Read Between the Lines, Pamela Di PInto

Journalism 2.0, in simplest terms, "is the coming together of traditional journalism and technology," as Shannon Findlay mentioned in a comment on an earlier blog post. However, it also entails something more: Journalism 2.0 promotes the use of technology to enhance journalism practiced today. The most common example is the world of online journalism, where stories are no longer sole bodies of text, but supplemented with audio clips, video, and other forms of multi-media content. Citizens can even participate in this process through comments, blogs, and personalized posts on the social networking site of their choice (You win this time Twitter!). Yes, the digital age is upon us! Technology has rocked the boat of traditional journalism long considered the security blanket of journalists old and new. Some say this form of journalism will be lost altogether, growing older and more out-dated with each new "tweet" on the latest headline. Some, like myself, beg to differ.

In their report, "The Reconstruction of American Journalism", Leonard Downie Jr. and Michael Schudson concede that journalism is shifting from the traditional world to one that is more technologically-savvy. Despite this fact, they explain that "newspapers and television news are not going to vanish in the foreseeable future, despite frequent predictions of their imminent extinction. But they will play diminished roles in an emerging and still rapidly changing world of digital journalism..." In other words, take a breather! Your morning paper and evening news broadcast are staying right where they are...for now. However, as journalism continues to evolve in light of this "digital age," the form of journalistic content will have to evolve with it. This means traditional journalism will eventually be pushed to the back burner, while online journalism will emerge as the dominant means of information for news-goers.

The main point I want to drive home, though, is one again expressed in Downie and Schudson's "The Reconstruction of American Journalism." In their report, they outline that amidst this shift from traditional to online journalism, "what is paramount is preserving independent, original, credible reporting, whether or not it is popular or profitable, and regardless of the medium in which it appears." This statement really struck a chord with me because I realized how completely right they are! Yes, the vast majority of people today are drawn to online journalism because it is able to keep up with the fast pace of their daily lives, providing them with information at an instantaneous rate. Simply put, traditional journalism cannot keep up. This is why many people fear its "extinction," as mentioned earlier. However, what Downie and Schudson continue to stress in their report is that we should not fear the loss of this medium, but the loss of the journalism behind the medium. In other words, in shifting to online journalism, a reporter should not lose the basic journalistic principles rooted in traditional journalism. Online journalism is still journalism, and should act as such.

In conclusion, then, let us turn our attention to an old cliché: "Quality over quantity." In other words, journalism should still remain accurate, credible, and free from bias despite the medium in which it reaches consumers, and despite how prevalent that medium may be. The online world of journalism is said to possess an "unlimited" quality, free from space or time biases that often hindered traditional journalism. Even so, if the limitless world of online journalism is founded on poor journalism, ultimately devoid of "independent, original, credible reporting," then it is of no use to any news-goer. Therefore, I urge all you online-news addicts currently scanning the latest headlines to read between the lines! Poor journalism doesn't benefit anyone, despite how fast you can have it uploaded to your "Crackberry." Long live the fundamental principles of good journalism!