Hello. As promised, here is the first topic for reflection. Post a response in the comments section (just be sure to put your name in the post).
Visit the Web site www.poynter.org and look for the link to "Romensko Latest News." Jim Romenesko keeps a daily blog on what's happening in the news industry. Visit the page a few times or at least scroll through a couple days worth of postings/links. Post your thoughts on the current state of media in America. Please complete this before Monday, Sept. 7 because I'll be posting another topic next Tuesday. Have a great week and long weekend.
-Joe Humphrey
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Based on the articles found around the media world by Jim Romensko, it seems like the state of the media world is in a much different place than it was a few years ago. Most of the articles cover events involving death, plagiarism, and numerous newspaper companies in threat of shutting down. All of the articles are filled with conflict and corruption and nothing in the media world seems to be positive anymore, or at least not from the articles picked out by Romensko. There are three articles mentioning the potential bankruptcy or shutting down of newspapers such as La Presse, the Chicago Sun-Times, and two Philadelphia based papers the Daily News and the Inquirer. The most recent post from Sep. 4th features an article titled, “Network evening newscasts reach about 20 million viewers each day” is addressing the current trend that the newspapers are slowly being phased out and technology is taking over for the most common means of receiving daily news. Another article featured is titled, “Hartford Courant apologizes for plagiarizing competitors’ work” which shows that in these tough times for the newspaper industry some journalists have resorted to stealing others work. Out of all of the featured articles posted by Romensko, not one mentions a thriving newspaper company or any reassurance whatsoever that newspapers’ will be able to overcome the current hardships taking place. It’s obvious that the state of the media right now is not stable in any way.
ReplyDeleteJohn Jacobs
In order to adapt to the changing times and stay profitable, the traditional news media, that have not already done so, must stop giving away their online content for free. The increased competition in the industry will ultimately lead to more innovation in the profession and a higher quality product for consumers. Contributors will need to become more efficient by attaining audio and visual production skills to enhance their online content and attract subscribers to these leaner organizations.
ReplyDeleteMatt D.
The current state of the economy has impacted the media and news outlets just as it has impacted almost every other aspect of our lives. Along with the economy, the media is suffering in various ways. Many news organizations such as the Chicago Sun Times and La Presse (North America’s largest french newspaper), are struggling to avoid bankruptcy. Others are trying to regain their footing after budget costs and financial issues have wounded news organizations across the country. The Boston Globe is currently up for grabs and is being bid on by groups who are in a financial position to take over the paper. As mentioned in one of the articles on Romenesko’s blog, the news outlets have been changing and evolving and it seems as though we will be seeing an extremely different media industry in the future. Financial discomfort is causing a large portion of this change in the media and news industries, and it is likely that we will see many outlets coming and going in years to follow.
ReplyDeleteCurrently however, news organizations are needing to adapt in order to stay afloat. Institutions such as the New York Times and Wall Street Journal are launching editions in San Francisco, as it seems to be the optimal area to try out such a regional edition. Ethics seems to be another theme within many of Romenesko’s blogs, and it is something that companies are needing to stay mindful of if they hope to keep readers support. With the economy’s wounds in little hopes of quick healing, news institutions must be careful as to what they run. An article in GQ Magazine about Vladimir Putin caused conflict as to whether or not the magazine issue would be sold in Russia. Another organization that ran a photo of a deceased and fatally wounded marine suffered much scrutiny due to its choice to run such a graphic image that may be disturbing or hurtful to many. These examples show a common theme of media scrutiny that seems to be a large epidemic.
Not only what is run in the media but even the people in media are being subject to examination and are being held to extremely high standards that some may say are almost impossible to meet. As is true for virtually anything, one cant always please everyone, and this rings true for the media as well. The media has its fair share of problems no matter what state the world is in, and the media is constantly evolving and adapting in order to try and keep up. After reading Romenesko’s blog, it seems as though the media is currently suffering through many difficulties and perhaps the world is not on the medias side for now. With constant change, one can never know what may come tomorrow, and the media follows suit with this idea. The rollercoaster that is media may be up one day and down the next, and we must continue to follow along in order to keep the media an important part of our world.
