I come from a journalism world in which you did all you could to tell stories that were as accurate and truthful as possible. Some may scoff at those values today, but I have always understood the duty and responsibility. Your credibility and the credibility of the news organization you worked for could not be sullied. It was an essential pillar of all you did.
That created a rigid accountability that was an indestructible pillar within me and others that I worked with and for. If you find it impossible—or even physically a violation of your own values—to lie, you understand what I mean.
Let me say some things about being a journalist.
Throughout history, those who challenged authority, who spoke out against what they saw as injustice, corruption and abuses, were risking their health and safety and even their lives. In more recent times, the worst regimes eliminated those who challenged them, and those eliminated or silenced were frequently members of the press.
Those in power know that the control of information is the control of power. The free press in this country from its inception was favored with protections, with the thinking by the founders that it was necessary to stand up to tyrants and protect the fledgling democracy.
They never envisioned the free-for-all of information, good and bad, lies and distortions, that the internet and new media have released from Pandora's box. And constitutional protections for a free press don’t matter if the executive branch chooses to ignore them.
No journalist I have ever known started their careers, their calling, for the money. It is not a well-paid profession, and it has been eviscerated over the last 20 years.
And journalists take risks. Today in the US, we are referred to as “enemies of the people.” We are threatened by financial crises, litigation, bullying, and intimidation. This comes at a time when audiences are so divided that we live in opposing information worlds.
This is a dangerous moment. But the best journalists have standards and are passionate, mission-driven risk takers. That's our staff for sure at the Center for Investigative Reporting, the nonprofit that produces the Reveal radio show and podcast and Mother Jones magazine.
We are not intimidated by threats to silence public media.
Fueled by your support,
we’ll continue to investigate and share the truth, no matter who tries to hold us back.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 1,676 journalists have been killed around the world since 1992. Most of those died in the field, in war zones, but dozens more have been murdered or “disappeared,” and thousands more have been arrested.
Law enforcement and those in the military know the risks of their work, but what other professions besides journalism are targeted with violence and arbitrary arrest because of their work?
Think of that and know that your support of our work makes a difference. We do our work not to make a profit, but to serve the public and protect our democracy. And at this crucial moment, we also provide the vital and essential role of bearing witness. I hope you’ll take a moment today to stand up for the freedom of the press and
make a gift.
Our reporting has never been more critical to holding power to account.
Please accept my deep gratitude for the generosity of our readers, listeners, and viewers like you. Thank you for your support.
Robert “Rosey” Rosenthal
CEO Emeritus
Reveal
The Center for Investigative Reporting
