Journalists find out the details of events, and inform  a broad range of audiences. Journalism has many forms which include editing, documentary and photojournalism.

With the advent of faster resources for  information, journalism too has utilized the media resources like the Internet. The history of journalism, compared with that of literature is not very old. Johann Carlos’s Relation published in 1605, is considered the earliest newspaper. Daily Courant published from 1702 to 1735 is considered the first English newspaper. Missouri School of Journalism was the first dedicated academy of journalism. Both, literature and journalism aim at drawing the attention and interest of wider audience. Journalism however is distinguished from literature in that, it is non-fiction, contains clear and precise message, relates current and hot topics and portrays real characters. Journalists, the practicing professionals of journalism have played pivotal roles at some critical junctures in the histories of nations.

1. Christiane Amanpour

Christiane Amanpour was born to an Iranian Father and British mother Patricia in London England on January 12, 1958. She was raised in Tehran and received her early education there. When 11, she was sent to attend the all girl New Hall School in Essex, England. She studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island. Christiane Amanpour received a Bachelor of Journalism degree.

Since 1992, Amanpour has been CNN’s anchor and chief international correspondent. She is one of the most famous journalists of 2011. Forbes Magazine named her as one of ‘The World’s Most Powerful Women’. She has interviewed world leaders like Iranian President Mohammad Khattami and Mahmoud Ahmadienejad. After 9/11 she was the first journalist to interview the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac and Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.. She has covered the most dangerous hot spots of the world including, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestinian territories, Israel, Pakistan, Somalia, Rawanda, Balkan States during hurricane Katrina and Bosnian war. Not only that she covered the wars, but also that she covered them fearlessly, conscientiously and truthfully. Responding to one criticism, she said, ‘Some people accused me of being pro-Muslim in Bosnia, but I realize that our job is to give all sides an equal hearing, but in case of genocide you can’t just be neutral. You cant just say, ‘ Well ,this little boy was shot in the head and killed in besieged Sarajevo and that guy over there did it, but may be he was upset because he had an argument with his wife.’No,there is no equality there, and we had to tell the truth’.

2. Rahimullah Yusufzai

Rahimullah Yusufzai was born to Haji Adam Khan in a small village near Mardan a city in the Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. He received his early education at the village Primary school and attended public schools in Pindi and Jehlum. He graduated from the S.M. Science college of Karachi University, Karachi, Pakistan. He is best known for his last interview with Osama bin Laden whom he interviewed thrice. He served as Time Magazine’s Pakistan Correspondent and as a Correspondent of BBC’s Pushto Service.

3. Atom Araullo

Alfonso Tomas Pagaduan Araullo better known as Atom Araullo was born to an activist family, in Quezon City, Philippines on October 19, 1982. He is a news reporter of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. He is also a contributor to Studio 23’s Y Speak. He received his early education at Ateneo de Manila and high school education at Philippines Science High School. He graduated from Diliman Campus of the University of The Philippines. He was nominated to be the host of Philippines franchise of X Factor for 2012.

4. Mike Wallace

Myron Leon Wallace was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 9, 1918 and died in Connecticut on April 7, 2012 at the age of 93. He received his early education at Brookline High School and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan. He was a journalist of high renown, best known as ’60 Minutes’, Broad casting legend’. Mike Wallace was the original correspondent of CBS ’60 Minutes, which debuted in 1968. He appeared on it upto 2008. He was the only Person to win his 21st Grammy Award at the age of 89. During his 60 years professional career as journalist he interviewed the widest range of news makers. His late colleague Harry Reasoner said about him, ‘There is one thing that Mike can do better than anybody else: with an angelic smile, he can ask a question that would get anyone else smashed in the face’.

5. Dmitry Muratov

Dmitry Muratov is the Editor in Chief of the Russian newspaper ‘ Novaya Gazeta’ which is considered  by ‘The Committee to Protect Journalists’, as the only truly critical Russian newspaper. Muratov won an International Press Freedom Award from this committee. He received Legion of Honor Order, the highest French Decoration on January 18, 2010, and was knighted in the degree of Chevalier. He received Four Freedom Awards for Freedom Speech in Middleburg, Netherlands on May 29, 2010.

6. Gil Nobel

Gilbert Nobel was born in Harlem, Newyork on February 22, 1933 and died on April 5, 2012 following a long heart ailment. He graduated from City College of New York. He was the famous host of WABC TV’s  popular program ‘Like it is’ which focussed issues concerning African Americans.. He is best known for his interviews of notable personalities like Nelson Mandela, The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan, Muhammad Ali and Jesse Jackson.

7. Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Eric Hitchens, nicknamed ‘Hitch’ was born in Portsmouth, England on April 13, 1949 and died in Houston Texas, US on December 15, 2011. He was a journalist and a prominent public intellectual. He is best known for his admiration of George Orwell, Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. He was on the other hand, for his severe criticism of public figures including Mother Teresa, Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger and Lady Diana, the Princess of Wales.

8. Greg Tates

Greg Tates was born in Dayton, Ohio and worked as the Staff Writer of The Village Voice from 1987 to 2005. His Writings have been published by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Art Forum, Down Beat, Essence, Jazz Times, Vibe and many others. The Source described him as one of the ‘Godfathers of Hip Hop Journalism’. Responding to one query he said his greatest contribution was, ‘Creating a style that fluidity combined theory and esoteric spiritual knowledge with a twisted personal take on street musicology’.

9. Tom Humphries

Tom Humphries was born in England. He was raised in Fox field, Raheny, Dublin. He received his education at St. Joseph’s Christian Brothers School, Fairview. He received higher diploma and degree in commerce from University College of Dublin. He is best known as Sports Journalist and wrote for ‘The Irish Times’. His collection of Irish Times and Sports Illustrated, published in 2004, was nominated for William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

10. Marc Meyers

Marc Meyers was born in New York City, New York on September 4, 1956. He studied Journalism at Northeastern University. He is a renowned journalist and contributed regularly to the ‘Wall Street Journal’. Marc Meyers founded a daily Jazz blog called Jazzwax, which was nominated for Jazz Journalists Association Award in 2010 and 2011.

Conclusion:

Journalism has an intrinsic energy and like any other form of energy may be beneficial depending upon its usage. Electricity is a blessing when used properly but can ‘electrocute’ if misused. Journalism, when healthy, leads the nations while ‘yellow journalism’ comprising of scary and exaggerated headlines with the indiscriminate use of lavish pictures is injurious to the health of nations what an electric short circuit is to a building. Many Governments acknowledge the public  right to know and allow full press freedom while others, particularly in developing countries give only a limited right both for public to know and the journalists to publish.