Journalism Next - Introduction

Mark Briggs writes, “To survive and thrive in the digital age….journalists must adopt a new way of thinking and approaching their craft.”

What I gathered from the introduction to Journalism Next is that the world of journalism is and has been in a state of transition from traditional newspapers to on-line digital media. This requires a change in thinking for traditional journalists. It requires them to learn new skills for their craft. It also provides exciting new opportunities in the field of journalism. The remainder of my blog will be broken down by the sections of the introduction to Journalism Next, with a few points concerning each.

Newspapers Are Dying. Why Should I Go Into Journalism?

Good question. Briggs refers to the 1890’s and early 1900’s as a time of significant change in journalism. He says that telephone service revolutionized reporting. According to the Encyclopedia of American Journalism one linotype operator could do the work of 5 men. This led to a dramatic increase in the number of newspapers being printed, similar to what is happening today with on-line journalism. In other words, journalism is NOT dying, the method of communication is changing.

What Job Can I Get In Journalism?

The future of journalism will most likely look differently. Briggs states that innovation, evolution, hustle and experimentation are required. He writes that the daily newspaper of a mid-sized city with 50 journalists may be replaced by 10 digital news operations with 5 journalists each. He believes that journalism will “diversify” and “emerge” with many different job descriptions and business models. In other words, jobs in the field will be available.

Why It’s A Good Idea To Go Into Journalism

Briggs brings out 3 points in his book as to why journalism is still a good profession to pursue:

1. Journalism has a bright future because the demand for journalism from audiences has not decreased, only the models look different.

2. Journalism needs people with a fresh approach, who will put readers first and use new technology for better journalism.

3. Journalism will be better because tomorrow’s journalists understand the internet and technology.

Chapter 5 - How to Blog

Class Presentation

Chapter 5 of Journalism 2.0

by Mark Briggs

How to Blog

Mark Briggs writes that journalists need to break out of the "we talk, you listen" mode and become open to greater interaction with readers. We live in an interactive society. Briggs states that blogs allow journalists to cultivate a community outside of the traditional news cycle, test ideas, receive feedback, and establish a deeper relationship with readers. Clearly this works for other writers as well. A blog can actually be used to strengthen a journalist’s work, rather then weaken it.

What is a blog?
Briggs says that blogs usually have these common characteristics:

1. A frequently updated online journal, written in a conversational style, with entries displayed in reverse chronological order (most recent stuff on top).

2. Links to other news and information found on the Web complemented with analysis from the blogger (or bloggers).

3. A “comments” link that allows readers to post their own thoughts on what the blogger is writing about. Not all blogs allow comments, but most do.

The Origin of Blogs
Briggs tells how in the 1990’s many people began creating web pages. Creating a web page required a lot of tech savvy. Blogs, however, were created, enabling anyone with basic computer knowledge to be “published” on the web. If you can click a mouse and send an e-mail, you can create a blog. It’s that simple.


Blog Terminology
There are several terms it is good to be familiar with related to blogs, as listed in the reading (copied directly from the reading):


Post: An entry on a blog or, as a verb, to make an entry on a blog.


Permalink: A link available on each post that allows direct access to that post, usually with comments visible. This helps other bloggers link directly to a given post and helps readers e-mail a link to a specific post to friends.


Trackback: A mechanism for communication between blogs, allowing one blogger to let another know that he or she is linking to their material. This helps readers easily follow a conversation and helps bloggers know who is linking to each post. A pingback performs essentially the same function with slightly different technology. Trackbacks have fallen out of favor with some bloggers because they are susceptible to spam.


Blogroll: A collection of links usually found on the sidebar of a blog, it is designed to inform the blog’s readers of the sites the blogger frequently visits. The thinking goes: If you like my blog, then you’ll probably like other blogs I read. The links in a blogroll are most commonly other blogs but can be general or news Web sites, too.


Linkblog: A blog comprised of links to other online sources with little or no original commentary.

Vlog: A blog that features video commentary as its primary medium, as in “video blog.”

Moblog: Blogging from a mobile device, as in “mobile blog.”

http://www.technorati.com/

Suggestions for a Good Blog:
suggestions were laid out in the reading on how to have a good blog. Here they are:

1. Write tight and be quick.
2. Write like you are e-mailing someone you know.
3. Include links to other sites, news articles, or other blogs.
4. Create a good headline, like a good newspaper headline.
5. Stick to a narrow topic (be an authority on that topic w/personality)
6. Keep your posts short.
7. Post once a day.
8. Make the blog work FOR you, rather than stealing your time.
9. Don’t start a blog if you’re not willing to allow comments (embrace comments)
10. Use photos and screenshots to make your blog interesting.
11. Be passionate about your blog.

Cloud Computing's Impact on Journalism & News Media

I'm not sure I completely understand the reality of cloud computing.  This is a new concept for me.  Essentially, I think cloud computing is simply the desire to keep data in one place at the lowest cost.  In this case, the data is kept and accessible only from the Internet or "server farms".  Obviously, if a company is going to keep my data there needs to be a relationship built on trust.  It's like I'm trusting someone to take care of my cat for me while I'm on vacation.  When I return home I want him back and in good health. 

