We journalists are in dire need of a year-long sabbatical in which we travel to Montana, rock climb, party a little too hard, wake up in Finland (wearing somebody else’s underwear), hitch a ride home with a whale hunter…and just find ourselves. We are lost, and we cannot continue if we don’t adapt. So, let’s take a break. Breath.

The future of journalism is not located in the days to come; rather, the future of journalism can be found in the rich history of mankind. Journalism must regress to move forward. As an industry, journalism has made spectacular technological strides with the Internet and social media; however, the pavement is moving faster than we are. We are forgetting our purpose.

At the core of journalism is honesty. We are the media, the middle man between the people and the story. Our power is immense. Journalism fuels democracy, powers the people. However, to quote the great Uncle Ben, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Often, writers fail to capture the story completely, are influenced by his or her own beliefs or are blatantly corrupt. This is where we are losing the readers and watchers. It is imperative that journalism remains a sturdy pillar of truth and accuracy. Before worrying about the #hashtag, first, worry about the merit of the story.

Yet, it is equally important that journalists engage readers. This presents a conundrum for the writer: the need to write a sincere piece, while writing a story that will be read. The two rarely coincide naturally. We can take the stale, yet important and transform it into beautiful, engaging works with the simple use of rhetoric. Unfortunately, literary elements such as satire and humor are stigmatized by the media community. A satirical article is often equated to fake news. The notion that journalism must remain a lifeless, brick wall in order to be unbiased will be the downfall of the craft. In fact, rhetoric is the savior. By viewing a situation through a humorous lens, yet remaining vigilant for inaccuracies, we can engage our readers while informing the public on the matters they require.

This year, my mission was to educate high school students on current events through the use of satirical writing. This method is an incredible success. My articles are starting valuable conversations about topics that are often overlooked by youth. However, I receive a significant amount of backlash from readers claiming that my writing is “cheap” and that I appeal to the lowest common denominator. This is simply false. All dialogue is valuable.

The future of journalism is the reinvention of our core values and the employment of meticulously verified, rhetorical language that engages the minds of our readers. After returning from our ‘getaway,’ we will find that journalism is not an independent industry. Rather, the people and the media are intertwined, feeding off the inventions of one another. The future of journalism is parallel to the future of the people: captivating, virtuous and bright.