Citizen Journalism

Someone asked me recently. With citizen journalism and social media around, will we see the end of journalists? Truth is, the news business has been on the decline. Across the board, newspapers have reported decreasing readership and ad sales for a while now.

The audience have shifted to the internet and newspapers are having a hard time finding a business model there that works. In addition, to this, journalists are dealt another blow. The regular citizen now has the ability to take photos and film breaking footage even before journalists have arrived on location.

I'll say this. Imagine it really happens and newspapers fold and journalists are no more. We get our news everyday from the opinions and perspectives on social media. In this picture, those who verify their data, speak ethically, and write clearly will simply be the new journalists. Because really journalism is a process of writing accurately, briefly, and clearly.

Squished with everyone else, these people might not be known as journalists anymore but the form and art of journalism, will survive. Squished with everyone else, the journalist who writes ethically will only be valued even more, for he, like the newspaper he used to write for, speaks the truth.

Because in a world where everyone has a soapbox to scream from, those who speak the truth will be heard best.