The Future of Journalism

Today Murdoch flew in to deal with the crisis at the Sun newspaper. But what is the wider implication for the press in the UK of this scandal? Investigative journalism is required for a democracy to work properly, without them, politicians would not be kept in check and dirty deals could be done easily. So journalists are required, but that doesn’t mean the press will always be required. I don’t believe that the press will completely disappear from this country, but I do believe that its influence will significantly wane over the next few years. Unlike at the turn of the 20^th century, when the press was the only way to get news, there are two major sources that the public get their news, television and the internet today. Both are currently thriving and the internet is sky rocketing, broadband speeds are soaring and many more people have access to it than did a decade ago. Online journalism could be very profitable if companies use it right and it has huge advantages over conventional press and TV.

Most websites have a search function, this means that people can find information instantly, without having to flick through a newspaper to find the information they want isn’t there or listen to a 30 minute long news report to find another lack of information. Another advantage is websites can be updated very fast, as soon as new information becomes available or a story breaks a website can put it up in minutes, whereas TV needs to wait until their next news report and the press have to wait until the next day to report. Also people share internet stories on Facebook or Twitter, which allows the report to go viral. Another huge benefit of online is that people view it as “free” (ignoring broadband costs and buying a computer) whereas newspapers cost money. Websites can still make a lot of money through advertisements and if they successfully attract users can make a lot of money.

Over the next decade journalism will go through seismic changes, hastened by the Leveson Inquiry which is dredging up nasty details and as police investigations find out what really went on in News Corporation. Personally I will mourn the loss of the broadsheets like the Guardian and Independent as they are fantastic newspapers that do their democratic duties.