The End of News as We Know It?
Has technology given everyone the potential to be a journalist? Yes
and no. Remember, for something to be news, it must be new and
timely information, be of interest or importance and have widespread
impact on people’s lives. So does a video of your friends doing some-
thing funny at a party qualify as news? Not really. It may be amus-
ing and new, but most likely it will not have a widespread impact on
people’s lives.
As with any Web site, when you read blogs, watch videos on
YouTube or read profiles on MySpace, be mindful of who posted them
and why. Consider the source, and don’t believe everything you read
or see. Some people post biased information. Others may be simply
lying. Remember, reliable news comes from trustworthy sources.
Blogs and sites such as YouTube may be good places to look for story
ideas, but before you run with a juicy tip, make sure to check several
sources and your facts. If you’re posting a story, remember that the
rules of journalism apply to new media as much as they apply to the
traditional media. You are not protected from libel or defamation sim-
ply because you’re posting in cyberspace.
In other words, the average person with a video recorder and a com-
puter won’t replace the trained reporter. While blogs and Web commu-
nities have invaded the Internet and have become a rather influential
force, they won’t be replacing newspapers, broadcast news or radio any
time soon. They will most likely continue to be an extremely useful,
interesting and interactive alternative that gives a voice to millions.
NEW MEDIA IN JOURNALISM 465
Your Beat
- Find a blog that interests you. For one week, note
the kinds of information the bloggers are posting,
including opinions, rumors and facts, and whether
the bloggers are writing to entertain, inform or per-
suade. Respond to at least two blog postings. - Choose a story idea from a blog or YouTube, and find
other sources to confirm it. Then write the story.
3. Research libel and defamation cases against bloggers
or sites like YouTube, MySpace and FaceBook. Choose
one, and explain why you do or do not think it’s an
example of libel or defamation.