Journalism is an ever-changing profession. As the world changes and the way of thinking changes, journalists must adapt to those changes both in the way their stories are reported and the way they find those stories. Below are some of the current journalism trends based on those same changes with the world.
Internet-Related Changes – Understanding Online Journalism
While journalists have long been the conveyors of the news, they now find themselves in competition with regular, average, everyday Joes and Janes. These are the bloggers of the world, and it’s surprising how quickly these bloggers can get their information and have it published on the Internet.
The advantage they have over journalists is that they have no publication times – they simply hit a button and the news is out there for the world to read. Massive blogs like Tech Crunch have gained a huge readership, and many of these blogs bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in advertising revenue.
Multimedia Changes – Impact of Technology on Journalism
While today’s generation would find it difficult to believe, once upon a time the only news came from newspapers or word of mouth. Today, the public wants and demands multimedia options – from streaming video online to downloadable apps where they can receive the news via their cell phones.
They want the option of reading the news online, picking up a newspaper, watching television or even checking the news out on their iPhone, and journalists must give them those options or lose the readers. Therefore, journalists are working harder than ever – some of them creating website content and reporting the news while checking facts and interviewing sources.
Journalist Changes – Journalism in Digital Age
While it’s difficult to see a future that replaces schooled and trained journalists altogether, there are some changes in journalists. In an era where the public seems to identify more with ordinary people, individuals who have no journalistic training at all have taken on the role. These individuals may have training in the topic they end up reporting on, though. For instance, Nancy Grace, law school graduate, now has her own show where she focuses mainly on homicides and missing children.
As an advocate for children’s rights and a victim of a terrible crime as well, Nancy is hard on the people she interviews. This is one of the reasons she is so popular with the public – she takes the victims’ sides and gives no slack to persons of interest or individuals who may be holding back information. This kind of change in journalism is seen with sports figures and celebrities as well.
Although these are the trends as of now, journalism is sure to continue changing over the years as people advance and technology advances as well.
Additional Resources
Print Journalism vs. Television Journalism
Tips to Become a Television Journalist
 |
