Spotlight on Industry Expert – Caesar Andrews

Mr. Andrews,
I’m curious as to your thoughts about what types of media outlets will not survive the drastic changes in technology and the way people today continue to access information. News and interest in news media is always going to be a huge part of our lives, but what will be the first media outlet to go extinct? My initial thought would be newpapers, which may go completely online in the near future, but you may have other thoughts. According to a recent poll from Pew Research Center, 64% of Americans believe that print editions of newspapers will be nonexistent by the year 2050 (Gellman, 2010). It’s hard to imagine life without newspapers, but personally I haven’t bought one in years because I’ve had access to the information elsewhere. As technology changes the way we get information will undoubtedly change as well. It’s going to be interesting to see what changes in media occur in our lifetime.
Gellman, L. (2010, July 19). Will Newspapers Go Extinct By 2050? The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/19/will-newspapers-go-extinc_n_651810.html

Professor Andrews,
Thank you for taking time to be our guest blogger this week. You mentioned earlier in the blog about traditional news media once holding an iron grip on access to information. Now that we are living in an information-rich age, the line seems to be blurring between what is and what is not ethical journalism. I have also noticed that students have trouble determining what are considered academically acceptable sources for information. Stephen Ward (2011) recently stated, “The speed of new media tempts many users to ignore the restricting methods of accuracy and verification” (p. 1). Yet, the Society of Professional Journalists has a great website with sound principles for journalism.
Can disruptive technology such as smartphones be blamed for an erosion of ethics or is the underlying factor a shortcoming of educational understanding regarding the principles of journalism?
Ward, Stephen. (2001, February 15). 5 principles for teaching journalism ethics in the digital age. Retrieved from: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/02/5-principles-for-teaching-journalism-ethics-in-the-digital-age046.html

I remember growing up hearing how difficult it was to be a journalist or reporter because of the competition and the need to stand out. It seemed that only an elite few were ever able to get so far in the business. It reminded me of the struggles of actors/actresses making an attempt at Hollywood or Broadway. However today I have noticed the trend in “freelance” reporting and so on. My question to you is what credibility is being lost from, when newsrooms are requesting the service of citizen contributors? Is it legitimate reporting and journalism? According to McBride, (2006) “It’s great that newspapers host these sites. It’s a wonderful service for community. They are often interesting, vibrant and exciting. But it’s not journalism. So don’t call it that. Journalism is an independent act of gathering and assembling information by an organization” (para. 4) She is referring to the excess news or lack thereof that is constantly being reported which does not make for old fashionable news. Is it safe to say that journalism is a science evolving with the current times at a constant level?
Reference
McBride, K. (2006, February 24) The problem with citizen journalism. Retrieved from http://www.poynter.org

You are welcome. I would love to see research on the frequency of credibility violations. Now vs. before digital technology. I won’t assume today’s journalism is more corrupt than before. But no doubt, lots of information is posted and passed along quick and wrong. And there’s plenty of plagiarism and fiction today masquerading as legitimate original news. The same technology that creates convenience in so many constructive ways also makes crossing ethical lines much easier. Conversely, perhaps, such flawed work is more exposed than ever before. So technology cuts in both directions on matters of ethics.
More education, more clarity, more new thinking are in order. Adapted to fit all the volatile changes.
What hasn’t changed is human nature. That’s a mix of whatever it is that drives people to do right. And whatever it is that creates lying, cheating, stealing and other serious lapses.

Columnists have turned into bloggers. Or, do bloggers believe themselves to be columnists? This new ability of people to become individual journalists comes partly from the fact that there is now immediate access to news online instead of waiting for the news to go to print. Articles do not have to be approved or edited before they are submitted or posted. It seems to me that while this new acess can be a good thing, it can also create havoc. Stephen J. Ward writes , “A media revolution is transforming, fundamentally and irrevocably, the nature of journalism and its ethics. The means to publish is now in the hands of citizens, while the internet encourages new forms of journalism that are interactive and immediate.
Our media ecology is a chaotic landscape evolving at a furious pace. Professional journalists share the journalistic sphere with tweeters, bloggers, citizen journalists, and social media users” (n.d., para. 3). What do you think the introduction of the ability for anyone to “report news” online has done to the definition of a journalist? Has it taken away from the meaning or the integrity of those that are “officially” employed by a newsroom?
Reference
Ward, S. (n.d.). Digital Media Ethics. Retrieved from http://ethics.journalism.wisc.edu/resources/digital-media-ethics/

