In Three Words: What is the Future of Journalism?

Written by Matt Gartland



Contributors:

A tremendous thank you to, and round of applause for, our wonderful contributors.

  • Joe Sterling – CNN Wire news editor; follow on Twitter
  • Laura Hazard Owen – covers book publishing, paywalls and more for GigaOM
  • Mallary Tenore – associate editor of Poynter.org covering media news
  • Mathew Ingram – award-winning journalist; senior writer with GigaOM
  • Philip Jones – deputy editor of The Bookseller; creator of FutureBook
  • Porter Anderson – professional journalist and writer of Writing on the Ether

Recent Editions:

In Three Words is an ongoing series chronicling sharp insights from smart writers, publishing thought-leaders, media theorists and other “book people” about pressing questions of the day.

In Three Words publications are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Feel free to share the work anywhere, please just link back here.

Now it’s your turn. What are your three words? Share in the comments.

  • http://twitter.com/IanGertler Ian Gertler

    Simple: collaborative stories!

    • http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland

      Nicely phrased. Thanks Ian!

  • http://www.lastwordonchange.com/ Todd VanNest, Ph.D.

    What IS Truth?

    • http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland

      The bedrock of journalism. Hopefully that’ll never change despite the technology advances. Thanks!

      • http://www.lastwordonchange.com/ Todd VanNest, Ph.D.

        The openess and technology themselves are not the problem. I am more fearful of the intellectual laziness and “agenda journalism” that it feeds. Can I hide behind the mantle of “truth-teller” if I report 5 “truths” that support my beliefs when ignoring the bigger (more complete) picture of facts and observation? If I massage the larger question into a “frame” that serves the facts I choose to report, am I truthful?

        Do you have less of this fear, Matt? I would not argue for less technology or openess (dark ages). That said, the reason why I put these 3 words here (What is Truth?) is because increased access and openess makes being complete even more difficult. I believe in the powerful scrubbing power of light–let it shine on all (not just select) facts to reveal truth.

        • http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland

          I definitely share your concerns, though I don’t believe they’re new and unique to the “digital age.” Anytime mankind has experienced paradigm shifts in technology (emergence from the dark ages, the industrial revolution, etc.) there is an innate fear that those advancements can be used for short term gain at the expense of honest effort and truth. Sure, current digital technology may accelerate that conundrum, or simply make it more tempting, but is certainly isn’t inciting it for the first time.

          Ultimately, yes, the power of light should shine upon all the facts. It then is the professional responsibility of those in power (journalists, reporters, broadcasters, news agencies, etc.) to distill all that information into the knowledge that is truth.

          • http://www.lastwordonchange.com/ Todd VanNest, Ph.D.

            Thanks, Matt. I’m not part of that power base, so be it their responsibility or not, the bottom line for the reader will still be “buyer beware.” I believe that journalism and publishing is a noble servant and a valued utility, but would not abdicate to them the responsibility for arbiting what is truth (if they did this to your standard, of course, all the news agencies would be in 100% agreement and, by definition, redundant, right?!). Just the same, I am pleased that you take this responsibility to the heart…

  • http://twitter.com/ctpomodoro toni giarnese

    whole other drumbeat

    • http://winningedits.com/ Matt Gartland

      Fun take. Thanks Toni!

  • http://twitter.com/ctpomodoro toni giarnese

    whole other drumbeat

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