Chapter 2 Summary

As the newspaper becomes more and more outdated, the field of journalism is discovering and incorporating new ways to get news to consumers. Something that has been very important for journalists over the years is trying to figure out the difference between print writing and media writing. Where a journalist writing for a newspaper can be lengthy and very detailed, a journalist working for an online outlet has to be consise. The other issue that media journalists face is that people see these news outlets as untrustoworthy, especially the generation that grew up reading newspapers. Outlets like CNN, Fox and MSNB are seen as biased, dishonest and dirty. It is hard for people like Anderson Cooper or Sean Hannity to get respect when they are associated with media outlets that do not get taken as serious news sources. The good thing about TV and online media, though, is that it is always up to date. Television shows and websites have the ability to update instantly, whereas newspapers can only be published once a day. If a breaking news story occurs right after the newspaper is printed, then it wont even make the front page until 24 hours after it happened. Online journalism also gives the opportunity for ordinary citizens to post about events and give their thoughts back to the author, the newspaper does not give you that oppurtunity.

What does this mean for me?

For me as a journalist, this means that I must find that balance. I need to be able to know how to write depending on what type of media outlet I am writing for. I also need to make sure that I earn trust. Its hard to trust the media, and that is something that a journalist must have. Integrity and balance are crucial parts of journalism.