The Antlerette April 1 2019 Volume 93 Issue 6
The Sacrifice for the Real Story Esmée Teresi, Staff
Journalists’ lives are put at risk in an effort to capture history and to uncover the complete picture of world changing events. Unfortunately, because these brave men and women are constantly putting themselves into the most threatening situations, they are often fatally injured, outcasted or shunned by society, or even worse, killed. Currently in America, there is a debate about whether the news we receive is accurate or not. The term “fake news” is something commonly heard today, but with journalism, it is impossible to avoid all of the fluff, like the exaggerated content and the constant “breaking news”. More importantly, journalists focus on the core reasons something is being reported on, and what makes these things important and worthwhile. However, the accuracy of the news is not just an issue in the United States; it has become an international issue. And as a society we allow journalists to delve into difficult topics and situations to allow us to see a different side of the world that may not always be accurately portrayed in mainstream media. Whether the story is being told through investigative or photo journalism, or even news journalism, there is an honest
transparency in all types of journalism that should be held onto because the world is full of too many amazing and powerful stories to be clouded with exaggeration and inconsistent information. Journalism holds a certain power that allows a deeper look into the real world problems and struggles that go unnoticed by the local news channels and mainstream media outlets. It provides the honest truth no matter how brutal it can be, but that is the relevance of journalism entirely. There is no need to misrepresent certain people or the worldwide conflicts that are present in society because the truth is enough to hold up a story and showcase it worldwide. Journalism brings an authenticity that is lacking in most sectors of the news, which must be recognized to avoid a plague of misinformation. On October 2nd of 2018, the prominent Saudi Arabian journalist, Jamal Khashoggi was killed in Istanbul and the news of this brutal murder was spread worldwide. Khashoggi covered stories on the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise and fall of Osama Bin Laden in the early 2000’s. But despite Khashoggi’s prevalence in the political corruption of the Middle East, it was the suspicious cover up of his death that pushed this story to almost all news outlets rather than his credentials. The shocking truth about his death is not that he was lied to and taken advantage of when he was simply trying to get divorce documentation to enable himself to marry his fiancée. The Saudi Arabian government saw this as an opportunity to attack a man who they deemed to be a threat to their