Why write anyway?

Journalism...Is it trending right now?

Lately, there has been much debate about journalism and the future of media. This question has been brought about due to the continuous advancements in communication, and our current political and social culture. Millenials, my fellow generation: We are the movers and shakers of our time, we literally are the ones who decide what's in and what's out. We are creatures of habit, and we all have the habit of aimlessly walking around, being glued to our phones.

"Pick up the Receiver,

I'll make you a Believer"

We are adapting to new modes of communication, and leaving the ones we grew up with, back in the 90's with our Tamagotchis and Ferbies. For many, talking on the phone with someone who isn't your grandmother is a rare occurrence. Many of us receive our daily scoop from a 1 minute video on Facebook, a quick highlight on Twitter, or some type of online streaming outlet. So many are focused on today's norm of communication, such as vlogging and blogging, leaving really no time to sit and read, just time for scrolling.

So the question is, will journalism die with us? Or will we change it for the better

I asked a few of my friends, what they thought about the current state of journalism and media in our society. Some responded from a curious state of mind, while others seemed to be completely done with it...

• "It's all gossip and bullshit!" - Daria

• "I feel like it's hard to know what is really real." - Liz

• "With a magnified interest in political correctness, news outlets now must construe their words much more cautiously therefore muddling the truth." - Rich

There's a real concern about how authentic the information is, and what source it's coming from. This debate is beginning to separate us in a way like the Backstreet Boys and N'Sync did in middle school, except for this is worse, like way worse. We are confused and don't really know who or what to believe.

Do You Solemnly Swear?

Trust is important! We learn to trust our parents from the moment we're born. As we get older, our parents learn to trust that we won't throw a house party when they go out of town. We learn to trust our teachers, our friends and significant others, and our leaders. Once trust is broken, however, then begins a spiral of mistrust, paranoia, anxiety, and fear. According to Carl Jung, Swiss psychiatrist and father of analytical psychology, mistrust leads to complex.

'The Death of Honest Journalism,' touches on the uprising of “fake news,” and political agendas. Adriana Cohen reports, that "the mainstream media, is saturated with political activists masquerading as journalists." She was referring to to the "Russia Hoax," that devoured news networks around the world, just a few months ago. Reporting "current news," has now become 24/7 reporting of our president's latest Tweets, while glimpses of what's really going on pops up every once in a while. It is hard to believe the whole and nothing but the truth, while our nation's "leader" is blasting negativity. Tweeting things like, "The Mainstream Media is under fire and being scorned all over the World as being corrupt and FAKE. They truly are the Enemy of the People and the Real Opposition Party!"

Is journalism becoming pure shock and awe, for the attention of the masses? Are they really that desperate?

Do it for the Ratings

Journalism and the media have changed their focus over the past few years, from reporting what the masses need to know, to what the masses want to hear.

Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope, two journalists from the Columbia Jounalism Review, state that the media is failing.

Emphasizing a Twitter depute between the concerned public and Chris Hayes, from a few months ago, Pope and Hertsgaard dive into the fact that the news stations and newspapers are holding back from pertinent issues because they are bad for business. Reportedly, Chris Hayes announced that reporting on the issue of climate change was "a palpable ratings killer." And people really let him have it! One Twitter user said, “TV used to be obligated to put on programming for the public good even if it didn’t get good ratings. What happened to that?” It's becoming apparent that, "the brutal demands of ratings and money work against adequate coverage of the biggest [stories] of our time." Due to emphasis on the superficial, our generation, and those who comes after us are at a disadvantage. Will this ratings-centric, "like" culture, state of mind erase journalism all together?

That "New New" News

Perhaps were not all headed towards a black hole of nonsense stories, kitty videos, and rating pushers. Maybe there's a glimpse of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel, that journalism isn't dying. Maybe it's just changing.

Many still say that journalism is alive, thriving, and better than ever. 'The Evolving Fate of Journalism'touches on how journalism has changed and will continue to change due to advancements in technology and communication. Derek Hunter, of the Collegian Columnist, expands on how journalism isn't the same old story. We as humans evolve and therefore the way we communicate and receive information must evolve the same. Journalism "serves [as] a vital function in any democracy and is the central means through which the public is informed. What naysayers fail to realize is that the media is as important today as it was at any other time." Journalism is just as important of a profession as it ever was, we just digest it differently, and will continue to do so. According to Hunter, "2/3 of American adults use social-media to get their news. [While] major news organizations post hundreds of articles every day for consumption." We are receiving it but is it sticking?

Hot Off the Press!

Although there continues to be hurtles and struggles along the way, there are journalists who continue to write and teach for the betterment and growth of our society. With how things are today, it is important that we continue to teach how important journalism really is to our world. Floriday's News-Press, emphasizes on how journalism is actually more important than ever! Charlotte Newton, a guest contributor writes, "freedom of the press is a special right we have in this country. Purpose, principle, and resolve is the stuff journalists are made of." This article speaks to the sunshine laws that Florida has in place pertaining to their open government policy, but is relevant to the point that journalism connects and informs us.

With all the fake news, politics, and non-sense ratings aside, you can see and hear the eagerness of our generation, wanting to share and spread their stories. Whether it be on a podcast, Instagram live, or blog, our generation is looking to express voice and matters of opinion, cautiously, loudly, and creatively. Perhaps it is the old way of thinking and viewing what journalism used to be, that is dying.

What do I think?

Technology isn't going anywhere. It could be getting better or worse, depending on the way you look at it. As more and more times goes by, new forms of communication will grow, as well as, new forms of media devices and tools.

I can see that journalism is changing, and I wouldn't have chose it to be my major if it wasn't. The more we spread awareness of issues that get our hearts pumping, and expand our minds, the more we can have what the media reports in our favor. We are the shifters, and we have the power to change your minds. We just need to get on the same page.

Conclusion

I am excited to dive into this career, to learn from the greats that have come before me and those who are around me. I want to tell stories that are influential and thought provoking. I want to expand my vocabulary, use my creativity, and help to get the story straight. That is why I write, and why I want to write.