Dan Bissonnette
Mr. Twining
Journalism A2
16 January 2009
Just What Are the Stakes?
Journalism is very important in the modern world. Journalists take risks all around the world to report the news. No matter the conditions, journalists are devoted to their careers and will always take strides to report the truth. Journalism is very important and great risks are taken to report the news in places such as Cuba, China, and even the United States.
The news is the only way citizens can receive the truth about their government and community. When pertaining to government, journalists can report what officials are really doing. For example, a government may tell their people that they are doing one thing that the people would not approve of. In this situation, the press would have to tell the people about what the government was really doing. Journalists have no boundaries and they can say whatever they want. There will sometimes be consequences, but the truth is worth it. In the community, the press can tell citizens of recent events going on. This is what we do in journalism class, we report about recent things in the community and school. There are more dangerous things to report besides football games. Some reporters face great risks to report the truth. Some reporters are executed for their stories. Others are thrown into jail for extended periods of time. This is a contrast to the risks students face, which involve getting a detention at most. Students aren't as brave as journalists in other places, such as Cuba.
In Cuba, there are currently 23 journalists in prison and are considered enemies to the state or mercenaries. There is an official media set in place in the country that only reports certain things and every other journalist is considered a criminal. Most of the incriminated journalists are serving 14-27 year terms. Others are being held in prison without trial. They are sent to prison for supposedly working with the United States against the Cuban government. Cuba has the second largest population of journalists in prison, second only to China.
In China, journalists are thrown into jail for things such as "espionage" and "fraud" very often. The reporters are accused of these outrageous crimes and are given shoddy trials without proper representation or witnesses. Thirty-one known reporters were in prison as of January 1, 2007. Not all journalists in China are imprisoned, but many are put under surveillance so that they do not get into any trouble. It seems as if the Chinese government is just looking for excuses to watch and capture journalists so that they can control the media. The government wants certain things hidden from its own citizens as well as citizens from other countries. To do so, they must put leashes on countless journalists so nothing gets out. Not all of the mistreatment of the press happens thousands of miles away.
The United States government has also convicted journalists in the past. This has more to do with journalists not reporting their sources. Internet journalist Josh Wolf was released from prison in April of 2007. He was in prison for not reporting his sources to a federal judge. Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada were sent to prison for 18 months for the same reason, but when they later reported their sources in March they were released. The House of Representatives have passed the Shield Law, which allows reporters to keep their sources to themselves. Therefore, the United States should not have too many problems in the near future.
Journalists near and far face risks when reporting, especially in countries such as Cuba and China, and even the United States. The people of these countries should venerate the devoted journalists who have no fear of prosecution. In addition, journalists in safer countries could help to widespread the truth just like what Reporters without Borders does. It is very important that citizens know the truth about their government and society.
http://www.rsf.org/country-47.php3?id_mot=246&Valider=OK
http://www.rsf.org/country-50.php3?id_mot=88&Valider=OK
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=26221
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