Introduction to Online Journalism

1
CHAPTER 1

• Introduction to Online Journalism

2
Overview

• Introduction to online journalism
• Journalistic traits
• Advantages of online journalism
• Types of online journalism sites
• Basic criteria for evaluating online journalism
  sites
• Textbook Web Site - http//olj.hh-pub.com/index.p
  hp

3
Online Journalism

• The Internetthe greatest advance for
  communication since the printing press
• An important information sourceas important as
  other media
• Rules are in a state of flux

4
Example of an Online Journalism Web SiteA
Small-Town Newspaper
5
Example of an Online Journalism Web SiteA
Metropolitan Paper
6
The Practice of Online Journalism

• Requires people with specialized skills
• Blend of core journalism skills with technical
  knowledge and the ability to create online media
  content
• No typical online journalist

7
Vannevar Bush and the Foreshadowing of the
Internet

• 1945 article foreshadowed the Internets ability
  to connect different pieces of information
• Foresaw role of journalists
• a new profession of trail blazers . . . who find
  delight in the task of establishing useful trails
  through the enormous mass of the common record.
• http//olj.hh-pub.com/topics.php?c1t606

8
Elements of Journalism

• Fairness
• Attribution
• Accuracy
• Relevance
• Newness

9
Advantages of Online Journalism

• Audience control
• Nonlinearity
• Storage and retrieval
• Unlimited space

• Immediacy
• Multimedia capability
• Interactivity

10
Types of Online Journalism Sites

• Some are associated with already existing media
  organizations
• Some are associated with local TV and radio
  stations
• Some exist only on the Internetsalon.com,
  slate.com

11
Shovelware

• Already existing media organizations provide most
  content in online journalism sites.
• Material is taken from newspaper or wire services
  and shoveled onto Web site with little or no
  modification.

12
Convergence

• Two or more media (e.g., local newspaper and TV
  station) join together to produce a Web site
• Allows different media to share content and
  personnel

13
Convergence Types

• Consolidation of ownership
• Media companies in partnership
• Multimedia platforms - photos, text, audio,
  video, animation
• Skills necessary to perform in a converged
  environment
• Changes to media curriculum to incorporate
  convergence
• Advent of blogging, social networking, personal
  Web sites converges user and producer
• Content developed for a variety of platforms,
  wireless, cell phone, iPhone, PDA

14
Superjournalist

• Someone who covers a news story for more than one
  type of media and knows how to produce content
  for all

15
Evaluating Online Sites

• Who is producing the site?
• What is its content?
• Is the information accurate?
• How often is the information updated?
• What does the site look like?
• Split into 2 groups. Evaluate
• http//www.sonofbush.com/
• http//www.anesi.com/titanic.htm