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In today’s society, technology has enhanced media in many ways. No longer do you need to buy a newspaper from the paperboy for five cents or spread news by word of mouth. Instead, consumers can also access news on cell phones, computers, radio, and television through many different channels. As multimedia progresses, newspapers are becoming endangered. Recently, my professor told my social worlds class that “newsprint will die in the US in 2043.”

Many newspapers have had trouble during the current economic period.  For example, the Tribune Company declared bankruptcy and some newspapers were forced to fold.  Others, however, have embraced the current financial troubles and moved their newspapers to paperless.  One paper, the Seattle Post- Intelligencer, is now found only online.  Is cost the only reason or are consumer’s demands changing?  Are these changes good or bad and how will it affect consumers in the long run?

I do not know the answers to these questions, but I believe newspapers are important. They provide the consumer (reader) with information on various subjects such as feature stories, editorials, current news, and advertising. Other types of media also provide the same content, but it is nice to read the hard copy.

Today, people spend hours around a screen, whether it is the television or a computer, but I personally like the hard copy version.  I firmly believe that if something like hard copy works for certain people, then why change it. If newspapers continue to be published, news will have one more outlet to get to the public and it will continue to provide one more option for more people to get the news and be involved. Newspapers have been in circulation for hundreds of years and it would be a shame for the U.S. to go completely paperless.

 MPR News has great insight into newspapers going paperless. Please listen to their audio program.

Elments of Journalism 1-6

There are ten elements of journalism that we will cover this semester. However, recently we have covered journalisms top 6. They are:

 1. Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth

2. Its first loyalty is to citizens

3. Is essence is a discipline of verification

4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover

5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power

6. It must provide a forum for public criticism and compromise

Each point must be taken seriously and upheld by journalists. As a public relations major, I can use these standards to improve client and business relations. People like to know that what they are being told is fair and honest. Today the media can reach many people quickly. Journalism has progressed the sender and receiver communicating with one another through feedback. With this new inferential feedback, receivers can become “amateur journalists”.  In the social media age we are the publishers. It makes communication and the transportation of information easy. Because of this, social media must practice “transparency” or openness without revealing all to the consumers. The divide between the journalists and the consumers is slowly closing. Today, news has many different platforms, however, the basic principles of journalism still apply in order to gain the consumers trust and interest.