Cleaning the Mirror of the World

Prominent American television journalist Katie Couric has been touring the United States and conducting a series of "town meetings" in part to gauge the public's perception of mainstream media. The response from the public has been quite fascinating:

Viewers told her they want more perspective and "a better understanding of the ramifications of the news," she says. "I got the distinct sense they want us to go a little bit deeper" with historical background and "how is this relevant to their lives. (And) we heard from many people the news is just too depressing. Obviously, we can't sugar-coat what's going on, but there are cases where we can be more solution-oriented."

Some thought the media portrayed a "polarizing of the country that they don't see," thought TV news "abdicated its role of really talking about facts and information rather than points of view," and want "more thinking, less spewing."

A striking sign of the yearning of humanity for the realization of the following words of Bahá'u'lláh concerning the duties and responsibilities of journalists:

In this Day the secrets of the earth are laid bare before the eyes of men. The pages of swiftly-appearing newspapers are indeed the mirror of the world. They reflect the deeds and the pursuits of divers peoples and kindreds. They both reflect them and make them known. They are a mirror endowed with hearing, sight and speech. This is an amazing and potent phenomenon. However, it behoveth the writers thereof to be purged from the promptings of evil passions and desires and to be attired with the raiment of justice and equity. They should enquire into situations as much as possible and ascertain the facts, then set them down in writing.