The Journalism Department and the Journalism Student Association hosted a screening of the film “Trustworthy” followed by a panel discussion on Wednesday.

Film creator Stephany Zamora said she focused the film on the lack of trust and representation depicted in the media today, which can have long lasting effects on democracy.

“This topic affects literally everybody, democracy is an everybody issue,” Zamora said.

Zamora said she felt the need to make this film after the January 6th attack on the Capital since there was so much media contribution and a lot of that contribution led to misinformation around the United States.

The panel discussion was led by Zamora, who was joined by KTXL-TV FOX 40 Managing Editor Alexander Walker and CSU Sacramento journalism professor Fernando Gallo.

Gallo teaches that young people today are the future of journalism and democracy. There is no guarantee to democracy, so people need to act now to have a chance at saving it, Gallo said.

“If you participate now, you get to reap the rewards later in life,” Gallo said.

Walker said that working in newscasting means always racing against the clock to ensure people get the information that they need.

“Media is the platform you get, but news is the work you have to put in,” Walker said. “You need to get as many eyeballs as possible because democracy is important.”

Zamora said in making the documentary, she realized as a country there is more love and want for unity than there is hate seen spread by the media. The divide people feel is not near the reality, most people want to bridge the gap, and she wants to help restart that conversation.

Eleni Goetze, a 17-year-old film and media studies major, said she feels underrepresented by the media and wants more understanding of the idea that people are more unified than they are made to think.

“We are made to feel more skewed against each other than we actually are. We all want the same things, just sometimes in different ways,” Goetze said.

Goetze added that the documentary showcased diversity around the country and how within all the different perspectives, there is a common theme of wanting unity with the next person over.

Zamora said she hopes this film helps people take a step forward and be active participants in their democracy and in their world.

“When journalism declines, democracy declines,” Zamora said. “And the government is going to happen to you whether you like it or not.”

CORRECTION: This story was updated to reflect Alexander Walker’s correct title, which is managing editor.