I've always loved the paper. Call it cliche, but it's true. I love the lingering smell of the ink, the way I can never refold a paper correctly after reading it, the neat columns and pictures. I read and read and learn about wars and conflicts, a local cupcake business, a review of the newest Disney movie, and political endeavors. Naturally, I registered for a journalism class in high school where I learned to edit, write, report, take a good picture, layout a page, and conduct an interview. I learned all of these, but I also became aware of bias.
Journalism should be an unbiased record of events. Too often today journalists and newspapers push agendas throughout their writing, printing articles clearly spun to the left or right of the political spectrum. Even articles that aren't blatantly biased are often printed only because they support a paper's agenda or are printed instead of an article that would challenge that agenda. This is the corruption of Journalism, in my opinion.
When I pick up a newspaper, I want to know that I can trust these reporters to bring me news of events without any withheld information or without an emphasis on information. What I mean is that I shouldn't have to figure out which trick an article is playing on me. I shouldn't have to wonder whether the information on the page is completely credible, or whether it has been taken out of context. Journalists should have a fundamental passion for the truth. They shouldn't accept any deceit, even if it isn't outright. News outlets should NOT be another tool in any candidate's political campaign. Rather, they should provide the public with an honest and relevant insight into these candidates and the circumstances surrounding them. There should be no lying by omission, no careful selection of articles designed to subtly support one politician or another. This is true not only of politics but is certainly most prevalent in that field.
To me, journalism is a promise. When you open a paper, you should be able to trust that you are getting accurate, unbiased information. A good journalist doesn't try to censor anything in order to support any agenda but has an unwavering commitment to the truth at all times.
