The concept that newspapers are essential for democracy is out of date. In Jack Shafer’s article, Democracy’s Cheat Sheet, he creates an argument that newspapers are a dying form and through their need for profit have developed into a censored “cheat sheet” for democracy. With that being said, I can’t say I do not agree. It is my profound belief, that newspapers are beyond there time as the major provider in news, due to their lack of information, selectivity on issues to write about, and inability to truly inform the public. With that being said, the American society is unavoidably moving towards the world of internet news.
From e-mail, news, shopping, even to watching and renting movies, the internet has overcome almost every aspect of entertainment in citizens lives. With todays advancements in technology and internet accessibility to all citizens, the once “dominant institutions of the press” has no other choice but to transform onto our computer screens. With that transformation I believe, comes a much more freely spoken news story and wider availability on specific news topics.
According to Associated Content and the article The Fate of Journalism: The End to Newspapers and the Rise to Internet?, author Jay L. states “Our newspapers and other media are controlled by huge corporations that have a choke-hold on the free press. There is no longer an reasonably accessible market for new newspapers and voices to be heard. Our nation's press is held in an oligopoly.” With an outcome such as this, poor reporting has been forced to develop with “a desire for increased profit rather then public service. A reluctance to go head to head with those in power who could effect the financial side of the press.” The internet news sources, not only provide individuals with the ability to be able to find news on specific interests, but also multiple perspectives and voices on that related issue. This eliminating any reluctance to go against the “big dogs”.
The internet also allows educated and non-educated individuals to write and inform readers on their perspective of the topics, along side the all mighty corporations. From larger search options and results, to interactive responses, the internet news is bringing back the free press and voice which has been lost amongst the need for money. No longer will what we read be selective or brief, but instant access to thousands of topics and as informative as possible. So will democracy be hurt in the event of newspapers moving to the internet? I truthfully do not know, however I believe that the citizens of the democracy are speaking and newspapers are only moments from nonexistence.
http://www.slate.com/id/2214724/pagenum/2
http://www.slate.com/id/2214724/pagenum/2
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In response to Kaci’s initial post, I agree in part and disagree in part. We both are on the same idea that the general public is moving toward an internet-friendly news resource center. Most newspaper companies have internet websites to view the stories already written in the newspapers. Technology has allowed us to throw away the idea of the newspaper, and thus, making newspapers a thing of the past.
ReplyDeleteBut we do disagree in some other key areas. For instance, she mentions that educated and non-educated people can post on the internet. This just backs up my idea of why we shouldn’t be totally reliant on the internet to get our news stories. Newspapers can make mistakes and print with errors, but not to the degree of how the internet does it. While the internet tends to be free for most users and newspapers cost money, the newspaper is still the only reliable source of information used to get local and national topics.
I don’t think newspapers will ever go “out of date,” at least not in my lifetime. Democracy will struggle if this happens.