From UW-Madison student Sisi Chen:
Organized by the Pew Project For Excellence In Journalism, the annual State Of The News Media is out.
The report analyzes and organizes all of the major journalism trends for the past year. One of the report's general overviews says that 2008 saw a major change in mainstream media's news agendas. What we typically think of as hard news received less and less coverage. Two examples the report gives is how the press was late in picking up on the economic collapse and how coverage of the Iraq war all but disappeared. The report also analyzes trends in specific industries like online reporting, local TV, audio and magazines. I also really like the special reports section. This part deals with emerging trends, like citizen-based media, and feature links to specific news outlets/ site that have garnered a lot of attention.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Telling Story of Immigrants
From UW-Madison student Tze Ruey Yeoh:
Recently, I came across the article in the NY times, “A Slippery Place in the U.S. Work Force.” offering a different perspective on the worsened economy on unemployment issues in the country. Instead of all the usual talk about Americans getting laid off and dwindling work benefits, it focuses on the impact it has on immigrants, namely Hispanics. I felt the writer followed her curiosity and found a story idea that was least obvious from the general economic issue. She looked for other possibilities that will be interesting and provide a new understanding for readers.
The story showed a complication of the dilemma that Hispanics face in deciding to stay or return back to their home country by utilizing very strong quotes from real people such as Mr. Lopez and Enrique, who are determined not to leave the country for the sake of their families’ welfare. The writer illustrates the color and impressions of her sources through their emotions when speaking out about immigration issues that are often overlooked during the times of recession. She attempts to lead readers to that feeling she had during the interviews and research. The story flowed well from recounting the history of globalization and the growing immigrant population to the challenges faced in order to survive and feed their families. The use of subheads in the article helped in the transition of the piece as it provided more organization, which is essential in a longer, narrative story. It is difficult to fully structure a story on deadline, thus, I thought the writer showed an effort of highlighting the major themes and accompanying them with supporting points. Overall, the article was successful in outlining the struggles of a major population in the country that we are often unaware of and the inherent uncertainties faced by immigrants for their future. It was a well-balanced sort of reporting between being formal yet conversational that gives this story its rich texture meant to draw readers in.
Coffins and Censorship
From UW-Madison student, Alison Fox:
Recently President Obama overturned a ban against journalists being able to take photos of coffins returning from war, which was created in 1991 by President Bush Sr. I also agree with the fact that it is up to the families of the dead soldiers to decide if they want to allow photos or not. This ban has been accused of sanitizing the war by not allowing the American public to actually see the casualties of war. I think this is a great victory for journalists and freedom of the press when it comes to being able to cover the true horrors of war, without threat of censorship, and hope this trend of open communication continues.
Recently President Obama overturned a ban against journalists being able to take photos of coffins returning from war, which was created in 1991 by President Bush Sr. I also agree with the fact that it is up to the families of the dead soldiers to decide if they want to allow photos or not. This ban has been accused of sanitizing the war by not allowing the American public to actually see the casualties of war. I think this is a great victory for journalists and freedom of the press when it comes to being able to cover the true horrors of war, without threat of censorship, and hope this trend of open communication continues.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Citizne Journalism as Agenda Setter?
From UW-Madison student Julia Shiplett:
This New York Times's article is interesting because it discusses not just the music scene at South by Southwest but how artists' success has become dependent on Internet buzz, specifically blogs.
First, the story paints a broad picture of the Austin festival then describes the risk many bands take in hopes of recognition, both live and virtual. The anecdotal profile of the Crocodiles
reflects the swift power the Internet can have but how uncertain it is to maintain.
On a deeper level, this piece shows how the Web and citizen journalism can now be the prominent agenda-setter in terms of culture and arts versus the big traditional publications with a limited news holes per section. Being online itself, this story is both self-reflective of its medium but also seems accepting that writers far outside The New York Times staff can make their voices heard.
This New York Times's article is interesting because it discusses not just the music scene at South by Southwest but how artists' success has become dependent on Internet buzz, specifically blogs.
First, the story paints a broad picture of the Austin festival then describes the risk many bands take in hopes of recognition, both live and virtual. The anecdotal profile of the Crocodiles
reflects the swift power the Internet can have but how uncertain it is to maintain.
