Journalism in the digital world

The latest technology hitting the market and new software updates for some of your favorite apps allow for users to get a whole new experience to using a mobile device. From taking beautiful pictures with the latest iPhone 13 and sharing it on Instagram’s newest update, technology and social media have changed the game when it comes to interacting with one another.

One thing, though, that has drastically changed with the advancement of tech and social media is news. Before, people would pick up a physical newspaper and read the articles to get the latest information on world politics. Now, with one simple search on Twitter using the hashtag “Ukraine,” society is informed in seconds.

With everyone now being able to access the news easily, the same can be said about publishing and producing news. What was once gatekept by media elites and trained professionals at journalism schools, news is now produced by anyone who happens to be at the scene.

Many things are good. And bad. To start, at the scene of a breaking event, all it takes is for someone to post a picture and get the information out quickly. And beyond the purpose of news, people can learn new information from different parts of the world that are often ignored by mainstream news and media outlets.

There are downsides though. In this new age of citizen journalism, the risk of spreading misinformation, or what we like to call now, “fake news,” is high, for the fact that not everyone is trained in the field of journalism. Values like objectivity, quick and careful decision making, and even basic writing and editing are some skills that may be forgotten by the average Twitter user.

Despite the risks, however, it is safe to say that the audience of news has undergone a change from having a passive role to an active role. Not only are people sharing news themselves, but they have also much more access to journalists and a say in what they want to see covered.

Instead of editors and producers giving the orders, people can now comment and contact individual reporters about what stories are important in their communities. And this leads to a very big thing that is desperately needed: trust.

During the Trump administration, the attitude towards the media from the west wing was not the kindest. And this attitude trickled down to consumers of conservative media. Even those who click to CNN or The New York Times are a little more cautious about the news they consume and where it comes from.

Trust as a result diminished to a dangerously low point. And if following a story that a viewer suggested means that a little trust would be reinstalled to local news, then by all means, go for it.

It is interesting to see how journalists now depend on audience engagement to build that bridge of trust. Whether that be responding to a comment, following up on a story that was tipped to a reporter, or even just a friendly conversation at a local coffee shop, there is that sense that journalists need to be one with the people. Afterall, we do serve the people, right?

But now more than ever, there is this added pressure. Perhaps it’s the fear that such trust between the media and the public will not occur. Or maybe it comes down to an individual reporter’s reputation for being one with the people. But whatever the case may be, the relationship has shifted so much that the line between viewer/reporter has blurred into friend/colleague.

In order to build this bridge of trust, there are certain skills that go beyond tradition. Along with usual journalism skills like learning the different ethical values, the art of storytelling, and basic grammar, the digital age demands technical skills too that are both simple, yet extremely necessary.

Filming, editing, quick with following the trends, and being knowledgeable on most (if not all) the features on an app and device, is now a needed tool in any journalists’ belt.

One example is understanding the true power of the hashtag. #Twithaca is a favorite of mine while reporting in the Ithaca area. To search for story ideas, sources, and different types of media, this one hashtag connects the whole virtual community to a single place where I can find anything and everything I need. Many of my housing stories, including my most meaningful story on Shaun Fenner, came from this hashtag.

To track more than one person or trends, the use of lists (a new feature I just found thanks to @AnthonyAdornato) and Tweetdeck are great for multitaskers. As weeks go on, #ICParkSM unveils many steps and tools to become a successful journalist now. In such an ever changing environment, staying a step ahead allows for journalists to always be a reliable source of information.