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Explore the changing landscape of journalism in the digital era, emphasizing adaptability and innovation. Discover the impact of data revolution and future trends in the industry. Learn how journalists can thrive in an evolving information environment.
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Natal WitnessPietermaritzburg, South Africa5 September 2006 No, it is not“All about story.” Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m
Natal WitnessDurban, South Africa5 September 2006 Andor&or+ Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m
Journalism is… “The central purpose of journalism is to provide citizens with accurate and reliable information they need to function in a free society.'‘—Bill KovachCommittee of Concerned Journalists ______________________
What journalists do The job of journalists is "to monitor the centres of power."Israeli journalistAmira Hass ______________________
Today’s objectives • Discuss journalism (and journalists) as a species existing in the Datasphere • Review the changes in the information environment • Suggest steps journalism can (Should? Must?) take to adapt to those changes if we are to survive • Suggest the possible disappearance of the species journalist serioso ______________________
The New Datasphere extends the Old • Most canons of journalism stand fast (Though there are some new issues for ethics and law) • The challenge today is not the old, but the addition of the new ______________________
Species in Biosphere: Latent Energy Metabolism Energy Out In Changing Datasphere: • Journalists, et al., in Datasphere ______________________
Basic Information Theory =Process of Journalism Info Data In Analysis Out This is a headline DATELINE -- And the traditional text story starts here and goes on and on and on. Interviews Text docs Clips Pictures Infographics ______________________
1st Era = Communications Revolution? 2nd Era =SymbolsPrintPaperInkWriting ______________________
“100% de la Población SufreProblemas de Salud Mental” ______________________
Challenge of Digital Revolution 100% de la Poblacion Sufre Problemas de Salud Mental 010100100100100110101101 101011101010101010101010 010101010101010100111010 ______________________
1st Era = Communications Revolution? 2nd Era =SymbolsPrintPaperInkWriting 3rd Era = 101010101101010101000100101 ______________________
Changing Datasphere • Data and “data appliances:” Smaller, lighter, faster, cheaper and greater capacity • 1956: First hard drive. 5mgb. 50 24-inch platters. 2,150 pounds the size of a refrigerator. • Cost: US$10,000 per megabyte or $10m per gigabyte. Today: one 3.5” HD has a gigabyte for <50 cents. ______________________
Changing Datasphere • In 50 years, areal density of HDs increased by 50 MILLION times • Expect to see 1-inch terabyte drives in 10 years • 1991 - First 2.5-inch HD for laptops held 63mgb. • Today – 2.5-inch HD holds 160gbyte and is 60 times as shock-resistant • Moore’s Law. Yes, but…. ______________________
Major Changes for Industry/Journalism educ. • Data/information in digital form: requires new tools, analytic skills, delivery methods • Network TV news dead; Newspapers (in much of Europe and U.S.) are comatose ______________________
Major Changes for Industry • Become data/information driven in decision-making • Get out of the newsPAPER or broadcasting business; get into NEWS and DATA/Information biz • Deliver content however consumers want it whenever and wherever they want it • Leverage journalism’s data and skills to customize data/info. for users ______________________
Role of news institutions • Must become the HUB for “transactions” between individuals and the data they need, want, seek: • Intellectual transactions • Cultural transactions • Economic transactions • Political transactions ______________________
Database Publishing - Data In Online Print Text Images Infographics Video Audio Reporter’s DAT “Amateur” News Agencies Dynamic db Dynamic maps Streaming A/V Reporter’s DAT “Amateur” News Agencies Data Warehouse Data Warehouse ______________________
Database Publishing-Info Out Video Audio TBA PDA/Cellphone Print Data Warehouse Data Warehouse ______________________
Data Resources needing users Economic Culural Occupational Entertainment Users with data needs Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment “Hub” model of journalism Journalism Institution: 3 uniquevalues ______________________
“Hub” model of journalism Resources needing users Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment Users with needs Economic Cultural Occupational Entertainment How to do this? See “data” as a renewable/reusable resource To survive means to learn. Constantly It’s about “teams,” knowledge management, coordination Journalism institution Fred Kockott, 2006 Journalist of the Year: “It’s not a one-man business …This work of the sub-editors, photographers, graphic designers and others is often not recognized.” (Librarians?) ______________________
I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work was qualitative: text or static images Classic Journalism Information Environment Journalism: The first refuge of the mathematically phobic! ______________________
I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work qualitative -- text or static images Throw away total work product every 24 hours Classic Journalism Information Environment ______________________
Changing Datasphere • As storage medium changes from I-o-P to 1's and 0's… • ...we need functional technology between the data/info and our brain. • Requires new awareness/skills for RRAW-P (Research, Reporting, Analysis, Writing-Packaging model) • Adopt new literacy to survive, NOT as old-style hunters-and-gathers but new era interpreters and explainers. • Some of us move from data fishermen to data farmers to support the community ______________________
Reporting Analysis Writing Publishing-Producing- Packaging RRAW-P Process of Journalism • Research DEADLINE! ______________________
Research Process, and Emphasis, of Classic Journalism: RRAW-P Writing- Publishing, Producing, Packaging The focus of… Journalism education On-the-job training Mid-career training Most graduate studies Reporting Analysis ______________________
Research Process - and Emphasis - of Digital-Age Journalism Must be – somewhere, some how – the focus of… Journalism education On-the-job training Mid-career training Most graduate studies Research Reporting Analysis Reporting Analysis ______________________
I-o-P storage, analysis and communication Linear intake of data as TEXT Primitive analytic tools Only literary skills needed and highly regarded 100% of our work qualitative -- text or static images Classic Journalism Information Environment ______________________
Traditional Data In Interviews Text docs Clips Pictures Infographics 100% of story I-o-P vs.. Digital Environment ______________________
Digital DATA IN Interviews Text docs Scholarly articles Archival content Pictures Infographics Sound/Video Dynamic maps Database publshg I-o-P vs. Digital Environment • Ink-on-paper = <50% of story • Digital data = >50% of story ______________________
Major Changes for Media Production • “Data In” is qualitative AND quantitative • “Info Out” must be qualitative and quantitative ______________________
Major Changes for Datasphere Newsroom • Journalists must be able to work like good social scientists and good poets • Literally put information specialists (aka: librarians) in center of space and process • Implement team -- conceptual or skills -- approach ______________________
Survival in the Datasphere • All analysis and eventual stories have three conceptual aspects: Content? Methods/Process? Analytic Tools? ______________________
Intellectual Navigation Qualitative Locate Data Acquire Analyze Quantitative Locate Data Acquire Analyze STORY! ______________________
New skills for journalists Just as an opening hand…. • Sophisticated online research • Analytic and visual statistics • Spreadsheets • Database creation and analysis • Geographic Information Systems • Social Network Analysis • Forensic Accounting/Performance Measurement ______________________
Significance for Journalism • Learn to think in multiple dimensions: non-local & non-traditional sources; depth of sourcing; raw data; dynamic online "data“ (i.e non-documents) • Need greater analytic skills, e.g. quantification, mapping • Greater degrees of specialization in newsroom (GA reporter may be a dying intellectual breed in 5-10 years. Declining status?) ______________________
Natal WitnessPietermaritzburg, South Africa5 September 2006 No, it is not“All about story.” It’s about AND, &and+ Prof. Tom JohnsonInstitute for Analytic JournalismSanta Fe, New Mexico USAt o m @ j t j o h n s o n . c o m