New Media's New Journalist

It’s no secret that traditional media are weathering a hurricane of change. And recent headlines about magazine shutdowns, staff downsizes and advertising declines have left aspiring journalists less than eager to embark on their media careers. However, “necessity is the mother of invention” as they say, and the need to grasp the new media sea change has certainly inspired a phenomenon in the way journalists learn, train, think, act and produce. I know because I’m one of them.

I used to feel confident that my undergraduate English, journalism and communications courses would prepare me well for an editorial career. But it wasn’t until I gained real-world experience through internships at several media companies that I realized classroom knowledge just wasn’t gonna cut it. A wide variety of technical skills, including Web and video production, digital photography and graphic design, are now necessary to remain capable in the age of digital media.

In fact, according to The Village Voice, NBC recently approached the New York Film Academy to organize a program tackling the latest adjustments in newsrooms and graduate schools across New York City. Whether in film or journalism, students need to know how to capture clear images, how to record quality sound, how to use lighting and so on, says David Klein, the NYFA’s senior director. They also need to know the news and how to find it. That's where NBC comes in. Their journalists give talks and work with students on how to research, report and write stories.

The Summit Daily News says that advancements in digital technology allow just about anyone to play reporter – as long as they have the right tools and know how to use them. “Citizen journalism” is quickly redefining how information is conveyed to the masses, thanks to improvements in mobile technology for one. “Camera phones have already proven their worth within the news business,” the article says, and media conglomerates like CNN have since introduced opportunities online for user-submitted material. Establishing truth and accuracy is becoming more difficult as this trend surges, but that’s another story.

While it’s interesting to think that the next breaking news story may come from a recent passerby with an iPhone, one thing’s certain: If you haven’t already, start honing your technical skills before the digital transformation cuts your career short.

Posted by Kate Patton
k.patton@abmmail.com