Judge Students Attend "The Future of Journalism" Forum at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics

• by Anthony Fratto Oyler '12
• co-editor of the Bulldog Press

What happens to print journalism when information is just a mouse click away? When revolutions are inspired by a tweet? When the audience becomes journalists and journalists become the audience?

Journalism is changing, and there is no doubt about it. While online journalism and media is exploding, print journalism is lacking profits. During the week of Oct 24-28, 2011, the Hinckley Institute of Politics put on the Fifteenth Annual Rocco C. and Marion S. Siciliano Forum, “Considerations on the Status of the American Society” which examined “The Future of Journalism.”

Through a week of discussion, panels, documentaries, and a keynote address by Martin Tolchin, a 40-year New York Times reporter and founder of The Hill and Politico, the forum explored the various aspects and uncertainties of journalism.

Judge Memorial’s newspaper staff was invited to the event, attended the keynote address, and participated in a live panel on KUER’S Radio West program. Much of the radio panel discussion involved the definition of journalism in a changing world and its own adaptability and change. Thanks in large part to Twitter, Facebook, and blogs “the audience has become the journalists and the journalists the audience” said journalist Matt LePlant who participated in the panel.

Despite the rise of mass communication and information, it’s important to note what makes defines a journalist. Some, like many on the panel, believe that much of individual posts and tweets are considered journalism, while others doubt its accountability. True journalism is an unlicensed profession but it is quite hard to see how status updates mark a journalist. Journalism is a skill, but it is attainable and open to any citizen, and that’s what makes it such accessible tool. Yet true journalism should be marked as media that explores a topic, presents it in a verifiable method, and aims to engage its readers.

The Desert News published a piece on the kickoff of the forum in which is described how both of Utah’s two largest newspapers, The Desert News and The Salt Lake Tribune, will “have to do a lot of work in finding their area of expertise and then building a reputation as a trusted authority in that area (http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705393116/Utah-newspaper-heads-say-newspapers-will-find-a-way-to-survive.html).” The article continues on saying that many newspapers have unable to successfully adapt to an Internet world.

Information is now quickly accessible through the Internet and that’s a good thing. Yet newspapers shouldn’t worry about finding their way into the mainstream Internet news but focus on matters that go beyond traditional news reporting. Sure newspapers were originally about reporting the information quickly and were how most people stayed informed but now we are just one click away online from getting info. With that leap in technology, newspapers can adapt and for the better. If they learn to focus on long-term issues and trends in news, instead of quick information print media can last.

Judge Memorial's High School newspaper, The Bulldog Press, is an astounding example of adaptation. Long printed in newspaper format, in 2010-2011 under the guidance of Emily Andrews and teacher Chris Sloan, the decision was made to switch to a magazine. This change allowed us to look more cutting edge and professional while keeping our content focused on connections and issues that matter to our school community. This simple change and the fact that we remained true to our stories’ focus allowed it to remain relevant and appealing to our readers.

Since the dawn of journalism, its aim has been to tell the whole story and push toward citizen activism. As long as journalism and journalists remain relevant and legitimate it will continue forward no matter the outlet. Journalism is a unique tool to connect others with facts, information, knowledge, and opinions. As long as people are willing to listen to them the print media will survive even if all it takes is just a little change.