Exploiting Journalist Roles

     As the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, seeks to push his way into a third office, he enlists the media.  This past monday, the New York Times had an article stating that Bloomberg is trying to use the media to help push the law into allowing him to stay in for a third term.  The one primarily asked to back him up is The Daily News, who is more than willing to oblige.  However, owner of The Daily News, Mortimer Zuckerman, said "I only wish we had that kind of power.  I think he has been a remarkable mayor, we face tremendous challenges as a city right now, and it's clear that he is the person for the job."  So, has the journalist gotten big enough to persuade the legal system to change their fundamental laws?  Bloomberg feels so and certainly is trying hard to make it happen.

     There has always been the argument of whether journalism can really effect society on a large scale, or whether it plays a more prominent role as reporting on a smaller scale.  I think that journalists feel that they have the most effect on society when they serve the little man.  Is the trend changing?  More and more, journalists are viewed as those who push the big institutions to the wall and make them fully accountable for what they do.  So how big is the sphere of influence for a journalist really and should they be focusing more on that?  I think the case of the current mayor of New York tells us how the trend is going and it will only get closer to Michael Bloomberg's expectations as time passes.