I’ve just read through a stack of papers for one of my classes where students have to reflect on whether they are optimistic or pessimistic about the journalism in the future. They base their essays on readings and discussion and their own experiences. But I find that even the most optimistic are looking to a journalism of short. Many talked of journalism having to be quick for people who don’t have a lot of time. They talk about Twitter and mobile devices.
On paper after paper I asked about stories, about whether we need to hear stories about people and our world in more than 140 characters. For many in the class, it’s one of the first times they’ve encountered the economic realities of journalism, aside from people asking them why they want to be journalists now. For now, with more time than money, the students insist they will always “just find someplace to get the information for free” if they are confronted with having to pay for content.
I’m encouraged by Robert Boynton’s essay on Byliner where he writes:
“It is important to remember that, however imperiled journalists feel, the big story is the fact that never before have so many people had so much access to such a diverse and enormous supply of information. And never before have they consumed so much of it. This is undeniably true, and of great benefit to mankind.”
I knew that, but I needed to read it and hear it again,
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