Capturing truth in the flow of time.
Before the printing press was invented, word of mouth was the primary source of news. Returning merchants, sailors, and travelers brought news back to the mainland which was subsequently picked up by peddlers and traveling players and spread from town to town. Ancient scribes often wrote this information down.
News publications were often read aloud due to the lack of basic elementary education among people. According to Wikipedia, it was in the 16th century when newspapers started to come to life in the region of Germany and Austria. In 1556, Notizie scritte (written notices) was published by the government of Venice. It would cost one Gazzetta (a Venetian coin of the time), later the name came to mean “newspaper”.
All the journalism that existed before the 19th century could be summed up as basic journalism which involved news and notices for the political and business elites.
With the advent of technical, business, and political changes in the 19th century, journalism evolved at a rapid pace. High-speed presses and cheap wood-based newsprint made it possible for newspapers to be printed for mass circulation. The flavor and the construct of news that we consume today are largely influenced by the later part of the nineteenth century.
The architect of the transformation was not a political leader or a constitutional convention but Joseph Pulitzer, who in 1883 bought the sleepy New York World and in 20 years made it the country’s largest newspaper. Pulitzer accomplished that by bringing drama to news—by turning news articles into stories with a plot, actors in conflict, and colorful details. In the late nineteenth century, most newspaper accounts of government actions were couched in institutional formats, much like the minutes of a board meeting, and about as interesting. Pulitzer turned them into stories with a sharp dramatic focus that both implied and aroused intense public interest. Most newspapers of the time looked like the front page of the Wall Street Journal still does. Pulitzer made stories dramatic by adding blaring headlines, big pictures, and eye-catching graphics. His journalism took events out of their dry, institutional contexts and made them emotional rather than rational, immediate rather than considered, and sensational rather than informative. The press became a stage on which the actions of the government were a series of dramas.
In most parts of the pre-literate world, the first question asked of a traveler was, as it was in Outer Mongolia in 1921, "What's new?" These preliterate people were probably better informed about events in their immediate neighborhood than most modern, urban, or suburban Americans.
Fast forward to this millennium, we have come a long way since the first news was broken and how it impacted world history. Even in this millennium, we know there are multiple incidents where journalism took a sharp turn. Everyone remembers how independent journalism with Wikileaks came into existence when Julian Assange reshaped investigative reporting with unparalleled transparency and direct access to confidential information.
News has come a long way from being the elite's logbook to now a common man's regular need. It worked its way through different mediums from wooden barks, block prints, newspapers, telegram, radio, and television to digital. Journalism has seen ups as well as lows in this journey. The two biggest menaces it has to fight to this day are fake news and sensationalism.
The earliest incident of sensationalism was encountered in 1835 when The New York Sun's 'Great Moon Hoax' claimed that there was an alien civilization on the moon. This story established the Sun as a profitable newspaper. This kind of journalism is today known as yellow journalism or tabloid journalism.
The problem of fake news or misinformation seems to run rabid in current day's journalism. The power that this industry has, is bound to be misused.
Journalism can die if people start mistrusting it. Fake news is a serious killer of journalism. Another, grave danger to the fate of journalism is greed. Fake news also finds its root in the motivation that serves greed. But, without capital to fund good journalism it can not survive either. So a journalist should know how to support livelihood through his craft. It involves getting updated with the times. And with time tools evolve. A keen craftsman always seeks to master new tools. So a journalist must spend time learning and updating her knowledge and skills.
“Times change! Before, no one believed the weather forecast. Today in the news only the weather forecast can be trusted."
Journalism will survive if it sticks to the principle that keeps it relevant to the time it is serving. Sensationalism could sometimes help seek attention but if it goes beyond the edge it falls into the trap of fake news. This must be strictly avoided. So finding a good story that is rooted in reality rather than truth is the single most important skill for any journalist.
Journalism when working thoroughly should have a strong and diverse layer of federal journalists. A localized network of reporters. When there are many small (not necessarily) media outlets covering the regional geography and contributing to the whole news ecosystem, then robust journalism evolves. This kind of journalism has inherent qualities to fight fake news. When monopolies exist among media houses, it is a signal of an unhealthy ecosystem. Therefore, independent journalists are crucial for unbiased and impactful journalism.
As discussed above, journalism took birth at the top - among the elites and is continuously trickling down. It will find its true potential once it reaches the masses and establishes its roots. We are living in the age when this is going to happen. We will witness it. Today, the tools and resources required to start an independent media house are readily available. For an independent journalist only a mobile phone with useful app/software is required. Shoot videos or host a live discussion and reach millions of viewers in a matter of minutes. All this would have taken extravagant sums only a decade ago.
Journalism is one of the four pillars of democracy and often the most neglected one. Transfer of power without bloodshed is an extremely important step in the evolution of human civilization. Democracy as a way to reach consensus about social things is precious. Naturally, the pillar on which it stands must be protected and taken care of. This puts a huge responsibility on the shoulders of a journalist.
Doctored or misleading videos that are created out of context can be fought by using the power of live streaming. Opinions captured in live settings and reporting live can help fight fake news and misinformation. Often a journalist is lured into the trap of misinformation because money matters. It is necessary therefore to create a community of audience who support a journalist in her undertakings. The Internet has helped bring the world closer and can be used to create a community of supporters easily. Interacting with the world in real-time using live streaming can significantly boost your trust among the audience and help build a strong community around your work.
In the dynamic world of media, journalism has taken a bold leap forward, driven by the advent of live streaming technology. Gone are the days when news was delivered solely through printed articles or scheduled television broadcasts. Today, a new breed of journalists is emerging—armed with smartphones, cameras, and connectivity—who are redefining the landscape of news reporting.
These New Age Journalists are not confined to newsrooms or studios. They are often found at the heart of the action, broadcasting events as they unfold in real-time. Many journalists are transitioning away from traditional newsrooms to adopt live streaming as a full-time career. Their tools are minimalistic yet powerful; a stable internet connection and a portable device are often all they need. This immediacy bridges the gap between the audience and the news, turning passive viewers into active participants in a global conversation.
Live streaming has democratized journalism, allowing for diverse voices and perspectives. Traditional media outlets no longer hold a monopoly over the news. Citizen journalists, activists, and independent media creators are stepping into the spotlight, providing grassroots coverage that is often overlooked by mainstream sources. As a result, audiences receive a richer, more nuanced understanding of events.
One of the most significant advantages of live streaming in journalism is the enhanced transparency it offers:
As time progresses and the world moves on, this paradigm shift will not just be about leveraging new technology; it's about fostering a more transparent, immediate, and inclusive approach to storytelling. Live streaming returns the power to the people by offering unfiltered realities. Then a new relationship will be forged between journalists and their audiences. A deeper one. A more truthful one.