The world is progressively more fast-paced and everything is online. For those who don't have a handle on computers, watch out! People are now using their mobile devices to access e-mails, social media sites, the news, etc. Whew! That's a lot to take in.
Journalism has its roots in the printed media, and many consumers still appreciate the pleasing aesthetics of flipping the pages of a newspaper. News Aesthetics explores what components of newspapers and online news media are appealing to consumers. A common thread is infographics. Infographics communicate data to consumers in a simplistic format that is pleasing to the eye. Rather than reading about a study, consumers can easily digest the information with ease.
A thread in this shift from print media to online media is speed. With a fast-paced world comes fast-paced people. Rather than spending evenings sitting in a chair to read the newspaper, people are consuming the news during their commute, throughout the day, in fast snippets.
If a journalist looks to remain viable in the 21st Century, they too must conform. Whether or not this shift is sustainable, or a good direction for journalism, remains to be seen. However, journalists can either conform and move with the wave, or have it crash upon them and getting left behind.
The fastest means to communicate stories is Twitter. Twitter allows 140 characters worth of text only, forcing a concise message to advertise their story. Twitter ensures that your story gets out there, but keep in mind that with the speed, it is bogged down in the constant stream. In order to keep up, you need to maintain it rather frequently.
Social media requires more time and attention of journalists, forcing fast stories and overall more work to maintain relevance. Social media does provides a new platform for journalists to communicate to a wider audience in some cases, so that ever-evolving field moves from a local audience to a more global audience.
Social media is going to continue to exist and assert its dominance. For journalism to take advantage of this new platform is a smart move, while at the same time changing the old art forever, which is the consequence. My parting words are that journalists should remain mindful of the changes that are happening in their field and in the world; social media can either be viewed as inhibiting force, or as a great tool. It's up to the journalist to decide if they want to walk with, or against the wind.
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