On a deeper level, this piece shows how the Web and citizen journalism can now be the prominent agenda-setter in terms of culture and arts versus the big traditional publications with a limited news holes per section. Being online itself, this story is both self-reflective of its medium but also seems accepting that writers far outside The New York Times staff can make their voices heard.
News vs. Entertainment
From UW-Madison student Abigail Sears:
This video clip shows CNN’s Anderson Cooper giving a speech at Hofstra University in New York last week. He discusses some interesting situations he has experienced in the broadcast journalism industry.
“I’m not much for giving advice, that’s Bill O’Reilly’s job and he does it very well,” Cooper says at the beginning of the clip. I think this brings up an important aspect of the cable news industry – deciphering between what is “news” and what is “entertainment.” Competition is a huge factor in any media market, but I think broadcast journalism is especially susceptible to blurring the lines of credibility in the quest for high ratings.
Cooper talks about how he feels his duty is simply to inform viewers at home about what is going on in the world so they can decide for themselves how they feel about it – generally the same goal of news stories in newspapers or magazines. Opinion sections in print are clearly labeled and often in their own section, but opinion programs on cable news channels often feature boisterous personalities, like Bill O’Reilly, to raise the entertainment factor and gain more viewers.
A person tuning into a cable news show to see their favorite television personality can easily misinterpret the program’s content as straight news even if the show is opinion-based. While it is vital for players in the broadcast journalism industry to somehow gain and maintain viewership, often through providing entertaining anchors or hosts, I think it is important to preserve the basic journalistic principles Cooper discusses in the video clip in mind to enhance a channel’s credibility as a legitimate news source.
This Land's "Golden Nuggets"
From UW-Madison student, Emily Bisek:
This story is one of many in a New York Times series called "This Land," which takes readers into stories from obscure places around the country.
The narrative writing in this piece is especially mesmerizing. To begin with, this is a solid, great story told through the eyes of a struggling dairy farm. But, the hidden details spread throughout the text make it especially dynamic, such as the family not offering the messenger of bad news a cup of coffee. Also, the farmer's aching shoulder, the first names of his employees, the one sentence statement of worrying making him sick and an office filled with stuffed cows add personality and reality to the story. Dan Barry seems to place these "golden nuggets" of ideas and pictures, mostly told through good reporting and details, all the way to the end of the text. These details leave readers satisfied and wowed, all while telling a touching and informative tale
This story is one of many in a New York Times series called "This Land," which takes readers into stories from obscure places around the country.
The narrative writing in this piece is especially mesmerizing. To begin with, this is a solid, great story told through the eyes of a struggling dairy farm. But, the hidden details spread throughout the text make it especially dynamic, such as the family not offering the messenger of bad news a cup of coffee. Also, the farmer's aching shoulder, the first names of his employees, the one sentence statement of worrying making him sick and an office filled with stuffed cows add personality and reality to the story. Dan Barry seems to place these "golden nuggets" of ideas and pictures, mostly told through good reporting and details, all the way to the end of the text. These details leave readers satisfied and wowed, all while telling a touching and informative tale
Ad Optimization
From UW-Madison student John Hamel:
An online advertising firm called the Rubicon Project could be the defibrillator needed to revive perishing news outlets, according to an LA Times article. The firm claims it can increase online revenue for newspapers and news organizations by an average of 60 percent through a process called ad optimization. News sites typically have a more diverse audience than current automated ad systems can target efficiently. With the Rubicon Project’s ad optimization programming, page content is paired with ads relevant to the reader demographic more effectively, creating a higher response rate and ultimately a better return on the investment for the advertiser.
Newspapers to find niche
From UW-Madison student, JOSEPH TROVATO:
The plight of the journalism industry in the digital age is a well-documented tale of decline. Recent reminders of this reality, like the closing of the Rocky Mountain News, or the possibility of losing yet another paper, the San Francisco Chronicle, show that as journalists, we obviously need to change something about the way we conduct business. This is the challenge that our generation faces.
I disagree wholeheartedly with those that would argue that newspapers will simply go extinct, even print newspapers will find their niche, and this is our challenge.
When TV hit the scene in the 1940s and 1950s, everyone believed that radio would die. Well, it didn't. In fact, radio has since flourished, and continues to flourish. The Internet is to print newspapers, what T.V. was to radio. Sure, radio was forced to change, but it did, and it survived.
So too can print.
