A Contradictory Reflection after Rosenblum & Farnham’s Discussions
After both speakers came to our class, I had a few things that I am questioning in my head and it doesn’t help that they are contradictory to each other.
This is not to offend any of the professors out there, but Michael Rosenblum’s visit to our class last week definitely grabbed my attention more than other classes I have or am taking. Rosenblum is a passionate and very opinionated journalist, and he let us hear it loud and clear, literally. His voice resonated throughout the entire room and definitely proved that he wanted to tell us what was on HIS MIND. I’m sure gave others an eye opening and interesting perspective on the journalism industry today.
He is experienced, yes. On his website you would find articles on “How to make millions”, why journalism is over, and how to “follow the money”. But is Journalism ALL ABOUT MONEY?
Sure, there are numerous amounts of business models that are taking over the journalism industry and according to Rosenblum, journalism is apparently about to follow in the path of the dinosaurs and that “the future of journalism is about begging.” I guess, with the economy today, it’s true that companies are fighting to keep from going bankrupt. But he asserted further that companies are just trying to find a ways to make more money, and almost forgetting that their number one job is to provide us with information.
However, after Brian Farnham’s visit, I realized, how would the journalism industry go “extinct” with all the opportunities for new and faster distribution and more methods to obtain the news? For example, opportunities such as hyper local reporting on websites such as Patch.com, could save journalism in a way. Brian Farnham is the editor in chief of Patch.com and he showed us how it can help provide the boost that the journalism industry needs. With connections to states and cities and all the businesses within each, Patch.com is like their own Yellow Pages, while providing news that people need to know. It’s more interactive and allows for people to further understand what is around them. It’s more than just another website that just “collects” stories from reporters and posts it on the website. Patch.com actually hires specific freelancers to do research. It may not be the traditional printed paper that is distributed around every week. Although, I could see these websites possibly creating their own paper form of the stories they run online (maybe if the industry worked harder on what is more important, which is providing news, they will find a way.)
After both speakers, I just had more questions in my head. Companies focusing on the money seems selfish on their part. I. So, if money is the future, why are students continuing to pay for classes that teach them the ethics and foundations of journalism when it might just be secondary to the profession later on? Also, why would students even have to learn these techniques if hyperlocal websites, crowdsourcing or anything of the sort will just allow for anyone to find a story and report on it? (I’m not saying that Patch.com throws random stories on the website, but some other sites might).
We really could change the way the industry is going if we get our priorities straight.
