online jounalists assess the state of the digital media
The Project for Excellence in Journalism by the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of almost 300 members of the Online News Association (ONA), a 10-year old organization of nearly 1,800 members, and the largest organized association of digital journalists. This is the first-ever survey conducted among journalist-members of ONA, most of whom are working for websites that are affiliated to traditional news media, and most of whom have had more than 11 years of experience as journalists. This is why the result are very interesting, and provide fertile ground for discussion on the state, possibilities and issues of digital news media practice.
Let me quote directly from a summary of the findings: (The summary can be found at http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2009/narrative_survey_intro.php?media=3&cat=0)
A solid majority of those surveyed (57%) say the Internet is “changing the fundamental values of journalism.” The biggest changes, the respondents said, were a loosening of standards (45%), more outside voices (31%) and an increased emphasis on speed (25%).
When asked what online journalism is “doing especially well these days,” more named aspects of technology like using advancements well (31%) or speed (30%) than named reporting skills like improving storytelling (16%) or exploiting the potential for greater depth (12%).
Six in 10 (63%) of respondents ranked original reporting as the most important type of information they produce. This was more than four times as much as the second-most important information type: aggregated material from wires and other legacy outlets (13%).
For the most part, online journalists say they have been spared the kinds of staff cutbacks their legacy brethren experienced in 2008. Many (39%) reported staff increases compared with a year earlier. Another third said their staff numbers have remained the same. Less than a quarter (23%) saw staff decreases.
Despite current trends, most of these online journalists are pinning their hopes in the future on advertising. Roughly two-thirds of these online journalists predicted advertising would be the most important form of revenue at websites three years from now. Only a quarter of respondents named some other new revenue model.
The online journalists surveyed believed that the medium is changing fundamental values in journalism. They report the loosening of standards and more carelessness in online news gathering, resulting in declining accuracy because online news organizations emphasize speed and breaking news.
However, they also noted that on the positive side, there is more diversity of voices presented, the potential of technology, and even the presentation of more ideological points of view.
(The full report can be found at http://www.stateofthemedia.org/2009/narrative_survey_futureofjournalism.php?media=3&cat=1)
What do you think of the results, and the research instruments used to attain them? Do you think, if the same survey were administered to Filipino online journalists, that the same or different results will be garnered? Would you like to work in the field of online journalism? Post your thoughts!