I am caught in the middle of the journalistic divide occurring in the U.S. I love how technology has transformed the way we are able to check news, sports and business stories in real time from a phone. But I also like reading the Wall Street Journal, picking up my Sports Illustrated and feeling the pages. I am still crushed the Times Picayune in New Orleans is dropping to a three per week print because I have always felt it was the best newspaper in the U.S. I grew up reading the Picayune and felt the stories told in those pages were true, unbiased accounts of what was going on in my city. The investigations spawned by the paper were numerous and effective.
What is your opinion of the story by the New York Times regarding the lost art of the political quote? (link below) Basically, Americans are provided the sanitized quotes of anonymous political officials and our media abides by the rules without hesitation to gain “access” to the political officials. I believe this practice has partly contributed to the death of print and the rise of the freelance digital “journalist.” Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us.
Peters, J. (July 15, 2012) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/16/us/politics/latest-word-on-the-campaign-trail-i-take-it-back.html?smid=pl-share

With your feelings on the newspaper beginning to die out, some say that with the globe still having so many readers that it will not. “The Boston Globe is figuring out when and how news articles are circulated in the digital world in order to better broadcast their website” (2012, para.4). Do you feel that local papers such as this one, Umass Boston’s independnt student newspaper, that posted this article on how newpapers would not die out will in fact survive with the potential die out?
Reference
Kim, Christi. (Jan 25, 2012). Why Newspapers Will Not Die Out.
Mass media. Retrieved from http://www.umassmedia.com/opinions/op_ed/article_125168a4-40bc-11e1-92d2-0019bb30f31a.html

“An awful lot can be learned by observing what not to say, what not to do, and how not to be.” I think that is a wise life lesson, thank you for that.
In response to a previous comment, you asked, “If reporting credible information remains a worthy public purpose, what are the best new methods for reaching people?” My answer is simple, bogs. Now, according to Barb Palser, “bloggers are the antithesis of traditional journalists: unedited, unabashedly opinionated, sporadic and personal.” (Palser, 2002) As a traditional journalist, you may see some valid points in Barb’s argument. Social media is a huge success because the content is personal and written in a conversational voice. I realize, the biggest drawback of bloggers presenting news coverage is that the content will be their opinion with perhaps a few cited sources. However, with that being said, they will still attract a decent following that will share their message with others via social media.
Do you think blogging is a modern form of journalism?
Reference:
Palser, B. (2002). Journalistic blogging . American Journalism Review, Retrieved on July 17, 2012 from http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=2571

To Paul
Revealing story. Routinely letting subjects determine what happens to quotes is a lousy way to do business. Yes, some exceptions will sometimes justify themselves. Genuinely sensitive matters. Technical details. Something so essential for readers that all the deal-making is worth it. But hard to defend exceptions for everyday stories. Though in truth, journalists strike all kinds of deals in pursuit of stories.
To bicarr
Interesting article. It shows the kind of hustling underway to help save journalism.
I think newsrooms engaged in this kind of experimentation have a chance to succeed. They are moving from a print foundation to whatever platforms audiences prefer. It’s difficult to see how those who decline to connect with their audiences in new ways will survive.
To La Toya
You’re right about the impact of social media – personal and massive. Bloggers are a huge part of the scene. I don’t see them in a universal way. Some are journalists — their blogging is journalism. Some don’t call themselves that, but end up doing much of what good journalists do. Others produce decent work, but no one would call their results journalism. Then there’s the low-end faction, the bloggers with little to no value that is apparent. …

Mr. Andrews, I appreciate your time contributing to this class. I know it’s time-consuming to respond to so many posts.
Actually, I have my undergraduate degree in journalism from UT, and I have found it to be very valuable throughout my career, even though I never became a journalist. Not only has Journalism given me strong written and verbal skills, it has helped me gain a more objective perspective on my decision-making. However, I obtained my degree when Journalism was part of the same school as Public Relations.
With that said, have you seen the lines blur between journalism and public relations professionals? Do you think the relationship is too cozy between these two sectors?

