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BLOGCAST - The future of online journalism

BLOGCAST

What is the future of online journalism?

As the times change, so do the ways we consume media. An iPad was a far-fetched concept ten years ago, now it is a common means of consuming media of many forms, including the news.

This week, I'm doing a podcast version of my blog. You can listen to it by pressing the orange play button below: 

Podcasting for Dummies

What's stopping you from starting your own show?

Source: Inspiration Feed

I love podcasting.

What exactly is a podcast you may ask? If you had asked Jeeves, you'd likely end up with a similar result as this:

Podcast: A digital audio file made available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or mobile device, typically available as a series, new installments of which can be received by subscribers automatically.

Now I could use this blog to explain to you how to make an awesome podcast - like The Nostalgia Trip, not that I'm biased - but Popular Mechanics took care of that pretty well in their own article which you can read here.

Instead, I'd like to talk about why I believe podcasting can be a great hobby, especially for those with an interest in niche markets or polarizing issues.

Since the term was first coined in the early 2000's, podcasting has quickly become a common hobby for many tech savvy individuals. The ability to independently produce and distribute media has made this an easy outlet for people wanting to have their voice heard. To put it more colourfully, this gives the preacher his or her own pulpit.

Podcasting is inexpensive and in time it can pay for itself.    Source: Inspiration Feed

However, often forgotten is the fact that these podcasts are created by "normal" everyday people like you and me. While big media corporations such as Fox Sports produce regular programming in podcast form, the field is largely dominated by independent producers working from home in their spare time.

In this day and age, any bozo can invest money into some gear and - provided they have quality content - gain a following on the internet. In many cases revenue can be generated from these shows, though the amount raised varies depending on your media's reach and traffic.

This means that there is a clear incentive for people to voice their opinions and make a show about something they are passionate about. Whether you're into cooking, fashion, sports or video games, a podcast suited to your interests is out there waiting for you to listen.

So why do I believe this can be a good hobby for the average Joe and/or Josephine?

Simply put, it allows you to be creative and expressive in a way that appeals to your interests. It also allows you to build relationships and network with like-minded individuals across the globe. The knowledge that can be exchanged via these programs is incredible, which can enlighten you on a subject you already felt well versed in.

Even if producing a show isn't your cup of tea, there is somebody out there who has already made a show that you'll love. This means you can enjoy a workout at the gym or a long commute to work in a different way. Instead of listening to the commercials on the radio, skip the commercials during the intro of your podcast and enjoy the content that follows!

What does this mean for traditional journalism? I can't say for sure. Easy accessibility to podcasting resources is very exciting, but I can't help but feel that there is much content being produced and consumed that doesn't deserve to see the light of day. In the event this content continues it's rise in popularity, dangers exist that popular opinions will override fact. This can muddy the already unclear waters of sensitive issues, whatever they may be.

CBC's Jane Adey, current host of The Broadcast, the longest running current affairs radio show in North America, visited my journalism class a few months back and gave us a great tip. Never forget the K.I.S.S. rule - and no, I'm not talking about the band. Here it is, free of charge:

Keep
It
Simple
Stupid

So what's stopping you from producing the next great podcast? Who knows, you could end up with a hefty sponsorship deal for all your hard work.

7 WAYS TO BEAT WINTER

Source: Hotel-R

I'll admit, I don't know seven ways to beat winter, but if the title of my blog peaked your interest and got you to click, then the real topic of my blog applies to you.

What topic might that be? I'm talking about clickbait of course!

Even sharks know better than to bite at this stuff.      Source: CartoonsByJim

So, what is clickbait? A quick Google search will net you this result:

Clickbait: (on the Internet) content whose main purpose is to attract attention and encourage visitors to click on a link to a particular page.

As you may have noticed through the title of my blog, just because the title of a page has certain keywords or phrases, this does not mean the corresponding article will contain them. 

There are plenty of news organizations that put out real, hard-hitting news, but there are just as many - if not more - independent media outlets (e.g, Facebook page, Twitter account, etc...) who promote the aforementioned clickbait.

All 'bait and no play makes Jack a dull boy.     Source: ReactionGIFs.com

At the end of the day we as consumers must remember that these media outlets - independent or otherwise - are businesses. They generate revenue when people are looking at their content. As such, the more traffic they can generate, the better.

The headlines are designed to pull on our heartstrings and strike us where we are vulnerable. Sometimes, the headlines are accompanied by a cute or gruesome image, whatever fits the story.

It should come as no surprise then, that during Valentine's Day Week - is that a thing now? - our social media feeds may become cluttered with clickbait titles such as "21 Ways to Make Him/Her Like You" or "10 Reasons You're Single on Valentine's Day." Next month, it will be something entirely different.

