Today in class we watched a documentary called Stop the Presses. The documentary discussed what challenges the newspaper industry faces and what may lie ahead. The film talked about the impact of the internet and how it's cutting into their classified ads. They discussed the complexities of putting the newspaper up on the web for free, yet still trying to sell a product. Many reporters now carry video cameras with them and are required to be tech savvy. Over and over again the pressure to be new and innovated, but still profitable were discussed. This pressure makes it hard for real and good journalism to always be present. Immediacy takes precedence sometimes over fact.
Unfortunately, newspapers aren't the only ones facing these challenges. Coming from a broadcast background, I see many of the same struggles on the broadcasting side.
Currently I am an intern for ABC4 News and the pressures to be the best and the first are always present. Because they have to turn stories within a couple of hours, sometimes the deeper stories are put to the side due to time constraints. News organizations all must please the audience, the news director, and of course those who own them. This is where I sometimes have a hard time, because if we are only reporting what people want to hear... then they may never get the whole story or a story that is really of great importance. Luckily (and here's a plug for ABC4) I've seen them report what is news, and what is really going on... they like many other news stations here and abroad, are watching out for their public.
The Future?? Who knows!! I don't even know what I'll want to wear tomorrow... All I know is that people want answers immediately. They have all the tools at their fingertips to look things up, to buy books, tickets, etc. There is no waiting anymore. I think where everything is now heading is getting more involved in their communities. This, I feel, is great! We are there to help the public, to inform, to be that watchdog for corruptness, to give a voice to the voiceless. Doesn't it make sense then that we can provide that voice for people.... to provide a medium where they can work with us in helping out the community? I'm not sure where news media is headed... I do know much more is required of those in the field. We need to be more multifaceted and a jack-of-all trades, but my hope is that even with all the pressure of producing, that real and true journalism will not suffer and that people will still be able to trust us and can turn to us when they want to know what is going on.
So is there a tomorrow for journalism.... I say OF COURSE! We will always need to know what is going on... and we need to know who we can trust. Blogs are great and will be a good source of information... reporters can just take that information a step further. Together, reporters and the community, can make a difference.
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