Problem Statement

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?

Journalism today is at a crossroads. For decades, journalism has been the domain of newspapers and television news companies, and the lack of publishing alternatives assured significant profit margins and a monopoly on advertising dollars. More importantly, this sizeable profit margin allowed for large newsroom budgets, allowing news outlets to finance the expensive news gathering process that supports quality, thorough journalism. But in the age of the internet, content is free, alternatives to newspapers abound, and television and advertising monopolies are no more. The current model is broken, and we are in need of a new direction for journalism.

Newspapers in particular are struggling to stay afloat, and the dire economic situation suggests that, as of April 2009, the closure of major newspapers is not far off. Indeed it’s already begun: the Rocky Mountain News, the Christian Science Monitor and the Seattle Post Intelligencer all shuttered or went entirely online in the first four months of 2009.

The Tribune Co. has filed for bankruptcy.The San Francisco Chronicle and the Boston Globe are also on shaky footing. The primary concern is that, in recent memory, newspapers have done journalism’s heavy lifting, and despite the ongoing readership migration to online, they continue to produce the most original content of any type of media outlet, averaging 70 original stories per day. That said, newspapers are now facing a situation where, as described by Paul Starr of the New Republic, “…resources for journalism are now disappearing from the old media faster than new media can develop them.”

Television news too, traditionally a hallmark of the American television landscape, has suffered in the past decade. It is beginning to face the same storm that the newspaper industry is currently weathering: how to remain relevant in the age of the internet. Moreover, television news, with its scheduled broadcast times, is losing the battle against changing viewer habits, as viewers who once dutifully sat down for the 6pm newscast turn increasingly to the web. Television news’ waning stature can also be attributed to the rampant sensationalism which has tarnished its credibility in the eyes of viewers. Unfortunately, there is something of a catch-22 at work: with viewers’ shorter-than-ever attention spans, television news directors pump eye-catching and flashy content onto the airwaves to keep people watching, but end up alienating the same audience they are trying to keep glued to the screen.

Thus far, reluctance to change from within the industry has made it difficult to embrace the internet instead of fighting a losing battle against it. But if television news were to maintain its status quo, it risks, like newspapers, eventually fading away into obscurity. This is not an inevitable outcome, but avoiding it will require innovation, experimentation, and a willingness to forgo the instinct towards retrenchment; a tall order at companies that are already seeing declining profit margins. Television news, however, holds a distinct advantage in the online content world; its employees are already experts in visual presentation of news, which is receiving increased resources even in shrinking newspaper newsrooms. On the more distant horizon is also the possibility of technological innovation that will enable us to receive television – probably better termed video content as the television device itself may not be a part of this future picture – more readily on mobile devices.

EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM

How does this sad state of affairs influence our project? The painfully apparent conclusion is that something needs to change. In the case of newspapers, the dilemma is more pressing and urgent as America’s cornerstone of journalism veers dangerously close to flying off the economic rails. A new business model is needed, one that embraces the internet as its primary means of content delivery rather than trying in vain to stave off a digital transition which is already well under way. For television news, the demise is not as imminent, but the industry will need to become more forward-thinking.

Bear in mind that we are exploring the future of journalism; as such, the future has not been written and we cannot and do not claim that our predictions on the evolution of newspapers and television will be borne out. Instead, we offer a well-researched glimpse at the vigorous discussion surrounding the future of journalism. With the expertise we have accumulated in the course of this project, we also make educated proposals as to potential solutions for journalism’s current dilemma and present our personal beliefs on the technological and stylistic changes that may begin to occur in the newspaper and television industries.

While our project is largely collaborative, we split our focus, with Kelley choosing to specifically examine newspapers while Esther looks at television news. That said, we are engaging in an examination of the future of journalism as a whole, and feel that issues affecting one industry often touch the other. Our project is academic in nature, and is primarily a research and written project. However, given the contemporary nature of the topic, we use new media platforms which are already of growing importance in journalism, including blogs, online video and social media. In order to best report on the dialogue and trends in the journalism community, it is imperative that we become part of the conversation. Our blog and our use of social media like Twitter allows us to connect with others also interested in the future of journalism, thus providing us a conduit for feedback on our ideas. Furthermore, as no set path for newspapers and television news has yet emerged, it is only by actively entering the journalism community that we can understand and indeed help shape what might happen next.

