We experience many things firsthand. We 
know what happened because we were there.  

Since it's not possible to see everything for 
ourselves we must rely on the reports of others.

At professional news, organizations the job 
of creating these reports is done through a  

process of journalism. Journalism is 
the practice of gathering, assessing,  

and presenting news and information for print, 
broadcast or the internet. The job of a journalist  

is to conduct research, check facts, and present 
accurate reports that explain issues and events.  

Journalism can cover any topic from sports 
to entertainment to health to politics.

Journalism produced by news organizations 
is especially important for democracy.  

As citizens we rely on journalists 
to provide the information we need  

to make the best possible decisions about our 
lives, our communities, and our governments.

There are a number of important 
roles that journalism plays.

Journalism helps inform people 
about the events and issues that  

are important for society as a whole. 
It contributes to collective knowledge  

and helps shape opinions about 
what is happening in the world.

Journalism can also present different perspectives 
on issues and provide a forum for public debate.

Journalists act as watchdogs by 
holding those with power to account.  

They encourage honesty and transparency from 
government officials and other authority figures  

by questioning their actions and 
decisions and by uncovering the truth.

Finally, journalism can give people who lack power 
in society a voice by sharing the stories of those  

who face different challenges journalists 
can help create empathy among the public.

Journalism is essential for democracy 
because it shines a light into places  

that may otherwise be dark and helps people 
to stay informed about issues that matter.