In Response to “Problems with Journalism” (Written by blogger Zhanet Bochukova)

After reading your initial claim (that the decline of newspapers creates problems and new choices in journalism) I definitely would have to agree. Having previously written an article myself on the decline of newspapers, I noted firsthand that many citizen journalists called the demise of journalism a “rebirth of journalism.” And, it’s no contest that the internet and new technologies give more options to society; with faster speed, cheaper use, and keeping up-to-date with the Jones’, many people are turning to these technologies.

Zhanet Bochukova stated that: “Journalism will improve after newspapers die in some ways,” I agree – to an extent. The half that I agree with is that citizen journalists will have the home-field advantage, blogging and updating anytime, anywhere. The half I don’t agree with? – The fact that newspapers will completely die out. I don’t think that we, as American citizens and consumers, will truly let go of something tangible – we need to physically be able to flip the page or hold the paper closer if our eyesight is poor. Maybe we’re just shallow and can’t see to lose something that we grew up with, no matter if we actually participated in the reading of the paper.

I think that opinions backup facts; this is too say, though, they are not always as credible. However, I don’t think that the hard work of producing a blog or twitter is not credible. Credibility lies in the morals of a truth seeking, meticulous reporter, willing to go to any lengths to “get the facts.” And these reporters can be found both in internet reporting and the “old-fashioned” reporting of newspapers.

I also think that people that chose to get their news on the internet generally direct themselves to those news sights that appeal to their ideology. But, that’s not to say they won’t look around to see what the competition has to offer. I do think that both of these concepts are present in print and television media, but often not as applied because of the speed of finding differing views.

Overall, I would agree that citizens who choose to read their news via internet are very informed by credible sources. Of course, they could always be better informed, but who couldn’t? The internet poses a threat to newspapers, but I don’t think that newspapers will ever truly die out; our generation doesn’t want to be responsible for a mass extinction that rivals dinosaurs. Instead, we will be content to updating our Facebook status, blogging, and twittering; we’ll leave that “old-fashioned” reading for our grandparents.