In my opinion, if print media does not adapt, then yes, it will go extinct, but we, as future journalists must analyze the strengths of newspapers as opposed to online media in order to find a niche. Does that mean charging for Internet subscriptions to newspapers? Does it mean increasing advertising on web sites in order to subsidize print? Perhaps, but I don't think that is the only answer. That is still up for debate.
Personally I think that in-depth more magazine-like pieces will be the saving grace of print. People don't like to sit on their computers and stare at the same story for a long time, they'd rather have that type of story in their hands. Newspapers originally were more in-depth anyway.
The short snippet stories are a more recent phenomenon. The advantage of the Internet is its ability to cover breaking news instantaneously, and up-to-date information. I think newspapers will be saved by thorough thought/debate-provoking analysis of those hard news breaking stories. Newspapers might do big follow-up stories or analytical pieces.
But this, of course, is only the beginning of the debate that we must have to ensure the survival of print and newspapers.
The plight of the journalism industry in the digital age is a well-documented tale of decline. Recent reminders of this reality, like the closing of the Rocky Mountain News, or the possibility of losing yet another paper, the San Francisco Chronicle, show that as journalists, we obviously need to change something about the way we conduct business. This is the challenge that our generation faces.
I disagree wholeheartedly with those that would argue that newspapers will simply go extinct, even print newspapers will find their niche, and this is our challenge.
When TV hit the scene in the 1940s and 1950s, everyone believed that radio would die. Well, it didn't. In fact, radio has since flourished, and continues to flourish. The Internet is to print newspapers, what T.V. was to radio. Sure, radio was forced to change, but it did, and it survived.
So too can print.
In my opinion, if print media does not adapt, then yes, it will go extinct, but we, as future journalists must analyze the strengths of newspapers as opposed to online media in order to find a niche. Does that mean charging for Internet subscriptions to newspapers? Does it mean increasing advertising on web sites in order to subsidize print? Perhaps, but I don't think that is the only answer. That is still up for debate.
Personally I think that in-depth more magazine-like pieces will be the saving grace of print. People don't like to sit on their computers and stare at the same story for a long time, they'd rather have that type of story in their hands. Newspapers originally were more in-depth anyway.
The short snippet stories are a more recent phenomenon. The advantage of the Internet is its ability to cover breaking news instantaneously, and up-to-date information. I think newspapers will be saved by thorough thought/debate-provoking analysis of those hard news breaking stories. Newspapers might do big follow-up stories or analytical pieces.
But this, of course, is only the beginning of the debate that we must have to ensure the survival of print and newspapers.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Twitter as Journaism?
From UW-Madison student Andrew Koritz:
I found this article on MSNBC which discusses the recent surge in Twittering and how useful of a tool it is.
Personally, I feel that twitter is something that can add to the journalism industry if used in a proper way. Originally I was skeptical, but the more I think about it, the more I see how useful it could be. As the author of the piece alludes to, some of the twittering "stories" recently are non-issues such as Shaq twittering about hanging out at the mall, but I think we need to expand on our ideas of what this medium can provide.
At President Obama's address to the nation a few weeks ago, some of the politicans with a front row seat twittered notes about the presentation and cleared up facts that Obama may have exaggerated or misspoken. I think this tool, when refined, can be used as an up to the minute tool to clarify any mistakes in journalistic accuracy.
Furthermore, by choosing to follow certain causes or people on twitter, it allows for people to educate themselves further on prevalent issues and allows for new avenues for journalists to set the agenda on items in the news without writing formal columns in magazines and newspapers.
I found this article on MSNBC which discusses the recent surge in Twittering and how useful of a tool it is.
Personally, I feel that twitter is something that can add to the journalism industry if used in a proper way. Originally I was skeptical, but the more I think about it, the more I see how useful it could be. As the author of the piece alludes to, some of the twittering "stories" recently are non-issues such as Shaq twittering about hanging out at the mall, but I think we need to expand on our ideas of what this medium can provide.
At President Obama's address to the nation a few weeks ago, some of the politicans with a front row seat twittered notes about the presentation and cleared up facts that Obama may have exaggerated or misspoken. I think this tool, when refined, can be used as an up to the minute tool to clarify any mistakes in journalistic accuracy.
Furthermore, by choosing to follow certain causes or people on twitter, it allows for people to educate themselves further on prevalent issues and allows for new avenues for journalists to set the agenda on items in the news without writing formal columns in magazines and newspapers.
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