"Watchdog" Journalism
“The news media is the enemy of the American people.” When President Donald Trump said this during his first term as president, he didn’t just criticize journalism he questioned the idea of a functioning democracy. If the public distrusts those responsible for delivering truth, then who holds power accountable?
Although Trump claims the news media is the enemy, ethical journalism is focused on accountability, transparency, and seeking truth when capturing full stories; therefore, the public should trust the news media because they seek truth and report it.
That said, the watchdog role of the press is one of the most important pillars of American society. Without it, corruption would grow, citizens would be misinformed, and democracy would weaken.
In today’s world, fulfilling the watchdog role has become more difficult than ever because of the decline of local journalism and public disengagement. Watchdog journalism is meant to monitor those in power. Journalists do not aim to persuade people but to inform presenting facts clearly so that it creates an open and civil exchange of ideas.
I believe it is important for journalists to make ethical decisions and avoid bias as much as possible. Journalism should be less focused on opinion and more focused on capturing the whole story and whole truth. Both sides of a story must be given a fair chance.
Through studying journalism, I have gained a deeper awareness of how stories are told on different news networks and how they present their information. One of the biggest challenges today is distrust. When key figures like Trump label journalists as enemies it creates division and skeptics.
Some view the press as a source of information while others see it as biased or even manipulative, which makes it much harder for journalists to do their jobs even when they report the information accurately.
The video Sinclair Soldiers in Trump’s War on Media, shows multiple news anchors across the country repeating the same scripted message warning that “This is extremely dangerous to our democracy” The irony in that message is clear. When different stations push identical messaging, it raises red flags about independence and objectivity. If journalism becomes controlled by political influence, then the watchdog role is weakened.
At the same time, social media has changed how people consume news. Today people are constantly exposed to negativity, extreme violence and even death. Even though the world feels objectively safer in many ways, it feels more dangerous due to this constant exposure.
Humans naturally focus on more threats than peace. As a result, people begin to see the world as chaotic and divided. While some places are like that, it is not the full reality. This type of environment creates pressure on journalists.
In a fast-paced society, being first or loud often takes priority over being accurate, which goes against the watchdog’s role of patience and integrity.
In my journalism class interview with former Chicago Sun-Times and Fox Sports journalist Greg Couch, he emphasized stories about underdogs.
Specifically, he refers to a story about a single mother fighting through hardship at a college university “Rich school coming after a kid and I thought it was disgusting” and later describing “Single mom middle class standing up for them after the school blamed him” reminding us that journalism isn’t just about politics and controversy but about capturing real lives with depth and emotional weight.
It’s about real people with real struggles. Couch’s perspective reinforces what watchdog journalism should be. He said “I don’t mind the fight. I like the fight” showing that journalists must be willing to stand up for what’s right.
Couch also stated “I am not on your side I am on the side of the reader” emphasizing that a journalist’s loyalty is to the truth and the public not to any individual or institution.
He later puts it “I love to represent the little guy... and I am willing to stand up to it” highlighting the importance of giving a voice to those who otherwise would be ignored.
Ultimately, the watchdog role is about more than exposing wrongdoing; it is about protecting our democracy.
Truth remains accessible to the public, and multiple perspectives are heard. In a time of division and distrust, the right solution is not to reject the media entirely, but to demand better from it and recognize its importance.
Journalists must continue pushing for ethical and transparent reporting, and the public must be willing to engage information with an open heart and mind.
The watchdog is not the enemy. It is one of the most important forces we have in maintaining truth and a functioning democracy.
As Greg Couch said toward the end of our in-class interview “There is a fight, but you have to fight to learn to be strong” In today’s media world that fight matters more than ever.