Like the debate itself, our project is multi-dimensional, and includes a variety of sub-topics all pertinent to the future of journalism. Areas addressed include explanations for the current state of the newspaper industry, newspaper business models for the future, the technological evolution of television, and the transformation that new technology, including social media, has wrought on journalism’s traditional news cycle.

TOPIC SIGNIFICANCE

It was Thomas Jefferson who wrote in a letter to Edward Carrington in 1787: “The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” Jefferson speaks to the crucial role played by the news media in maintaining checks and balances on government. When the newspaper and television industries struggle and indeed risk disappearing altogether, we lose our political watchdogs. This is not to say that media have always carried out this role perfectly, far from it. But they have never been so at risk of becoming a lapdog, not a watchdog, of government.

This is not to say that there won’t be huge volumes of content produced even if newspapers and television news diminish. Thanks to the internet, the once-high barriers to entry into the publishing sphere have crumbled, and bloggers and small-scale news outlets, often working for free or on a donation basis, are multiplying. But it is without a doubt that the reporting muscle of these small entities pales in comparison to that of, for example, a New York Times or an NBC. It is also a question of credibility and accurary. We are generally confident that a story in The Times or on NBC has passed through various stages of editorial oversight and fact-checking; despite their best intentions, the believability of bloggers who publish without editing and often with limited access to sources must be questioned. The social significance of our project then is linked to this very real threat that a crippled news corps will lead to increased corruption and less accountability in society. The business of news, particularly on the newspaper side, is crumbling, but it is the wider social and political issues provoked by its decline that make the future of journalism an imperative question.

Our project also carries artistic significance, as we offer creative interpretations through illustrations and video of technology’s impact on news. We engage in brainstorming future technological innovations, offering sketches of possible devices for the future of television presentation. Moreover, we have used the mediums of new journalism – blogs, video, and social media among others – to both research and present our final product, such that the visual look of our project incorporates the technologies and artistic presentation that will likely become the norm in the industries we are examining.

The mediums of new journalism offer extremely exciting possibilities, but the question still remains how to monetize these new technologies. Therein lies the economic significance of our project. The internet enhances the ability to communicate and is a far more efficient medium for news delivery, but it is this increased efficiency that is pushing newspaper companies, and television news stations to a lesser extent, into an economic black hole. Particularly in the case of newspapers, not all will weather the storm. But given the need that some find a way, our project addresses the models that may allow them to effectively monetize in the internet age.

PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Esther Kim:

This project is an excellent opportunity for me to truly delve into the heart of the journalism industry; what role it plays in society, who the main players are in terms of individuals and organizations, and what the industry has to offer to society, and why it has to thrive. Thinking about this project, I keep asking myself why this topic matters, and why we even bother to know about it. For me, it matters because news, more often than we know, affects people’s understanding and perspectives on matters. I certainly have grown up spending many weeks of watching television; it will not be an exaggeration that my picture of my surroundings in my mind have been shaped by it. This project would be a piece of my understanding of the world, the changing journalism industry, and its future that would affect the understanding of my children’s generation.

This creative and analytical project, involving making a video and conducting research, also helps me prepare to be the 21^st century journalist/reporter who, many believe, should be able to not only write but also shoot and edit on-the-go. I believe that it would be a priceless opportunity where I could genuinely worry about the issue without worrying about other constraints such as getting money out of it.

Kelley Vendeland:

For me, the project offers a valuable opportunity to extend my expertise on pressing societal issues. I was first exposed to these questions when I blogged in spring 2008 for the Editor’s Weblog, a blog of the World Association of Newspapers. It is only relatively recently though, with the acceleration of newspapers’ decline, that I grew more concerned and personally involved. The problems of newspapers and journalism as whole will not solve themselves. I wanted to become a part of the conversation because I believe that only through interested individuals actively tackling the issues will we find a solution.

Additionally, while I don’t know if I will pursue a journalism career, this project has provided excellent training for a position in any communications field, be it journalism or public relations. I understand intimately the current dynamics in media, making me an asset to a communications company. Furthermore, given the time sensitive, constantly changing nature of the topic, tracking the changes in the future of journalism debate forces me to continually synthesis my conclusions with the realities of the new developments. I feel that this analytical practice will prove useful down the road.