Monitor Power and Offer a Voice to the Voiceless

Journalism's power to monitor situations and provide a voice to the voiceless is one of its primary responsibilities. I have watched investigative reports where people who have struggled because of some bureaucratic issue, or even because of a larger-scale corrupt situation. Many times, going to the press is their last resort. However, going to the press in many cases seems to be the way to win the battle. The press has the power to expose corruption and injustice in a way that few other media can. 

I can think of a prime example in my lifetime where the media offered a voice to the voiceless is when Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped. Her family was able to go to the media, and the press provided a very important tool for everyone to keep an eye out for her. Because of the myriad of images splashed across the TV screens for that horrific nine-month period that she was missing, someone was able to spot her in Salt Lake City. The Smart family may not have ever been reunited with their daughter if the media hadn't been such an effective tool for them. The press was able to give a voice to that family in a time that I'm sure they felt completely voiceless.

Monitor power and the media's ability to offer a voice to the voiceless are illustrated in this link:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=78265

Without journalistic help, this problem may never have come to the attention of the public.

Another example:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=309&sid=125223

The media has a powerful ability to bring issues to the forefront that otherwise might go unnoticed.