How does Internet shape the future of journalism?

Journalism is associated with the profession of reporting hard and soft facts in newspapers, and magazines. However, with the advent of Internet, journalism has taken a new height combined with more innovation, unpredictability, truth, and participation. Journalism has since branched into a new category called Cyber Journalism. With Internet, the traditional culture of journalism is broken, thus embracing new concepts and changes to the interpretation of journalism.

The first change is the speed in which news can be disseminated. Normally news presented in newspapers and magazines required day/s or even months to be published for the readers. However, Internet operates round the clock. It allows journalist to post the latest news online within second. Furthermore, due to technological advancement, news around the world can also be shared among broadcast companies readily.

Second, the unlimited space for free expression allows journalist to write anything and add in more facts without the need to feel pressured over word or space limitation. For newspapers and magazines, journalists are restricted to the space of the columns that they are assigned to write in.

Third, Internet encourages strong participation. “The concept of participatory or (citizen journalism) proposes that amateur reporters can actually produce their own stories either inside or outside professional media outlets” (wikipedia). According to Szlarski (2006, December 9), citizen journalism is changing the way news is being reported. As ordinary people are allowed to determine the style, the content and what should be in the front page and how the news is to be conveyed.

Fourth, journalists are expected to be more cautious in their writings online. Internet allows cross boundary spreading of news. In such way, any negative and distorted reporting of news can be spread very quickly, which can lead to many undesirable problems if sensitive issues such as race, gender, and politics are not well handed. Indeed, online journalism also encourages non-bias reports because many cyber journalists are in fact freelance or volunteers, meaning not paid to write. In such way, readers can ensure getting truthful news.

The future of journalism will definitely be more exciting. As technology continues to improve, more ways for journalist or even ordinary people to experiment new ways to report news is expected.

Reference

Szklarski, C. (2006, December 9). Citizen journalism: all the ‘news’ that won’t fit in print. The Globe and Mail (Canada), p. A15.