The Changing Landscape of Journalism

This blog is in reaction to a recent NPR segment. 

I think Jeff Jarvis and Kevin Kelly got too wrapped-up in discussing the news that would be displayed on The Daily and forgot some of the practical and daily application functions that go along with it.  Jarvis’s arguments against The Daily’s longevity was that it relied on “the hope to charge content that web people would not be able to charge” and that the only reason people think this will work is because of reading it “in a more old-fashioned way.”  In my opinion, those are shortsighted.  People will read news in a way that is convenient, easy, and cheap.  While the iPad is admittedly not cheap, it is becoming cheaper rapidly.  (Side note: I found the discussion about the price decline of the Kindle fascinating.  I knew that the price was dropping severely, but I didn’t think there was a chance that it could become free in the next year - although because it is still at $139, I have my doubts.)  So, as the iPad becomes cheaper, more people will buy it – not that it hasn’t been selling off the charts anyway – and more people will pay the $0.79 weekly fee for The Daily.  It’s a no-brainer to me.  Not everyone has a laptop, and fewer people bring their laptop everywhere they go, but everyone I know that has an iPad considers it a necessity to bring whenever they leave their house.  I’ve stated in class I believe iPad-like devices are the way of the future, and with so many similar-looking products already hitting the shelves, I see no reason why The Daily wouldn’t work. 

The other piece of the program that I found to be the most interesting was actually discussed at the very end.  I have remained skeptical on the value of citizen journalism because I simply do not trust the at-large population and am cynical.  Kevin Kelly did strike a chord with me, however, when he quite rightly pointed out that the Wikipedia’s of the world and the social networks that all put out news reported by average people have a much greater chance of accuracy than the “news” of the past that was controlled by single people.  I will continue to think on this point, as I have been caught up on not trusting individuals rather than trusting mass numbers to “get it right.” Egypt is changing my mind, too.