Tradition Dies Hard

Kayla Welch
kwelch938@yahoo.com

It should come as no surprise when people in today's society talk about the use of print media declining and the social network "takeover." Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, etc. are becoming more and more popular with people and are dominating the ways for information to be obtained.

This domination is making journalists adapt and change with the times. Journalists are now finding ways to access their readers/viewers. More and more newspapers are being published online in which readers can access and subscribe, as it is quicker and easily accessible to people who may be working or on the go. A big example of this is The New York Times, in which you are quickly able to become a digital subscriber.

It all starts as simple as Facebook, in which advertisements are selectively placed on your sidebar as you're browsing. Ever notice that these advertisements adhere to your own personal interests? Facebook goes into your account settings for certain interests and 'likes' you may have and publishes advertisements on the sidebar to gain your interest to click on them, thus directing you to their website.

Another social network taking over is Twitter. Many young people and companies are starting to use Twitter more to publicize their brand and their name, however Twitter has many downfalls against print media and the news.

There are many false stories or stories that people publish thinking they have all their facts straight, when in reality are not completely correct. The story spreads, more people believe it is 100 percent factual, and the cycle continues to spread. This is leading to an increasing distrust in mainstream media and the journalists who report the news.

Then there is the question of who is a journalist. As social networking increases, it seems easy for absolutely anyone to classify themselves as a reporter or a journalist. Does simply taking a picture on Instagram makes one a photographer, publishing a blog on Xanga makes you a journalist, and taking a video of yourself makes you a reporter?

It is hard to distinguish a "real" journalist from one who "claims" to be one, especially when many people go to school for years for that title. There has clearly not just been a transformation of information, but a transformation of power to the people who feel they are entitled as a journalist. 

Social networking and the improvements in the world wide web have dramatically transformed journalism and the news. Many people say that in the future there will not even be a need for people to go to school to become a journalist, however, I do not agree with this.

Just because mainstream media is transforming into less print media and more visual and social, I feel the need for journalists will always be around in our society. People will continually be intrigued by what is going on in the world, and it is important for "real" journalists to get the truth out there. Without the truth and ethical codes being followed by college-educated reporters, there is no telling what stories could be out there that people could believe.

Tradition dies hard, but it will be interesting to see where the future in expanding social media will lead us.