The Evolution of the Newsprint

The Evolution of the Newsprint from Paper to Plug In

A continually updated news report on the internet diminishes the need for newsstands. Because time is of the essence with online stories, getting it first and getting it fast appears to supersede other more traditional core newspaper values (Reinardy, 2010). The public expects to know what just happened and not what has happened; we are conditioned as an instant gratification society. Public knowledge on what may be is far more important that what really is true; online journalism is notorious for apologizing for miscommunication. Today’s journalist spends their time updating small facts and not getting the scoop.

Today’s American journalist differentiates greatly with the journalist from 20 years ago due to the advancement of technology. Online journalists hypothesized more negative effects than print journalists with regard to the potential effects of the loss of the Internet (Fortunati & Sarrica, 2011). And while newspapers have continued to embrace a more active online news strategy, 45 percent of journalists say the Internet will weaken rather than strengthen traditional journalistic values. A reporter for a traditional newspaper will invest time and effort to develop a source network throughout his entire career (Gregory, 2011), this dying skill rarely get nurtured in contemporary writers. As newspaper organizations attempt to adapt to the recent technological and economic alterations, news workers have been expected to adapt as well. Reporters and editors are described as ‘gate keepers’ because they must cull data from a variety of sources (Robinson, 2009). Many are being asked to do more (writing stories or shooting video for the Web, compiling photo galleries, blogging, etc.) with less (layoffs, buyouts, hiring freezes, long delays in filling positions, etc.). And, newsroom strategies have shifted from a once-a-day deadline for the morning edition to a 24/7 continuous deadline (Reinardy, 2010)....