Journalists are reminded to report on facts, be trustworthy and follow the media code of ethics when reporting.
National Public Radio (NPR) Ombudsman and public editor based in the United States, Elizabeth Jensen, said the role of journalism today is to give the public facts so they can decide for themselves on issues.
Speaking at the Jefferson Fellowships 50th Anniversary event, attended by Asia Pacific journalists on Monday, May 8, in Hawaii, Jensen explained that it all goes back to basics.
“We have to remind the public of what journalism is designed to do and sometimes we have to remind ourselves as journalists,” Jensen said.
She highlighted that trust in the media is weakening, even as surveys show that the public believes democracy requires the press to keep government institutions honest.
Journalists are members of the free press and must not be labelled as the ‘media’ in general, stated Jensen. This is because the media is now made up of different platforms, including social media, which usually publishes rumours or fake news.
The Jefferson Fellowships offer journalists from the U.S, Asia and the Pacific Islands the unique opportunity to gain on-the-ground perspectives and deepen knowledge of regional issues.
Jensen spoke on the theme "Looking to the Future: Rebuilding Public Trust in the Media”.
She serves as the public’s representative to NPR and is responsible for bringing transparency to matters of journalism and journalism ethics.
This year, 15 journalists from 11 countries in the Asia Pacific Region, including Papua New Guinea and the United States, are participating in the program.