The National Press Club discusses the future of journalism

In the past ten years, the field of journalist has evolved. The online platform has changed how audiences retrieve news. On Monday October 6th, Virginia Commonwealth University’s School of Mass Communications and the National Press Club presented a panel discussion about the future of news media with the emergence of the new platform.

Panel members included:

Nancy Kent, news director at NBC 12

Reid Ashe, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Media General

Bob Sullivan, technology correspondent for msnbc.com

Jeff South, VCU School of Mass Communications associate professor

The hot topic during the discussion was the emergence of citizen journalism and free access to information. Like many industries in America, the field of journalism is taking a hit from economic pressures. These pressures and declining newspaper subscriptions has effected how and what stories are covered. Jeff South told the story of a journalist who had to pay for information about the cost of the new Segway’s used by the Richmond Police Department. He used this example to show how investigative pieces are being reported by bloggers because of costs.

Bob Sullivan encouraged students to blog but felt citizen reporting such as the I-Reports launched by CNN can potentionally pose real dangers to the industry. He believes that false reports by untrained reporters launched on web sites sponsored by news organizations can hurt the reputation of the supporting news service.

Nancy Kent believes legislation that puts limitations on the Freedom of Information Act poses a serious danger to society. The limitations placed on the act restricts the media's access to information. Kent said that citizens do not know that allowing corporations and government entities to disclose information permits these organizations to act in secrecy.

Reid Ashe said that citizens helping journalist is a trend that will not go away. However, he also believes that traditional journalism will not die. This view seemed satisfactory not only to Sullivan’s fellow panel members but also to the future journalists sitting in the audience.