I think that the relatively new shift to digital, multimedia journalism has allows the news to be a lot more flexible and introduces much more variety in terms of the breadth and depth of the stories that are covered by contemporary journalists. When I visited the OC Register, all the writers had two computer monitors: one to write their story and one to keep them updated on everything through networks such as twitter. With new technology, access to news is not only faster but easier.
I see two main benefits to digital journalism. First, I can always find reliable information about the world whenever I need. All I have to do is type in some few key words in a search engine, and several articles from several different sources are immediately available. Second, the topics that journalists now cover have expanded immensely. I can read about anything from fashion to politics due to the increased access to information and ability to research fast.
I am curious to see how long written journalism will last. Newspapers are almost obsolete, and since sites like vimeo and youtube are all the rage, I think news broadcasts will soon take over the industry of journalism all together.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Change is Evident, but Welcomed
Just as news is always changing, the news industry is never the same as it was in the past. From print to broadcast to digital, journalism has seen itself become radically different and yet more versatile at the same time. That said, I applaud the changing nature of the news industry. It allows billions of people the opportunity to comb through different mediums to access their news. There are some traditionalists who only pick up newspapers instead of their remote controls to check their local broadcasts, but we need to learn to adapt to the fact that journalism encompasses so much more than newspapers. Personally, I prefer getting my news digitally just because of the ease of browsing a webpage, but there really isn’t any advantage that one genre of journalism has over another.
In this present time, the most important way a journalist, like myself, can improve is too become much more well-rounded. When I attended the AAJA convention last summer in Detroit, Michigan, I talked to Mrs. Mara Schiavocampo (Emmy Award-winning journalist from MSNBC), and she told me that in her line of work, she taught herself to do everything broadcast-related: report, film, edit, anchor, to name a few. She was basically a one-woman team. I totally concur with her. No one likes a one- trick pony. In order to become indispensable, it’s extremely important to learn every skill of your trade. Not only will you become more successful, but you’ll also be less likely to be laid off if you work for a news publication/corporation!
In order to be effective in my current position, I know that I’ll have to experience chasing stories in hard-to-reach places. To anyone starting out, reporting on events at school may seem like a novelty, but after years of doing so, it becomes routine to the point that you find yourself reporting on the same events year after year. It’ll be beneficial for not only myself, but for everyone, to venture outside of our campus to become community reporters. By doing so, I’ll become more confident when it comes to more difficult stories. It’s all about expanding boundaries.
In all honesty, I completely embrace this new change in modern journalism. It allows for the continual and constant proliferation of knowledge and news - one that lets the journalist get closer and a bit more personal with the user. It's a refreshing change - we can nearly instantly get feedback from other knowledgeable members of society instead of waiting to get into the coveted editorial section of the newspaper.
As a techie myself, I want to watch news go in this direction - its the best way to make sure everyone knows the true news. I see my role going towards a more open one, one that requires me to be able to talk to more people and understand that everyone can be knowledgeable. I started out as an editor - I've already had to move towards a more open position as a reporter and an Executive Producer. This change has happened in front of my eyes.
Skills though, I think I need to improve on working with people and delegating, to make sure the image looks the best. I think I'm capable.
As a techie myself, I want to watch news go in this direction - its the best way to make sure everyone knows the true news. I see my role going towards a more open one, one that requires me to be able to talk to more people and understand that everyone can be knowledgeable. I started out as an editor - I've already had to move towards a more open position as a reporter and an Executive Producer. This change has happened in front of my eyes.
Skills though, I think I need to improve on working with people and delegating, to make sure the image looks the best. I think I'm capable.
With the constant influx of new and innovative technology as a means of disseminating news to the public, the prevailing opinion in the field of journalism is there are only two options: hop aboard the “multimedia train” or be left behind. Whether this change is a blessing or a curse has been hotly contested and is one of the most pressing issues in journalism today.
In my opinion, I see this change as a good thing. It is now easier than ever to be informed of all the goings-on in the world. In the blink of an eye, a person can read about the latest scientific breakthrough or a recent presidential debate. This is a huge step forward in the journalistic principle of getting out information to the public.
On the other hand, however, I feel that much can be lost through this process. As print journalism is rapidly becoming an anachronistic medium, people have been moving towards a sort of “I want it all, and I want it now” attitude. The public (as Charlie said earlier) has developed gnat-like attention spans, and because of this, they opt for a “Reader’s Digest” version of the news.
