"Whether" is not one of the Journalistic Five W's
The best stories write themselves. That is, they take on a life of their own, and writers are just mediums who transcribe the stories from the mental ether to print.
The term media is well chosen to represent what journalism does. It transcribes and reports what others say and do, as intermediaries between government and citizens.
Politicians have resumed their attack on news media, alleging that journalists have agendas and "define" what the politicians say and do. To the contrary, journalists only report what politicians say and do. By their actions and sayings, politicians define themselves.
Granted, there are some who use the mantle of journalism to cover their agenda. However, those who do so are commentators, not reporters. There is a place in journalism for comments and opinions, and the tradition of a free press -- going all the way back to John Milton and his "Areopagitica" speech to Parliament -- guarantees that right, cemented in America by the First Amendment to the Constitution.
However, readers and viewers have a responsibility to recognize the difference between reporters and commentators.
Writers and researchers use the Fabled Five W's -- Who, What, Where, When and Why, plus How -- to describe an issue, trend or situation. Whether to accept that situation, trend or issue is a social and political decision, not economic. Politics may dictate economic policy for a brief time, but in the long run, economics controls politics.
By the way, the second word in the title of this posting can be read as either a noun or a verb.
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