Newspapers: The future of journalism

Newspapers: The future of journalism

1) Why does Clay Shirky argue that 'accountability journalism' is so important and what example does he give of this?

In the video there is an example of how the catholic church was exposed for it's wrong doings around child molestation. He argues that without it these sort of situations wouldn't be exposed and the public eye would never see.

2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?

It is presented as a not a good relationship as the advertisers tend to overpay for a service that may not be worthwhile, but they're forced into due to there not being any other alternatives. 

3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?

Shirky suggests that people consume the news in bulks now and also say that people fine out about news on social media such as twitter instead of reading the actual newspapers.

4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?

Many of the good effects in limiting the Catholic Church’s ability to continue doing this were a result of the public reuse of the documents in ways that were simply not possible in 1992 and had become not just available, but trivial by 2000

5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls? 

Shirky says that it will make newspapers become a finite good whereas it's really an infinite one. He also says he's sceptical of it as we need the public good of the accountability to journalism

6) What is a 'social good'? In what way is journalism a 'social good'?

A social good is something that will help benefit the whole society for example Journalism is a social good as it helps bring important stories to the public which then gets published therefore a large audience will be able to get this information.

7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?

Shirky believes that, newspapers are irreplaceable in their production of accountability journalism.

8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?

If they continue taking over then once person can have too much power and be able to manipulate mass amounts of people at a time.