Video Response: The Death of Newspapers

One aspect of the Frontline video that truly stuck out was the discussion about news content via the internet. One of the newspaper editors mentioned, very correctly, that news coming from Yahoo, MSNBC and Google alike, get their information from newspapers. As this is the reality, I cannot help but question the validity in statements such as “newspapers are dying.” Newspapers are not dying, because news is still being gathered by journalists, and journalists tend to work at newspapers. I feel that newspapers will only die if, and until the time comes when journalists entirely leave their positions with newspapers and are welcomed with open arms…and jobs with online companies.

A second aspect of the video that struck a nerve was the opinion that there is no such thing as a journalist; there are merely acts of journalism. Although I support and embrace the notion of web 2.0 and citizen journalism, I do this without discrediting, or removing entirely the label, of journalist. People take the law into their own hands. They seek revenge, shoot, and issue judgment on those they deem criminal, but does society consider them law enforcement? No. People take medicine into their own hands. They prescribe, analyze and medicate themselves and others with ailments they deem appropriate, but does society call them doctors? No. These may seem like far fetched examples but in summation the point is clear: it is dangerous and misleading to disregard professionalism. Professional journalists exist and there are recognizable features that prove so.