Newspapers: The future of journalism
1) Why does Clay Shirky argue that 'accountability journalism' is so important and what example does he give of this?
Clay Shirky argues that accountability journalism is important because it informs people the wrong doings in society and gives a way for people to complain in order to resolve the issue. He gives an example of a Priest named Father John Geoghan who was employed by the Catholic Church. It was revealed he was in fact a pedophile and 'had raped or fondled over 100 boys in his care'. At first he was able to get away with this but when the Boston Globe published a story on it he was punished.
2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?
He states newspapers were overcharging advertisers which enabled newspapers to have enough money to do more risky and long-range work.
3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?
Shirky suggests that audiences are now consuming news stories in bulk due to the wide range of people sharing stories online.
4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?
Shirky states that if the internet was more widespread in 1992, people would've been able to find out the crimes of the priest much quicker due to it becoming so popular.
5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls?
Shirky argues against paywalls as he believes they prevent the effect of people spreading news as not everyone is able to gain access to it.
6) What is a 'social good'? In what way is journalism a 'social good'?
A 'social good' is defined as something that benefits the general public. Journalism is a 'social good' because many stories that are published end up benefiting the public just like the priest article.
7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?
Shirky suggests that, "replace newspapers is misspent effort because we should really be transferring our concern to the production of lots and lots of smaller, overlapping models of accountability journalism, knowing that we won’t get it right in the beginning and not knowing which experiments are going to pan out. So it’s possible, I think, for people to agree about the irreplaceability of newspapers, but to disagree about how serious the change in the media environment is."
8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?
It is highly important that the major brands such as New York Times and The Guardian continue to stay in business as people still heavily rely on them for reliable news and are detrimental in society.
Clay Shirky argues that accountability journalism is important because it informs people the wrong doings in society and gives a way for people to complain in order to resolve the issue. He gives an example of a Priest named Father John Geoghan who was employed by the Catholic Church. It was revealed he was in fact a pedophile and 'had raped or fondled over 100 boys in his care'. At first he was able to get away with this but when the Boston Globe published a story on it he was punished.
2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?
He states newspapers were overcharging advertisers which enabled newspapers to have enough money to do more risky and long-range work.
3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?
Shirky suggests that audiences are now consuming news stories in bulk due to the wide range of people sharing stories online.
4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?
Shirky states that if the internet was more widespread in 1992, people would've been able to find out the crimes of the priest much quicker due to it becoming so popular.
5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls?
Shirky argues against paywalls as he believes they prevent the effect of people spreading news as not everyone is able to gain access to it.
6) What is a 'social good'? In what way is journalism a 'social good'?
A 'social good' is defined as something that benefits the general public. Journalism is a 'social good' because many stories that are published end up benefiting the public just like the priest article.
7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?
Shirky suggests that, "replace newspapers is misspent effort because we should really be transferring our concern to the production of lots and lots of smaller, overlapping models of accountability journalism, knowing that we won’t get it right in the beginning and not knowing which experiments are going to pan out. So it’s possible, I think, for people to agree about the irreplaceability of newspapers, but to disagree about how serious the change in the media environment is."
8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?
It is highly important that the major brands such as New York Times and The Guardian continue to stay in business as people still heavily rely on them for reliable news and are detrimental in society.
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