This morning, I woke up and opened The New York Times app as I always do. Today, the homepage story was titled, "Gunman Kills at Least 12 at California Bar."
If I had read that headline three years ago, I would have been shocked and horrified. I still am, however, this morning, I couldn't help thinking, "Ugh. Another one?"
We have a problem in America. Many of us are becoming desensitized to violence, hatred, bigotry and a million other horrible things that are happening in our country every day. That's why journalists are so important right now - someone has to remind people that this isn't OK.
Journalists need to prevent the public from becoming desensitized by showing people things that they can't ignore. Video and photo are becoming vital components for any news story, and I think that this shift to digital journalism is a great opportunity to show people what's really going on without sensationalizing anything. Journalists need videos and photos to tell the stories themselves, no matter how stunning or upsetting they may be. Words aren't enough anymore.
As a journalist and soon-to-be graduate, I realize the responsibility the next generation of journalists has. With social media, there is constantly false information (I refuse to use the other term) circulating online. Not only do journalists now have to fight hard to be trusted, but they must also keep people sane.
Although many have already been traumatized to the point of being news numb, it's not too late to change their minds. Journalists can use the tools and resources they have to tell the stories that can't be forgotten, unnoticed or thrown into a pile of similar stories. They just need to be told in a new way so that people will pay attention.
