Journalism has the ability to share what is going on in the world in a fair and trustworthy way. With news becoming more digital and spreading information digitally becoming easier, people presume they have a right to report on topics, even if what is being said is questionable. While it seems simple to become a reporter online, it’s crucial to understand the importance of having a degree and being properly educated when it comes to journalism. There is so much more to being a reporter or journalist than just illustrating an event that has taken place, but influencers believe it’s as simple as that.
Influencers thrive off of validation and views from social media. Influencers make the social media world go-round. This gives them such a powerful and unique voice to which people will blindly listen to whatever their favorite influencer says as long as it’s “up with the trends.”
Some of the trendiest influencers in this field are commonly known as “Journalistic Influencers.” These big voices usually have a podcast, YouTube channel or get the opportunity to interview big celebrities on the red carpet with no prior journalistic experience. Having zero experience in this workspace can really damage your reputation and the people involved in the interviewing process as well.
“A journalism degree trains future reporters on how to navigate and understand the ethical challenges that will face them regularly in the field,” said Olivia Garcia, a communications professor at Cal State Bakersfield.
Journalism is more than reporting about what a celebrity is wearing on the red carpet; it’s about having virtues that are fair and unbiased and giving voices to people that may be unheard. Getting a degree in journalism can help structure a person with a strong sense of media ethics which readies them for the challenges they may face in the world of journalism. It’s hard to watch an influencer with little to no experience share a story that makes the audience feel uncomfortable.
A degree in this field also allows critical thinking to take place which most influencers lack because of how out of touch they are with reality. And it is not too farfetched to understand that the majority of people get their news from these influencers. Getting your news from your favorite influencer can be tricky. Influencers are biased when it comes to the news they share without realizing it. They can sometimes twist an event or twist the words spoken to them for more clout without fully understanding what they are doing or saying.
They don’t actually care to get the news to you, they will do and say anything to get you to follow them, even if it means they aren’t being 100% truthful. Journalistic Influencers have realized over the years that people want news that’s fast and current. They understand that not everyone will critically look into what they have said, as long as their follower count grows and some people agree, others will go along with it. A lot of these influencers also provide untrustworthy news to increase the logistics of their own brand.
Now, even when they are providing correct information, there will always be something missing that will leave the audience confused. This is another reason why it is important to have a degree before becoming a reliable reporter. When you spend years practicing how to be a reporter, you learn what the most important things to say are and how to provide that information as clearly as possible. You are able to give your audience what they need in an unbiased, trustworthy, and fair manner.
Although influencers are able to deliver news in a quick and easy way, most of the time their news is unsustainable and fibbed to fit their agendas. Not only are reporters with degrees more reliable but they also have had years of practice and will give everyone a voice, no matter what.
