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Contrary to popular belief, the future of journalism is a bright one and the marriage between news and the web will be long lasting and loving.
Nothing To Fear But Fear ItselfTechnology is often portrayed as a fiend in the world of journalism. Looming on the horizon, it threatens to obliterate all forms of writing that can't be uploaded, downloaded, or otherwise processed on the web. However, the truth is discovered to be much more pleasant when this tyrant the writers speak of is unmasked and turns out to be the greatest thing to happen to journalism since the Gutenberg Press. A Match Made in HeavenJournalism and the web were simply made for each other. The two serve each other's purposes so well: one to inform people and one to connect them. The marriage of the two will inevitably change many aspects of writing, but also benefit the writing community as a whole. Better, Faster, StrongerThe speed of the Internet is crucial to the future of journalism. Equally important is the size of its audience: anyone with access to the web. This speed and range is simultaneously benefited by video, allowing journalists to quickly find an appropriate visual aid to complement their story and further engage the reader. In this regard, the Internet mixes different media forms together to better tell the story. Considering how vast the Internet is, journalists should be in awe of its potential. The countless sites that post news and RSS feeds represent just as many diverse angles and level the playing field so that even those with the most extreme views feel represented. Everyone sees their own side to every story, and can find one they agree with on the Internet much easier than any other medium. Power to the PeopleThe Internet spreads vast opportunity across the world to anyone with a keyboard. Understandably, people see the ramifications of this by pointing out the many slanderous and untrustworthy bloggers roaming the web. Andrew Kantor of USA Today claims "Unfortunately, for every legitimate 'catch,' there are plenty of unjustified smears made by bloggers with axes to grind." There are checks and balances, however, because such offenders are easily identifiable and become notorious writers without the credibility of a respected, well trusted blogger Readers can contribute more than ever with the tools that the "Internet 2.0" gives them. Comment boxes under articles are now found almost everywhere, giving everyone the option to voice their opinions on articles and topics. Such dialogue can be taken even further into forums and message boards, creating a community atmosphere for discussion. In his post for j-learning.org, Mark Briggs describes the new trend of "Beat Blogging," which has writers crearting social networks around their chosen topics. Such communities would never be formed without modern technology. Granting even more power to the citizen journalism movement is the rise of user-created content. Sites like Youtube allow news stories to be shown from the view of an ordinary citizen, an effective way to connect audiences to a topic they would otherwise deem to distant. Looking ForwardThe idea that the Internet is the grim reaper of journalism makes little sense. "One of the biggest threats to print is the sheer volume and variety of writing that can be found online," says CBC Newsworld Although it may be true that newspapers and magazines may become obsolete in favor of online publications, journalism as a whole only needs to adapt to this shift. While it is sad to see the fate of print journalism running short, writers should realize the potential online and not look back when the future ahead is so bright.
The copyright of the article The Future of Journalism in Online Publishing is owned by Mason Souza. Permission to republish The Future of Journalism in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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