.

Original Publication Citation

Carter, E. L. (2022). “Truth Is the Only Ground” How Journalism Contributes to Good Government. BYU Studies Quarterly, 61(1), 19.