Its alarming to be studying a profession that seems to be fading away. Even with the onslaught on online journalism, things are looking bleak for those of us studying the craft. These are worries we all should have and voice, because we are the only ones who can someday bring journalism back to where it once was.
The 2007 State of the News Media report was a major wake-up call to this 23-year-old sophmore at the start of her new career. I was always led to believe that online news would save us all -- be the next big job market for those of us looking for stability. But according to this report the online news world has hit a steady hault at 92 million viewers.
What is needed is a new business model. How do small local newspapers compete with the cheap advertising of the internet. Even larger institutions such as the New York Times are starting to see the error of their ways. Afraid of losing money, they like so many other newspapers, tried charging a subscription fee to internet users who were already paying hefty prices for access to the web. I myself turned away from such a method and would go to the cheaper version of aol news, sad as that may seem.
The report also brings up the heart of the issue of advertising by pointing out the need for a new model of measuring media audiences. Without knowing how many really read their newspaper or watch the evening news, how can media outlets convince advertisers their's is the best place to buy add space? Even circulation isn't cutting it anymore for newspapers -- how many people read a paper that someone else left behind after their coffee?
Its only now that journalists are starting to see this trend that has been growing for years. Will it be too late to do something about it?
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