Shaun Dunne’s Blog

Shane Fitzgerald, a 22 year old student at UCD has made quite an impression with journalist both on and off the screen this week.

This is a link to an article he wrote in the Irish Times regarding what is headlined as “Lazy Journalism Exposed”.

Fitzgerald conducted a short experiment with extensive results on how easy it is to get the media speaking untruths or complete fabrications by using the Wikipedia site.

“One could say my life itself has been one long soundtrack. Music was my life, music brought me to life, and music is how I will be remembered long after I leave this life. When I die there will be a final waltz playing in my head and that only I can hear.”

Above is a quote Fitzgerald made up and posted as recently deceased Maurice Jarre’s own words.

It, rather shockingly, made it’s way into the news and highlights one of the giant problems with Online Convergence that is addressed numerously in many papers regarding ethics and Online Journalism.

The question is; whether or not the journalists are truly to blame for this “lazy” approach?

Or is it unreasonable not to expect them to run to sources like Wikipedia when there is such an urgent rush for the news and to get it in real time?

This is the link to an intersting blog by Francis Reilly regarding Wikipedia and its possibel stance as participatory journalism. It contains a link to a paper that discusses the history and growth of Wikipedia and the results of a study conducted by Journalism students at a University in Hong Kong.

It was interesting to note the number of news organisation that, according to the study, reference Wikipedia. Amongst the names were the Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. This is amusing considering journalsim students are told to not even considering using the site for information- the proffesionals clearly feel different… or lazy.

A spread from the Sentinel Montgomery

This is a link to a blog by Niamh Mongey regarding the Sentinels move to Online Journalism -the Sentinel has done away with the old method of compiling a newspaper in favour of the newer mode in the hopes that this will keep people interested.

A spokesperson for the Montgomery based news organisation said;

This is a link to a blog by Maríosa Molloy noting the Washington Post’s furthered interest into Citizen Journalism.

The Washington Times recently introduced an entire page of it’s paper entirely to Citizen Journalism. This is a  bold move- one that could be considered to be the real life manifestation of alot of trained journalist’s worst nightmare!

However, this new recognition of Citizen Journalism seems to be somewhat of a trend with Fox News stepping up and acknowledging the work of those who may not be schooled in Journalism specifically also.

Fox has recently set up a citizen journalsim hub called uReport. The new venture is a collaborative effort by the news station with News Corp (NYSE: NWS).

The new feature has its restrictions, however, users cannot upload stories as such- but pictures and videos- this means that Fox is avoiding potential credibility and legal issues by keeping a strong editorial control.

Students have been advised to be open-minded and take every opportunity- as you never know what it may lead to. The recent International Symposium on Online Journalism at the University of Texas Austin aimed to alleviate some of the anxiety and stress felt by new journalists entering the profession.

A range of professionals were asked what advice they would give to the new recruits with the general consensus being that, at the very least, they should understand the new tools available to reporters and also be willing to further their knowledge with increasing technological developments.

Networking was also highlighted as extremely important with sites such as Twitter stressed as a useful linking tool to other professionals and probable employers.

Logo for Twitter

The Journalism Pulitzer Prizes were announced this week- with much criticism to be found in regards to their failure to include much of the new Online Journalism.

Some blogs and news articles are calling for the Pulitzers to be reinvented and brought into the twenty first century with the argument being that journalism as a whole could be lifted by awarding the excellence that is to be found across a wider range of print and electronic content.

Of the 1,028 entries from around America- only 65 were from online enterprises with 37 Online news enterprises entering in total. Only one, however, was mentioned in the result.

Sig Gissler, the administrator of the Pulitzers said that the Pulitzers “will continue to monitor online development, and is likely to consider some changes in future rules and guidelines. But for now, I think the board regards this as a successful step forward,”

The one finalist was a cartoonist, however, with not one single web based winner?

Are the Pulitzers to blame? Or does the lack of applicants reflect a lapse in quality and Online interest?

The Canadian Online Publishing Awards are open to websites that are adapted from print publications, as well as online-only magazines, and they have recently released a further ten nominations to their award ceremony geared at highlighting excellence in Online Journalism.

Doug Bennet, the publisher for MastheadOnline (the website for Canada’s magazine publishing industry) said; “The best online journalism takes advantage of the online format. It gives readers the ability to comment on stories, resulting in instantaneous conversations you don’t get in print. And some articles provide forums that let readers start their own conversations. We’ll be judging the quality of writing, but we’ll be particularly looking at whether the entry is appropriate to the online medium. Is the writer and editor making effective and judicious use of outside links so the reader can delve deeper in to background information?”

The following ten categories are to be added in:

• Overall magazine website for online publications that have a sister publication in print.

• Overall online-only publication website. • Website design.

• News coverage based on three news articles published between June 1, 2008, and June 1, 2009.

• Blog.

• Video feature.

• Community feature, such as networks, forums and message boards.

• Online-only article or series of articles.

• Cross-platform initiative – repurposing, repackaging and/or extending content from a related print publication.

• E-newsletter or news bulletin for directing traffic to the main website.

The “death of Journalism as we know it” is thought to be pending.

This comes according to reports from the BBC regarding the continous monopolisation by news aggregators such as Google and Yahoo, of advertising sales away from news sites. The issue was highlighted at the Digital Britain Summit today.

The loss in advertising was felt strongly by the Trinity Mirror (publisher of the Daily Mirror, the Daily Record, the People and 150 regional titles) and their recent closure and restructuring of offices across the country.

GMG Radio chief executive John Myers has recommended a change in the rules of governing mergers so that local radio and newspapers can be owned by the same company- which make smaller news companies more appealing in terms of advertising potential.

The Chief executive of the Trinity Mirror, Sly Bailey, said that

“What we are asking for is a 21st century merger regime to suit a 21st century media…The old definition of print markets and concerns about dominant positions simply don’t apply.”

It was also reported that 60 local newspapers in the UK have closed in the last 12 months.

Twitter is new phenomenon in online networking. From social to celebrity twitter is a free service focused on keeping in touch with people through the exchange of quick and frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing? .

Britney Spears and Stephen Fry are famous for their one-liners with thousands upon thousands of hits daily- but this new online resource is also being taken up by the Irish Times Buisness section.

All aspects of their buisness news coverage is included- the fact that you are only allowed use 140 characters however means that they are often including links to other pages with a more in-depth look at events.

Last weeks emergency budget was of special Twitter interest;

“Irish Taxation Institute says toughest budget in “many years”. Brunt of “significant” tax increases are on middle and high earners “

“Electricity and gas prices to be reduced by 10 per cent by next month”

The updates, as seen above, were coming in frequently and as the news literally broke.

It is intersting to observe how people are taking in  the news and how new mediums such as twitter are being so quickly adapted.