Mr. Andrews,
Journalism and the news industry in general have always interested me. My father has been in the newspaper industry for 30 plus years. In fact my first job was working at a distribution center sorting and stacking papers. It’s been sad to see so many Newspapers close the doors the past few years. I know that today’s technology is wreaking havoc in the news realm but this isn’t the first time technology has caused such issues. In fact 30 years ago Ted Turner predicted the end of the paper industry when he first launched CNN. Many are predicting the end of news organization to be just around the corner some suggesting only being 5 years away. Do you feel that with the end of the paper industry this would be the end of the professional journalist? Without journalism would we have reliable information? According to Walter Isaacson former editor of Time magazine, “ The type of journalism that a daily newspaper does is indispensable to holding people accountable in the town, to brining us together as communities and to giving us the information needed to help democracy” (Marquez, 2009. para.7).
Marquez, L. (2009, February 27). Extra, extra: Is it the end for newspapers?. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=6973782&page=1

Professor Andrews,
Thank you for contributing to the blog.
After reading your blog, I went online to get more information about issues facing the journalism industry. An article caught my eye, “6 conflicting headlines: Who’s telling the truth? And how do you know?”. The article, written by Forrest Carr, the news director of KGUN9, discussed events leading up to a story about a school shooting being reported differently by six different media outlets. Mr. Carr wrote the story in an effort to help the public understand the events which led up to this particular story and how the differences in the stories came about. All but one outlet reported incorrectly, KGUN9’s report was correct. I found it disturbing that this happened with such a serious situation (suspected school shooting) because of the public reaction it would have caused.
The take away from his article, in my opinion, is that the intense competition to be the first to report “spot news” has virtually made it an accepted practice to report without performing due diligence to verify the credibility of the source, particularly if it is another news outlet. Mr. Carr does not appear to subscribe to this practice and refused to allow his station to move forward with the headline just because the competition was doing it, for which I applaud him.
What are your thoughts about the rush to be first? In your opinion, is there anything the industry can do to curb this practice?
Reference: Carr, F., 6 conflicting headlines: Who’s telling the truth? And how do you know? Retrieved from KGUN9: http://www.kgun9.com/news/local/141212663.html

Professor Andrews,
Like everyone else I want to thank for your time. Journalists I believe have a hard job. I think about the 911 attacks and the horrible events surrounding that day and the days after and can’t imagine the emotional toll that would take on someone who had to see and hear firsthand what happened. I have a lot of respect for you and those in your profession.
I agree that people are turning online to get their news but I believe they are still turning to traditional outlets to get their information, places like CNN and The New York Times for example, mainly because people trust those resources. Do you think that crisis facing traditional media outlets is more about revenue than losing their audience?
Rosenstiel, Tom (April 7, 2011). Retrieved from: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/five-myths-about-the-future-of-journalism/2011/04/05/AF5UxiuC_story.html.

Mr. Andrews,
Like most of the others that have commented on your post, I see the print media shifting to the IT world. However, I have embraced the change. Just as you stated in your analogy on traveling – “horse-drawn carriages as once a popular method. Getting from here to there never went out of style”. I really enjoy riding to work in my truck as to a horse! Furthermore, like most, my weekdays are usually crazy. For example, I used to pay/subscribe for the local paper, but if I did not get into the office early (before everyone else) I never had a chance to read it, and I ended-up letting the others in the office have it. Therefore, I might be one of the few, but I have enjoyed the new and clever ways the big media outlets have pushed the information to me. So, instead of wasting my money on a newspaper, I have signed up for text message and twitter updates from all of my favorite media centers. This way I get to keep up with breaking news, politics, sports, and weather in a 180-character text. In the text will be enough information to tell me what is going on and a link to their website – just in case I want to read more about the story. A story in the New York Times reads, “With more than 200 million accounts, Twitter is part of an elite group of social Web start-ups that have flourished in recent years by rapidly attracting users” (Business Day, 2011). My question to you is what is your preferred way to read about your favorite stories? How have you embraced the change, what is your new horse-drawn carriage?
Reference
Business Day. (2011, December 19). Retrieved from The New York Times: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/business/companies/twitter/index.html

Professor Andrews,
It is interesting to hear insight from someone on the other side of the text that we read every single day. I have always been intrigued with journalists and the adventures they get to endure along their way, I am a huge fan of travel and a much bigger fan of “knowing it all”. Just out of curiosity, what is the most interesting story that you have come across thus far and why was it your favorite?
It is truly incredible how much news mediums have changed, even in the short 25 years I have watched it progress and with the global competition increasing almost daily it seems impossible for just newspaper companies to succeed in this technological world. There are so many opportunities for independent journalist to post continuously online. In your opinion what is the biggest challenges that News companies will face? Do you think this drastic change will change journalism and news for the better or worse?
Thank you for joining us!

