The definition of who is a journalist is ever-changing. In a broad sense, a journalist is someone who reports on information and disseminates their reporting through speech or writing. Journalism has evolved as a field through the development of different forms of media, such as radio, television, and print. With the creation of the internet, journalism has changed even more, specifically regarding who can be a journalist. Before the internet, the term “journalist” was usually restricted to those who had been educated in the field and who worked for either mainstream or independent media organizations. Now, with the internet being accessible to people worldwide, anyone can be a journalist regardless of education level or media affiliation. Through the wide range of information available on the internet, anyone can gather information and create a blog or website to report on news. Additionally, many news agencies allow internet users to submit content and information, allowing citizens to participate in the journalistic process.
The news cycle has evolved throughout journalism’s history, and a lot of this has to do with the internet. Back before the internet existed, print newspapers were released daily. These newspapers would report on news from the previous day, and any events occurring on the day of publication would not be published until the next day. Thus, there was a slight delay in the news cycle. However, with news organizations primarily shifting to publishing news online, the news cycle is never-ending. Stories can break at all hours of the day or night, and information is accessible to internet users in an instant. As such, there is a lot of pressure for online media outlets to break stories first and update stories as soon as the latest information is made public.
Convergence is a new journalistic concept that was brought about by the invention of the internet. Convergence is defined as distinct news media entities partnering to create a new media entity that contains content from each organization. This has become increasingly prevalent in journalism. One example of a news website resulting from convergence is Shaw Local. Shaw Local covers news from around Northern Illinois and publishes content from various publications, including the Northwest Herald and the Kane County Chronicle.
Modular content, too, is another journalistic concept that originated around the time the internet was created. Modular content is when story elements are treated as independent pieces that make up the whole story. A story published online can consist of text, video, audio, and/or graphics. While each of these pieces contribute to the overall meaning of the story, the pieces themselves are separate and are treated as individual elements by journalists and media organizations.
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