A Year [I'm glad I wasn't responsible for] the News

If I was a professional journalist in 2007 and the Annual Report on American Journalism (a study conducted by the Project for Excellence in Journalism) was my report card - I'd be afraid to show my mom.  Not because I would have failed utterly and completely, but because I was barely trying and I just didn't get it. 

The study was extensive and the report covered a wide array of issues in the news media but what I really took from it was the fact that there is a serious disconnect between the media and their audience. There is a definite disconnect between what the public wants to see and what the media are providing, but there is also a disconnect between the way the media cover their stories and the way it would be most beneficial to the masses. I find it disappointing that this even exists, but can't begin to defend my medium of choice or deny that it's there. 

One of the most fundamental explanations I've ever heard about being a journalist: Tell the public everything it didn't know it wanted to know. 

In 2007, journalists just did not do that. I agree completely with the report that it was a "drive by" media - they focused on one big, front-page worthy story from basically the same angle until it was completely dead and moved onto the next without ever developing something the audience could use. 

BUT I'm optimistic. Maybe because I still live by the New York Times (and The Ithacan), but also because journalists have never had more resources to reach out to people. The public is our tutor and it's telling us exactly what we have to do to improve in the form of blogs, vlogs, user comments and more. I think journalism is listening and I think the 2008 report card will see some improvement.