Week 4: Clash of Traditional and Emerging Values in Digital Journalism

Over the past few years, I (and just about everyone I know) have evolved into a social media junkie. I hadn't really analyzed what I drifted toward or what it indicated about my personal interests. Until I started my week four readings. Sadly, in the course of my evolution, I've detacheded myself from what can be viewed as "traditional" news (newspapers, magazines, evening news programs, and even having one of my car radio presets on NPR) and settled on more sensationalized news. And I've been ok with that.

After reading these articles, I did some ancillary research about speed-driven journalism, and discovered a panel from "Social Media Week" in NYC:  http://socialmediaweek.org/blog/2015/03/real-time-news-mobile-journalism/

As a "leading news platform and worldwide conference that curates and shares the best ideas and insights into social media and technology's impact on business, society, and culture," I thought they would add perspective to the readings.  The first panelist referenced the "llama story" from 2015.  I actually remembered this story, and felt pretty relevant as a result.  But, as the panelist pointed out, is that really news?  Are two happily freed llamas running around at will something I need to know about?  Probably not.

But those are the sorts of stories that populate my Twitter feed.  And my Tumblr, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc.  That's what I'm drawn to. (So sad!). When I read the article about Canada's CBS station covering the three shootings in Ottowa so beautifully, I was ashamed that I knew next to nothing of that story.  But I knew about the llamas!

So what constitutes news? And is news the same as current events?  And do current events and/or news trend on Twitter the same way that Kanye West does?  

The dictionary shows the following definition for news:

news¹

—noun (usually used with a singular verb)

1. a report of a recent event; intelligence; information: His family has had no news of his whereabouts for months.
2. the presentation of a report on recent or newevents in a newspaper or other periodical or on radio or television. 
3. such reports taken collectively; information reported: There's good news tonight.
4. a person, thing, or event considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment; newsworthymaterial. Compare copy (def 5). 

#4 intrigues me.  " ...event...considered as a choice subject for journalistic treatment."  That's completely relative and dependent upon the aim of the journalist.  As one article I found mentioned, the audience of the The Wall Street Journal is going to be interested in different "news" that that of People Magazine.  

Back to my Twitter feed.  I want to be a Wall Street Journal type of user, but the People stories are so much more interesting. My father-in-law's news is informative in a mind-expanding way.  Knowing who was responsible for the shootings in Ottowa and what motivated them demonstrates a greater level of social responsibility and global awareness - in short, a better citizen - than knowing about llamas does.  They don't expand my mind or enable me to carry on an intelligent conversation at a cocktail party, or even with my father-in-law.

So now that I've "followed" several reputable news organization on Twitter, I feel as though I'm being a more responsible citizen.