Part of the The Oakland Press community service program is providing frequent mentoring sessions to young people.

Students from various schools throughout Oakland County come into the office to learn about newspapers — not only the business aspect of the industry but also from the standpoint of a newspaper’s civic duties.

This past week we had ninth-graders from Pontiac High School and the International Technology Academy in Pontiac.

We discussed two main aspects of journalism.

Obviously, from a pure business standpoint, a newspaper is established to make a profit.

But there’s an equally important role it must play in a free society. A good newspaper is the medium by which people get well-written, unbiased and accurate news stories. A well-informed public is the best way to maintain a nation’s freedoms.

Our Founding Fathers realized this when they put in the First Amendment — not the second or third — freedom of the press. They realized that without a free press providing information to the public, a free nation would not exist for very long.
Adolph Hitler knew the importance of the press and that by controlling it, he could manipulate the people and keep his ruthless power.

Newspapers and other media are by no means perfect, but the good ones are constantly striving to provide information to the public in stories that are accurate, balanced and impartial.

In speaking to the Pontiac students this past week, I instructed the young people to get a good education, set long and short term goals and never stop seeking knowledge. I told them this not only was a requirement for a successful career but it was an obligation as a citizen of the United States.

Only through an informed elector that knows how to make intelligent decisions can America stay free. To get the information they need, individuals must also learn the difference between good and bad news sources.

It can be a judgment call but believe it or not, most newspapers and other media do want to fulfill the basic tenants of good journalism.

A newspaper needs to make money or it can’t stay in business. But also, a newspaper must place top priority on informing it’s readership through accurate and impartially written stories. It needs to establish and maintain creditability. If it can’t do this, it shouldn’t and won’t be in business.