Journalism - is it dying, dead or very much alive?

In the last four hundred years, few industries have undergone the massive amount of change that journalism has. From the distribution of flyers during the political campaigns of the early seventeenth century, to modern day by-the-minute live updates, it has evolved to become a completely different beast. What does this mean for the future of journalism? Is it dead, dying or alive? Does it have a place in today's society?

For us to assess the mortality of journalism, we must first define what it is. According its page on Wikipedia [1], journalism is the "gathering, processing and dissemination of news and information." From this, we can infer that a journalist is somebody whose job it is to do such things.

With the newspaper industry - perhaps journalism's most iconic avatar - in seemingly terminal decline, many people have declared that journalism is either dying or dead. Jon Stewart, speaking on his program 'The Daily Show' [2], remarked that "the internet has killed journalism". Indeed, the rise of the internet has coincided with an alarming reduction in newspaper sales.

In September, The Daily Record recorded a drop in circulation of 15.15% on the previous year, with the Financial Times and the Independent following at -13.12% and -12.74% respectively. Only one national newspaper reported an increase, with The Times seeing gains of +0.39% [3]. These losses can be attributed to the ease with which users can access news on the internet. Why go outside and spend money on a paper when it is freely available in the palm of your hand?

Journalism, however, is not only limited to the newspaper industry. Even with said industry falling into oblivion, new and innovative demonstrations of journalism are emerging. Previously, you had to work for a news agency in order to reach the masses - this is no longer the case. Now, anybody can set up a blog and project their views and opinions to millions of people instantly, all from the comfort of their own home.

Despite the simplicity of these virtual newspapers, their power is not to be underestimated. In the recent Scottish referendum, nationalist blogs such as Wings Over Scotland and Bella Caledonia attracted daily readership figures of 2-300,000. With the majority of Scottish newspapers favoring a 'No' vote, they provided the much needed counter-argument that pushed Scotland to the brink. The ordinary people who founded these blogs had stood toe-to-toe with the partisan press magnates and, although ultimately unsuccessful, the potency of neo-journalism was cleared demonstrated.

Other forms of journalism are thriving in this new environment, too. You now no longer need to own a radio to listen to one, with most of the popular stations providing free downloadable apps for smartphones and computers. Recently, BBC Radio 6 Music reported average listener figures of 1,990,000 over the last few months [4] - setting a new record. Historically one of the biggest forms of journalism outside of the written press, the radio is now more accessible than ever.

With the increased visibility, more people are being educated, informed and entertained by journalism on a daily basis. Dying? Far from it - journalism is thriving.

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[1] Wikipedia, Journalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalism

[2] Salon, 'John Stewart declares that traditional journalism is dead'
http://www.salon.com/2014/07/31/must_see_morning_clip_jon_stewart_declares_that_traditional_journalism_is_dead/

[3] The Guardian, newspaper circulation figures for September 2014
http://www.theguardian.com/media/table/2014/oct/10/abcs-national-newspapers

[4] The Guardian Media, BBC Radio 6 Music latest figures
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/oct/23/bbc-radio-6-music-lauren-laverne-nick-grimshaw?CMP=share_btn_tw

A fourth to be reckoned with? The role of the media in today's society

Back in 1787, philosopher Edmund Burke coined the term ‘The Fourth Estate’, which he used to describe the role the media ought to play in society. According to him, the press should perform a regulatory role by keeping the other three powers (parliament, the state and the judiciary) in line, and prevent them from becoming too dominant. It was also deemed that fluency was needed between them and the public, to aid understanding and co-operation. Almost a quarter of a millennium later, with the media and society having undergone radical changes, do the foundations of this estate still stand strong?

One of the primary roles of the media is to keep the public in touch with those above them - namely the politicians who govern their everyday lives. It is evident that, in order to combat the "growing sense of political disillusionment, apathy and disconnection"[1] that is manifesting itself among today's youth, more transparency is needed at the very top. In 2010, a series of debates were televised in the run-up to the general election. The three leaders - Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg - appeared in front of the general public to tell them how their party intended to deal with various issues, such as the economic crisis and immigration. These debates were a huge success, with the the views peaking at 9.9 million, or 37% of the total TV viewership at the time [2]

This table[3], which charts amount of television watched by various age groups at the time, shows that those in the 12-17 bracket watched more television than any other group bar those who were 50+. As a result, these figures suggest that a large part of the debates' audience was young. This perhaps points to a growing interest in politics, with the media to thank for the publicity these showdowns received in the build-up to their broadcast.

In addition to keeping the people informed on the powers, the media's ability to entertain, educate and inform is unparalleled. Now, more than ever, we are reliant on the media in order to learn and thrive - with the development of the internet, it has become an integral part of our daily lives. The media is a force to be reckoned with and, as such, it must be handled with care and responsibility. IPSO, a regulatory organisation established in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, aims to do this - with the Guardian and Independent refusing to sign up, though, it remains to be seen how effective it will be.

The journalist Anand Shukla remarked that "a democracy without media is like a vehicle without wheels"[4]. Indeed, a strong and independent media is pivotal to the functioning of day-to-day life. Without it, we would be left in the dark, with the powers that be free to run amok and renege on any and all promises as they see fit. The role of the media in today's society must not be underestimated, for it will surely shape the society of tomorrow.

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[1] Ashgate - A Disconnected Generation?https://www.ashgate.com/pdf/SamplePages/Young_Citizens_Intro.pdf
[2] Guardian, 2010 TV debate viewing figures
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/apr/16/leaders-debate-tv-ratings
[3]Marketing Charts, TV viewership data 
http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/more-viewers-watch-timeshifted-tv-15093/
[4]International Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Anand Narain Shukla
http://www.academia.edu/4243668/MEDIA_AND_SOCIAL_AWARENESS