I had to read this article for another class, and it's pretty interesting. One of the problems with online journalism is that it's so new and there isn't a set structure for it yet. It's not as defined as print or broadcast so the rules and regulations are much more vague. The author also explains that with online journalism, the job titles are much less defined. Everyone on the team does a little bit of everything instead of just writing or just editing.
I know we talk about this type of thing all the time in other classes, but what do you think are good ways to save online journalism and make it a more respected institution like print or broadcast? How can journalist be successful through online journalism?
http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2013/03/05/the-problem-with-online-freelance-journalism/
I think online journalism is quickly becoming a respected institution. With the prevalence of blogs, Twitter, and lots of online-only content, traditional media is almost scrambling to catch up with the Internet. Some papers faced the facts and ended traditional publication in favor of going solely digital; the big name leading this charge is the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. They ceased printing their paper but continued to exist as a news source because they felt it wouldn't take away from the quality that readers came to expect from a hard copy newspaper. As circulation drops, it wouldn't surprise me to see more struggling papers move the way of the Seattle P-I.
ReplyDeleteAlthough original online journalism is gaining respect, I have to disagree with Eric and point out that audiences still trust newspapers the most. Check out this info graphic here:http://craigconnects.org/newsinfographic. They did a poll where only 13% of respondents send internet news sites were credible sources of news in terms of politics and elections.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that so few people trust the online news sources on such important topics indicates there is still a lot of work to be done in making the field more respected. In order to accomplish this I think media need to hold on to the traditional newsroom structure of writers, copy editors, and editors. I have heard that many news rooms cut copy editors and researchers, teams of people that specifically check on the facts. At the same time these newsrooms are transitioning into the new media, giving less employees more work.
The loss of these traditional employees in the newsroom guarantees the increase of mistakes and misinformation that continue the idea that online journalism can be unreliable. It seems to me that the online news sites that are trusted are the ones affiliated with traditional media.
I think it is more a matter of the business model that newsrooms have to reconsider now that audience demands the convenience of online news. They need to make profits to sustain a large employee base with all the necessary workers, from researchers to editors. The customers seem to want it all: reliability, usability, and timeliness. We need a way for journalists to guarantee that to their audiences whatever the cost. Then the field will gain more respect.