Journalism TodayJournalism Today

Chapter 1Chapter 1

Traditional MediaTraditional Media

►Traditional media make a strong industry.Traditional media make a strong industry.►More attention is being paid to the More attention is being paid to the

Internet to gain and maintain new Internet to gain and maintain new audiences.audiences.

►Although circulation declined for many Although circulation declined for many newspapers, they are still read by 124 newspapers, they are still read by 124 million people.million people.

►Papers are embracing the Internet and Papers are embracing the Internet and are competing with broadcast sites for are competing with broadcast sites for breaking news.breaking news.

►News magazines are also looking for News magazines are also looking for ways to maintain and compete.ways to maintain and compete.

►Radio is going digital, satellite and is Radio is going digital, satellite and is available as recordings for iPods and available as recordings for iPods and iPhones.iPhones.

►More people are taking control of their More people are taking control of their own access to what news they want.own access to what news they want.

►This can be good and bad.This can be good and bad.►New technology helps fragment New technology helps fragment

culture and avoid opposing views.culture and avoid opposing views.

ConvergenceConvergence

►Coming together from different Coming together from different directions.directions.

►Coming together on different formats.Coming together on different formats.►Media General has 25 daily newspapers Media General has 25 daily newspapers

and 23 broadcast television stations.and 23 broadcast television stations.►Advance Publications owns 26 daily and Advance Publications owns 26 daily and

11 weekly newspapers, 22 magazines 11 weekly newspapers, 22 magazines and 11 state-wide Internet sites.and 11 state-wide Internet sites.

►Proponents of convergence say it allows Proponents of convergence say it allows reporting in greater depth.reporting in greater depth.

►Opponents see convergence as a Opponents see convergence as a convenient way to remarket traditional convenient way to remarket traditional shallow coverage.shallow coverage.

►Because the same editors are involved Because the same editors are involved in converging formats, there is less in converging formats, there is less diversity of ideas.diversity of ideas.

►With less competition, there will be With less competition, there will be less initiative to increase quality or less initiative to increase quality or strive for excellence.strive for excellence.

►Cross-promotion of entertainment Cross-promotion of entertainment products is disguised as news.products is disguised as news.

Digital JournalismDigital Journalism

►Some authorities say nearly 330 million Some authorities say nearly 330 million people actively use the Internet and more people actively use the Internet and more than a billion use it occasionally.than a billion use it occasionally.

►Not all of these folks are looking for news.Not all of these folks are looking for news.►Music, multimedia, blogs, MySpace, Music, multimedia, blogs, MySpace,

Facebook and YouTube are good examples Facebook and YouTube are good examples of what younger Internet users want.of what younger Internet users want.

►One good thing is that digital technology One good thing is that digital technology is making us more local with our news.is making us more local with our news.

►Reporters are filing their stories directly Reporters are filing their stories directly to the Internet from laptops with WiFi.to the Internet from laptops with WiFi.

►Reporters are carrying digital cameras Reporters are carrying digital cameras capable of still and video capture.capable of still and video capture.

►Photograph slideshows and videos can be Photograph slideshows and videos can be uploaded to breaking news blogs from a uploaded to breaking news blogs from a LAN, WAN or Wireless connection.LAN, WAN or Wireless connection.

► In some cases, audio, including recorded In some cases, audio, including recorded music and interviews, are processed and music and interviews, are processed and uploaded by the reporter.uploaded by the reporter.

Citizen JournalismCitizen Journalism

►All of the technologies mentioned for All of the technologies mentioned for reporting are available to the general reporting are available to the general public.public.

►Television stations and now some Television stations and now some newspapers are giving the general newspapers are giving the general public authority to upload news to public authority to upload news to their online products.their online products.

►MySpace, Facebook and YouTube MySpace, Facebook and YouTube helps citizens learn the technology helps citizens learn the technology required to do this.required to do this.

►This type of access is called “crowd This type of access is called “crowd sourcing” or “user-generated content.”sourcing” or “user-generated content.”

►Local news sites operating outside Local news sites operating outside corporate media outlets are called corporate media outlets are called “citizen media sites.”“citizen media sites.”

►Nearly 1,000 such sites exist.Nearly 1,000 such sites exist.►The philosophy behind this product is The philosophy behind this product is

that it provides unique local content, that it provides unique local content, dialog, extended local news and dialog, extended local news and community connectedness. community connectedness.

Training 21Training 21stst Century Century JournalistsJournalists

►Good reporting is always first priority.Good reporting is always first priority.►The most essential tools for a journalist The most essential tools for a journalist

are dependent on mind and heart, not are dependent on mind and heart, not technology.technology.

►Technology is changing so quickly, Technology is changing so quickly, training is sometimes obsolete in a year.training is sometimes obsolete in a year.

► Journalists should be trained in critical Journalists should be trained in critical thinking, news judgment and writing.thinking, news judgment and writing.

►This transfers to all technological formats.This transfers to all technological formats.