Professor Andrews,
Thank you for being our special guest during this class. I would like to make comments towards journalism and attention spans. Coinciding with the evolution of media outlets there has been reports that journalism has also had to respond to the shortening attention span of the viewers. Marilyn Elias from the USA Today associated this change beginning with a child’s television diet. She found that many issues could be identified by the age of seven. Now, many of these children who grew up watching short cartoons such as Spongebob are now adults. Could this be another reason why blogs and short headlines on internet media outlets are so popular? Basically, the average viewer only wants the short summary and not the real in-depth truth behind the story. Have you seen a transition how to relay information from Generation X to Y and forward? Personally, I find myself watching CNN Headline News, where the events are heavily condensed, versus CNN or FOX news. So, in this respect I can associate some truth to viewers possessing shorter attention spans.
Reference
Elias, M. (n.d.) Short attention span linked to TV. Retrieved July 17, 2012 from http://usatoday.com

Mr. Andrews,
I would like to thank you for participating in this blog with our class. During my undergraduate career, I worked as the photography editor for the student publication The Daily Beacon at the University of Tennessee. Over the two short years that I was there, I saw a huge shift in the way the publication was moving. When I first started it was only a daily print paper. Towards the end of my time there, while we were still producing printed papers, so much was moving towards using the website and Facebook to share news. Even the local newspaper in Knoxville depends a lot on getting information out through their website and text alerts when major events happen. How do you see social media effecting newspapers in the future and do you think that there will even be print newspapers in ten years?

Professor Andrews, first, thank you for taking the time to be our guest blogger this week. I see from your comments and those of others on this site, that social media and internet information flow are considered to be becoming levels of journalism today. Obviously, there are concerns about factual information and biased opinions being a part of that flow of information. However, according to the Pew Research Center one of the Principles of Journalism is it’s “unusual capacity to serve as watchdog over those whose power and position most affect citizens. The Founders recognized this to be a rampart against despotism when they ensured an independent press”. (Pew, 2006, para 9) Is having a society that not only craves information but participates in the gathering and dissemination of information (basically a society of potential journalist) a positive overall for the society as a whole? In other words, on the whole, do you feel it is it better to have citizens that are involved throughout the information process?
References
The Principles of Journalism. (n.d.). Journalism. Retrieved July 18, 2012, from http://www.journalism.org/resources/principles/

Thanks Mr. Andrews for your time to share this information with us. I can see as technology advances the public beginning to rely less and less on actual paper news and more on electronic news. People want the information at their fingertips, so going to the store or waiting for the paper to be delivered is becoming an inconvenience. This doesn’t mean that people are not reading the information. I think it is just advancing into needing different delivery channels for people to access. “Sixty-one percent of Americans said they get at least some of their news online, according to a survey by the Pew Internet and American Life Project” (Gross, 2010). What are some solutions to you see your industry doing to overcome this new generation challenge?
Gross, D. (March 1, 2010). Survey: More Americans get news from internet than newspapers or radio. CNN. Retrieved from http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-01/tech/social.network.news_1_social-networking-sites-social-media-social-experience?_s=PM:TECH

Professor Andrews, I think one of the biggest impacts that information technology has had on the world is in the area of politics. I am not speaking strictly of the United States but truly around the globe. We have seen how citizen journalist have been able to impact their people and their country. For example, the protests of the elections in Iran in 2009 and the involvement of Twitter. “Twitter didn’t start the protests in Iran, nor did it make them possible. But there’s no question that it has emboldened the protesters, reinforced their conviction that they are not alone and engaged populations outside Iran in an emotional, immediate way that was never possible before.” (Grossman, 2009, para 9) Do you think social media and the internet will continue to have an impact on the governments of the world and the way they handle the citizens?
References
Grossman, L. (2009, June 17). Iran Protests: Twitter, the Medium of the Movement. Time World. Retrieved July 18, 2012, from http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1905125,00.html

Thank you Professor Andrews with sharing your insight with us. I recently read an article that quoted Ayman Mohyeldin, an NBC News foreign correspondent, as saying, “We’re forgetting that there’s a difference between information and knowledge. If a bomb goes off in Afghanistan, people can read about it instantly on Twitter but they won’t be able to know what it means. Where did it come from? Who did it? What’s happening over there? That is what journalism can do.” I realize that often the articles I read online share the writer’s opinions and insights, but their information is usually second hand. A journalist or reporter in the field gathered the facts about the news worthy event. My question is, do you think journalism as we have known it is becoming a dying art? And, what advise would you have for a young adult who is interested in a career in journalism?

