Media 2010: How Blogs are changing Journalism

I attended a blogging conference which addressed the issues of blogging and the mass explosion that the media has seem to take over the web. I couldn't help but wonder what does this mean for the traditional ways of newspapers?

Someone in the audience, a fellow journalism student, asked about how the conventional means of reporting that we have been taught are basically thrown away when it comes to reporting. I can't help but agree, that the biases in blogging (basically about anything) does lean towards one way. But doesn't everything else? Should we embrace this new social media that others are reluctant to turn to?

So, where is the journalism industry going? What does all of this mean?

Maybe this video can answer some questions

Publish First, Filter Later

As Clay Shirky puts it in his book, publishing has remained expensive and there were restraints on filtering. Printing a newspaper, magazine, etc. required publishing first, and filtering later. Throughout his book, Shirky discusses the power of the Internet with the use of its social media applications and tools. Web sites such as YouTube, LiveJournal, MySpace, Facebook, Wikipedia, Twitter, and others allow people to publish FOR FREE. The publication costs that are required for publishing news and information in the traditional sense aren't necessary for publishing on the Internet.

This is where microblogging comes into play.

Twitter allows us to publish information in 140 characters or less that can be seen as news. Ever since I have been using Twitter, I have been receiving information as it comes in. Instead of using conventional forms of journalism, like the broadcast media Shirky mentions, I can log onto Twitter and see what's been going on. The new social media applications that we all use are the new way of sharing that Shirky is referring to.

With the tools and the information in our hands, we can all share news and information through different means. It's been getting easier to share this information throughout the world. Why not embrace it?

How has Twitter helped me?

After reading a few chapters from Mark Briggs' Journalism Next, I've found different ways in which Twitter can help me gain more followers that will help in research and journalism. I have been following different news publications to stay up-to-date about what is going on, locally and nationally. Without staying in tune with what is going on, it would be hard to progress in a career in journalism. After using Twitter on a daily basis, I get breaking news without going through different media outlets. I've retweeted news stories that have interested me and gotten responses from my followers who have heard about the same or who haven't heard about the news. For example, I didn't hear about the tragic suicide of Alexander McQueen until I read the different tweets on my TweetDeck.

I feel if I keep tweeting different news stories and stay in contact with publications, I can expand my group of followers and even use my current ones for sources and story ideas what may help in the future.

Digital Nation: A Nation Distracted

The Frontline Digital Nation special "Distracted by Everything" really showed me how the technology that I use affects not only me, but others around me. I feel as if I can multitask successfully, but until it gets in my way, I do have to slow down a bit.

I recently read a study in which students were asked not to have their cell phones during class. After the class was over, most students experienced bouts of depression and anxiety without having their phone with them. Some may find this crazy, but I feel that since we are a nation that has all this information being provided to us, and different ways to obtain it, we become so hungry for it.

Are we a nation that is constantly distracted with technology? I would say so. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Embracing that technology only brings us further in what we are trying to accomplish.


Share your experiences!
Join the Discussion: Roundtable with Douglas Rushkoff

Is Wikipedia Legit?

Personally, I think Wikipedia is a legitimate source to use for information. Although, as students, we don't necessarily use it in college term papers, we still refer to it for its links and references to scholarly Web sites and journal articles. I came across another blog post that agreed with my viewpoint on the use of Wikipedia, particularly in academia.

Whenever I search something on Google, the first link that pops up is Wikipedia. I can quickly look at a brief description and get information on what I was looking for. If I feel like I need more, then I can refer to the links referenced in the article.

Isn't that what people are looking for? Short-hand, accurate versions of information presented to them? Wikipedia has been exactly that for me.

As this article from Mashable proposes, there should be a system that determines how reliable information on Wikipedia is based on a color scale. This can pave the way for professors to allow students to use Wikipedia as sources based on how trustworthy the information they are receving actually is.

Image used with permission of Creative Commons

Calling all Journalists: Embrace Twitter!

After listening to Marcy and Brian discuss the benefits of Twitter, I can't help but wonder, why aren't more journalists taking advantage of this tool?

Why more journalists should use Twitter

1. Allows them to search different locations to get breaking news
2. Gain & keep sources by frequently using Twitter
3. Look at "We Follow" and find your specific beat
4. Encourages you to write shorter and be concise
5. Look at who others follow and follow them for potential sources or story ideas

Blogs for Newspapers: Helpful or Wasteful?

Blogs for newspapers are becoming to be more relevant on issues concerning the general public. It's interesting how involved blogs are becoming with politics recently. This blog in the Wall Street Journal took a more in-depth look at the economic aspect of President Obama's speech.

Elizabeth Williamson of the Wall Street Journal reported on how businesses reacted to the State of the Union address. The Wall Street Journal invited CEOs and presidents of businesses to put in their input about the speech and their reaction to what President Obama plans on doing to address the issue of the economy. His focuses on creating more jobs and helping out the middle-class families will help improved the economy, and therefore provide a positive outlook for businesses.

Can the President deliver on his message of change?

Image used with permission of Creative Commons