Since the beginning of its prevalence, the media has been both a source of good and evil. The media, especially today with its massive online presence in the daily lives of most global citizens, arguably has more influence than any other single entity in our world. With its ability to create stigmas, enforce or break down stereotypes, spread rumors like wildfire and communicate with millions of people instantaneously, the media has the greatest power of anything in the world. This great power, however, comes with great responsibility.

The media is responsible, first and foremost, for relaying news. Whether that is local news, national news, international news or otherwise, the media’s original intent and highest order job is to inform the public of the goings-on of the world. Often, these happenings are closely related to our government in one way or another. But when it comes to the government in media, how far is too far?

The Pulitzer Prize is the highest honor in journalism and is presented to those demonstrating "excellence in journalism" in 14 categories every year. On Monday, the Pulitzer Prize for public service was awarded to The Washington Post and the Guardian for their roles in the leak of classified information about Nation Security Agency (NSA) surveillance in June 2013. This particular installment of the Pulitzer Prize is awarded for “a distinguished example of meritorious public service by a newspaper or news site through the use of its journalistic resources,” according to pulitzer.org.

The Washington Post is cited for its “revelation… that helped the public understand how the disclosures fit into the larger framework of national security,” and the Guardian for its “revelation… [which helped] spark a debate about the relationship between the government and the public over issues of security and privacy.

SEE ALSO: Washington Post, Guardian Win Pulitzers For NSA Coverage

Both publications played a huge role in the disclosure of highly classified information received from famed whistleblower Edward Snowden. The broadcasting of this information is still making waves not only in the relationship between the United States government and its citizens, but between the government and anyone and everyone affected by the NSA and its confidential internet surveillance.

Snowden’s leaks revealed connections between NSA surveillance and technology. Because so much of the world’s technology use centers around American companies, internet and tech users from around the world are up in arms with concern for the safety of their privacy. President Obama has since curtailed phone surveillance and made efforts to meet with tech companies and quell worry throughout the world about surveillance.

These nominations, on the heels of Snowden’s own Nobel Peace Prize nomination, cast massive aspersions on the United States government. The journalists involved, in printing the information they gained from Snowden, decided also to publicly and grandiosely defame the NSA. The release of this information will permanently change the face of the Internet and the face of our government.  

Before the leak, despite its invasion of privacy, no one was being harmed physically, emotionally or otherwise by the government’s surveillance and no data was being disclosed or used for purposes other than keeping our nation safe.  Now, hundreds of thousands of dollars are being lost by companies trying to regain the trust of their users, the government is losing more and more information by day and all people have is a better sense of privacy.

In a world where anything and everything about our personal lives can and probably will be posted on the Internet within seconds, it is a grand claim for internet users themselves to say that they value their privacy.  Internet — and especially social media — users seem to have an elaborate idea that their information is their own and that they control which information is put on the Internet and which information other people can see when this is simply not the case.  

Those embarrassing photos you took down of you with braces and acne from ninth grade? They are still sitting in Facebook’s massive database. That photo you reported of you with a bottle of Jack? Also in the database. Ever wonder why everyone’s Google results are different? Because every single thing you’ve ever typed into Google is also in a database. Forever.

So in revealing the government’s surveillance, what did the Post and the Guardian accomplish?  Sure, they got the last word and they had the satisfaction of a good story and an award. But now, there is massive distrust among the people and the government, the government is unable to survey information as fully as they were before and companies around the world are losing thousands of dollars as they scramble to regain the confidence of their consumers.  And still, all of our information is being stored on databases, whether they belong to the government or not.  

I am all for the right to privacy and I understand why people are upset that the government secretly monitored us. However, if it is for the good of our country, there are things that can and should be kept quiet. Surveillance and data collection is something that happens regardless of the government’s involvement, but had the Post and the Guardian chosen to keep quiet about it, it could have happened for the betterment of the United States instead of simply so Google could pull up the best cat photos for your taste.

 

Reach Contributor Ariana Shives here.