history and definition of journalism
The last two centuries have seen the continual transformation of the journalistic profession with the rise, obsolescence, and replacement of new, previously unimaginable, mediums for mass media and communication. For instance, from the emergence of film photography as a new journalistic tool in the Civil War and the Crimean War, to the rise of tabloids and popular media in the late 19th century. In the early 20th century radio, and later television, emerged as new forms of mass media and the latter-half of the century saw the improvement and continued proliferation of such technologies. Finally, the explosion of the Internet revolutionized the ways in which news content and opinions are presented, produced and consumed.
The basic definition of journalism has evolved with the continual change and evolution of new and existing mediums (print, photographic, radio, television, etc.). Webster’s dictionary provides many definitions for journalism including broad entries such as “the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media” to more medium specific definitions like “the public press” and “writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine.” Alternate definitions also allude to concepts of popular appeal (e.g., “writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest”) and objectivity (e.g., “writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation”). The great diversity in definitions of journalism reflects its continual evolution as a field and multifarious views on the topic itself.
The basic definition of journalism has evolved with the continual change and evolution of new and existing mediums (print, photographic, radio, television, etc.). Webster’s dictionary provides many definitions for journalism including broad entries such as “the collection and editing of news for presentation through the media” to more medium specific definitions like “the public press” and “writing designed for publication in a newspaper or magazine.” Alternate definitions also allude to concepts of popular appeal (e.g., “writing designed to appeal to current popular taste or public interest”) and objectivity (e.g., “writing characterized by a direct presentation of facts or description of events without an attempt at interpretation”). The great diversity in definitions of journalism reflects its continual evolution as a field and multifarious views on the topic itself.
Changing Face of Journalism
With the advent of modern technology and social change, definitions of journalism will continue to evolve, at a much more rapid pace than before. The way we, as a people, reason about journalistic ethics and policy must adapt as well. For instance, more and more people resort to social media as a source of news content. Also, personalized news delivered electronically makes it easier than ever to filter out and marginalize facts or opinions that we consider to be inconvenient or wrong. Blogging has changed the way debate and dialogue take place over news and opinionated content as well as what content is surfaced and where. Finally, the structure and openness of the Internet can make it more difficult than ever to validate and account for sources. Consequently, these recent developments spawn new classes of ethical questions under our existing definitions and frameworks, while simultaneously giving rise to more open, decentralized, and democratic genres of news and reporting. Powerful legal, political and economic forces are in play, and the rest of this site examines these in detail while arguing that a laissez-faire policy on the part of the US government --in the face of a torrent of novel, open and inclusive web platforms and mediums made possible by modern technologies-- is in the best interest of society.