The Dying Art of Journalism

Today's post is by our intern Ben Kostyack, a senior at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington D. C.

As I was applying to colleges this fall, I was one of the few kids that knew his or her major before starting their first year. Or at least I thought I did.

I was going to get my degree in journalism. I would then write for a newspaper or magazine and my journey would be complete. But there was a problem. Written journalism is dying. The introduction of alternatives to newspapers and magazines is knocking companies out of business.

Courtesy of Christine Prefontaine on Flickr under Creative Commons

New online-only newspapers like The Huffington Post and The Guardian are part of the reason why these companies are losing value. But the main factor in the decline of paper news is that most newspapers and magazines are now creating online versions of their print, which is more far accessible and better for busy people.

The 1960 Presidential debates were the first debates to ever be televised live on TV. It was Kennedy vs. Nixon. Nixon had been dealing with the flu prior to the debate, and looked sleep-deprived and nauseous. After the debate, those who watched it on TV and those who listened to it on the radio were asked: Who won? Those who watched on TV said Kennedy, and those who listened on the radio said Nixon.

This proves that people care about how they receive their news. The 1960 Presidential debates was just the beginning of media attention at events involving the President. Now, we know what the Presidential family did for New Years Eve and what kind of dogs they have.

As I enter the world of new media journalism, it will be important for me to separate the important news from the less important news. New websites are being created every day with useless information for most people. Learning to navigate around them will be a challenge.

I don’t think journalism will ever die. I think it will simply continue to evolve. Readers will keep looking for an easier way to get their news, and we journalists will provide it. 

Image courtesy of WikimediaAs I was applying to colleges this fall, I was one of the few kids that knew his or her major before starting their first year. Or at least I thought I did.