Many folks are asking why the American journalists are missing the point about many obvious atrocities and immoral ways of authorities in the world, particularly the Western world. One cursory observation can reveal a great deal about this. Many– and not all–American journalists are trained to produce lies of omission. This happens at the majority of journalism programs in different universities. The “journalism experts” have effective euphemisms to discourage criticism and healthy skeptical inquiries into curriculum reform. They call these lies “editorial work” and “professionalism.” The students are taught that obedience (i.e., docile following of the orders given by the executive editors) translates into professionalism and rogue reporting is only the stuff of Hollywood fiction, which in itself is self-censoring rarely attacking the system, and only applying the “a few bad apples” algorithm.
When these often very bright students graduate and enter the professional arena they are taught even bigger lessons, one of which is that they are not supposed to contribute to the narrative of “truth.” Their job is only to be task masters of providing data so the top editorial folks can make them into the “truth in journalism.”
When asked, I usually discourage my top communication studies students not to enter journalism programs, as these programs are morally problematic at best and at worst downright immoral. I warn them that they will be indoctrinated into becoming professional liars. And these lies can sometimes have severe consequences; causing death and destruction of many people (e.g., Weapons of Mass Destruction stories and consequent invasion of Iraq).
However, there is a paradigm shift occurring in the US, and citizen journalism is turning the table on mainstream “journalism” of NY Times, etc. More and more people are paying closer attention to their fellow amateur journalists of all walks of life disseminating the truth and filling in the gaps produced by professional liars.