A look at current American culture, the relationship between the media, the public, and ‘master manipulators’ in our new administration

By Karen Hendricks

So, why do people choose the media as a profession?

It’s a passion for writing and communicating, a love of words whether written or spoken, the thrill of discovering a great story, a sense of honor while being entrusted to tell those stories, shining a light on injustices or wrongs, a way to connect people with vital or interesting information, providing a platform for voices that might otherwise go unheard, and much more. A lot of us are “word nerds.” Simply put, we have the gift of communicating. Explaining, assessing situations, hearing both sides (or more) of a story, and presenting the facts as we’ve gathered them to inform the public; along with quotes/soundbites of those involved to add detail, emotion, and credibility.

For the vast majority of us, it’s certainly not for the money.

And it’s certainly not to be bashed by the American public; ridiculed or threatened by government officials. Yes, we the media should be held to high standards, but not viciously attacked.

Thankfully the U.S. Constitution guarantees us, the American public, the right to free speech as well as the right to a free press (media). Continue reading →