Technology changing future of journalism

By Faiza Wasim

wasi0010@algonquincollege.com

Faiza Wasim photo

The media industry is facing a crisis as a result of the recession, with massive layoffs and shut downs occurring in both the print and the electronic sides. But it’s not all doom and gloom, at least for those who are well-prepared to embrace the change that new technology is bringing. 

This was the view of the four panelists at the “Media In A New World” seminar at the Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday March 25.

“I’m an optimist,” said Joe Banks, professor of journalism at Algonquin who was included in the panel. “And I am speaking from the perspective of an educator.  What do I teach my students today? I teach them what they will need to know two years from now.  I want to make them into great story tellers and think pragmatically.  It doesn’t matter whether it’s print, radio, TV or the Internet, you still need to be a storyteller.” 

Despite massive layoffs, community newspapers are not only thriving but they are hiring people who know how to research a story, edit, design the page and shoot web video and photographs.   

Also speaking about the future of media was Paul Hambleton, managing editor at CBC News Ottawa, David Akin of CanWest   News Service and Bill Curry of the Globe and Mail.  The panel was sponsored by the National Press Club of the US and the Ottawa Media Club.  The seminar was held as part of the National Press Club’s centennial celebrations.

Curry said one implication of the new media is in order to stay on top of their game and meet the demand for instant and up-to-date news, journalists and journalism students are going to have to write faster and write all the time.

 “There is value in mainstream media,” said Hambleton. “It’s a vital part of the ecosystem because it nourishes a healthy, thriving democracy.  The Internet can weaken this democracy because then you isolate yourself into groups that think like you do, therefore offering no challenge to your beliefs.  As literacy rates go up around the world and telecommunications has covered almost every corner of the world, the hunger for news has increased and there will always be journalists to answer questions and fill that demand.”

Others in attendance agreed.

 Charlene Elgee, manager of Library Services and Information Management commented on the different uses of modern media technology in an interview before the seminar.

“We live in interesting times,” said Elgee. “One advantage of   today’s new technology is immediacy.   Everyone can watch events unfold at the same time.  Because of the cellphone, everyone is a potential reporter.  An increasing number of newspapers are completely electronic.  Newspapers, as we know them in their print form are on the decline.”

However, new media technology has both advantages and disadvantages.

“New technology is changing old ways of communicating,” said June Coxon, co- president of the Media Club of Ottawa, in a separate interview before the seminar.

“Media technology is changing at a phenomenal rate.  When we first started out, offset was the ‘in’ thing.   The new stuff is fantastic, it’s changed the speed of things. Before, printers had to wait days, sometimes weeks for proofs.  Now all that’s changed, we can send them via computers.

“But it’s also frustrating.  Due to new media technology, people are getting laid off.  You pick up anything-there are so many typo errors because there are no proof readers now. Also, there are fewer phone booths.  People don’t want to be connected all the time and pay for it.  But it could be good sometimes.