According to reports, President Donald Trump has been overseeing the construction of a $400 million ballroom. The project has been under scrutiny since it started, with the press playing a big role in communicating the situation to the public. The construction of the ballroom has now been connected to the underground bunker being put in place. The original bunker was created for the purpose of safety and advancing national security objectives. It intends to protect from missiles, biohazards, bullets, and more. Originally, the two projects were meant to be separate, but are now tied together so that for one to be completed, they must both be. While some are trying to remove the project from the president’s jurisdiction, the president has claimed there is a hole in the wall that poses a current threat. The project is allowed to continue solely on the portions to fix the exposed areas of the White House.
Throughout this debate, there are multiple points where journalists and the media have been mentioned. In one instance, it was discussed that Trump showcased the project and plans to journalists early on. The reason behind this action could be debated. I don’t want to focus on the specific politics of this story, but I do want to highlight how the media and public relations are involved and, in many cases, highly important. In this day and age, many are on a quest for truth. With so many biases or lies being spread, people are thirsty for what’s real. Journalism and PR are channels through which the public gets its information. This creates an important responsibility for these workers. When communicating with the public, it is important to be as truthful as possible while also acting with wisdom. Within politics, many will use the media as a tool that can be good or bad. You may receive information before anyone else or have the opportunity to expose something that may have been lied about. But you are also in a position to be manipulated or to do the manipulating. Don’t twist words or allow your sources to lead you on the wrong paths. Be as unbiased as possible and look at your story from every angle before declaring the truth. You will create strong credibility between you and your audience as well as establish a reputation among other journalists, PR professionals and politicians. Your job is to be a channel, so use discernment to be a good one.
To read about the White House and ballroom under construction check out these sources:
NBC News
New York Times News
The Hill News
