Journalism will never die

Is journalism dying? Or is it simply in the process of reconstruction? A few weeks ago, I participated in the Free Spirit Scholarship Program in Washington, DC, and this was one of the main questions addressed at the conference. The founder of the program is Al Neuharth, who himself is an inspiration to the news industry. He is the former executive of the Gannett newspaper chain and the founder of multiple papers, including the USA Today and the Democrat and Chronicle.
However, the news world has changed dramatically since Mr. Neuharth entered it over fifty years ago. Consumers have changed. Reporters have changed. Above all, technology has changed. You may think that newspapers are on the brink of Armageddon.

Unfortunately, you may be right. There is no doubt that the world of journalism is rapidly changing. Everything is so interconnected in society that people do not need to wait for the newspaper to arrive in order to attain the latest headlines. Through the complex system of social networking sites, TV programming, texting frenzy and internet blogging, journalism has become decentralized. Wherever you are, the news will find you. How long did it take to find out that health care reform passed, or that Northern Iowa had upset Kansas? Not long. The headlines are on all the channels and websites. Of course, we can always make our own headlines and comments, as long as we have the ability to blog or text.

Is this decentralization a threat to newspapers? Recent trends seem to indicate this. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, overall newspaper sales fell by over ten percent last year!

But this does not indicate the doom of the entire news industry. Professional journalism will never die. Regardless of what form it takes – print, online, or TV – it will survive. Newspapers were not meant to be the final destination, the be-all end-all. The industry is simply in a transitional phase.

In the end, journalism must survive for the sake of the people. The main principles stressed at the Free Spirit conference were the liberties ensured by the First Amendment, which guarantees free expression. If nothing else, the newspaper that arrives on our doorstep every morning is a clear manifestation of those freedoms. As Alexis de Tocqueville once said, “the power of the periodical press is second only to that of the people.” A free and uncorrupted press is a precious ally. Do not belittle it.