In with the old, in with the new

Mobile world isn’t killing journalism, but presenting new form

“When I was a kid…”, then insert some reminiscence about the limitations of television channels, only having radio, or the ear-splitting squelch of dial up internet.

“Back in my day…”

Generation after generation the world has supposedly gotten worse with the invention of every new version of mass communication…at least if you asked those prior generations. Younger generations embrace and make the new medium what it is.

In the era of mobile journalism, you can still see the same core tenants of what makes the news, news: these are the news values.

“…we only had the newspaper and radio.”

The printing press was the grandaddy of all mass media, according to Inside Reporting Chapter 1. The industrial and interchangeable-type version of Chinese block printing took literacy to the masses since manuscripts were no longer the only way to access information.

Newspapers dominated what was then called journalism because there was no other competition medium. That is, until radio enters the scene.

From there, newspapers fight for reader attention because not only a boom in newspaper competition and the penny press making production cheaper, but also radio journalism giving readers news more immediately. Yellow journalism enters the scene. The news became flashier and appealed to more lurid senses.

A distaste for this style of news and oversaturation allowed the more modern journalistic style to break through thanks to the work of the New York Times. From the 1900s until the 1950s, radio and newspapers shared the journalism spotlight and had a lock on gatekeeping.

“…we only had three channels to choose from.”

When the news not only could be brought into the living room audibly but also visually, the game changed yet again.

The John F. Kennedy/Richard Nixon debate, the JFK assassination and Vietnam War cemented television as the new “it” medium and the nightly news became a kingmaker. Networks dismantled the morning newspaper as the only source of news and the newspapers had to pivot.

Television would have one more change in the 1980s when Ted Turner had an idea for a 24/7 television station delivering nothing but news. Some said it wouldn’t work, but 9/11 proved there an undeniable desire for people to watch the news unfold.

“…we only had dial-up internet.”

After print, radio and TV came the newest juggernaut: the internet. From dial-up and web logs to fiber internet and social media, the internet brought the world to the palm of readers hands.

The internet made all three of its ancestral media way underplay what was coming down the pike. Now, it is the dominate choice of news for most people.

“Yeah, but Buzzfeed and Huffington Post is just a bunch of cat videos and useless quizzes.”

Somewhat true, hypothetical critic. However, cat videos are just as much newsworthy as a change to city ordinances. Just not in the same way. Why? The customer is always right.

According to Inside Reporting’s Chapter 2, news values are universal and have been used throughout the history you just read through.

Newspapers might have started by also including who served tea at the Rotary luncheon, but it was local. Radio brought home World War I because it had impact. Television news showed us interviews with celebrities because they had prominence. Cable news brought us the play-by-play of Baby Jessica because it was unique. The internet brings us feel-good stories and, yes, cat videos because they have human interest. These news values will never go away, just change shape.

All of them also brought readers news about elections, tax increases and social movements because people also cared about those. Thus, news values are as true in the age of mobile journalism today as they were with every new technology before.

Most importantly today, mobile journalism destroyed the gatekeeper. Now, the only one preventing individuals from seeing the news is themselves. Information is there at the ready, especially if news organizations utilize the natural way people took to mobile life.

Mobile devices also allow people to engage with news makers, be the news makers, and get information provided by news makers instantly from anywhere without needing to wait for the next morning newspaper, radio show, nightly news or cable box.

Mobile journalism is not only here to stay, it is ultimately the next logical evolution of journalism just as every generation before it had and ought to be embraced.