The ever-evolving journalist.
As time has past, it has become somewhat more and more difficult to precisely define who a journalist is and the roles they play in society.
Due to the evolution of certain societal aspects such as technology, journalism as we know it has changed and will continue to change due to use of media convergence and of course social media.
Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have definitely had a major influence not only on journalism itself, but the hard working journalists.
Roy Greenslade stated that “while journalism does indeed matter, journalists do not.” In his next breath however he states that “proper journalism is worth fighting for.”
Thus this sparks the question, if proper journalism is important and journalists are not, where will the quality news come from?
According to Yoo, (2011, p.84) “Interactive features have allowed for a diverse range of online users to produce content as simple as a comment on a blog or uncovering local news stories.” However, the question still remains, is this quality journalism? Can the source be trusted to provide valid and correct information?
In order to keep up with today’s societal and ever-evolving technological changes, journalists have to be equipped with a broad range of skills and techniques in order to retain a job.
In order to keep up with today’s societal and ever-evolving technological changes, journalists have to be equipped with a broad range of skills and techniques in order to retain a job.
These skills include:
· Researching
· Interviewing
· Gathering information
· Using appropriate language
· Using appropriate technology
· Crossing media platforms
· Recognising a good story
· Interpreting meaning
· Disseminating information
· Understanding the audience
· Meeting limits and deadline
· Committing to accuracy, fairness and ethics
However, despite possessing these skills, it is still unknown as to whether journalists are still needed.
With the rise of social media, anyone of us has the potential to be a journalist. If a natural disaster is occurring and you have possession of a camera phone, the video or picture you take or the tweet makes you, in some way, a journalist.
Here is a short video on blogging by Seth Godin and Tom Peters.
What does the future look like for journalism?
I’m afraid I do not have the answer.
References:
Seth Godin and Tom Peters on blogging. (April 18, 2009). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=livzJTIWlmY Accessed: 12.8.11
Yoo, C. (2011). Modeling Audience Interactivity as the Gratification-Seeking Process in Online Newspapers. Communication Theory (pages 67-89)
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