Almost 2,000 communication professionals from 46 European countries predict that press and media relations will develop predominantly into online media by 2013.
Already over one million people own an iPad and messages can be sent around the world in a matter of seconds. Inevitably predictions show that traditional press will become redundant as fast-moving messages and news can be sent across the interweb cheaply and instantly.
Paid newspapers are being taken over by their free online editions and journalists are bearing the brunt of change. The Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism, states that in America, 2,400 full-time professional newsroom jobs disappeared in 2007, and 5,900 more were lost in 2008.
Since the rise of the internet over 50 million blogs have appeared, documenting news, events and opinions. The majority of these blogs are written by everyday people rather than by paid journalists, many publishing news before it even makes its way to the newsroom.
So will quality journalism be taken over by the everyday joe blogger in this internet age?
Maybe not. Media tycoon, Rupert Murdoch in a recent interview stated “We are moving from newspapers to news brands.” While he acknowledged newspaper subscriptions were decreasing and online editions growing, he suggested the public would be more drawn to trustworthy news brands that would deliver quality information from trained journalists.
Last week, Murdoch ‘wowed’ the world with the launch of a digital ipad-only newspaper - ‘The Daily’. Subscribers pay an annual fee to receive an online newspaper that claims superiority over other free editions.
He claimed the digital newspaper would be able to pay for itself and gain revenue even though it sported the best journalists, merely by saving money on printing and distribution costs.
On top of that, symbiosis is becoming apparent between journalists and the web. Twitter is becoming an effective research tool for new stories. When Heathrow Airport cancelled its flights over Christmas, New Zealand journalists were able to find and interview stranded New Zealanders who tweeted about their situation.
Journalists commonly use facebook and twitter to publicise their stories seconds after they are published. Twitter especially has become a competitive port for the latest news and information where links to not only stories, but videos and news discussions can be opened.
So which is it? Will journalists be swallowed up in the internet age or adapt and thrive in new conditions?
Watch this space.