- Chelsea Gillis
The media is talking about the latest gossip about how famous journalist Diane Sawyer is taking the job on the evening broadcast ABC's "World News" and leaving Good Morning America. However, current news anchor for ABC World News Charles Gibson is not taking it so well. Sources say that Sawyer will be replacing Gibson as a news anchor and Gibson is "livid" about it.
ReplyDeleteToday the competition is getting harder and harder to find a job and this is seen in this story. It is sad to see but two people once friends are suddenly letting their careers become more important than staying true to one another.
Based on the articles that Romenesko blogged about on poytner it looks like the Media too is facing financial difficulties in this declining economy. It is sad to see that so many news publications have to cut down or are being taken over. To increase profit and consumer awareness publications such as Wall Street Journal are starting to launch editions in cities like San Francisco. Smaller publications are thinking about "pulling the plug" on their user sites to cut costs so that they can stay afloat. Even the Media is facing the harsh reality of the economy and needs to stop and think about what is absolutely necessary to print and what's not. Another article that caught my attention was the one about Vladamir Putin and how GQ magazine was contemplating not publishing the article in Russia - it is a little sad to see that sometimes because of the controversial nature some articles cannot be published in certain countries.
ReplyDeleteCharu Bahl
Cost cutting, downsizing, and bankruptcy litter headlines in todays depressing news and Romenesko's columns are no different. With the economy showing bleak signs of a speedy recovery, our nations is forced to find new ways to generate revenue. Although fields involving media have been hit particularly hard, its not fair to blame solely on our draining economic state. Newspapers have been gradually downsizing and disappearing for years and getting replaced by newer, more convenient mediums. The next ten years will show an interesting turn of events in the media world and as upcoming professionals our generation will simply have to adapt and step up.
ReplyDeleteKayla Dorland
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ReplyDeleteAfter reading through some of Romenesco's articles, I have noticed that the financial state of our economy is effecting the media just as much as it effects us. Most of the headlines had a negative connotation to them. The WSJ and NYT are looking to start up editions in San Francisco to broaden their markets in hope of making more money. Other papers, are struggling to make ends meet and are in danger of shutting down. I looked at some of the older posts and saw an article that caught my eye about DePaul University teaching a Twitter class. As insane as it may sound, I really do think that it is a great idea. More people are joining Twitter and Facebook everyday and they have become one of the newest major media outlets. Pretty soon, online bloggers will be getting all their news and information from firsthand online accounts of the stories on someone's Twitter page. I think that it may sound crazy, but these new ideas need to be embraced because there is a huge opportunity to broaden the audience that your message is relayed to, and more opportunity to influence larger numbers of people because of Twitter and Facebook. There is still light at the end of the tunnel in the world of unbiased reporting because soon enough, we will be getting our news stories from multiple first hand personal accounts, not from biased news reporters on FOX and CNBC.
ReplyDeleteAmber Flaim
The media has come a long way from when it first started. Now, you can get a news update on your “iPhone” just by using one of your “apps.” I think this is actually funny because it is almost as if there is no use for newspapers anymore. No one does anything the “old-fashioned way” nowadays because everything has been changed into some new form of technology.
ReplyDeleteIt seems the easiest way to access news stories is online; that is, if you do not own an iPhone. However, people in the press think that the public should pay for all of their online news, just as they do in print. Romenesko wrote an article addressing this problem. While reading, it occurred to me ironic that newspapers cost money, and yet you could just jump on the internet and find anything you need to know about a certain story, without paying a dime.
Yet nevertheless, I guess you are paying for that news in some way, since you have to pay your internet bill. However, that money does not go to the author or business that provided the story; it goes to your internet company, I believe.
I like how Romenesko has a wide range of topics. He discusses many things that are occurring and his stories usually are not “front page” catastrophes. He addresses the small things that mostly go unnoticed but still need to be accounted for.
Rachel Yonkunas