The Future of Journalism

Part 1: Clay Shirky lecture

 Play the clip AND read along with the transcript below to ensure you are following the argument. You need to watch from the beginning to 29.35 (the end of Shirky's presentation). Once you've watched and read the presentation and made notes (you may want to copy and paste key quotes from the transcript which is absolutely fine), answer the questions below:

1) Why does Clay Shirky argue that 'accountability journalism' is so important and what example does he give of this?

He suggests that it is shrinking and that our society needs it. The example given is of Catholic priests who raped 100 boys and whenever this was questioned in the media, the Catholic church would take him of to rehab.

2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?

That in the past, newspapers had the power over adverts as if a advertisement company didn't like a story published by the newspaper then they couldn't really leave as there was no where as to go. Monster and Match and Craigslist.

3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?

Audience are consuming news stories from social media on Twitter, Facebook etc. which have been sent to them.

4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?

That it might have been more widespread if the internet was more accessible, as people would have forwarded the news story and make it have more publicity but as this wasn't the case, the story eventually died down.

5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls? 

He suggests that it stops the spreading of news articles and that audiences would then be less likely to view them and forward them to others. He suggests that by doing this, audience would just start publishing news themselves so it wouldn't work as a business model for the news companies. 

6) What is a 'social good'? In what way might journalism be a 'social good'?

When a group of people get together to do something for themselves. Journalism can be seen as this as the journalists write news stories such as accountability journalism which they and the public can both benefit from.

7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?

He suggests we need more accountability journalism which, but it is short-term as it won't completely replace newspapers as it would still hold the same structure and function.

8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?

I think it is very important as they are huge brands which been existing for a long time so have been a part of the culture and tradition from their origin. They have a wide audience and so have a duty to report to them. And due to being big names, they are seen as trustworthy sources.

Part 2: MM55 - Media, Publics, Protest and Power

Media Magazine 55 has an excellent feature on power and the media. Go to our Media Magazine archive, click on MM55 and scroll to page 38 to read the article Media, Publics, Protest and Power', a summary of Media academic Natalie Fenton’s talk to a previous Media Magazine conference. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the three overlapping fields that have an influence on the relationship between media and democracy?
 

Political field, economic field and journalistic field.

2) What is ‘churnalism’ and what issues are there currently in journalism?

Churnalism - the practice of cut and paste.

More news is needed to be published than before but the Newspaper industry doesn't have a suitable business model as it is difficult to "maintain the profit margins". Also, there is a shortage of journalists. 

3) What statistics are provided by Fenton to demonstrate the corporate dominance of a small number of conglomerates? 

3 companies control 71% of UK national newspaper circulation while only five groups control more than 80% of combined online and offline news.

4) What is the 'climate of fear' that Fenton writes about in terms of politics and the media? 

Politicians fear having negative publicity e.g. The Leveson Enquiry. Political parties, the police and other institutions are forced to investigate the wrongdoings in the news media. Media has the money to buy large cooperates with a large sum of money with legalisation, so when the government, the public and journalists have the power, then there is little freedom.

5) Fenton finishes her article by discussing pluralism, the internet and power. What is your opinion on this crucial debate - has the internet empowered audiences and encouraged democracy or is power even more concentrated in the hands of a few corporate giants?

The internet has allowed audience to have power as they can now be producers too (prosumers), and big corporate giants rely on audiences to for their fan base so they can monetise from them, as without being able to sell their products to them they cannot make profit.