Functions of a Journalist
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Political Function

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Economic Function

◦ The obligation of providing the audience with information upon which to base political decisions. The media is regarded as the watchdog of the government ◦ The public needs information about products, goods and services. The news does this but so does advertising. Without advertising the media would not exist without a governmental tie.

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Sentry Function

◦ The media must report not only what is happening today but also what is likely to happen tomorrow.

Functions of a Journalist
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Record-Keeping Function

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Entertainment Function

◦ The mass media should reflect as accurate record of local, national, and world news. Without accurate records, splashy news programs and big headlines depends on the base of record keeping ◦ Comics, entertaining feature stories and feature photos add diversion to hard news. Few media outlets should be without an entertaining or light element

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Social Function

◦ Passing along news has created a social situation in which people discuss their world. Journalism creates social interaction

Functions of a Journalist
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Marketplace Function
◦ The media provides a forum in which all sorts of ideas are presented; it becomes the marketplace of ideas. If citizens want action in their community they turn to the media as a forum to generate support

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Agenda-Setting Function
◦ Although journalists don’t tell us what to think, they do tell us what to think about. This concept suggests that far from dictating our thoughts the media have the power to determine what we talk about as individuals and address as a nation

Today’s Assignment
On a word document, find out the names of the lead anchors on NBC, ABC and CBS  Create another 3 column chart listing where they studied (university), their first jobs, and other jobs they worked in before getting to be where they are.