# Journalism
The gathering and communication of information about events and issues.
Canonical page: https://givegigs.com/wiki/journalism
Last updated: 2026-11-09T19:00:08.197Z
Parent topic: [media-and-civic-life](https://givegigs.com/wiki/media-and-civic-life)
## Contents
- [Overview](#wiki-section-overview-1)
- [Reporting with care](#wiki-section-reporting-2)
- [Reading a report critically](#wiki-section-reading-news-3)
## Overview
Journalism gathers, verifies, and communicates information about events and issues for public understanding. It can include reporting, investigation, explanation, and commentary; readers benefit when those forms are labeled clearly. News organizations differ in ownership, funding, reach, and editorial practice.
Explore related topics:
- [fact-checking](https://givegigs.com/wiki/fact-checking)
- [media-literacy](https://givegigs.com/wiki/media-literacy)
- [freedom-of-information](https://givegigs.com/wiki/freedom-of-information)
- [misinformation](https://givegigs.com/wiki/misinformation)
## Reporting with care
Responsible reporting verifies claims with evidence and multiple sources where possible, distinguishes observation from allegation, and gives people a fair chance to respond to significant claims about them. Protect confidential sources when justified, avoid unnecessary harm, and describe methods or limits that materially affect the story.
## Reading a report critically
Check the byline, publication, date, links to documents, and whether headlines match the underlying evidence. Separate reported facts from analysis and opinion. A single article can be accurate yet incomplete; compare independent coverage and primary records, especially for fast-changing events.
## Sources
- [Society of Professional Journalists: Code of Ethics](https://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp)
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