give the 'net credit

Today, I present a selection of embedded videos that I think will drive my point home. Journalists’ roles need to shift in today’s meeting. In this clip from a speech he gave in connection with The Nation magazine, Dan Rather admitted as much. (Thanks to Dr. Clyde Bentley for sharing the link.) Focus especially on what he says at 4:50, which I’ve quoted below.

Good journalism on the Web is a marvelous thing and added value for American citizens. One of the questions as we move forward is how do we maximize the leverage we have … to our mutual benefit as citizens? In term of meeting the responsibilites of a constitutional republic based on the principles of freedom and democracy, meeting the press mission of an informed citizenry … is something that I think is at risk as we move into this new world of the Web.

The problem with this clip is he says we need to leverage all the tools online and keep journalism independent, but never tells us how. The solution I would offer is simple. Use them while keeping the vital mission Rather mentions in mind. I really don’t think it’s anymore complicated than that. That’s what I teach in my classes. If you know what good journalism is and what role it fulfills in a democracy, you can apply journalism to any medium. I just had a fascinating discussion with two students today about using augmented reality, something I have railed again here to provide simple and vital information. To be honest, I don’ think their idea is as revolutionary as they think, but that’s what makes it important. They simply want to connect print media with the vast information reserves available online. I can’t say more now, but I’m hopeful for what their research will determine.

It might seem a stretch, but I think in this next clip, Anderson Cooper demonstrates one way to leverage the new media. (Thanks to one of my students, Sarah Beth Hensley for this one. Good for you for continuing your blog!) I’ve written before that newsmen need to lighten up. That’s one of the Web’s lessons. They also need to expand their audiences, so Cooper goes after the youngest.

Finally, I present a clip from Rick Reilly’s ESPN show, Homecoming. It’s kind of a lighter side of the news, but I think it’s effective. I selected this clip for the Utah Jazz fans in my family. There’s sometimes rivalry talk between Utah’s point guard Deron Williams, and the guy featured in the next video, New Orleans’ Chris Paul. No matter what you think of the guy, this is pretty amazing. This is a great example of how the Web is better equipped to show us, not just tell us. I think it’s as good a way to leverage the tech as any.

PhotoCredit: The image I used above comes from Shooting War, a revolutionary graphic novel that features Rather as the last reporter in Iraq. I know it wasn’t his idea, but I think this is a good example of journalists leveraging the media as well.

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