Journalism of the Future

Posted by Lima Al-Azzeh Jan 6, 2009

Every year, professional journalism faces increased challenges and opportunities as traditional media organizations struggle to embrace the online world.

Case in point: The internet provides the general public with exceptional opportunities to become journalists themselves. Popular sites, like YouTube, have given rise to the media phenomenon known as Citizen Journalism: a type of journalism requiring no professional accreditation, that allows users to assume a journalistic role simply by being in the right place, at the right time.

With no way of controlling massive amounts of people-generated content on the internet, the practice of traditional journalism is forced to adapt itself to contemporary "free-for-all" media coverage. Yet with every challenge, comes opportunity.

In an article written for iMedia Connection, Bennett Zucker recognizes that “tools and applications are the new editorial bundles.” Proof of this concept lies in the fact more and more news organizations elect to support user-generated content by embracing, rather than condemning, this new brand of media.

CBC.ca, a Canadian news company, hopped on the bandwagon with a feature called “Your Story” wherein people can document what’s important to them and "what counts in [their] community".

The site supports citizen journalism by allowing individuals to upload video, text or email submissions from cell phones or computers. The stories may have originated within the community, and/or they may also include images, tips and comments “enhanced” by professional journalists.

With the global economic crisis in full bloom, traditional media can no longer ignore the inevitable trajectory. Bennett Zucker’s bold conclusion may indeed ring true: it's time for the journalism industry to "lead with technology, or die."