This is why the most important thing in multimedia journalism is now making the news more appealing and relevant to audiences. As a reporter, my job is not only to find and report on stories, it is to take into consideration how people perceive the story and how it would appeal to them. For the journalists themselves, it is now more necessary to be well rounded. Reporters need to not only be able to write, but they need to be able to convey and report the news to their audiences in an engaging way.
In my opinion, I see this change as a good thing. It is now easier than ever to be informed of all the goings-on in the world. In the blink of an eye, a person can read about the latest scientific breakthrough or a recent presidential debate. This is a huge step forward in the journalistic principle of getting out information to the public.
On the other hand, however, I feel that much can be lost through this process. As print journalism is rapidly becoming an anachronistic medium, people have been moving towards a sort of “I want it all, and I want it now” attitude. The public (as Charlie said earlier) has developed gnat-like attention spans, and because of this, they opt for a “Reader’s Digest” version of the news.
This is why the most important thing in multimedia journalism is now making the news more appealing and relevant to audiences. As a reporter, my job is not only to find and report on stories, it is to take into consideration how people perceive the story and how it would appeal to them. For the journalists themselves, it is now more necessary to be well rounded. Reporters need to not only be able to write, but they need to be able to convey and report the news to their audiences in an engaging way.
Due to today's quick advancing technology, it's difficult to stay up to date. Every aspect of our life has to keep improving, including transportation and communication, to benefit us. Television news and internet nespaper is slowly taking over the old, traditional newspaper. There are many different advantage of each from of journalism. If one wants deep and background information, printed nespaper would be the best choice. On the other hand, internet and telivision are more instantnious. One could be on top of their games all day long and save lots of time at this time. However, internet and television sources are less reliable than the printed newspaper.
No matter what, technology journalism is slowly taking over the traditional ways. I mean, look at us! We're exchanging informations and ideas through a blog. Advanced techonologies do make our life easier as journalists much easier. We could make effects or texts more appealing to the eyes; we could report experiences and points on view from someone across the globe. These improvements could harm journalist as well though. The skill and equipment to become a journalist is in the reach for almost everyone now. One can become a journalist easily, which brings us more competitions(which is not bad all the time). In fact, this is how I became interested in journalism, just poking through the internet.
To become better journalists, we of course have to change with the fast-improving industry as well. We can't just improve solely our editing, filming or other techinical skills. We must also beware of the credibility of our sources and our own stories. Journalism is not just about how well you present your story. If one can't relate to or trust the topic we're trying to portray, then what is the use?
Development
The news industry is changing rapidly in this age with the advent of the Internet, more news providers, and better communication, and it may be all for the better. After all, the Internet has provided a universal network for journalism to spread through, effectively making people aware of current events and trends. Although newspapers and printed articles are becoming less popular, journalists are adapting and moving with the times. Websites, applications, videos, all these things present information in a way that the modern user finds appealing. The extension of information-sharing now extends far more into the user's daily life than before.
From the perspective of multimedia programs, it is definitely going to be more difficult to be able to build up an effective broadcast. Our information must be interesting and unique, but there are already thousands of other providers. Instead, we must take this information and spin our own angle on it, as what else would differentiate this news provider from the rest? Visuals are needed more than ever, starting with videos that can catch the eye of the user, appeal to them, and engross them into our subject. All of this is a considerable feat for journalists, for they are given the duty of learning the subject first in all its entirety, and then they must translate it for the users with aesthetics and fluency. We must now have good taste, a strong drive for research, and a capability to work quickly in order to get stories out to the public as soon as possible.
From the perspective of multimedia programs, it is definitely going to be more difficult to be able to build up an effective broadcast. Our information must be interesting and unique, but there are already thousands of other providers. Instead, we must take this information and spin our own angle on it, as what else would differentiate this news provider from the rest? Visuals are needed more than ever, starting with videos that can catch the eye of the user, appeal to them, and engross them into our subject. All of this is a considerable feat for journalists, for they are given the duty of learning the subject first in all its entirety, and then they must translate it for the users with aesthetics and fluency. We must now have good taste, a strong drive for research, and a capability to work quickly in order to get stories out to the public as soon as possible.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Significant Changes
I think it is fairly obvious that the Internet has changed so much. It's changed everything from the difficulty of procrastinating (it probably has slashed that in half, if it hasn't reduced it to a fourth of what it was. Think about it. Because of the Internet, there is way more distractions, and you can stay up until 12 AM researching without having to worry about when the library will close because the Internet is open 24/7!) to college apps, from teaching to journalism. I can't think of a single career that hasn't been impacted by the Internet in some way.
