Many people still speak of journalism as the \"fourth power,\" that is, as a profession dedicated to monitoring the powerful.<\/p>\n
Certainly, there are still good journalists, but unfortunately, this profession is suffering from an increasing dependence on political power<\/strong>, which is the most dangerous form of power in a democracy, because it has the greatest capacity to coerce all citizens. The challenge of facing this power is what really puts journalism to the test.<\/strong><\/p>\n In the face of this power, there are journalists who do their duty and are critical and annoying<\/strong>, investigating, publishing and denouncing what the rulers do wrong. On the contrary, there are journalists who act as simple buffoons of this power<\/strong>, supporting everything it does, even the most abusive, and focusing their work on attacking those who disagree with the government<\/strong>, including other journalists.<\/p>\n All governments eventually fall. Every time the time comes for them to fall, all journalists should face a simple question<\/strong> that should end up putting many of them in a bind. It is the following: <\/p>\n How many times have you published things that are really uncomfortable for those who govern where you work as a journalist?<\/strong><\/p>\n It doesn't matter if we're talking about journalists covering national, regional or local news. There is always a political power before which the journalist must choose<\/strong> between fulfilling his duty to supervise the actions of the rulers and being uncomfortable, or behaving as a mere lackey at the service of those rulers. That question should make many journalists feel ashamed... if they had any.<\/strong> Because to do what some are doing, you have to have little or no shame.<\/p>\n ---<\/p>\n
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