What I have learned in the 1st half of the semester

 During the first seven weeks of this class, I've really learned a lot about the history, inner workings, and laws/rights of journalism. From the beginning, I learned that the First Amendment's six clauses, or six liberties, protect not just journalists but all people. I can't stop thinking about what Professor Smith said: "Everyone is a journalist, and we all use the First Amendment every day." That may sound like a simple concept at first, but it truly helped me understand that everyone has these rights, not just professional reporters. One of the most significant individual rights is the First Amendment. Because it is explicitly mentioned in the Bill of Rights, it is regarded as one of the strongest of rights. That knowledge truly helped me in both my everyday life experiences and my career as a journalist. This shows just how powerful our rights are, how vital our voices are, and how we should always value them.

We dove deep into the Partisan Era (1690–1865) and the New Partisan Era while researching journalism history. Seeing how politics and public opinion have always impacted journalism was incredibly eye-opening. I was particularly interested in the idea of the adversarial press, which holds that journalists should challenge authority and make sure individuals in positions of authority are held responsible. It helped me realize that good journalism is about seeking the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, and not only about making people feel comfortable. It made me consider the political biases of different news organizations and the state that journalism has transformed into today. I found that the connection between the past and the present can be very meaningful.

In order to shed light on the history of our rights and their defense, we also learned about the State Action Doctrine. For me, learning about tort law and libel law was important because it brought to my attention the hard balance that journalists must learn and how they strike between their right to free expression and their obligations under the law. There are rules that encourage press freedom while also preventing harm, so you can't just say whatever you want whenever you want without repercussions.

The function of citizen journalism was another subject that truly made me use my critical thinking skills. Anyone may spread news and information on social media, nowadays even more quickly than traditional journalists can. However, it also raises many questions around truthfulness, morality, and the obligations that accompany having a platform. Although the right to free speech is vital, we should think carefully about how we use it.

This class has taught me more ground than just simply journalism; it has also taught me how the media affects society, the importance of our rights, and the responsibility that comes with exercising these rights. The number of times we use the First Amendment without even realizing it is astounding. I'm really excited to see what the remainder of the semester has in store!