Something that seemingly every person wants is to know the truth. It provides a peace of mind. Even when someone knows the truth about something bad they are often still thankful to those who showed them the truth, and oftentimes that is the media. But who does the media get their stories from? The answer is journalists.

All around the world, journalists are constantly reporting on current news, whether it is about a celebrity’s birthday, or a terrorist bombing. However, some governments and groups don’t want the public to know what they are doing, and they go to drastic measures to keep from being exposed. As drastic as killing someone in many cases.

In the past journalism wasn’t a dangerous job unless you were reporting in an active warzone. These days just labeling yourself as a journalist is making you liable to be harassed and if you report something a government doesn’t like, then you’re running the chance of being assassinated. 

In the United States, where the First Amendment was created, journalists are still in danger. On June 28th in 2018 four journalists were killed when a shooter shot up the Daily Gazette, a newspaper company in Washington, DC. While President Donald Trump’s response to this attack seemed heartfelt and considerate, his view towards the media and reactions to other journalists being killed suggests that he was only sympathetic because it would make him look good to the public.

President Trump has a history of dislike for the media. One of his most famous quotes is, “Fake News.” It is something he constantly says, or tweets, about the media. He also often calls journalists and reporters “lowlifes.” When President Trump was asked about the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi his only response was to shrug, and then he went on to talk about how good of a partner Saudi Arabia was and how he doubted there was anyway they were involved in the murder.

The abhorrent ignorance and dismissal of such an important part of society by the leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world is shocking and worrisome. Trump’s dismissal of the media as a fake source of news paves the way for other governments to dismiss their media sources. When a country doesn’t listen to the media this leaves their government completely in charge, and oftentimes countries who have dismissed their media are led by terrorists and tyrants who have no consideration for human lives, including the lives of their citizens. 

With more and more countries ignoring the media and more governments taking complete control of the news, the world is becoming a dangerous place for journalists. They are harassed and murdered because they are trying to help the people and report what’s really going on in the world. Journalists are necessary to keep governments in check and to protect the people of the worlds natural rights.