If it's one thing that technology has done through out all of history it has been to make information more available to those who seek it. So it should come as no surprise that just as the printing press changed the world, so to does the internet. The application of the internet in the world of journalism, has opened a Pandora's box, of blogging and citizen journalists, that some would like to see closed, but now that is it opened it is doubtful that slamming the lid shut is possible. Instead of trying to change the past in hopes that the future remains the same, journalists should be trying to find ways to incorporate the new internet applications into their job.
The big concern right now is for quality. people fear for a loss of quality in composition, in accuracy and in ethics. A valid concern, since there is not shortage of blogs out there right now that are so full of errors it could induce a seizure. On the other hand, they can provide information that would that many would never have access to. A first person point of view on an unfolding event.
The biggest example of that is perhaps the events of 9/11, when the world trade center's towers fell. Think of how many pictures and videos there were taken with peoples cell phones, how many of those lead to sources for the professional reporters that when to cover the story. That extra information gave the journalists more information to work with and create even more dynamic stories, really showing the horror of the event.
Of course the quality won't be the same in the blogs and citizen journal reports as it would be in a news paper, and that is a good thing. The professional journalist of today can research out the 'poorer quality' blogs and work with the writers to create a perfectly composed story. This
method would do two things for the news industry: it would encourage public interest in the news, and increase the credibility of both the citizen journalist and the professional journalist; it would also increase the accuracy and the depth of the stories produced, highlighting the angles that matter to the public.In this model, the citizen journalist would not be undercutting the industry, but instead be helping the workings of a news agency. We see this happening already to some degree. The Edmonton Journal's entertainment section has a Review by You column, and Global TV is paying $100 to the best citizen weather photographer, every week. Getting the public involved in the news reporting process is only one step toward saving the journalism industry, but it is an important one as people today want interactive media, and if they can interact with the news agencies they will have a more vested interest in them.
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You should make the youtube video's slightly smaller so they fit, good post overall though
ReplyDeleteI really like how you incorporated YouTube videos into your blog posts! What to be different! Your ideas are also very original, and you cite some good examples that support your ideas. I agree with Kevin that you have some formatting issues, but other than that I enjoyed your blog post!
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit better. I made the videos smaller. so now they fit a bit better.
ReplyDeleteI love the videos! I think that you are right when you say that composition has suffered, but by the same token, I feel as if it is also an opportuniy to invent new quality mediums to express information, and that quality composition will follow- nobody's wonderful at something the first try!
ReplyDelete"Just as the printing press changed the world, so to does the internet." = a little tense confusion.
ReplyDeleteThere is an unnecessary comma after "journalism has opened a Pandora's box of blogging and citizen journalists..." The whole sentence is riddled with commas that don't need to be there.
You are missing an "a" in between "is not shortage" or you could have meant "is no shortage."
"For the professional reporters that were covering the story" instead of "to sources for the professional reporters that when to cover the story."