Our world has always been in constant change. We have evolved from primitive beings into masterful minds able to create innovative and technological media that shorten our global means of communication and distances. In the past, the world was conquered by the power of the seas, nowadays, this power lies on the hands of technology. In this respect, digital media plays an important role. This is my take on an article written by Katie King for the Winter edition of the Neiman Reports published by Harvard University, about the current affairs of journalism and the power of digital network. Enjoy!
Journalism as a Conversation - an Article written by Katie King
Journalism as a Conversation - an Article written by Katie King
Katie King, in her article, Journalism as a Conversation, gives us a glimpse of what many call the “Golden Age of Journalism.” She starts by discussing how the advances in telecommunications ease her daily tasks and puts information right at the palm of her hand. Katie is no stranger to the world that surrounds her and understands that to keep her position as a respectful journalist, she must join and keep apace with the digital revolution in which we are all merge in, and, which tells us that the digital publishing practiced by the masses is inseparable from the practice of journalism.
Journalism has evolved, and thorough research, strong testimonies and a collective network of reliable sources is mandatory to satisfy demanding crowds of educated audiences who are no longer ONLY recipients of information, but ACTIVE participants of the reporting process. Newsgathering and distribution has changed forever, and the audience is part of the process.[1]
Journalism has evolved, and if in the past journalist competed among themselves for local or nationwide audiences, nowadays the competition is global, and encompasses not only e-journalism, but the saturated and contaminated medium of the Internet, which on itself, carries powerful sources of on-time reporting and networking channels such as blogs, microblogs, video and mobile blogs (among others.); sites full of participants hungry for news and able to spread them faster than satellite feeds. However, it is important to note, that being participants of the reporting process does not exclude a traditional journalist to do his or her job, and interview, fact check and verification of the information being streamed out is a must and still plays an important role in true journalism.
Does this mean that anybody can be a journalist? On one sense one think it might, as technology has facilitated the means of reporting, and anyone with a camera can record and upload real time happenings. However, true journalism is still measure by objective, reliable, strong and good reporting, although we can’t afford to ignore the fact that nowadays journalists must incorporate and connect to the information being produced by specialists all around the globe. Thus, journalism right now no only demands excellent reporting able to navigate through spam, but most importantly, it now demands the art of networking.
Journalism has evolved, and thorough research, strong testimonies and a collective network of reliable sources is mandatory to satisfy demanding crowds of educated audiences who are no longer ONLY recipients of information, but ACTIVE participants of the reporting process. Newsgathering and distribution has changed forever, and the audience is part of the process.[1]
Journalism has evolved, and if in the past journalist competed among themselves for local or nationwide audiences, nowadays the competition is global, and encompasses not only e-journalism, but the saturated and contaminated medium of the Internet, which on itself, carries powerful sources of on-time reporting and networking channels such as blogs, microblogs, video and mobile blogs (among others.); sites full of participants hungry for news and able to spread them faster than satellite feeds. However, it is important to note, that being participants of the reporting process does not exclude a traditional journalist to do his or her job, and interview, fact check and verification of the information being streamed out is a must and still plays an important role in true journalism.
Does this mean that anybody can be a journalist? On one sense one think it might, as technology has facilitated the means of reporting, and anyone with a camera can record and upload real time happenings. However, true journalism is still measure by objective, reliable, strong and good reporting, although we can’t afford to ignore the fact that nowadays journalists must incorporate and connect to the information being produced by specialists all around the globe. Thus, journalism right now no only demands excellent reporting able to navigate through spam, but most importantly, it now demands the art of networking.
[1] Journalism as a Conversation Katie King. Nieman Reports. Nieman Foundation for Journalist at Harvard.. Winter 2008. http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reportsitem.aspx?id=100670
Image source: http://www.virtualict.co.uk/networking.jpg
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