The Reconstruction of Journalism

The Reconstruction of American Journalism is a report recently released by Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. This is an interesting report covering various aspects of journalism’s past, present and future.

The authors, Leonard Downie, Jr. and Michael Schudson quickly suggest that journalism needs to be reinvented and reconstructed. They point out that the internet can help foster this change. Downie and Schudson provide the Voice of San Diego as an example of independent, non-profit news reporting utilizing the internet.

The report also takes into consideration the participatory nature in which journalism is heading, participatory and collaborative—citizen journalism. Quick access of information, because of the internet, allows for the public to be more involved. People who thought that they could not provide any valuable input are now realizing the importance.

A tread the authors of the report noted was that journalism has shifted from accountability to advocacy. Publications are now made for specific audiences and in return, there are more causes, political biases and preferences. These help publications change their foundations.

Downie and Schudson also discussed that independent reporting that gives information, provides investigation and analysis, and community input needs to be conserved. Explanatory and informational articles help the public understand specific topics and should be promoted.

The authors also said that credible reporting should be conserved. This is a basic aspect of old journalism that does not have to chage.

Other critical remarks were made on Columbia Journalism Review.

Martin C. Langeveld’s commentary Report Ignores Web’s Nimble Nature, offers vital input. He wrote that the report did not address the use of social media, Twitter and Facebook. These sites, he said, can help with citizen journalism. News organizations can track the things people are talking about the most and be able to meet the demand for coverage on those particular topics.

Langeveld also suggested the government take proactive steps and offer journalism students fellowships. The program would be devised like Teach for America, however the name would be Report for America. This is especially important to me because I am a Journalism major and getting a job in this economy is a hard, and I’m just a junior. Langeveld said the condition for receiving this government support would be that the student must report on civic issues, which will ultimately benefit the benefactor.