Journalists are said to command a similar respect to that of used-car salesmen - long gone are the days of journalist as martyr for the people.
Fighting a losing battle? Does the public hate them or do they just love to hate them, like they do Paris Hilton?
As well as this 'cultural' battle, journalists are flying in the face of other challenges...
- Commercialisation of the news media has put immense pressure on journalists. Down-sized newsrooms & budget cuts have seen many journalists left jobless. The news media has become a commodity now more than ever before. Probably due to...
- Increased concentration of media ownership. New media laws came into effect this year & although Communications Minister Senator Coonan suggests they will improve Australia's media diversity, i believe they will do exactly the opposite...
- Increased level of infotainment & a dumbing down of news can surely only be frustrating journalists. It frustrates me to read/watch!! Even current affairs stalwart 60 minutes verges on infotainment with its celebrity stories & controversial exposes.
- The generalist vs. specialist debate... slow death of the mass-media market due to the explosion in niche market publishing. This has created an increased demand for specialists - journalistic experience sacrificed for expert information in other fields.
Walsh, as quoted in Tapsall & Varley (16:2006), has a suggestion for survival:
Create "Your Own Brand Name - Yourself".
Be needed. Find your niche & stick to it!
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