The Internet and Journalism

 

The video above discusses how the Internet changes journalism and the reach and power that the Internet possesses in this aspect.

 

Without the Internet and citizen journalism, much of the world’s news will take too long to reach everyone. And by then it would be old news. With the Internet, on the other hand, the world often finds out about something even before the mainstream media picks it up. It is interesting to consider whether or not the Internet will contribute to the demise of mainstream journalism.

Journalism cannot remain unchanged with the role that the Internet plays in people’s lives these days, but whether the Internet shapes journalism for the better or worst remains two conflicting schools of thought.

Consumers are turning to the Internet to obtain news at faster rate and at a no cost. Hence traditional news outlets have been struggling to remain competitive and attractive to consumers. While traditional journalism provides depth, one of the draws of Internet journalism is its width. When a story is published online, it is not just written by one journalist. The Internet allows many others to publish follow up stories or their comments and responses to it. This allows a single story to be told from many different perspectives and it allows the reader to see an issue from all angles.

However professional journalists criticize Internet journalism or citizen journalism for its lack of credibility. Citizen journalist may not be committed to reporting the absolute truth. Unlike traditional journalists, citizen journalists or bloggers are not required to support their work with credible sources. Furthermore, the Internet does bring about a phenomenon of users craving attention. Some online journalists may sensationalize their articles to obtain more subscribers to their blog or website.

Traditional journalists may also posit that online journalism contains more public opinion than objective facts and figures. On the receiving end, a large number of consumers may also place too much trust in online sources. To counter this problem, consumers should be more open and seek different sources before forming their personal impression of any issue.

Beyond the lack of accountability in Internet journalism, it is free from certain constrains of traditional journalism. This gives it an edge. One of Internet journalism’s most significant advantages over traditional journalism is its ability to deliver news to the people as soon as it breaks. While traditional newspapers deliver news once a day, online news sites or blogs can publish articles multiple times a day. And with the widespread use of RSS readers, users are immediately informed of any updates from sites they are interested in. With smart phones, consumers are also able to access information anytime and anywhere, instead of having to drop by a newsstand just to pick up a newspaper. With the superiority of the Internet’s timeliness, traditional news outlets are threatened in terms of relevancy.

Online news websites also tend to escape the space constrains which bog down traditional media. However, readers tend to develop different habits online. Most people tend to have shorter attention spans online. Furthermore, with online advertisements and links that can distract the reader and lead them away from the intended content, online news outlets develop constrains of their own.

To remain competitive and retain readers, many printed newspapers have released online versions. This is a sign that traditional media has also accepted and embraced this consumer culture shift.

As with every issue, there are always two side of the coin. I personally believe that the Internet would not lead to the demise of traditional journalism, as there are still aspects of traditional journalism that Internet journalism lack. The Internet shapes journalism for better and worse. As with all new media, the only way for people to get the most out of it is to remain discerning while consuming content.  It would definitely help for people to pursue knowledge while keeping in mind the nature and background of different sources and mediums. By considering possible biases and motives, readers can get closer to the truth.