The public is way more informed than before the existence of the Internet, and I agree that it is imperative to realize this. Nobody likes to be talked down to, so reporters should not just give "users" information that they might already know. I do think it's important that reporters try to make news matter to the "users" and make it interesting! Users don't seek the news just for information anymore; after all, they could easily get that on the Internet. It's also definitely important to get information from users, too, since they could have valuable information. Basically, journalists should swallow their pride and realize that they can use information from the people they traditionally inform. It allows for users to feel more involved, and anyone would appreciate that.
I was reading something before about how the current generation of children and teens, being raised on the Internet, where they can get whatever they want at the click of a mouse, have developed something of a instant gratification attitude. This is really important to keep in mind because people don't want to watch some boring 5 minute long thing. They don't want to read walls of text. Their attention spans are very small, so reporters should keep their reports short and sweet and maybe even a little entertaining.
I'm going to have to learn to keep my audience's interest as a reporter. Just having interesting information isn't enough anymore. Maybe I should try to do something that's not quite as formulaic as I'm used to, and that's going to be difficult for me because I like being able to stick to a formula. I also should try and keep my reports succinct, which I suppose is not as hard, though it's a challenge in its own right.
The public is way more informed than before the existence of the Internet, and I agree that it is imperative to realize this. Nobody likes to be talked down to, so reporters should not just give "users" information that they might already know. I do think it's important that reporters try to make news matter to the "users" and make it interesting! Users don't seek the news just for information anymore; after all, they could easily get that on the Internet. It's also definitely important to get information from users, too, since they could have valuable information. Basically, journalists should swallow their pride and realize that they can use information from the people they traditionally inform. It allows for users to feel more involved, and anyone would appreciate that.
I was reading something before about how the current generation of children and teens, being raised on the Internet, where they can get whatever they want at the click of a mouse, have developed something of a instant gratification attitude. This is really important to keep in mind because people don't want to watch some boring 5 minute long thing. They don't want to read walls of text. Their attention spans are very small, so reporters should keep their reports short and sweet and maybe even a little entertaining.
I'm going to have to learn to keep my audience's interest as a reporter. Just having interesting information isn't enough anymore. Maybe I should try to do something that's not quite as formulaic as I'm used to, and that's going to be difficult for me because I like being able to stick to a formula. I also should try and keep my reports succinct, which I suppose is not as hard, though it's a challenge in its own right.
With the rapidly developing rate of modern media the time it takes to inform the public decreases. A celebrity passes away, or a natural disaster occurs; within minutes, the story is already on the front page of Yahoo. People want information, and they want it simple and fast. I feel that it is important for journalist to keep up with this, whether its with video journalism, blogging, or even tweeting; along with that, grab the readers' interests by knowing what the public is interested in knowing about.
We live in a country of Social Darwinism, the strongest survive and the weak die out. For journalists to be successful and gain a large audience, it is necessary for them to be able to get information to reader's while keeping them interested. The best way to do so is to know and take advantage of the different ways people access their information; whether its TV, Youtube, or Facebook pages. It is incredibly important that we, as journalists, keep up with this rapid development so we can be prepared to compete with those we may will come across in our futures. Each journalist has a huge potential of what they can accomplish, and is it important we take full advantage of the resources we can get and use it to its fullest.
With an open mind, we as journalists should be able to adapt to the changes of modern media and take full advantage of the enormous variety of capabilities it hands us. In order to be effective as a journalist myself, I plan on doing my best to keep my stories interesting and know what the viewers want to see. I will also practice my editing and try to learn other tricks to do with Adobe Premier so the stories I do are not only appealing in content, but in the visual as well.
We live in a country of Social Darwinism, the strongest survive and the weak die out. For journalists to be successful and gain a large audience, it is necessary for them to be able to get information to reader's while keeping them interested. The best way to do so is to know and take advantage of the different ways people access their information; whether its TV, Youtube, or Facebook pages. It is incredibly important that we, as journalists, keep up with this rapid development so we can be prepared to compete with those we may will come across in our futures. Each journalist has a huge potential of what they can accomplish, and is it important we take full advantage of the resources we can get and use it to its fullest.
With an open mind, we as journalists should be able to adapt to the changes of modern media and take full advantage of the enormous variety of capabilities it hands us. In order to be effective as a journalist myself, I plan on doing my best to keep my stories interesting and know what the viewers want to see. I will also practice my editing and try to learn other tricks to do with Adobe Premier so the stories I do are not only appealing in content, but in the visual as well.