Mr. Anderson, Thank you for your time.
I recently read a quote from George Orwell, “Journalism is printing what others don’t want printed, everything thing else is public relations”. (goodreads, 2012). Do you agree with this statement? You said in the blog post that a big challenge in journalism in managing the motivations of companies, finding the balance between the civic good and making a profit. I agree with you, this seems like a large challenge. However, I am not sure that I agree with George Orwell. I believe there are some stories people want told that are not public relations. This is one area where social media is useful, stories that would not get published have the chance to be circulated.
Goodreads (2012) George Orwell > Quotes > Quotable Quote. Goodreads Inc. Retrieved from :http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/77244

Four thoughts. Reactions for or against welcomed:
1. Now is best time ever for consumers of news.
2. What newspapers do is not dying. Some printed form of newspapers will be around100 years from now.
3. The public’s exercise of First Amendment rights is more dynamic than ever, thanks to technology.
4. Most individuals have control over how most of their privacy plays out in public.

Randy:
Your observation sounds right to me. Social/digital media’s role in several protest or reform movements across the globe is a sign of just how powerful the newer tools of communication can be. This is not just about journalism. Citizens networking on political and social causes create a provocative force in society. That’s bound to influence government.
Brandy:
Media routines are being disrupted by change. But, as you state, that “doesn’t mean people are not reading.” I agree. In fact, communications is a major growth market. The U.S. population keeps growing. The world keeps growing. More people, not fewer, are consuming information. Just not necessarily the old-fashioned way. … Journalists wanting to build audiences beyond the traditional forms have to accelerate their engagement in the newer forms. They have to anticipate where people will congregate, supply relevant information in those places and come across as an authentic sources for different generations of readers and viewers.
Kim:
Journalism will last as long as there’s an audience. Which is to say, as long as people see value in reading, watching and listening. The craft of journalism is not dying. It is expanding and remaking itself in many different digital forms. Quality of content will vary widely, as is already the case, ranging from outstanding all the way to useless.
Building a media career that’s more outstanding than useless requires command of fundamental skills, starting with original reporting and artful storytelling. Critical thinking is another area to develop, especially as it relates to innovations needed to attract new generations of audiences.
Deidre:
I have to side with you over Orwell. At least in a literal reading of his quote.

Mr. Andrews
I enjoyed reading your blog.
A favorite memory of my father was every evening observing him sitting in his chair reading the daily news. I do not believe he ever missed a day in 60 plus years of his life. As with any great journalist, story telling is a gift and keeps the reader coming back.
What do you consider your most memorable story and what makes it stand out from the others?
Do you think that computer scientist can empower the journalist in the production of news and stories in the public’s interest? By journallist teaming with computer scientist to develop new interfaces and data extraction techniques, will the upcoming journalist have less pressure in obtaining their stories or will it make it more difficult? Will the digital age take away the journalist’s personal touch or add to it?
Thank you sharing your wealth of knowledge with our class.
Anita

Mr. Andrews,
I want to thank you for your time, and appreciate the valuable information you delivered. I hold in high regard the following statements you made public.
“An awful lot can be learned by observing what not to say, what not to do, and how not to be.” 
“Place high value on curiosity.”
Journalism has changed dramatically in the last decade. Gone are the days of waiting for the Sunday morning paper to arrive or sitting on the couch at 6PM nightly to hear the current global and local news. USA today reported “a new survey by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and the Project for Excellence in Journalism makes clear, we have become a nation of news grazers whose “relationship to news is becoming portable, personalized and participatory.” This information establishes that people are increasingly curious. Curious about topics related to current events and news is making its way to people quicker and to a greater degree.
I am curious to know your opinion. With advances in technology and the increased use of mobile devices for news updates. How do you think the news industry will continue to make money?
Bryant, W. (2010, April 13). As journalism changes, so must you. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-

“Study: People view information on Twitter as less credible than on news websites” —
Interesting headline on poynter.org. See link to story. (For anyone not familiar, Poynter’s website aggregates all kinds of media issues.)
http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/181553/study-people-view-information-on-twitter-as-less-credible-than-on-news-websites/

Dr. Andrews,
Thanks for taking time out and posting. I would like to get your opinion on the “quality” of journalism and if you have seen a decrease in the quality over your career. It seems that no matter where you turn in the media world, that there is an underlining reason or “alliance” that the media has with a political group or a certain cause. I am all for free press and if a publication wants to align themselves with a cause or political group that’s fine. I don’t want their bias in my news report. It seem so many times we have to read between the lines. NPR, FOX, MSNBC all has their allegiances and again I believe in free press, but when the news cannot be delivered without mudslinging, or “shots” it becomes almost rudimentary. Again, thanks for posting and responding with some real world insight. Thanks.

