Futuristic Community News

Diana Wiebe

dw923311@ohio.edu

More. Bigger. Faster. That’s what the public wants and needs out of the news these days, and those wants and needs will only get larger and grow over time. However, there is still a want and a need for ethical, unbiased journalism. Where do ethics fit in with this fast-paced technological movement?

CHANGING TECHNOLOGY

Paul Sparrow gives readers an idea of what technology and media might look like in the very near future in his piece entitled “Let’s Start Talking About a Radically Different Future of News.” He gives an example of a woman named Jan who receives her news in a car display. “Most of that information is also of interest to people who work with her, live near her, or share her interests. But it is the data-driven filtering and timely delivery of the content that will define the next generation of news providers,” Sparrow says. It really is all about the specialized content and timing of the news that will shape how the news is delivered to the public.

However, that begs the question, “How ethical is tailored news?” Sparrow says, “But it is vitally important that the value of the service provided, and the integrity of the information collected, be overwhelmingly beneficial to Jan.” He recognizes that no matter how timely and tailored it may be, it must still be truthful and give the whole picture.

Will this be the future of news? Credit: www.masternewmedia.org

COMMUNITY ORIENTED

Monica Guzman has a piece entitled “Community as an End” that talks about the current and future trends in online and community journalism. Guzman says, “But journalism is not about the tools. It’s about people. Working well with social media is not the same as working well with community.” A lot can be said about community based journalism and the fact that more and more, people want local news that is meaningful to them. It seems clear to both Guzman and Sparrow that the future of news relies on focused community-oriented segments that are timely and accurate.

Guzman also discusses how involved the public is with journalism nowadays as well. “Public voices might never speak as carefully as journalists do. But that’s no reason to avoid publicly shared information, dismiss it, or feel like you’re working against it. It’s a reason to dive in and help steer.” Let your community participate, but be sure it is accurate and reasonable.

CONCLUSIONS

Guzman and Sparrow both recognize that the news is changing dramatically and that people must be willing to take risks. It is extremely important to be able to change with the times and keep up with new technology. However, it is equally important to ensure that the news is still truthful and focused on what the public needs to know. Whether that will be through a new space-age clear magazine screen or perhaps the same old iPhone, it should still be about informing the public with accuracy.