(Apr 10, 2009): "Is The Internet Killing Journalism?" (The Atlantic)

[CGP]

Source: The Atlantic (http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/is_the_internet_killing_journalism.php)


According to the majority of media insiders polled by The Atlantic and National Journal, it is: 65 percent of the 45 respondents to the Atlantic/NJ media insiders poll said news consumption on the Internet has hurt journalism more than it has helped, while 34 percent said it's helped more.

Consensus was that the Internet has destroyed the old business model--the newspaper business model--that supported balanced, thoughtful journalism. It promotes sensationalism and trains people to consume news in smaller, bite-sized pieces, at least two insiders said. At the same time, it has widened the audience of news consumers and put more news at people's fingertips.

On a related note, I was talking to a friend recently about the pluses and minuses of the Drudge Report. My friend said (quotes from memory): "He just takes a story and puts a headline on it to make people like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton look bad." Then, later in the conversation: "I usually start my day by looking at the Drudge Report."

[BillDemo]

According to the majority of media insiders polled...."

They're looking in the wrong direction. Balanced, thoughful journalism died years ago with the advent of "media insiders".

[Laura Cereta]

"Is The Internet Killing Journalism?"

No, you can't kill what is already dead.

[Tim4Hillary]

I don't think it's just the internet that is the problem. Television news has now become segregated. Most of us watch, predominantly, the channel that reinforces our world view or feeds our narrative. This keeps the culture wars alive and lets politicians and other assorted sundries (wrong word choice?) take advantage of the schisms. It's a terrible system.

[BillDemo]

I don't think it's just the internet that is the problem. Television news has now become segregated. Most of us watch, predominantly, the channel that reinforces our world view or feeds our narrative. This keeps the culture wars alive and lets politicians and other assorted sundries (wrong word choice?) take advantage of the schisms. It's a terrible system.

I agree. News died the day Keith Olberman gave up sports coverage and said to himself "I know what I'll do... I'll report on politics".:eek:

[VotingHillary]

Journalism died when reporters forgot what their job was...reporting the news rather than propagating a position. This past election sealed the deal.

RIP the 4th amendment and the Fourth Estate...1776-2008.

[TheTaoOfBill]

Source: The Atlantic (http://politics.theatlantic.com/2009/04/is_the_internet_killing_journalism.php)
The only thing killing journalism is lack of journalistic integrity.

If the MSM wanted to beat the internet it would be easy. Because internet news is filled to the brim with low brow wannabe journalists. If they got back to asking real questions and asking follow up questions as well they would easily beat the internet. Because people who want the news will choose quality over convenience.

[Kaylin]

the internet's viral quality can (and does) spread bad journalism around, but the thing I've noticed over the past several years is how often the journalist becomes part of the story, and sometimes actually becomes the story. You never used to see this. Dan Rather was the first major culprit. Currently Barbara Walters is. Inviting both Obama and McCain on to the View and giving Obama a fluffy View-style interview (for example Baba telling Obama how sexy he is) and then subjecting the McCains to a 20/20 style grilling was a freaking disgrace. I know Joy Behar was rough on McCain as well, but I wouldn't hold Behar to the same standard as Walters, who clearly knows the difference. She also took advantage of the McCains willingness to answer any question, then got ticked off at Elizabeth Hasselbeck when Hasselbeck revealed that Michelle Obama came to the set with a list of questions/topics she would not take on. And that's not a knock on Michelle--Bette Davis famously said that nobody is obliged to answer questions just because they're asked--it's a knock on Barbara Walters and her double standard.

anyway, journalists aren't singers, and this cross-over thing journalists have been doing between opinion and reporting doesn't work.

[matiah]

The only thing killing journalism is lack of journalistic integrity.

If the MSM wanted to beat the internet it would be easy. Because internet news is filled to the brim with low brow wannabe journalists. If they got back to asking real questions and asking follow up questions as well they would easily beat the internet. Because people who want the news will choose quality over convenience.

Finally, we agree on something. I hope CNN and MSNBC are listening to you.

[Jester]

Internet blogs will never replace journalism because they are basically using real journalist's reports to make an editorial. Hopefully we don't reach the day of news reporting and editorials are no longer different. We are close though.

And I don't think people watch what is close to them so they can feel happy with their views. I watch whatever channel is the most critical (although I watch most channels). I almost never watched Fox News during Bush's presidency. Now it has the stories that MSNBC refuses and CNN reports on a week later after the demand builds. But actually, I watch a lot of CNBC, Bloomberg and FoxBusiness. But this is just TV.

Newsprint, I read my local paper and Google News. So like Sarah Palin .... "all of 'em"

[carmaken]

The talking heads and pudits wanted to become the stars themselves. I'm not sure when this happened. The accuracy of the cable news networks lacks in trustworthiness.

Also, it's almost too political-oriented. Yesterday, when the tornadoes broke in Murfreesboro, TN, I couldn't find any reporting going on (my daughter lives there). It was frustrating that they weren't reporting this killer tornado just after it happened.

[Ikasu]

The creation of the 24/7 cable "news" channels killed journalism. The old system of having 3 networks (NBC, ABC, CBS) reporting the news worked well. There was enough competition between the three to produce quality journalism. The commentators back then were much smarter than they are now. Today, we have hacks like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann with popular shows that people prefer over the nightly news.

[Jester]

Today, we have hacks like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann with popular shows that people prefer over the nightly news.

Well, I'm intelligent enough to avoid both. It would be nice if that was the case with others. And you guys (sexist) can't pretend some of you weren't quoting Glenn Beck less than a year ago.

But if people think the mainstream media is polarized, then the internet media is 20000000000000x worse. The best part of a blog is a link to the factual story. The blog itself is usually :rolleyes:

[mavfin]

The only thing killing journalism is lack of journalistic integrity.


Exactly. (Bill, we've got to stop meeting like this. Really!)

[agatha]

The only thing killing journalism is lack of journalistic integrity.

If the MSM wanted to beat the internet it would be easy. Because internet news is filled to the brim with low brow wannabe journalists. If they got back to asking real questions and asking follow up questions as well they would easily beat the internet. Because people who want the news will choose quality over convenience.


I completely agree. :surprise:



Say what you want about Fox's evening stuff like Hannity but their regular daytime News program really is "fair and balanced." And their ratings reflect that, IMO.

Newspapers could stage a major comeback if they would actually do their job. I wonder if, over the years, they have self-selected to such a Liberal extent that they no longer realise just how Liberal they are?

[agatha]

I watch whatever channel is the most critical (although I watch most channels). I almost never watched Fox News during Bush's presidency. Now it has the stories that MSNBC refuses and CNN reports on a week later after the demand builds.



I think that is why Fox's ratings are through the roof.