Online journalism
Online Journalism Debate
The subject of the debate is: It would be better for everybody, including journalists and their
audiences, if newspapers just went ahead and died.
Newspapers have for many years formed the foundation of communication in society. They have evolved from being bias, state owned hubs of propaganda, to the very embodiment of free speech.
On the notion presented by the prosecutor, stating; it would be better for everybody, including journalists and their audiences, if newspapers just when ahead and died. The defense will rebut this notion on the basis of the very meaning of newspapers, their heritage, and their evolving business models, the wide and infinite spread of newspapers, journalism as a profession, and the influence newspapers have harbored over the decades.
A newspaper is a publication that has a scheduled circulation time, in which it disseminates news (Johannes, 2005). News could be a combination of current events; political, social, economical events. News papers also include information articles, editorial and columns, diverse features and advertising (Johannes, 2005).
This is a brief history to note the heritage of the news paper. The Chinese government in early days produced news sheets, described as the tipao. The Tipao circulated amid court officials during the lat Han Dynasty. This was more or less during the second to the third centaury AD. From 713 to 734, the Kaiyauan Za Bao from the Chinese Tang Dynasty published government news. This was mainly called the “bulletin of the Courts”. The bulletins were handwritten on silk and read by government administrators. In 1582, there was the first mention to privately published newssheets in Beijing, during the late Ming Dynasty. The in the 16th to 17th centaury newspapers became more frequent, with both complex and daily occurrences being covered (Winfield, 2002).
As times progress and technology seems to give newspapers a run for their money. News paper agencies adapt their business model to suit their audiences. However excellent the journalists are, however — and many are truly superb – conventional publications are not a climate that breeds risk-taking and innovation beyond imagining how to be better reporters. Thus improving the journalism and evolving the business model has become a topic of much debate. This has supplemented the manner in which journalists collect and disperse news.
There is an explosion of innovation now. Some of it is coming from inside news organizations and the majority is, coming from outside, from people inventing or adapting business models as well as journalism and information techniques.
In twelve beautifully written essays, all previously published, David Paul Nord examines journalism as a vital component of communities (Winfield, 2002). By nature, journalism is public; publication means to make public, he explains. Journalists up hold libertarian or a liberal outlook on the media (Winfield, 2002). This ensures that the media is to protect the people’s liberties and rights, and to inform the public so they can participate as citizens in democratic self-government (Winfield, 2002). The liberal theory prefers to inform citizens and criticize public policy, as well as act as a watchdog on authorities. The right to publish and express oneself freely is not a prerogative of the state or a government (Winfield, 2002). It is a fundamental right of free individuals. Journalists argue that a free marketplace of ideas, while it may cause harm over the short term, is the best safeguard in the long run for a free and liberal society (Winfield, 2002).
Along with seeking liberty Journalists acknowledge their social responsibility, which most other aggregators do not take into account when publishing their pieces (Winfield, 2002). Journalists attempts to balance the liberal stress on the freedom of the press. They argue that such freedoms of a powerful news media must be balanced by social responsibilities. Journalists have a duty to provide well-contextualized news in a comprehensive manner. They have a duty to provide a diverse forum of views and values. They have a duty to go beyond entertaining news consumers and to provide a core of in-depth analysis on the most serious issues. These are duties that aggregators do not adhere to.
This can be explained as yellow journalism (Johannes, 2005). Which is a type of journalism that is under researched and unethical in its delivery. Yellow journalism preys on sensationalism exaggeration and is always scandal hungry (Johannes, 2005).
As opposed to such techniques of reportage Journalism and newspapers have shaped the way people think. Newspapers have served as a kaleidoscope of information for the society. Aggregators discuss and extend on stories reported by newspapers.
Therefore the notion that; It would be better for everybody, including journalists and their
audiences, if newspapers just went ahead and died, is here by refuted by this essay.