Dr. Andrews,
I would like to thank you for taking time out of your schedule and sharing your thoughts with us this week. I was curious to know if you think if even the mainstream media outlets (ABC, NBC, CBS, etc, even ESPN) have become dependent upon “uncredible” sources? What I mean by that is that everyone wants to be the first to break a story, that as soon as something is reported, some networks will run with it and then have to alter their reporting later. Example would be the Supreme Court’s ruling on “Obama-care.” There were many outlets reporting that it was struck down by the court, then had to take back that story when a crucial part of did indeed pass. Are the major media outlets willing to run with the first bit of news that they hear without checking out the entire situation before its reported, or does it just seem that way?
Thank You.

Mr. Andrews,
I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to be our guest blogger. I have been reading the comments about the impact of social media and technology on journalism today. I believe that the world is becoming very technologically dependent. We want information, and we want it now.
I remember as a young child, and all the way into high school, that I was so excited for Wednesday and Sunday to roll around so I could read the local newspaper with my grandparents. I would go to their house on those days and split sections of the local newspaper with them. It saddens me to think that one day my own children will probably be unable to share in this tradition. They will be on their own iPhones, iPads, laptops, etc. to get their news.
It seems like the newspaper used to be full of information and multiple sections, but appears to be getting smaller and smaller every time I pick one up. It is rare that I still pick up an actual newspaper. I get the majority of my news from social media, online news sources, media text alerts, and watching TV news. My small town local newspaper even posts all of their news stories on their website. I actually believe that they post more news on their website than in the newspaper. It is also interesting to see that most media outlets have Facebook and Twitter accounts. I know the local media outlets in Knoxville have separate Facebook/Twitter pages for their weather, sports, and main news. It is so easy to get quick information at our fingertips.
What impact do you see social media having on the future of printed, or even televised news?
Do you believe that the majority of media outlets are turning to technology (i.e. websites, text alerts, social media) as opposed to printed materials, because it is more cost efficient, and/or because the public craves news in a faster pace?

To Hailey:
Money drives the debate about now and the future. I share the views of those who say that producing the right content in the right place for the right audience equals revenue opportunities. But I want to reach out to you and others for ideas on how that vague formula can be fleshed out.
As a consumer of information, what kind of content are you willing to pay for? How can organizations that provide original news online go about charging enough for their efforts to earn a profit? What might compel users to pay by the story, timeframe or volume of data consumed? What else can be done to increase the value of digital products for advertisers, leading to more advertising revenue? What innovations come to mind for dealing with the expenses required to originate quality news coverage?

I am currently taking an ethics class. Most of what I have wrote about has been of great interest, but I wonder how you pick your topics for these types of classes that seek to give us “ethical principles.” The Wall Street Journal talks about MBA students having to take an oath “These students promised to ‘serve the greater good,’ act ethically, and refrain from pursuing greed at others’ expense” Is this the main goal of your courses, if not what are the main principles that you try to teach your students through this class given your background?
Canales, R. Massey, C. B. Wrzeniewski, A. (2010). Promises Aren’t Enough: Business Schools Need to Do a Better Job Teaching Students Values. The Wall Street Journal. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703865704575133352776583796.html

While with a group of friends, discussion ensued about the breaking news of slayings at the Colorado cinema showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” Several expressed the opinion that if media did not cover these tragic events with such vigor to provide these individuals with such notoriety, they would not be inclined to pursue public acts of violence.
A 30-year study researching the negative health effects of young people due to media exposure associated several possible effects. “Researchers from the National Institutes of Health and Yale University said they were surprised that so many studies pointed in the same direction. In all, 173 research efforts, going back to 1980, were analyzed, rated and brought together in what the researchers said was the first comprehensive view of the topic. About 80 percent of the studies showed a link between a negative health outcome and media hours or content.” Statistical relationships included childhood obesity, sexual behavior, substance use, even low academic achievement. While realizing that there is a parental accountability where young people are concerned, what societal impacts do you see from media reporting, if any?
St. George, D. (2008). Media Bombardment Is Linked to Ill Effects During Childhood. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/01/AR2008120102920.html

Dr. Andrews,
I am curious what your opinion is regarding the expanding media areas (particularly on the internet) where people are considering themselves, and calling themselves, “journalist”, even though they have not formal training.
I was thinking about two areas in particular. Independent Bloggers and, to quote CNN, “iReporters”, amateurs who are recruited or encouraged by established news organizations to post breaking (or just interesting) news to an organizations website.
Over the last few years there has been a growing number of influential bloggers who have been encroaching on the traditional journalist fields. Juan Williams, just last month, created a small firestorm of controversy when he opined to Michelle Malkin that “I am a real reporter, not a blogger out somewhere.” To which Ms. Malkin replied: “Real journalists are apologists for corrupt policy”. IS there a great deal of tension in the world of journalism? As a casual observer I would have thought this had passed by with the change that the internet has brought to journalism.
You cannot watch an international event (The recent unrest in Syria comes to mind) where amateur video shot on a cell phone is not posted on multiple main stream media sites. Which leads to my second question; the use of amateurs by traditional media to get stories out faster and with greater multimedia content (such as the before mentioned cell phone videos). Media seems quick to take advantage of any media, video or sound, on a breaking event from non-professional sources when it fits their needs. Do you believe that the attitude of professional journalists towards these nonprofessionals will change, or will the status quo continue, even in an ever changing media world?

