Thursday, March 19, 2009

Saving journalism

This week's prompt was about saving journalism. I think it can be. Print journalism, however, I don't think so. People want things immediately, constantly and they want it right. The only way to stay up with the pace of news is online with e-mails, instant messaging, and Web pages that are constantly updated. I think the most recent developments in the AIG situation are a perfect example of the future of journalism and what journalists should be doing to save it.

With word of AIG giving bonuses to employees with the money they received from the government, fingers were being pointed in every direction and no one was taking responsibility for the giant loophole. Stories were published throughout the week then, in the middle of the day Wednesday, CNN breaks the story that a senator has fessed up to writing the language that allowed AIG the option to pay bonuses, despite his claims of having no information about it the previous days. Now, I don't want this to become political by any means, because blame can be placed all around. But, I think this is an example of the direction and safety of journalism. This news was all over the Web and by time someone picks up Wednesday's newspaper, it is old news. News organizations have to keep up with new developments and audience demands. This was also an example of good journalism, as reporters worked their sources to see who allowed this in the bill and then addressed their questions to the right people. There is no way citizen journalists can perform the work and get the information reporters from a major news network did. If journalists they can maintain their purpose of uncovering wrongdoings and serving as a watchdog of the government, journalism is safe and sound.

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