Nine principals and seven yardsticks of journalism, specifically, the watchdog principle.
Mr. Miller gave a great quote on the first day of class to explain the watchdog principle of journalism, "Afflict the comfortable, comfort the afflicted". This quote, said to be coined by Finley Peter Dunne, basically defines the work of journalists. A journalist's job is to keep an eye on the people (aka "the comfortable") who have enough power so that they can make decisions that will afflict the masses (aka "the afflicted"). A journalist must tell the people what they need to know, and in order to do this a journalist must uncover truth, corruption, and secrets having to do with those in power. The watchdog principle is very possibly the most important principle or yardstick of journalism. Without this principle, powerful people and organizations could (and would) abuse their power in order to get what they want from vulnerable people. Journalists are the first line of defense against corruption, and that is why they are so important in any society.
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