As a journalist I tend to become defensive when people have no faith in print. Yes, circulation numbers have significantly dropped, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to bottom out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to see that the media world is changing and growing, but I also believe that growth can occur in all mediums, including print.
Although our meetings with both the Associated Press and the Columbia Journalism Review happen to be my top picks, I also appreciated the fact that both advocated for this new idea of digital media but strongly held firm to the idea that print is still here and it’s not leaving in the near future.
I knew our meeting with the AP would be nothing short of spectacular and I was right. Thanks to the AP for supporting college students in realizing that we already have and will continue to make an impact on the new digital face of the media.
If you don’t know already, the Associated Press is considered to be the largest news organization in the world and has been around since 1846. Just like any other organization, the AP has been adapting to the idea of new media.
“The ultimate demand for information is changing and growing bigger than it’s ever been,” said Michael Oreskes, managing editor for U.S. news. Although they have a lot of work to do, Oreskes said the Associated Press is perfectly suited to adapt to the Internet age. While the AP spends time evaluating changes that need to be made, the idea of print disappearing has never phased this organization, including Oreskes.
“The radio didn’t replace the newspapers and the television didn’t replace the radio,” he said. I agree with Oreskes and I wonder what makes people think this new digital media won’t replace television? Why is print apparently the only valid target?
I have to admit I wasn’t overly excited about meeting with Mike Hoyt, executive editor for the Columbia Journalism Review. The only disturbing flaw occurred as Hoyt admitted not knowing there specific target age group.
After time was given to ask questions I decided to ask about the priority level of their online content verses print content. This year The Whitworthian is striving to put equal importance on both to show no separation. Hoyt shares a similar light.
“I love all my ‘children,’” he said. “Print is going to be around for a long time.” Hoyt also emphasized the important of unity between the two.
“Print and online should be a partnership trying to create a single entity,” he said.
-Erica Schrader
Saturday, January 17, 2009
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ReplyDeleteYou make a valid point in expressing frustration that newspapers seem to be the only target for a replaceable medium of communication. I read today at the Newseum that Bill Gates believes the Internet will take over sooner rather than later and that print will indeed become obsolete. However, it's my belief-and it sounds to me, yours as well, that at least for the next half century or so, humans will still want to hold a print publication in their hands and sip their morning coffee. Yes, online and "new media" are rapidly becoming alternate sources, but by no means will they replace print media in our lifetime. It's encouraging to me to think that media professionals recognize the value in new media but stand true to traditional journalism as well. There is a place for both in the society in which we live.
ReplyDelete-Danika Heatherly
You don't think internet will replace print in our lifetime? Not in the next fifty years? I'm not so sure I have faith in that prediction. To see how the internet has revolutionized the way we live in just the last ten years, and cell phones as well, I find it hard to believe that in the next fifty years, Americans won't find an easier way to get the news than through picking up a paper. At our meeting with the Washington Post Online today, Chet Rhodes said that people today search for articles online, but scan them for the information they need as quickly as possible, with as little reading as possible. If Americans are already this impatient, I can only imagine what will happen in the next fifty years
ReplyDelete-Maddie Hayes