What should be known

I have done nothing in the past few days but watched one of my favorite television series from when I was a teenager –“Gossip Girl”. For the unfamiliar, it’s a narrative that revolves around the lives of socialites on the Upper East Side of New York City. Their glamorous, chaotic, and scandal-filled lives were too intriguing for those who lived outside their world. The series was told through the lens of an anonymous observer who called herself Gossip Girl, sending out explosive "blasts" through her website. At the time, social media was just beginning to take shape. Mobile phones had keypads and could only take low-resolution photos, but they were enough to capture juicy, fleeting moments of the elite. Watching the show again after more than a decade offered me new insights --particularly into the way I now see journalism.

Gossip Girl liked to think of herself as a bearer of news, whether or not what she shared was actually true. She thrived on hearsay and scandals --anything that would interest her primary market: the curious public eager to peer into the lives of the rich and powerful. Like most rumor-based content, her blasts often ruined lives, damaged reputations, and even derailed careers. It’s not so different from the real world --only now, the lines between gossip and news have blurred even more. The difference is that many people still refuse to believe despite evidence.

Recently, I came across a column written by a young campus journalist who expressed how they wished they had known the realities of entering the field of journalism. At first, they thought the craft was all about writing, glitz, and glamour. Later, they came to understand that it’s really about responsibility. Words carry weight. As we head toward another election, we're seeing that more clearly than ever --words are short blades, and they can pierce through the very future of our country.

The bigger issue here is press freedom and all the inconveniences that come with defending it. If the essence of journalism is to uncover truth, amplify voices, and challenge the status quo, then those who do the work must be properly compensated and respected for the risks they take. In a recent broadcast station tour with my class, a disc jockey who also doubles as a reporter told us, “This is a vocation.” He is definitely right. Journalism may not fulfill an ambitious dream of wealth, but it does offer fulfillment.

There are still many things the new generation of campus journalists has yet to learn. Many are dazzled by awards and the glory of a byline, forgetting that the true value of the work lies in connecting people, informing communities, and holding power to account. The new breed must prepare for a deeper challenge --diving into complex narratives that have the potential to shape perspectives and shift cultures. Gossip may have evolved, but its power to harm has not diminished. This should be known --we need more people, now more than ever, to join in the fight.