Hi-
Thanks for your time, and for sharing your knowledge of the industry. As we know, knowledge is power.
Much of the conversation has centered on print media, but in your opinion, how has the deluge of information impacted digital journalism? We have real time reporting of newsworthy event by “citizen journalists”. Anyone with a cell phone can record an event that might have a dramatic impact society (take the Rodney King incident for example). When 9-11 happened I watched amazed in real time on television as planes crashed into the WTC, but now the amount of information we process on a daily basis has multiplied many times since then.
How is the debate over fair and objective reporting spilling over in the digital media? It seems that websites have segregated readers by political beliefs. Although not a media outlet in the traditional sense, The Daily Kos, for example, is a celebrated liberal website and invariably mixes liberal viewpoints with political news. There are numerous conservative sites as well. Are websites such as these only increasing the political divide in our country?
Because of secondary and tertiary networks that have developed, people no longer have to get their news from traditional sources. I followed the recent Colorado theater shooting on a sports board of all places, and was able to keep up with the events as they developed without even turning on a television or logging into a news website such as Fox or CNN. Because of the above mentioned networks, will we eventually see websites of traditional news sources decline in viewership, much as print media is now?
Note to Dr. Green: This is too long, I know.
Bunz, M. (18, September 2009). How social networking is changing journalism. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/pda/2009/sep/18/oxford-social-media-convention-2009- journalism-blogs

My daughter is studying journalism and she came to me recently to ask what she could do to make her career more sustainable. We listened/read your interview together. We both grasped your comment, “Treating development of skills as if mining for gold. Place high value on curiosity.” (My daughter has always been the one in the family that got in trouble for being too curious. She was happy to know that she will be able to make her main driver work for her).
As we learn that we as individuals can be competitive in the global market, it is imperative that we hear your message “Prepare to take on different opportunities, whether with established companies, or innovative start-ups, or as a freelancer, or in some other customized role you choose to create.” You are inspiring and Friedman breathes wind beneath our wings when he says that “Globalization 3.0 is the newfound power for individuals to collaborate and to compete globally.” (Friedman, 2007, p. 10)
Friedman, T. L. (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Mr. Andrews,
Thank you for your time and sharing your background and insightful research. As I read your information my mind automatically shifts to think of how I often find articles written in the British Broadcasting Corporation simply because the articles written tend to have a different perspective. The article also tend to be more extreme and less censored which makes me infer that journalist in the United States are either not collecting all of the facts and they too are delivering their stories in a manner that are easily accessible and there is no differentiation from their work compared to a random blogger with gathered facts. Not to get off topic, but I remember in Anthropology classes in my undergraduate studies, it was noted that history and cultures have stereotypes because when anthropologist from western cultures would ask others about their history, cultures, and beliefs, they would make up bogus facts to mock western society and western cultured anthropologist would take and run with it and report it in their findings. My question to you is that since everything is on such a global level, how you encourage professional journalist to get international perspectives that are variable? Also I read an article The ‘story’ in a risk society: A case study of the BBC and the ‘riskiness’ of journalism. that talks about the risk of journalism, with that being said, what are some advice would you give professional journalist that are more high risk and take on different perspective on liability and accuracy?
McCURDY, P. (2011). The ‘story’ in a risk society: A case study of the BBC and the ‘riskiness’ of journalism. Journal
Of Media Practice, 12(2), 173-188. doi:10.1386/jmpr.12.2.173_1

Professor Andrews, thank you for granting us the privilege of conversing with you via digital media. And speaking of digital media, now that we have it news appears to be accessible to our finger tips within minutes after it occurs. However, a day or two after the news has been reported; often you read or hear corrections on the news that was previously shared. Sometimes it is one of those stories which would be categorized as sensationalism or one that has all the hype to sell news. Either way it amazes me how we have such advance technology available like never before and yet statistically there are more errors now than of former years. Doesn’t the media realize that our children area watching. What kind of message does this communicate to our “generation text .” Perhaps the media is sending the message that it is okay to be mediocre. Can you please shed some light on the matter of high levels of inaccuracies in the media? And could outsourcing be the culprit?
Retrieved July 21, 2012, from http://www.dailysource.org/about/problems