Journalists, the Mailmen of the News Industry
As technology advances, the pace of life only gets faster and faster. People now have access to an infinite source of information accessible in seconds through a search engine. People can also post their own experiences and knowledge on the internet for the entire world to see. If information from people to people is already accessible through the internet, why do journalists need to report it as well? For example, if a scientist made a significant discovery and could post about it online, where the whole world can access it, why would a journalist need to report on it? Well, journalists have something that random information from the internet doesn't. Journalists are trusted sources who can properly separate relevant and irrelevant information (include true and false, biased and unbiased information) and transport it to the public in a way that is easily accessible and understandable. Normal people would not be likely to find the scientist's report unless they knew what they were looking for, let alone understand it completely. In this process, a journalist is like a mailman, sending information from certain people to other people by being a liaison trusted by both sides who knows where to send every bit of information and how to send it.
I personally appreciate the changes within the journalism industry. Although the newspapers are becoming outdated, more modern sources of news, like websites and television programs, and growing and prospering. Newspapers give a sense of nostalgia and tangibility and provide many jobs, but, ultimately, the more modern sources are much more affordable, eco-friendly, efficient, up-to-date, and engaging, easily becoming more favorable to "users".
The speed of today's news sources is their most important characteristic. If a sudden event occurs, it can be broadcasted live or posted about in minutes, allowing people to be updated constantly. A successful journalist must be able to provide new information to as many "users" as possible, not merely repeating what is known or has already been reported. Because the public consists of such a wide range of people, journalists must realize that there will most likely be users more experienced or knowledgeable in the subject than the journalists themselves. (After all, they are only "the mailmen" and not those who discovered the information.) Therefore, it would be wise to do some research or interview those more informed and experienced with the topic. They must try and find as many sources of information as possible, even those that may not be directly involved with the report, because one never knows what important information each person might have to share.
For example, after the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan, news of the event was broadcast in the U.S. almost instantly after the tragedy occurred. For the first day, news stations were constantly playing whatever new footage they could get their hand on. However, after a few days, most stations were continuously showing the same footage and giving the same information. The station that would interest viewers the most would be the ones with the most new information, doing interviews of victims of the disasters as well as specialists, workers, and scientists who knew more about nuclear power plants, earthquakes. They researched the subject, not only looking to those in Japan who were experiencing the tragedy first hand, but other sources like scientists and power plant workers in the U.S. who had a clearer understanding of the topic. They had realized that, when there was no more new information coming from Japan, they had to look somewhere else to find information, from a source that was not new, but still relevant and not yet publicly known.
Let the Pages Turn
It is my personal opinion that a hard copy, paper newspaper will never be replaced by news in digital media. Sure, the digital age is taking place and that many people are looking for news online, but it doesn't completely rule out the actual papers. I think the emphasis on the digital age in the article is a bit much, considering newspapers still exist and people still read them. It's unfair to solely rely on the Internet as a source of news, because when online, people's minds tend to wander. With news in print or on TV, there's a path that the reader or viewer follows that allows them to experience all aspects of news - from breaking news to fashion.
On that note, I'd also like to point out that I especially disagree with one point made by Rosen. Readers are still readers. Viewers are still viewers. I don't think it's necessary to put all these people under the term 'user'. They haven't changed in anyway except for how they get their dose of news. I think a journalist should view readers as readers, and nothing more or less. Although we are progressing in the digital age, we shouldn't forget that newspapers still exist and that not everything is completely digital.
That being said, I do believe the industry is slowly shifting towards social media. This, while having disadvantages, is also a good thing. As Rosen said, it is getting many involved in the process. A journalist can no longer be above the public. He or she must use the comments of the public and write accordingly. There is a relationship between the journalist and his or her audience which is very important for succeeding in the field.
Some skills that are necessary include being able to speak to my audience. I think this is very important, especially because of new apps and the rise of social media. As I mentioned, the audience and journalist work hand-in-hand-it's a combined effort. Also, I think the ability to be versatile is quite important in this changing era of journalism to be able to thrive and succeed within the field.
On that note, I'd also like to point out that I especially disagree with one point made by Rosen. Readers are still readers. Viewers are still viewers. I don't think it's necessary to put all these people under the term 'user'. They haven't changed in anyway except for how they get their dose of news. I think a journalist should view readers as readers, and nothing more or less. Although we are progressing in the digital age, we shouldn't forget that newspapers still exist and that not everything is completely digital.
