Web 2.0 and news media – what’s next?
While I was taking the Writing and Communications comprehensive exams last week, I came across a question that really caught my attention: What does the future have in store for printed journalism?
Obviously, the vast majority of westernized socities have already made a fairly impressive shift toward the internet as a research tool and source of entertainment. With advances in social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter and the introduction of internet compatible cell phones, surfing the web and uploading personal content is becoming easier than ever. Looking for a particular music video or movie clip? Check YouTube. Want to sound off on a controversial social or political issue? There’s sure to be a forum or blog for that. The fact of the matter is that we’re all obsessed with doing things as quickly and easily as possible, especially when it comes to sharing and/or accessing important information. If it can be done for free, even better!
The vast majority of today’s news resources, printed and televised, are acutely aware of society’s incredible attraction to the internet. Newspapers, journals, and magazines have added a web presence to their traditional in-print formats that boast additional features such as streaming audio and video, extended articles, photo galleries, and other multimedia resources that make it easier for users to interact with the information that is presented to them. Sometimes, users can even comment on the article itself or engage in discussions through a forum setup. That’s not at all a bad thing. In fact, the digitization of news publications means that a larger percentage of the population can get up-to-date on the latest information anytime, anywhere.
A problem arises when users that used to purchase subscriptions to in-print news media stop giving their financial support in favor of obtaining free access to the same information online or move to online-only news sources. Without a solid sales base, most publications cannot offset production costs and, as a result, must either cut jobs, reduce salaries, or fold entirely. According to an article in Time magazine, even major publications such as Boston’s Globe and Philadelphia’s Daily News are at risk of closure or may be forced to cease all printed operations. If such large, prestigious newspapers are facing the chopping block, I hate to think of the dangers that are looming for much smaller publications.
What’s most troubling is the negative implication that each publication’s cutback or closure has for established journalists and students such as myself. I’ll be graduating in less than a month and the job market is growing increasingly less friendly to those of us that are just starting out in the field of journalism. If we’re to succeed in a highly competitive job market, we have to accept the fact that the world is going digital and make as many adjustments as necessary to accommodate that shift. If that means taking classes to learn more about web design and site management, graphic design, photography, audio/video production, media editing, or any number of other technologies, so be it. The digital world is moving ahead and it definitely won’t stop to wait for us.