Today is the first week of class and we watched Media Watch, which discussed online journalism vs print journalism, and the changes this means for the profession.
I must say I agreed with the view that as a result of the move to online journalism, the quality of news is declining. Even on the evening news recently my mum was most upset that a story that was supposed to be run about orchestra students from several Hunter schools performing a large concert with a bunch of students visiting from Ohio, USA, was knocked off the agenda by a story about a streaker who ran across the polo field and embarrassed Prince Charles. I believe the quality of journalism will continue to decline in the future, online and in all mediums, as the need for speed of news becomes more apparent.
I also agree that the platform between newspapers and online publications should remain the same. Dumbing down the content for online audience only assumes that this is what audiences want, when in fact I believe that unless the online platform starts to adequately address the needs and wants of newspaper readers, a whole bunch of readers will miss out if newspapers are ever totally eradicated, with nothing to fill the void, except for turning to online infotainment.
