Dictionary.com defines journalism as “the occupation of reporting, writing, editing, photographing, or broadcasting news or of conducting any news organization as a business.” This is true. However, journalism is so much more!

From sharing heart-warming stories to working together to change lives, journalists have the power to influence the world! That being said, here it is: the true power of journalism…

First of all, what makes journalism so influential? Simply put, it’s everywhere! Social media, television programs, radio stations, websites, etc. enable news to be spread at a rapid fire pace, whether for good or for bad.

In addition to this, journalism also keeps people connected to the world around them! Without journalists, neither local, national, or global informative news would be spread as quickly as it is today.

Journalists have a responsibility to share news honestly without bending the given truth. Of course, this duty isn’t always adhered to. People break the rules. They’re not always true in their words, but the important thing is that they focus on the task at hand: telling stories, bringing people together, and changing the world around them as they go.

Even the simplest stories have the power to change lives. Reporting one person’s struggles could result in a chain reaction of donations and support, and almost instantly, the suffering for that one person could become a little less to bear.

Larger, more broad-scale tales also hold a place of importance in the storytelling world. Presidential inaugurations, war time accounts, deadly hurricanes, protests, etc. are all common topics of discussion in the journalistic world. These types of stories have a major impact on society as a whole.

Essentially, journalism influences thousands, if not millions, of people every day. It’s important that journalists are honest in their craft, for the power of journalism is greater than we know.