Every time I tell someone that I am majoring in journalism, I usually get the same response. For example, today I was at the eye doctor. He started the whole small talk thing—where are you from, where do you work, what do you like to do—and got to the question of what I was studying in school. I told him journalism, and he followed with the typical response. "Oh really? Those newspapers are really dying aren't they."
Yes, doctor. They sure are "dying," if that's how you want to put it. But there's a little something inside of me telling me that I am not signing myself up for a dying profession. And after reading the first chapter of "Journalism Next" by Mark Briggs, that little part of me feels a whole lot more confident.
Sustainable journalism is in the future. Like many other fields of work, Briggs acknowledged that the journalism industry has been completely upended in recent years. But instead of seeing this huge disruption as its downfall, Briggs believes that the new and improved form of journalism is right around the corner. While many people view journalism and newspapers as inseparable, I really like Briggs' outlook that there will be a "sustainable journalism" once the industry can reinvent itself and catch up with modern technology and the needs of the public. "By separating a single job description—journalist—from a single industry—newspapers—with a single business model—print advertising, the practice of journalism will diversify and emerge as many job descriptions with many business models," he wrote.
Specialization is key. Briggs' theory is that the journalism of tomorrow will look a lot like the journalism of the beginning of the 20th century. As information becomes more prolific and easily accessible, news organizations will have to downsize and find a certain niche to cater to in order to gain a loyal following and be successful. In my summer internship at Deseret News, I saw this in action. Each of their stories revolves around six main goals and are written around for the audience of "people of faith." While this doesn't appeal to everybody, it has allowed them to gain a loyal following throughout the United States and have a brand image that they are known by.
My job probably doesn't exist yet. I thought Briggs' idea that the jobs that college journalism students will be applying for in the next five years probably don't even exist yet was interesting. As he mentions, viewing the world and the news from a wide lens, applying your curiosity to other areas, and collaborating with people who aren't necessarily in the news field will help you have a wide range of knowledge and connections and to be prepared for a job that might not exist yet. Being knowledgeable about the world, culture and current events in general will I think give a student a leg up from one who merely has the technical skills necessary to write, but isn't involved enough in the world.
My generation. "Journalism needs you. It needs someone who can bring a fresh approach without the baggage that burdened earlier generations." I really like the idea that the future of journalism lies in the hands of the younger generation, that we are the ones who have grown up with the Internet and thus are best-equipped to utilize it. Going back to my experience at the Deseret News, the company has a print team and a digital team that focus on each of those different mediums for news, while still sharing stories between each other. The digital team, which was created less than 10 years ago, is mainly staffed with young people who haven't been out of college for more than five years. While the older, seasoned reporters still hold their places with the hard, traditional news beat, the digital team belongs to the young generation.
Journalism is about people, not technology. I am a bit nostalgic, and sometimes dream about being a reporter during the "glory days" of journalism. However, the root of journalism has not changed, although the medium is completely different. No matter what technology comes out to change the job or make it more convenient, journalism is still about people, and good skills of communication, writing and curiosity will never be replaced.
Yes, doctor. They sure are "dying," if that's how you want to put it. But there's a little something inside of me telling me that I am not signing myself up for a dying profession. And after reading the first chapter of "Journalism Next" by Mark Briggs, that little part of me feels a whole lot more confident.
Sustainable journalism is in the future. Like many other fields of work, Briggs acknowledged that the journalism industry has been completely upended in recent years. But instead of seeing this huge disruption as its downfall, Briggs believes that the new and improved form of journalism is right around the corner. While many people view journalism and newspapers as inseparable, I really like Briggs' outlook that there will be a "sustainable journalism" once the industry can reinvent itself and catch up with modern technology and the needs of the public. "By separating a single job description—journalist—from a single industry—newspapers—with a single business model—print advertising, the practice of journalism will diversify and emerge as many job descriptions with many business models," he wrote.
Specialization is key. Briggs' theory is that the journalism of tomorrow will look a lot like the journalism of the beginning of the 20th century. As information becomes more prolific and easily accessible, news organizations will have to downsize and find a certain niche to cater to in order to gain a loyal following and be successful. In my summer internship at Deseret News, I saw this in action. Each of their stories revolves around six main goals and are written around for the audience of "people of faith." While this doesn't appeal to everybody, it has allowed them to gain a loyal following throughout the United States and have a brand image that they are known by.
My job probably doesn't exist yet. I thought Briggs' idea that the jobs that college journalism students will be applying for in the next five years probably don't even exist yet was interesting. As he mentions, viewing the world and the news from a wide lens, applying your curiosity to other areas, and collaborating with people who aren't necessarily in the news field will help you have a wide range of knowledge and connections and to be prepared for a job that might not exist yet. Being knowledgeable about the world, culture and current events in general will I think give a student a leg up from one who merely has the technical skills necessary to write, but isn't involved enough in the world.
My generation. "Journalism needs you. It needs someone who can bring a fresh approach without the baggage that burdened earlier generations." I really like the idea that the future of journalism lies in the hands of the younger generation, that we are the ones who have grown up with the Internet and thus are best-equipped to utilize it. Going back to my experience at the Deseret News, the company has a print team and a digital team that focus on each of those different mediums for news, while still sharing stories between each other. The digital team, which was created less than 10 years ago, is mainly staffed with young people who haven't been out of college for more than five years. While the older, seasoned reporters still hold their places with the hard, traditional news beat, the digital team belongs to the young generation.
Journalism is about people, not technology. I am a bit nostalgic, and sometimes dream about being a reporter during the "glory days" of journalism. However, the root of journalism has not changed, although the medium is completely different. No matter what technology comes out to change the job or make it more convenient, journalism is still about people, and good skills of communication, writing and curiosity will never be replaced.