A friend asked me to describe my favorite and least-favorite things about the news industry for a paper she’s writing. I know she just needed a quick quote, but I couldn’t stop writing….
“Lately it feels like every day I read the same story – no good news for the news business. Just today, Tribune Co. filed for bankruptcy and The New York Times Co.’s future is looking bleak as well. In the midst of countless layoffs and paper closings, it’s sometimes hard to see the positive side of journalism. Newspapers are shrinking their staffs, and many who remain are forced to grapple with a shift away from in-depth enterprise reporting in favor of quick-hit stories that drive online readership. The ultimate effect is a drop in quality.
A print reporter at heart, this is one of my biggest concerns about the news industry. Newspapers traditionally pride themselves on not just getting the story – but going beyond the surface for an analytical look at a myriad of topics. I worry that attention to detail is waning, and that scares me for the future of the business.
But while it may seem like a mere flicker, there is a light at the end of the dreary tunnel for journalists. The best thing about the industry right now is its possibilities. The news business is changing, and for young reporters like myself, that means a world of new opportunities to tell stories in compelling, inventive ways. I think a strong core of journalists will emerge from this recent downturn focused on upholding journalism and all it stands for in a new era.”
