“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of thepress; or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

Above is the First Amendment the United States Constitution--a document you’ve probably read about since elementary school. You’re probably curious about why it’s there. Sometimes we need a reminder. As consumers in a technology-based era, we often forget how fortunate we are to know everything happening across the world in a matter of seconds. The words “abridging the freedom of...the press” speak volumes. In today’s immediate information society, the media can provide you current events in 140 characters the very second they happen. Yet, we are so critical of media coverage, despite consuming it in high doses every day.

Recently at the University of Missouri, students protested the handling of a series of racially-motivated incidents, which led to the resignation of both the university president and chancellor. According to the local newspaper, the Columbia Daily Tribune, a letter from nine deans to the UM Board of Curators and President Tim Wolfe said Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin “created a toxic environment through threat, fear, and intimidation.”

Trigger warning: racism. Students discuss racism on campus at the University of Missouri. (via AP)

Students gathered in protest in the commons of Mizzou, citing frequent use of the N-word from fellow students, and the drawing of a swastika in a residence hall. Concerned Student 1950, a black student organization named for Mizzou’s first black graduate, protested at the school’s homecoming parade. Students said the school was silent about the issue. Later, threats surfaced on the popular social media app Yik Yak, leaving many students of color feeling unsafe. The student sending the threats was later arrested; authorities said his actions contributed to growing racial tensions on campus.

“Hey hey! Ho ho! Reporters have got to go!” chanted protesters as they encountered the more than 20 news organizations attending. Ironically, the University of Missouri is home to the country’s first and most prestigious journalism school.

According to the Washington Post, a reporter on assignment got into an argument with a Mizzou mass communications professor. The professor asked for some “muscle” to help remove the reporter after pushing him and his camera away. A photojournalist from Columbia, Missouri said the First Amendment grants the same right to cover the event as it does for the protesters to gather, but was still told he “didn’t have the right to take photos.”

Students protesting against the media on Nov. 9, 2015 during the Mizzou protests. Video by Mark Schierbecker of Columbia, Mo.

The protests at Mizzou have taught the world a lesson: protests are powerful. Also, they have proven that racism is alarmingly alive and well in the United States. Racial tensions of POC are heavily ignored and are holistically labelled as “angry” and “looking for something to be offended by.” A black journalism professor at Mizzou said she was called the n-word numerous times. Regardless, the black students protesting are members of a make-up for 13 percent of the U.S. population (note: this number is from those who only identify with one race), based on the 2010 U.S. Census.

The media is the wrong scapegoat for blame when concerned citizens see something they may or may not agree with. Just because the media publicizes something does not mean its intention is to sensationalize. Much of what we as consumers interpret as fact is heavily influenced by our own opinions. That's not to say there are no media outlets that contradict the creed of journalism--there certainly are plenty that do--but if there was not a message to be sent, we wouldn’t need journalists.

Media is the primary liaison between experts and the general public. Protesters are the catalyst to reform. When protesters are the experts, why would they push away the media to perform a public service? Mizzou dealt with race, which White America has always had problems with. But when two powerful entities such as protest and media combine, much more is likely to be done.

Protesters at the University of Missouri on Nov. 9, 2015. Photo via Daniel Brenner of the New York Times.

But where does this power of protest intersect with the power of media? Both contain a message to be sent to the world. However, as Mizzou demonstrates, the media may not always be welcomed with open arms. Former co-owner of the Washington Post, Phil Graham, called journalism “the first rough draft of history.” In order to be a successful journalist, however, you must understand the basic foundations of history. A white journalist unaware of the underlying systemic problems outside their own race will have trouble effectively conveying a message like Mizzou’s. But, we must not compromise the importance of a journalist’s work.

The second ethics code by the Society of Professional Journalists states that journalists must “minimize harm.” Of course, it’s not the job of the media to fully sympathize with protesters and stray away from journalistic integrity. But the two are capable of intersecting to work together harmoniously. Both protest and media have the power to send messages deeper than what is seen on the surface, so it is important for both to have an understanding of purpose. As Americans, we are privileged with unalienable rights under the First Amendment. Let’s not sacrifice the harmony of our freedoms, as our message becomes the melody.