Journalism at the Crossroads: crisis and opportunity for the press
About this ebook
As newspaper subscription-rates decline, and mastheads lament what appears to be a broken business model, the future of journalism is uncertain. Yet, in an age of spin and the sideshow syndrome, quality journalism is more essential than ever before. How do we resolve the contradictions, and map out a path forward? And what do we mean by ‘quality’? As we face new, digital models for journalism, what might be worth preserving about the old models? How can journalists embrace new forms of media and technology, and engage more directly with their readers? Can journalism continue to contribute to a vibrant and robust democracy?
In Journalism at the Crossroads, journalist and media commentator Dr Margaret Simons explores the challenges and opportunities facing journalists as they confront the digital revolution and grapple with the changing role of journalism. Simons considers the role of the journalist in this new media landscape, why we still need quality news reporting, how new technologies can enhance traditional reporting, ways in which journalists and citizens can work together to break stories, and how media organisations can reinvigorate their newsrooms by engaging directly with the community.
The imperative to think about new ways of journalism has arrived, and it is time for all of us — citizens and journalists alike — to become involved in this vital debate.
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About the author
Margaret Simons is a freelance journalist and author and director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne. She writes about the media for a number of publications and has published eleven books including The Content Makers and more recently Malcolm Fraser: the political memoirs, written with the late former prime minister. This won book of the year and best non-fiction book at the 2010 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards. Her most recent book before this one was Self Made Man, a biography of media proprietor Kerry Stokes, which won the history prize in the WA Australian Premier’s Literary Awards. In the past Simons has worked for The Age and The Australian newspapers. As a freelancer, she has had work published in dozens of magazines and newspapers in Australia and overseas.
Michael Gawenda is one of Australia’s best-known journalists and authors. In a career spanning four decades, he was a political reporter, a foreign correspondent based in London and in Washington, a columnist, a feature writer, and a senior editor at Time Magazine. He was editor and editor-in-chief of The Age from 1997 to 2004. Michael Gawenda has won numerous journalism awards, including three Walkley awards. He was the inaugural director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism at the University of Melbourne, and is the author of four books.
