Journalism dying? Or on verge of break-through?

As an aspiring journalism student, when I think of how the Internet is impacting traditional media outlets like newspapers and TV, I can't help but to wonder how this will affect my own career goals of working in the field. While I'm not restricting myself to just print journalism, I wonder just how successful a career in journalism can be.

With the rise of Internet and blogging, there's no doubt that journalism is being altered, and the key for it to be as successful as it once was lies in the power for internet to take the journalism field to heights never before seen.

But, can this be done?

According to columnist Scott Bradner of Network World, "The three most important observations to me are that power is shifting from institutions (like newspapers) to individual journalists; that people increasingly want news "on demand" rather than scheduled, like the evening news; and that there has been a raise in importance of minute-by-minute judgment in political journalism."

Bradner adds that "these trends greatly benefit the Internet and Internet-based journalists. The latter two trends also benefit the full-time cable news channels, but only when the cable is available. And, in the office, cable is not generally available."

From what some see as a negative impact that is killing journalism, TV, and papers, the internet seems to serve as a new outlet for journalism to break-through. Though blogs, tweets, and even Faceook statuses serve as innovations in sharing news and information with new and broader audiences, journalism still relies on complete stories being told with educated and trained writers needed to tell these stories.

So does this mean there still is a chance?

Definitely.

Bradner said that "news business -- like the music and movie businesses -- will need to completely rethink its business model." Some have tried new routes by taking their papers online and charging for certain stories, like ESPN, the Detroit Free Press and New York Times. Bradner said that newspapers that try to block search engines to preserve obsolete models, as the ones in Belgium did a few years back, will just ensure that they will have fewer readers, and go out of business sooner. Clearly, new strategies must be implemented.

So, while I believe that the original news publications are faltering (and have already faltered) due to the Internet, the industry has the potential to recover if an effective plan can be mapped out. Though people may be reluctant to pay for news online, I believe there is a way that content will be packaged and sold to retain readers and even bring more in. Once a system is put in place, though, I think journalism will undergo a nice transformation.

In the end, only time will tell.

Source: http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2009/031609bradner.html