That being said, I do believe the industry is slowly shifting towards social media. This, while having disadvantages, is also a good thing. As Rosen said, it is getting many involved in the process. A journalist can no longer be above the public. He or she must use the comments of the public and write accordingly. There is a relationship between the journalist and his or her audience which is very important for succeeding in the field.
Some skills that are necessary include being able to speak to my audience. I think this is very important, especially because of new apps and the rise of social media. As I mentioned, the audience and journalist work hand-in-hand-it's a combined effort. Also, I think the ability to be versatile is quite important in this changing era of journalism to be able to thrive and succeed within the field.
A Changing Industry
In an environment where demands are high, time is short, and patience has dissapeared, the news industry is evolving. The definition of journalism is gradually changing from the once popular newspaper into social media. This change benefits the "user" while challenging the journalist. Information is relayed to the public in a simpler manner that is much quicker than before, leading to the "mutualization" of knowledge among the reporter and the "user". This requires the reporter to create stories that intereact and connect with the audience. The journalist must now strive to engage people in their report, generating an ambiance more open to discussion. while the normal everyday citizen is invited to give their opinion and share their observations too.
As people shorten their attention span, I, as a reporter, am required to communicate in a more interesting manner yet still get my point across. It is my duty to inform the "user" of news that has been investigated thoroughly. But there is more competition now than ever because the journalist is face to face with search engines and their never-ending plethora of information. Reporters have to entertain in order to keep attention while educating the public of their knowledge.
To keep up with this metamorphasis in journalism and broadcast, I have to refine my reporting skills. I will need to learn how to adapt to these changes, especially the technological aspects like editing my own stories. I will need to be able to fixate the "user" onto my story and keep their attention with me. In a world where only change is constant, the journalist should commit to keeping up with the always changing industry, or instead choose to be left behind.
As people shorten their attention span, I, as a reporter, am required to communicate in a more interesting manner yet still get my point across. It is my duty to inform the "user" of news that has been investigated thoroughly. But there is more competition now than ever because the journalist is face to face with search engines and their never-ending plethora of information. Reporters have to entertain in order to keep attention while educating the public of their knowledge.
To keep up with this metamorphasis in journalism and broadcast, I have to refine my reporting skills. I will need to learn how to adapt to these changes, especially the technological aspects like editing my own stories. I will need to be able to fixate the "user" onto my story and keep their attention with me. In a world where only change is constant, the journalist should commit to keeping up with the always changing industry, or instead choose to be left behind.
It's just change.
Incidentally, we got this same article/assignment last year, but i suppose that isn't important.
I have no thoughts about the recent change in the realm of media right now. There's no real point in trying to justify some sort of argument about whether or not the current road that journalism is taking is good or bad. It is what it is, and change happens. It is an inevitability that dominates our lives. However, to state my opinions, i would have to say its a good thing. moving to a world where information has become far easier to gather, reports now have a lot more tools in which they can use to effectively convey the information that they want to get out to the public. While this will constitute some effort on their part as they being harnessing those tools, the mastery of these new developments will ultimately make reporting much more effective. As younger people are beginning to access the internet much more frequently, news now has greater broadcasting capabilities to audiences of all ages.
As the realm of multimedia journalism grows and expands, its obvious that i'll have to become more multitalented in my capabilities, and become a more well rounded person in general. it isn't enough to simply be able to edit stories, having keen awareness in other areas of journalism is also ideal to be a powerful positive influence in the broadcast studio. I'll have to grow as a reporter and a writer to make better contributions to the broadcast, and that will be fine. Change necessary for good will be made.
with that in mind, improved social skills would be ideal for improved reporting capabilities, as well as a greatly improved ability to present my story. Since information is easily accessible, it will be required for my information to be more appealing and enticing to the audience if i want to capture their fly-attention span for a long enough time to get my point across, so i'll have to become better able to get out there and state my ideas (though i find i am already relatively capable of doing this.)
I have no thoughts about the recent change in the realm of media right now. There's no real point in trying to justify some sort of argument about whether or not the current road that journalism is taking is good or bad. It is what it is, and change happens. It is an inevitability that dominates our lives. However, to state my opinions, i would have to say its a good thing. moving to a world where information has become far easier to gather, reports now have a lot more tools in which they can use to effectively convey the information that they want to get out to the public. While this will constitute some effort on their part as they being harnessing those tools, the mastery of these new developments will ultimately make reporting much more effective. As younger people are beginning to access the internet much more frequently, news now has greater broadcasting capabilities to audiences of all ages.
