What is journalism, and how is it different from other forms of media?

Communication and Media
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Communication and Media
1 Journalism refers to the product and course of action aimed at gathering, authenticating, and reporting substantial and factual information to citizens. What sets journalism apart from other forms of media is not only the personal and professional appeal it entails but also, more significantly, in the unique obligatory values it possesses. One of the values that distinguish journalism from conventional forms of communication is its obligation to present truthful information, which it ensures by analyzing, interpreting, and cross-referencing the facts before conveying them to the public. It is also a necessity for a functional democracy, making it important for good governance by placing its objectives to align with the democratic requirements of both the local and global public. Its obligation to uphold democracy protects it from both internal control of the news item or the parties involved in the coverage. In summary, journalism’s adherence to the truth governed by its operation values and pushed by its obligation to the society are its distinguishing factors.
2 The First Amendment is a constitutional act that focuses on the government's attempts to sensor speech. In its full stature, the amendment includes, but not limited to, the prohibition of the exercise of speech or the press by protecting some and excluding other forms of speech and/or expression. One of the speech categories not protected by the First Amendment is defamation in all its forms, i.e., libel or slander. A defamatory speech constitutes a false statement (either written or oral) that degrades their status or character, subjecting them to ridicule, shame, ostracism, or disgrace. There are various reasons both touching on the victim and perpetrator of the defamation case that constitute its exclusion from the protection of the First Amendment. The main reason for its exclusion from First Amendment protection is the damage or harm inflicted on the plaintiff by the charges. This means that its exclusion (from the amendment) is not based on limiting the speech but protecting the victim from the effects of the actions orchestrated by the defendant. Another reason for defamation’s omission for the amendment is based on the communicator’s objectives and motivation to haul the defamatory claims. This is to mean that they (the communicato...