Session 13: Social Media, Public Journalism, Citizen Journalism, Who’s a Professional

Tonight’s Program Guest Speaker: Zeenath Khan, Ethics in Media Presentation II – Ethar Al Saadi Discuss Week 12 readings: Social media, public journalism, citizen journalism, who’s a professional Questions about final essay

Report due today by Take one theory that we have covered this semester and discuss its strengths and weaknesses Link the theory to current journalism that you read or follow – give examples Use only short quotes Paper must be written essay style, maximum 2000 words Include List of Works Consulted – alphabetical by author’s last name. list of everything you refer to in your paper

Turnitin.com Class ID: Enrolment password: MMC910

Guest Speaker Zeenath Khan Ethics in Media Presentation II: Ethar Al Saadi

Social Media, Public Journalism, Citizen Journalism, Who’s a Professional Jo Bardoel, Beyond Journalism In 1996 Bardoel was deciding if journalism has a future Voices that said no pointed to shift from print to visual Speed of technology, too much information are against critical journalism Interactivity, horizontal communication bad for journalism No space for mediation by journalists Erosion of nation/replacement by global interests and individual actions means less status for journal-ism, ists

Beyond Journalism 2 Advances in technology mean less journalism needed But print hasn’t disappeared, only some kinds of print Public gets more information and more ways to control information “transformation from traditional, physical community to a modern, abstract public sphere” Impact on democracy is questioned

Beyond Journalism 3 Civil society facilitated by social media But mass media and political parties remain Communication drawn as pyramid – citizens, micro concerns on bottom; mid-level media/journalists; macro politics, mass media at the top Journalism “can take the lead in directing and defining the public agenda” Journalists aren’t indispensable; they can take “their intermediary task more seriously than they seem to do at present”

Beyond Journalism 4 New types of journalism Orientating – background, commentary, explanation Instrumental – functional specific information to customers Journalists will shift from “content to context” “Journalistic distinction” vs PR information Need for “common orientation” goes along with greater personal freedom Journalists have again to figure out their role

Laying the Newspaper Gently Down to Die Jay Rosen Finds newspapers in “death spiral” in 2005 Losing readers, increasing ad prices, firing journalists, not investing in new technology Problem isn’t that newspapers are dying Problem is whether good journalism will survive He and others say new models needed Nothing sacred about the old ones

Who Killed the Newspaper? The Economist, 2006 Newspapers, advertising in print are dying Top papers will survive and spend more on great journalism Online will become more important Citizen journalists and bloggers will “hold politicians to account” Non profits will back journalism

Saving Journalism Philip Meyer, 2004 Need to find “business model that rewards community service” Key is to link quality to income Credibility, accuracy, ease of use, and professionalism of staff are key Certification of expert reporters Keep “genuine journalism alive long enough” for media entrepreneurs to figure out business model

Topics for Final Essay Select one of these and develop the argument using references and some of the theories you’ve studied; use examples from current journalism: Being objective in journalism is impossible Social media has changed everything about journalism The print press can’t survive beyond the 21 st century There is no future for investigative journalism Press freedom is growing/or not growing worldwide Tabloidization is taking over the media

Evaluating the Final Essay Rubric for Final Essay40 points maximum Topic and approach of essay are logically explained in opening section 10 Relevant examples of today’s journalism are used to back up the main argument of the essay 10 – at least 3 examples 5-7 sources are used to back up main argument and discussion of examples of journalism 10 Literature review covers subject3 Grammar, spelling, proofreading are competent3 In-text citations, References (only) follow Harvard style (no footnotes) 4

Template for Final Essay Construction of Report4000 words maximum Opening section: introduces topic/argument and briefly indicates direction of the report Several paragraphs: words Literature review of relevant sourcesSeveral paragraphs: words Description and analysis of at least 3 examples from current journalism to develop the argument Several paragraphs: 500 words per example/1500 words at least Sources used as references discussed – they may be included in section above to analyze examples of journalism Several paragraphs: words What does it all mean – final sectionSeveral paragraphs: words Submit First Draft to Turnitin receipt along with report First Draft as Word attachmentDeadline 6pm Monday, May 7 Draft will be returned by end of week; final version due May 30; June 15 if working with Karen New Turnitin receipt required with Final Version

Schedule for rest of semester Monday, May 7 – discuss Week 12 readings; Report due by 6 pm; don’t forget Turnitin Wednesday, May 9, at 7 pm – final session MMC 911 Presentations; meet in KV14-G03 Monday, May 15 - first draft of Essay due by 6 pm; work with Karen on it; she will see you Week of May 29 Friday, June 15 – final essay FINAL DUE DATE – No excuses Summer MMC classes start Tuesday, June 12