As the realm of multimedia journalism grows and expands, its obvious that i'll have to become more multitalented in my capabilities, and become a more well rounded person in general. it isn't enough to simply be able to edit stories, having keen awareness in other areas of journalism is also ideal to be a powerful positive influence in the broadcast studio. I'll have to grow as a reporter and a writer to make better contributions to the broadcast, and that will be fine. Change necessary for good will be made.
with that in mind, improved social skills would be ideal for improved reporting capabilities, as well as a greatly improved ability to present my story. Since information is easily accessible, it will be required for my information to be more appealing and enticing to the audience if i want to capture their fly-attention span for a long enough time to get my point across, so i'll have to become better able to get out there and state my ideas (though i find i am already relatively capable of doing this.)
A New Way of Reporting
In these modern times, the traditions of the news industry are gradually changing. Yes, I believe that this change can lead to a very open and good future and my opinions are for this change. This future of people trying to keep up with computer software and the modern times creates a challenging mode for everyone in the broadcast industry. With this change, reporters can create an even more interactive mood and news for everyone to feel a stronger impact when the news has to do with the person themselves. Being able to interact with the audience is important because that can actually change the audience's opinion and attitude towards the news broadcast and the show itself.
In order to do the same thing as the reporter did above, I realized that I needed to improve my skills on becoming a reporter. I noticed that in order to capture the attention of everyone, I should start having my reports to be more engaging with the audience. For example, adding a heading or introduction that has to do with the lives of majority of the people. This can be done throughout the whole story too. Also, in order to capture the people's attention, I should start putting in some nice facts that would allow the people to continue watching the video. My main idea on fixing my skills is trying to engage and interact more with the audience so that I can further be able to spread my knowledge to everyone else. Therefore, being able to have this opportunity of changing the news industry may possibly be the start of a new world in broadcasting., after watching his report, I started watching the news a bit more and more each day.
I believe that journalist/multimedia is actually slightly changing. The reason why is because normally when I watch the news I get so bored that I just start flipping channels. However, not too long ago, I turned the TV on and noticed there was an interesting story about how people found another planet that could have the potential of people living there. When I saw this of course I was surprised that something like this was found. However, that wasn't the case. What I noticed was they way the person spoke during the broadcast. He gripped your attention and made you realize the things people need to do in order to stay fit and be healthy. I realized the importance of being interactive with the audience as soon as I saw this broadcast. Therefore
In order to do the same thing as the reporter did above, I realized that I needed to improve my skills on becoming a reporter. I noticed that in order to capture the attention of everyone, I should start having my reports to be more engaging with the audience. For example, adding a heading or introduction that has to do with the lives of majority of the people. This can be done throughout the whole story too. Also, in order to capture the people's attention, I should start putting in some nice facts that would allow the people to continue watching the video. My main idea on fixing my skills is trying to engage and interact more with the audience so that I can further be able to spread my knowledge to everyone else. Therefore, being able to have this opportunity of changing the news industry may possibly be the start of a new world in broadcasting., after watching his report, I started watching the news a bit more and more each day.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
It's a Renaissance Fair
The news industry has shifted increasingly away from paper information and toward electronic communication. This change has both its advantages and disadvantages. In a way, the Internet in general and social media in particular has resulted in a more constantly knowledgeable public, but these new tools have also created a public bent on entertaining themselves with news. No longer is news read primarily to learn about foreign and domestic affairs or to establish opinions on certain topics. Now, news is read or seen for frivolity, and if the news isn’t presented well enough, or in an entertaining way, people will cease to hound for it, which makes it so much more difficult for reporters to deliver solid information.
Reporters now must not only be efficient in gathering news; they must also present it well enough that the “user” will want to hear it. My role as a reporter has shifted from a gatherer of information to more of a player who takes a role on stage. Everything must be shaped to users’ constantly decreasing attention-spans. Thus, to take on this new challenge we must learn to play to our users’ needs, to tell a joke when news get boring, to show images when words lose their edge, to release some music when the atmosphere is cold. Effective reporting is not just an art anymore, it’s a Renaissance Fair.
Reporters now must not only be efficient in gathering news; they must also present it well enough that the “user” will want to hear it. My role as a reporter has shifted from a gatherer of information to more of a player who takes a role on stage. Everything must be shaped to users’ constantly decreasing attention-spans. Thus, to take on this new challenge we must learn to play to our users’ needs, to tell a joke when news get boring, to show images when words lose their edge, to release some music when the atmosphere is cold. Effective reporting is not just an art anymore, it’s a Renaissance Fair.
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