Quantity, quality of journalism have diminished

What happened to journalism? The quantity and quality of journalism have diminished. I'm talking about real journalism — that indispensable, reliable, edited form of information that provides a record of events for community, nation and world.

Sadly, most Americans go through the day without seeing, hearing or reading a news report. Fewer than one in five Utah families subscribes to a daily newspaper. Only half a dozen of Salt Lake's 50 radio stations present meaningful news. A majority of today's television viewers switch to other channels when the news comes on.

Several factors contribute to the decline of journalism. First, during the Watergate scandal, enterprising journalists named Woodward and Bernstein changed the political landscape. They were glamorized in a movie. Young men and women flocked to journalism schools, not because they wanted to become great journalists, but because they wanted to be celebrities.

Second, journalism education changed dramatically. Journalism departments were replaced by departments of communication. Misguided academicians thought "journalism" sounded too vocational, when in fact, true journalism education is one of the most broad-based liberal-arts disciplines. Thus, today's educational focus is on the communication process rather than on content. It should be the other way around. Journalists must learn to identify news, find sources, ask questions and judge relevance. Writing news is a science, not an art. Focusing journalism education on communication is like focusing medical education on bedside manner.

Third, so-called "consultants" tell newspapers and broadcasters how to run their businesses. Advice is often based on ill-conceived research and facile generalities. Since consultants work from afar, appearance of newspapers and news broadcasts becomes more important than content. Easy, visual stories — fire, murder, accidents — replace serious journalism.

Fourth, media conglomerates bought almost all newspapers and broadcast stations. Only a few locally owned outlets survive (including the Deseret News and KSL). Absentee ownership inevitably changes the dynamics of journalism. Profit becomes more important than news, and local involvement gives way to absentee neglect.

Fifth, national obsession with celebrities and sports distorts the definition of journalism. Stories about celebrities and athletic events appear on front pages. Newspapers print more sports trivia than local news. On television, celebrity news and reality shows replace documentaries and in-depth journalism. Resources are channeled to sports, even though research indicates sports is the least watched portion of the newscast.