the new era of reporting: from paper to digital
by: varez matthews
“Out with the old and in with the new” has been the popular topic lately in the journalistic world. With the heavily viewed and purchased “Newsweek” announcing their release of their final print edition ever, to convert solely to online reporting, proves that society is moving into a new era of news reporting.
"It's been a turbulent two-year journey, culminating in our decision to leave print and take the leap into a digital future," “Newsweek” editor Tina Brown stated in the last print issue.
Germantown's "The Pitchfork" staff has also joined the new online reporting wave by deciding to release only one print edition of its paper for this entire year, and completely converting to online news articles. Many valid factors are involved in the drastic decision, a main reason being lack of sufficient funds.
"Printing has become expensive, and with a decrease in ads, it has been hard to break even. Also layout is easier online," “The Pitchfork” adviser Kim Douglas said.
One would think a physical paper would be a more effective route to take to gain exposure from the student body. This sometimes is not the case.
“It could be both [positive and negative]; people outside our school can be reached, but many in our own school have forgotten we exist,” Douglas said.
With most teens in today’s generation taking advantage of the Internet and staying connected online, it seems to be the direction a lot of newspapers these days have started to move into.
“Reaching a larger audience," Douglas said, is one of the benefits of going in to the new age of online reporting.
It seems like such a major change from the previous years, when the paper would put out at the minimum of four print editions of "The Pitchfork” a year. This change hopefully will not affect the quality of writing since it's a much simpler concept of reporting and so much cheaper.
"Online means quicker, but we have to make sure quicker doesn't mean sloppy,” senior staff member Rachel Dick said.
Times are changing, and technology is changing and improving right along with it. People, even journalists, must realize when it is necessary to move on and catch up with the times.
"It’s coming into a new age. Technology already integrates so fully with our day-to-day lives, it makes sense that it would be a part of the news as well,” Dick said.
"It's been a turbulent two-year journey, culminating in our decision to leave print and take the leap into a digital future," “Newsweek” editor Tina Brown stated in the last print issue.
Germantown's "The Pitchfork" staff has also joined the new online reporting wave by deciding to release only one print edition of its paper for this entire year, and completely converting to online news articles. Many valid factors are involved in the drastic decision, a main reason being lack of sufficient funds.
"Printing has become expensive, and with a decrease in ads, it has been hard to break even. Also layout is easier online," “The Pitchfork” adviser Kim Douglas said.
One would think a physical paper would be a more effective route to take to gain exposure from the student body. This sometimes is not the case.
“It could be both [positive and negative]; people outside our school can be reached, but many in our own school have forgotten we exist,” Douglas said.
With most teens in today’s generation taking advantage of the Internet and staying connected online, it seems to be the direction a lot of newspapers these days have started to move into.
“Reaching a larger audience," Douglas said, is one of the benefits of going in to the new age of online reporting.
It seems like such a major change from the previous years, when the paper would put out at the minimum of four print editions of "The Pitchfork” a year. This change hopefully will not affect the quality of writing since it's a much simpler concept of reporting and so much cheaper.
"Online means quicker, but we have to make sure quicker doesn't mean sloppy,” senior staff member Rachel Dick said.
Times are changing, and technology is changing and improving right along with it. People, even journalists, must realize when it is necessary to move on and catch up with the times.
"It’s coming into a new age. Technology already integrates so fully with our day-to-day lives, it makes sense that it would be a part of the news as well,” Dick said.