Argument essay paper Literature & Language Essay Paper (Essay Sample)

Argument Paper, MLA Style (Jacobs)
Jacobs 1
Sam Jacobs Professor Alperini English 101
5 March 8, 2020
From Lecture to Conversation:
Redefining What ’s “Fit to Print”
“All the news that ’s fit to print,” the motto of the New York Times since 1896, plays with the word fit, asserting that a news story must be newsworthy and must not exceed the limits of the printed page. The increase in online news consumption, however, challenges both meanings of the word fit, allowing producers and consumers alike to rethink who decides which topics are worth covering and how extensive that coverage should be. Any cultural shift usually means that something is lost, but in this case there are clear gains. The shift from print to online news provides unprecedented opportunities for readers to become more engaged with the news, to hold journalists accountable, and to participate as producers, not simply as consumers.
Guided by journalism’s code of ethics—accuracy, objectivity, and fairness—print news reporters have gathered and delivered stories according to what editors decide is fit for their readers. Except for op-ed pages and letters to the editor, print news has traditionally had a one-sided relationship with its readers. The print news media’s reputation for objective reporting has been held up as “a stop sign” for readers, sending a clear message that no further inquiry is necessary (Weinberger). With the rise of the Internet, however, this model has been criticized by journalists such as