In regards to news media and journalism, the more centralized this information is the more likely a narrow group of people has control over the data.  In our free society there ought to be no strings attached to reporting the news fairly and accurately.  And, there ought to be no limitations to the type of media used to communicate to the people.  The issue is a matter of control and responsibility.  If everyone on the planet was completely trustworthy, with no personal agendas, this would not be problem.  It would be kind of like my bank telling me what I can or cannot spend my money on simply because they have it in their vault.  The bank has to be neutral, and the same rule needs to apply to company's who offer server farms or cloud computing to news organizations.

Definition of Social Media Literacy

We were asked in class on Thursday to come up with a definition for Social Media Literacy. The word literacy, quite simply and in my opinion, means the ability to read and write. The ability to read and write demonstrates at least some understanding of the written language, however small that might be. Based on that premise, it seems there ought to be a simple definition for social media literacy.

Here’s what I came up with:

Social Media Literacy - The ability to compose and send an e-mail.

Maybe that’s a bad definition and overly simplistic. But here’s why I came up with that: Essentially, any person who wants to communicate via media, whether on a computer by e-mail, on Facebook, Twitter, or on a cell phone, needs to have the ability to turn the computer or device on, click a mouse, press a button, and use a keyboard (without assistance). Furthermore, they need to possess the ability to read and write (be literate). This is not rocket science. Sending an e-mail doesn’t require a person to be a computer programmer. The Social Media Literate person demonstrates the ability to communicate on a computer or other technological device.

Class Reflections I

Many of the things we talked about in class on Thursday were new to me. Phrases such as cloud commuting, media convergence, server farms or web credibility I had never heard of before. Most of the web pages the professor and other students referred to I had never heard of either.

It is amazing to me how much information and social media websites are available. Who has time to keep up with all this stuff? I thought the statistics regarding how many hours the average young person spends using entertainment media was sad. Yet, when I look at my own life, much of my time is spent utilizing some form of entertainment media. I spend a lot of time on the computer at work, communicating via e-mail and utilizing software of some sort. I go to movies with my sister. I get together with friends to watch the football game on a TV. I talk on my cell phone in the car and sometimes send text message while sitting on the toilet. I spend a lot of time on the computer at home. Often, a DVD is playing on the computer in my room while I’m falling asleep.

I’m just old enough to remember when our lives were not dominated by some form of technology. We had to wait till we got home to check our voice messages and receive and return phone calls. We wrote letters. When I look through my box or binder of important memories, not one of them is an e-mail. I have cards and letters from family and friends that are meaningful to me because someone took the time to think of me and write thoughtful words.

I guess that’s one of my concerns as we charge ahead into the social media driven future, that we lose touch with the simple things of life and that the power of the written word is cheapened. In our efforts to make things more efficient sometimes I think we make it more complicated. I’m definitely guilty of that myself.

All that said, the possibilities of media technology are definitely exciting. I think it is the wise person who takes advantage of what it has to offer. In the world of Journalism, or, really, any profession, we have to think this way because that’s the way the world is. And, despite my concerns, technology as brought a lot of good into the world. It simply needs to be redeemed and used wisely for good purposes.

1st Semester of Grad School

The Spring of 2010 is my first semester in grad school. I am pursuing a Master's Degree in Journalism. One of my first courses is New Technologies of Mass Communications (JOUR 5320). I have to admit I'm a little apprehension about going back to school and taking this course. I'm not entirely sure what I expect. I’ve been out of school for about 6 years and I do not have a background in journalism.

That said, the reason I signed up for this course is because it was offered downtown Dallas, which is closer to where I work and live than Denton. I also know it is important, in today's society, to be up to speed on technology as it relates to any chosen profession, and especially in the field of journalism. My understanding is the world of journalism is changing quite a bit due to on-line and digital technology. Though print media is still important, and in some way I believe it always will be, more and more people are reading the news on-line. So, hopefully this course will help me have a better and more thorough understanding of how technology is used for mass communication and help me find a niche in this field that will be enjoyable, as well as profitable, for me. It would also be nice to learn about the various software that is used for creating digital/on-line communication.

The more our society advances technologically the faster we are able to receive news and communication. There are good things and bad things about this, I think. But the underlining principles of journalism remain the same, reporting news accurately, fairly, truthfully, with integrity. Technology is constantly changing, but there are certain principles that will never change. I believe I can be part of a generation that grasps both the technological opportunities but also remains grounded in the basic principles of integrity.

Writing is a vital aspect of communication, and something I enjoy. The world will always have need for good writers and clear communicators. I hope that my writing can be used to help and encourage others. And, in order to communicate what I desire to say, I hope I will be able to utilize the various aspects of technology made available to me. And finally, as a Christian, I think it is important for Christians to have a clear voice in society and in journalism.