(This entry is cross-posted at Tomorrow’s News, Tomorrow’s Journalists.)
With the rapid changes affecting the media, and in particular the newsroom, one might be forgiven for thinking that “new media” is the future- and it may well be. But to assume that this is a distinct entity from the traditional and professional press is to ignore the innovative nature of the industry.
The current downturn in the circulation figures of print media is a secondary concern to journalistic organisations- the real threat to the longevity of established media is the associated decrease in advertising revenue. After all, the paltry fee paid by the end consumer does not alone pay for the production of a printed paper, and the wages of the assorted journalists, designers, and technicians. Advertising is the life blood of the media, and it seems to be spending more and more on digital outlets. Here we are, on the brink of another evolution of the media, just as important as the evolution of low-cost, high-volume printing, or the introduction of the news photograph. One in which traditional print and broadcast media will have to compete with the mammoth entity that is the online world for advertising revenue.
Or will they?
It is far too easy to think of “traditional media” and “new media” as separate corporate entities. But this simply isn’t the case.
Read Full Post
I’ve written before referencing Jeff Jarvis’s blog, but having recently decided to follow the man on Twitter, I’ve found it fascinating today to keep abreast of developments at the World Economic Forum, which he’s attending- in particular a session called “Fragility in the Fourth Estate.” Jarvis holds some very strong views on where the future will take professional journalism, and he’s also a proponent of utilising new media to its maximum.The great thing about Twitter, of course, is that it’s extremely casual. Which is also what makes the running commentary fascinating.