Guiding Questions

• What role does journalism play in shaping justice?

• Can the media be truly objective?

• Who decides what counts as “news” — and what gets silenced?

Journalism as a Public Trust

Journalists are often called “the fourth estate” — a vital check on power, alongside the legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

• They investigate corruption

• They expose injustice

• They amplify voices that would otherwise be ignored

• And sometimes… they manufacture narratives that mislead or divide

The media can be both a weapon for justice — and a tool of manipulation.

The Dilemma of Objectivity

True neutrality may be impossible.

Every story has:

• A framing

• A perspective

• A target audience

Even facts can be selected, arranged, or omitted in ways that shape public opinion. So we must ask:

• Is journalism about reporting the truth — or constructing it?

• Does fairness require “both sides,” even when one side spreads falsehoods?

Philosophical Perspectives

John Stuart Mill

Argued that free speech — including a free press — is essential for truth to emerge through debate.

Hannah Arendt

Warned against propaganda that replaces reality with fiction, making citizens unable to distinguish fact from narrative.

Noam Chomsky

In Manufacturing Consent, argued that powerful interests shape news through ownership, advertising, and access to sources.

Michel Foucault

Saw media as part of the “regime of truth” — the system that decides which truths are accepted and which are excluded.

A Thought Experiment

Imagine a country where the press is tightly controlled — but only publishes true stories.

Now imagine a country with a chaotic media landscape full of lies, but also many competing voices.

Which society has more access to justice?

Is truth enough — or does freedom matter more?

Two Perspectives

Media as Watchdog

A free press holds power accountable, informs the public, and protects democracy.

Media as Market

News is a business. What gets attention sells. Outrage, fear, and bias often drive content — not justice.

Justice Requires Media Literacy

• Follow the money – Who owns the outlet? What do they gain?

• Analyze framing – What words and images are used? What’s missing?

• Diversify sources – No one outlet sees the whole picture

• Question authority – Even your favorite journalist can be wrong

• Support integrity – Independent, investigative journalism is vital

Reflect and Discuss

• Can journalism ever be apolitical? Should it try to be?

• What role should journalism play in times of injustice or war?

• Who is responsible when the media misleads — the publisher, the reader, or both?

Suggested Readings

• John Stuart Mill – On Liberty (selections on press freedom)

• Noam Chomsky – Manufacturing Consent

• Hannah Arendt – Truth and Politics

• Maria Ressa – Nobel Peace Prize Lecture (2021)

• George Orwell – Politics and the English Language

“Truth does not travel alone — it needs courage, context, and curiosity.”

— Tiger Lyon