The Ever Changing World of Journalism

It is a fascinating to live in this time of history. Everywhere you look, something is changing. The phone in your hand will be obsolete, or a new model, within two years. 20 years ago, that little piece of equipment, that does everything, was shaped more like a brick.

It does not stop there. TV's, computers, radios, cars and everything, have changed since creation. There is not sign of stopping. We know where we have come from, but we have no idea where we are headed.

No where is this more evident than in Journalism. From typewriters to computers, and notebooks to voice recorders, journalism has always aimed to stay ahead of the curve. The goal to find the best ways to bring the news to the masses.

But, what does this really bring? Specialization? An overload of news? Fragmentation of the audience? That really comes down to your own interpretation.

I'm going to explain it to you, believing you have very little knowledge of what I just said.

As the world evolves, people want the news faster, and track down the best avenues to get it. What better way, than to use the item in your pocket? Mobile phones, and the apps, allow people instant access to specific news outlets. One quick example is for sports, one might check ESPN.

Due to this, news organizations, or outlets, begin to focus on one area, to get news out faster and faster. This is both good and bad. Why? On one hand, the news is delivered to you shortly after it happens. The bad? The risk of ruining journalistic integrity. Solely because the goal is to deliver the news quicker, so concessions might be made.

Additionally, as these specializations - or niche media - rise, audiences which used to turn into one station to get all the news, now jump around between multiple Web sites, or phone applications, to get all the information they need. This might be ideal for some people, but let me point one thing out to you.

News media outlets present the stories with different angles. A rough example would be hearing the same news, from CNN and Fox News. I think you get the point with that explanation.

But, where does that leave us? It is great that with one swipe of our finger, we can get the news in a second. With the rush to get the news to people, the media is at risk of ruining its' image. This is because with a more specialized media, there is an influx of multiple organizations trying to capture the attention of the audience.

When I said they run the risk of ruining their integrity, this is what I meant. A group, or individual, will try to shock more, the others. The idea, "if it bleeds, it leads," takes on a whole new meaning.

As journalism continues to evolve, with the integration of mobile technology, specialization of news will become more prevalent. Additionally, the audience fragmentation will continue to increase, looking for new faster ways to get the news delivered to them.

It is amazing to think that getting the news has gone from reading a newspaper, to reading on a mobile phone. It will be interesting to see where journalism is going next. One thing is certain, no one has any idea.