Imagine you’re back in the 1980s and hoping to stay updated on current events. What do you do? You might switch on your TV, tune into the radio, or step outside and roll open the morning paper. Whichever you choose, you’d rely on carefully programmed broadcasts or precisely printed words that take time and effort to make it to your household.
Now, compare that scenario to today. Catching up on the news is as fast and simple as swiping on your smartphone. Endless information—whether it’s about politics, entertainment, sports, or any number of other topics—is literally at your fingertips. The evolution of digital technology has fundamentally changed the way individuals and communities access the news, and it has reshaped the way that journalists report the news.
This blog explores how the digital age has transformed the journalism and news media landscape and how advancements in communication technologies are altering the way that news is gathered, shared, and consumed.
Read on to learn more.
A Brief History of the Digital Age of Journalism
Journalism has come a long way since its infancy in the 19th century. From fledgling publication companies and hot-off-the-press newspaper printings to radio and television innovations in news broadcasting, journalism is a constantly adapting industry, keeping up with changing trends in technology and audience tastes.
With the advent of the internet in the 1990s, journalists and news reporting professionals were introduced to exciting ways to share news stories and engage with their readers, watchers, and listeners. The World Wide Web ushered in an age of digital journalism where news content could be created and distributed online nearly anywhere in the world.
While professional journalists using digital platforms still strive to meet standards of ethics like fairness and accuracy in their work, any person with a smartphone or computer can, in a sense, become journalists themselves. Social media and blogs have allowed anyone to publish content without having to pay any money.
While this digital era has accelerated the circulation and consumption of news, it has also heralded complex challenges for journalists in adhering to ethical principles and adjusting to the interests of an increasingly digital audience base.
Meeting the Demands of Digital Audiences: Evolution in Journalism Practices
Different types of journalism—including broadcast, sports, traditional, and investigative journalism—have slowly adapted to digital audiences over the last few decades. As more and more people have become connected to each other and to news outlets via the internet, journalists have established different methods to serve them. Some of these methods include the following:
- Multimedia storytelling. This includes weaving together text, audio, and video in meaningful ways.
- Interactive and personalized content experiences. Journalists now have the means to tailor their content to an individual’s unique preferences, and digital technology allows for more interactivity with news stories.
- Mobile optimization. Users of smartphones, tablets, and smart watches benefit from news reports optimized and formatted for mobile devices.
- Community-driven journalism. Thanks to social media sites and online forums, everyday people are able to not only receive the news, but also comment and drive discussion about it too.
Multimedia in Digital Journalism
Efforts in journalism now go beyond the stories and features in a physical newspaper or magazine. The rise of multimedia journalism has paved the way for more memorable, impactful storytelling. Multimedia journalism may include videos, digital photo galleries, podcasts, and many other forms of media. For example, journalists might pair a written story with several captioned images or video clips that help illustrate their most important points.
For complex or dense data-driven stories, interactive graphics (charts, tables, and more) can play a useful role in conveying information to readers.
Social Media Journalism
Out of the many advancements in digital connectivity, social media stands as one of the most influential. More and more journalists lean on social media in their work, especially for breaking news. Social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and X let journalists reach wider audiences and share content out instantly.
Journalists often use social media to cover live events like entertainment awards shows, sports, and presidential elections. Posting on social media—whether it’s written content, video, or livestreams—enables journalists to connect with their audiences while the story unfolds.
As evidence of the power of social media in journalism, many news outlets staff entire social media management teams dedicated to content strategy and news publicity.
Mobile Journalism
Today’s professional journalists can use their mobile devices to research, report, edit, store, and share content no matter where they are. Mobile journalism empowers reporters to publish stories quickly and on the go. It also helps journalists to communicate information in the field while still maintaining contact with newsrooms and audiences.
While the convenience and speed of social media and mobile journalism can’t be overstated, ethical journalists should be vigilant in combating the spread of misinformation, fake news, and overly biased viewpoints on matters that should be reported with objectivity and accuracy.
Community and Audience Engagement
During the early days of journalism, readers and listeners were simply presented with the news prepared by reporters, with little sense of community between the two groups. Today, journalists and newsrooms are more connected with their audiences than ever before. In the past, readers had to write carefully considered letters to the editor. But modern journalism consumers can easily share thoughts and feedback in comment sections and on social media.
Discussions—and sometimes debates—can flow from a single comment or question about a particular story online. Radio broadcasts and podcasting sessions usually invite listeners to participate in conversations, trivia games, or Q&As. Social posts may encourage users to leave their input or engage with others on specific topics of interest.
Audience editors can use this data to inform newsrooms of editorial strategies and keep engagement levels high.
Navigating Ethical Challenges in the Digital Era
These huge strides in digital journalism are not without their fair share of ethical concerns. With nearly every exciting innovation comes a new or unexpected challenge that journalists must confront. Some of the most common concerns involve the following:
- Privacy
- Transparency
- Accuracy
- Impartiality
All forms of professional journalism, including opinion pieces, should adhere to a common code of ethics. This adherence helps to maintain the credibility of reporters and nurtures the goodwill and trust of their audience. Online journalists should aim to respect the privacy of interviewees and other contributors. These journalists should be transparent about their sources and cite them clearly. Being as accurate and unbiased as possible will allow journalists to truly educate the public and stem the flow of misleading information and fake news.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and automated content generation are also growing areas of concern in the realm of digital journalism. It is becoming more commonplace for media outlets to use AI and similar technologies for creating news content, which could negatively impact journalistic integrity and the hiring of real-life journalists. However, AI in its current form lacks much of the human touch and deftness that journalists bring to their work.
Next Steps
Looking to immerse yourself in the dynamic, ever-evolving field of journalism? Be sure to consider what type of degree will help you reach your career goals, then enroll in the right program. It may also be a good idea to familiarize yourself with social media and multimedia technologies so that you can thrive in today’s digital era.
In your search for the best degree program, consider WGU.
WGU’s online bachelor’s in communications program is designed with input from industry experts and is a great foundation for a promising career in many types of journalism. You’ll learn only the most relevant, career-aligned skills throughout your online degree program that can empower you to stand out in the job market.
In addition, WGU’s competency-based learning model lets you advance through your coursework as quickly as you show mastery of the material, so you can potentially graduate faster and save money.
Learn more today.
