Journalism TodayJournalism Today

Chapter 1Chapter 1““Reporting for the Media” TextReporting for the Media” Text

Writing for the Mass Media ClassWriting for the Mass Media Class

Technology Drives ChangesTechnology Drives Changes

New technologies require that news New technologies require that news organizations develop new ways of organizations develop new ways of providing information to audiencesproviding information to audiences

Digital journalism and convergence are Digital journalism and convergence are key issues in today’s news industrykey issues in today’s news industry

New job descriptions today reflect New job descriptions today reflect trend: backpack journalists, sojos (solo trend: backpack journalists, sojos (solo journalists) and mojos (mobile journalists) and mojos (mobile journalists)journalists)

Today’s Multimedia Today’s Multimedia JournalistsJournalists

Journalists must continue to be Journalists must continue to be experts in reporting and writing news experts in reporting and writing news and do so with passion, accuracy and do so with passion, accuracy and authorityand authority

But today they are also equipped But today they are also equipped with the digital and video cameras so with the digital and video cameras so their stories can be shared across their stories can be shared across media platforms: print, television, media platforms: print, television, Internet, blogs, podcastsInternet, blogs, podcasts

Traditional Media Must Traditional Media Must AdaptAdapt

As we (the public) use the Internet As we (the public) use the Internet more and more, we take control of more and more, we take control of how, when and what news we access. how, when and what news we access.

Only 20 short years ago, news Only 20 short years ago, news consumers were at the mercy of consumers were at the mercy of traditional news organizations– people traditional news organizations– people had to wait until the paper was had to wait until the paper was delivered or until the TV and radio delivered or until the TV and radio news programs were broadcastnews programs were broadcast

The Changing Media ModelThe Changing Media Model Now the traditional media must adapt to Now the traditional media must adapt to

avoid becoming irrelevantavoid becoming irrelevant Media managers are making earnest Media managers are making earnest

investments to become successful in investments to become successful in digital journalism digital journalism

Today, Internet revenues are growing and Today, Internet revenues are growing and media managers are striving to become media managers are striving to become successful news providers onlinesuccessful news providers online

Digital journalism is regarded less as a Digital journalism is regarded less as a competitor and more as an important competitor and more as an important component bringing in revenue and component bringing in revenue and audiencesaudiences

Media “Convergence”Media “Convergence” This is the concept and practice of one media owner This is the concept and practice of one media owner

bringing together its different news organizations under bringing together its different news organizations under one umbrella to share personnel and equipmentone umbrella to share personnel and equipment

Media General’s Tampa, Fla. operation is often citedMedia General’s Tampa, Fla. operation is often cited In 2000 MG built a $40 million News Center that houses In 2000 MG built a $40 million News Center that houses

the staffs of the Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV and TBO.comthe staffs of the Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV and TBO.com The first floor has a TV studio, the second floor a joint The first floor has a TV studio, the second floor a joint

newspaper/TV newsroomnewspaper/TV newsroom Editors from each medium attend the same planning Editors from each medium attend the same planning

meetings, discuss story coverage and consider which meetings, discuss story coverage and consider which medium is most effective for the storymedium is most effective for the story

Often the story is told “across platforms” in the Often the story is told “across platforms” in the different media. See: different media. See: http://www2.tbo.com/home/

Convergence Pros and ConsConvergence Pros and Cons Sharing sources Sharing sources

enables news enables news organizations to cover organizations to cover stories more in depthstories more in depth

Less competing for Less competing for “scoops” will mean “scoops” will mean reporting that is more reporting that is more accurate, thorough, accurate, thorough, comprehensive comprehensive

Local issues will be Local issues will be better coveredbetter covered

But critics say But critics say convergence leads to convergence leads to less diversity in stories less diversity in stories and contentand content

Less competition can Less competition can mean less striving for mean less striving for excellence and a excellence and a larger audience sharelarger audience share

Wasted time and Wasted time and space advertising and space advertising and promoting each other promoting each other and referring and referring audiences to allied audiences to allied newspapers or TV newspapers or TV stations for more infostations for more info

Growth of Citizen JournalismGrowth of Citizen Journalism As news organizations increase their use of As news organizations increase their use of

the Web, they have begun to invite readers the Web, they have begun to invite readers and viewers to participate in creating content and viewers to participate in creating content

Some editors rely on citizens’ participation Some editors rely on citizens’ participation (called “crowd sourcing” or “user-generated (called “crowd sourcing” or “user-generated content”) to augment the work of their content”) to augment the work of their limited numbers of reporters and limited numbers of reporters and photographersphotographers

With more participation and coverage, With more participation and coverage, journalists and citizens feel more connected journalists and citizens feel more connected to the community and each other to the community and each other

Post and Courier’s Post and Courier’s Shared Photos Micro News Sites: Micro News Sites: Patch.com

Training 21Training 21stst Century Century JournalistsJournalists

Journalism and communication schools are Journalism and communication schools are taking different approachestaking different approaches

Many offer core courses that drill the Many offer core courses that drill the fundamentals of news judgment and fundamentals of news judgment and gathering, writing and organizing gathering, writing and organizing information in one type of medium, usually information in one type of medium, usually printprint

The idea is that once students understand The idea is that once students understand the basic of good reporting skills, they can the basic of good reporting skills, they can adapt to other media with added training adapt to other media with added training in the different equipment and technologyin the different equipment and technology

Other ApproachesOther Approaches On the other hand, some schools On the other hand, some schools

immediately introduce their students to the immediately introduce their students to the presentation of news on a variety of presentation of news on a variety of platforms. platforms.

Students are taught how to operate audio Students are taught how to operate audio equipment, digital cameras, video cameras equipment, digital cameras, video cameras and computer software for different types of and computer software for different types of online presentations.online presentations.

Assignments may consist of adapting the Assignments may consist of adapting the same story to print, audio, voice-over slide same story to print, audio, voice-over slide shows, video packages, standups, online shows, video packages, standups, online and multimedia combined and multimedia combined

Becoming a Digital Becoming a Digital JournalistJournalist

Needed, according to a survey of 450 Needed, according to a survey of 450 online managers and producers, are:online managers and producers, are:– News judgment and knowledge of News judgment and knowledge of

grammar and style (for story writing and grammar and style (for story writing and editing)editing)

– Ability to report and write original stories Ability to report and write original stories and edit photos (for content creation)and edit photos (for content creation)

– Attention to detail, have good Attention to detail, have good communication skills, multitask and have communication skills, multitask and have an awareness or ability to learn new an awareness or ability to learn new technologies (overall skills and attitude)technologies (overall skills and attitude)