Thank you very much for taking you time on the post. I found very interesting in your insight of the journalism industry. As you mentioned, news and public comments are only a click away by web-based news or social media. However, I believe that the professional journalism continues to play an important role in our information society. We live in a world of flooded information. Accountability and credibility are more important for readers to evaluate information and understand its impact. A journalist, Jack Kapica comments that most citizen journalism sites show little understanding of the process of gathering the news and writing it in a conventional form. Conventionality of presentation is important because it can give readers a recognizable framework to assess and understand what’s being written. Kapica encourages the world of citizen journalism to hold high standards and practice sound journalistic principles (Hogg, 2009). It is a great opportunity for us to practice the citizen journalism and learn its professionalism through posting blog with coaching.
Professor Andrews, your passion and dedication to the industry to teach and deliver accurate, prompt information to readers is well appreciated.
Reference
Hogg, C. (2009). Is There Credibility in Citizen Journalism? Retrieved from http://digitaljournal.com/article/271657#ixzz21MR30E2x

Very informative information. Thank you for your time and information.

Hailey:
Good thoughts. Determining what news content people are willing to pay for is essential. The answer will help determine what happens next to journalism.
Grant:
Thanks. Holding public authorities accountable is one of the most important duties of the free press.
Marsha:
Swift access to news and information is a defining characteristics of modern society. Thanks to technology, anyone can weigh in with observations, views and a version of the facts, whether credible or nonsense. Journalists cannot control this reality of citizens involvement. But they ought to be able to draw a distinction between the content produced by pros vs. the high volume of suspect material that thrives on the Internet.
In the breaking news example you mention, the fatal shootings in Colorado, eyewitness accounts have instant appeal. As do reactions posted from many different sources. The challenge for professional journalists is to embrace that reality, knowing that they do not have a monopoly on information or perspectives. At the same time, they have to be able to offer readers and viewers something over and beyond material consumers can get elsewhere. Something relevant, credible and distinct.

Thank for your time and expertise in sharing your thoughts of journalism. I still love holding a newspaper and reading it on the weekends. With the internet becoming such a large part of journalism I find it interesting in how a message is being told from a different perspective and media. A study of the credibility of political messages presented on the Internet found that those who use the Internet heavily tend to rate online information as credible. (Kaid, Postelnicu, 2006). The study also showed that when participants were presented with three sources of political information (one that was an expert, one that was trustworthy, and one that was a celebrity), participants found the celebrity to be the most credible. With the internet, anyone can be an instant credible source. With that being said many credible sources are rushing stories to release without fully checking the sources credibility. I appreciate how you express the importance of trust worthiness, and holding onto a core set of values to report things properly.
Lynda Lee Kaid and Monica Postelnicu, “Blog Readers: Predictors of Reliance on War Blogs” in Blagging, Citizenship, and the Future of Media, ed. Mark Tremayne (New York: Routledge, 2006), 14964.
200 Words

My believe that american journalism which is newspapers and television news are not going to vanish in the foreseeable future, despite frequent predictions of their imminent extinction. But they will play diminished roles in an emerging and still rapidly changing world of digital journalism, in which the means of news reporting are being re-invented, the character of news is being reconstructed, and reporting is being distributed across a greater number and variety of news organizations, new and old.
The Internet and those seizing its potential have made it possible—and often quite easy—to gather and distribute news more widely in new ways. This is being done not only by surviving newspapers and commercial television, but by startup online news organizations, nonprofit investigative reporting projects, public broadcasting stations, university-run news services, community news sites with citizen participation, and bloggers.

Professor Andrews,
Thank you for sharing your experience in the field of journalism. A new form of journalism has evolved that is demonstrated, for example, in the types of media responses from the recent shootings in Toronto, Canada and the shootings in Aurora yesterday. This form blended traditional reporting and crowd sourced reports that took place. Journalism has evolved to a situation where one can ask a question over the internet about an event that happened less than eight hours ago and can get an immediate response firsthand. Furthermore, the future of journalism is continually evolving based on the rapid growth of technology. In this case, we see several different factors coming into play with the way news and/or journalism is being practiced.
The eyewitnesses, victims and others telling their stories are directly involved in the reporting of media themselves through blogging and twittering. Through this new methodology supported by advances in technology, the American public is not required to wait for traditional journalists to ask questions and find the answers.
Reference:
Ingram, N. (July 20, 2012). The Colorado shooting and the crowdsourced future of news. Retrieved on July 21, 2012 from http://gigaom.com