Journalism vs. The Internet

 The Internet is  changing the way media is distributing news to the public and at the same time it is changing the way the public can interact and create news as well. Typical media outlets like radio, television, and especially print media are being forced to adapt to the new media market.  The question then remains: Can journalism survive the changes that the internet is forcing it to undergo? 

Radio 

Television 

& Newspapers 

VS.

The Internet 

Chris Anderson's " The Long Tail" makes the claim that the ever expanding internet is good for democracy and good for the public.  Information and media is now available quickly it also allows for collaboration and interaction.  The idea that more input, more perspectives with different view points equates to a more informed and knowledgeable public.  Does this mean it is the end of the professional journalist? 

A journalist by definition collects and disseminates information about current events, people, trends, and issues.  With blogging and free access to information is the need for professional journalist diminishing or being watered down? Digital distribution poses a large economic issue with generating revenue to pay well trained professional journalist.  The distribution of information is taking off faster than the production of quality journalism can keep up.  Many media outlets are being forced to adapt their business models and newspapers as well as print media are having a hard time adapting to the new technological way in which media is being delivered. 

Many advocates of the new technology push argue that eventually, although there will be growing pains,  that digital distribution will evolve the media landscape to a more availability, larger abundance, and higher participatory type of media.  On the other hand opposing viewpoints warn that it is hard to maintain value of quality journalistic media in the new market and that we have a social responsibility to not allow journalism to falter.  Andrew Keen a british-american entrepreneur and author is highly outspoken about the possibilities of digital distribution affecting journalism and our overall knowledge.  In this video he makes the case against the newly evolving market.  

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Although the some scrutiny should be placed on the newly evolving journalism, the end result should be a highly evolved technological based distribution of media that fosters participation and expands available information. The challenge for the various media outlets is to develop business models that can keep up with the fast paced change in distribution due to technology.