Journalism and The Media
The journalism industry is continually growing and adapting to ensure society's perpetual appetite for news and information is satisfied. With the digital advances in media only increasing, there has never been a more exciting time to be involved in the journalism and communication industry.
So, where do I fit in?
As a first year university student studying journalism, my cohort and I represent the future of journalism. With one hand flipping the pages of a newspaper and the other the other clicking open a new browser, my generation's media use and habits both initiate and embody the fundamental changes in today's media and journalism culture. Through creating a log of my media use and production for ten days I will examine some of my predominant patterns, analysing both what they say about my personal media use and how they relate to the overarching trends of today's media and journalism culture.
Media Use Over Ten Days
Media Form | Accumulated Minutes | Individual Times Accessed |
Facebook | 720 | 46 |
Blogs | 110 | 19 |
Magazines: News and Tabloid | 110 | 7 |
Online News | 105 | 18 |
Twitter | 80 | 13 |
Newspapers | 75 | 7 |
TV: News and Current Affairs | 35 | 2 |
Radio | 15 | 3 |
Total: | 1250 | 115 |
The rise (and rise) of online media...
One of the main trends that is observable from my media log is the predominance of online media. My log showed that 81 percent of my media use was via online sources, such as Facebook, blogs, online news websites and twitter. This trend demonstrates that I prefer to use media that is easily accessible on demand, which I can use at a variety of different times and locations. The convenience of online media is further increased through their inclusion of additional features. The ability to book mark pages of interest on online news sites, subscribe to specific blogs and follow people on Twitter means that it is easier than ever before to find relevant information quickly.
I believe my preference for the flexibility and convenience of online journalism and communication is mirrored by society's overall desire for media to fit easily within their own lives and schedules. This is evidenced by the preponderance of mobile devices such as smart-phones and iPads that are frequently used to access sources of media. For example, the blog host tumblr. allows people to integrate their blog with Facebook and Twitter, as well as making posts via an iPhone app or audio posts through a simple phone call.
But is that actually journalism?
With forms of media such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs continually gathering popularity the definition of journalism is becoming increasingly blurred. The majority of media use I logged was not comprised of 'traditional' forms of journalism, with over 70 percent of my media use being comprised of Facebook, blogs and Twitter.
The absence of an established publication behind these forms of media can lead many to question whether such unconventional sources can be considered a part of journalism and communication.
My answer: 'yes'
Despite their non-traditional outlet, the people behind the Facebook groups, Twitter accounts and blogs are finding, telling and sharing information and stories- what I believe to be the essential basis of journalism. This form of journalism has been described by English journalist Adam Westbrook as 'entrepreneurial journalism'. Entrepreneurial journalism is essentially innovative journalism, in that one is not required to be part of an established media corporation to participate in the journalism industry. With professional and entrepreneurial journalists both contending for their place in the journalism industry, modern journalism has become like a participatory, albeit competitive, sport.
Can entrepreneurial and professional media exist together?
The ability for young journalists to take advantage of the reduced barriers blocking entry to the publishing world may seem as though it poses a threat to the professional journalism industry. However, despite the increasing prevalence of entrepreneurial journalism, my media log showed that professional, established sources of media and journalism are still an integral part of the way I use media. My log showed that 69 out of the 115 times I accessed a source of media, I used another source concurrently or successively, approximating 60 percent of my media usage. I regularly read a segment of news on Twitter of Facebook and the subsequently used online news sources to corroborate the information, which reflected my overall pattern of seeking the news via non-traditional sources, then seeking to understand the news through established media sources such as newspapers and magazines.
This is a fundamental aspect of how I relate to journalism and communication, in that I believe viewers benefit from the interaction between the different sources of journalism and the different roles each source plays. Author and futurist Ross Dawson is an advocate of the symbiotic relationship between different media sources. Dawson argues that whilst Twitter and social media are indispensable in their ability to provide fresh, breakings news from a variety of people, it is also vital professional journalists and established media sources to utilise their resources and expertise in providing well informed, balanced representations of information that can be widely disseminated (Source). I believe that this interaction between different journalistic sources is both necessary and beneficial, as it enables people to obtain both fast and accurate news from a variety of different people and perspectives.
The Future of Journalism
My understanding of the term journalism is no longer limited to articles that appear in the newspaper. The modes through which media is accessed and distributed has changed dramatically, giving professional journalists, bloggers, Facebook users and tweeters alike their own niche in the ever-expanding journalism and communication industry. This media log has given me that the understanding just as society's inherent appetite for news and information will never be satisfied, change and innovation in journalism and communication will never cease.