Does traditional journalism risk fading into obscurity due to this? Personally, I don't think so. There will always be a demand to know what's happening in our communities and the world around us. Whether that news source comes from the left, the right or both, is undeterminable, but the demand will always exist.

Bottom line, clickbait is effective. More importantly, it's here to stay so we best get used to it. We may never be able to rid ourselves of it completely, but equipping ourselves with the knowledge to make informed decisions on the media we consume is crucial to defending ourselves against it.

Hopefully this blog makes you think twice about what you want to click on and what you choose to pass up. Remember, there's a boatload of quality content available on the web, you just have to find it!

The Not-So Super Bowl: What America's game can tell us about ourselves

After 40 years in the business, ESPN's Chris Berman does his first dab.  Source: SB Nation.

It's the most wonderful time of the year - for some.

The 51st annual Super Bowl took place last Sunday, seeing Tom Brady and the New England Patriots face off against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. (Spoiler Alert: Final score was 34-28 for New England).

No matter your stance on the game, it has undeniably become one of the world's largest spectacles. From the pregame hype to the iconic half time show, the way the game is presented serves as an interesting litmus test for what peeks society's interests.

Super Bowl 49 in 2015 is often not remembered for the competitive, star-studded contest that it was, but rather for a polarizing play leading to one teams "epic" triumph. (For reference, see video below.)

While this was a great play by the Patriots defensive player, Malcom Butler, the media's focus was targeted towards Seattle's side of the play. Pundits were heavily critical of the decision.

The questions came in plenty: Why did they throw the ball? Why didn't they trust their Pro Bowl running back so close to the end zone?

Next was the finger pointing. Quarterback Russell Wilson was first to face blame for making the throw. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell was next under fire for calling the play. Ricardo Lockette, Wilson's intended target for pass, was criticized for not fighting for the ball. 

In an attempt to placate the fans, media and perhaps even some players, head coach Pete Carroll accepted responsibility for the mishap. 

It should be noted that there was attention and adulation given to the Patriots for their victory, but it seemed to be misdirected. Instead of focusing on a team which scored two unanswered touchdowns en route to a comeback win, the focus was largely on Seattle for making such a "boneheaded" decision.

In many eyes: New England didn't win the game, Seattle lost it. 

So what does this have to do with the price of tea in China - or more specifically, online journalism?

I like to affectionally refer to society's fixation on pessimism as the "Glass Half Empty Effect." Source: AsapScience

Society seems to have an odd obsession with pessimism. 

When we stumble upon both a positive and a negative, the former is often ignored in favour of the latter.

This is no different with news. Controversial or negative news coverage makes people engage in a way that they otherwise wouldn't with a positive news story. Take this past year's coverage of the US Presidential Election as proof positive of that - pun intended. 

No caption needed. Source: Giphy.

The media - everything from news organizations to Facebook pages - take advantage of these interests in the content they produce.

We as consumers need to be aware of this, or else we may blindly follow the narrative written by others. We must ask ourselves the question, "is there more to this story than meets the eye?"

The Trump Effect: When opinions influence fact

It's high time we accept it, Donald Trump is the President of the United States. 

Finally, a man who's escapades could rival those of the legendary Cory Baxter.

We had our chances at salvation. Maiden Clinton fought valiantly for her people, as did Bernie, wise wizard of the Northeast. Alas, their efforts were in vain as "Donny with the good hair" won the electoral vote and became ruler of the magical land, much to the chagrin of its inhabitants.

At times, it was difficult to differentiate the election from a gritty TV series. All three of these colourful characters deserved their own spin-off series.

Though the election has long come and gone, there is still an enormous outcry from American citizens against Trump and his seemingly diabolical policies. There has been no louder outcry than that from the journalism community as colleagues from across the globe are banding together to hold Trump accountable.

The proof is in the pudding.

Why is this so important? Trump has shown an alarming lack of respect for journalism, both modern and traditional. Popular organizations such as CNN have been shunned by Trump at public events, with the president going as far as to label the brand as "fake news."

Check out this video from BBC News in which then President-elect Trump chastises a CNN reporter. Per the video description, the reporter was asking Trump about a tweet he made referencing Nazi Germany.

In this selection, it's very obvious that Trump believes that he can ignore the negative press and that it will simply go away. He goes as far to package CNN in the same vein as Buzzfeed, again emphasizing the former as "fake news" while identifying the latter as a "failing pile of garbage."

Coincidentally, CNN would later run coverage on what would happen if Trump were to be assassinated before his inauguration. This can be viewed in the below video. Juicy stuff.

Information in the above video is indeed fact, but the CNN coverage is very suggestive. Sharing media such as this is very dangerous. Many have proposed that releasing such information to the public could instigate an extremist response.

Would those at CNN have batted an eye to a presidential assassination? Would they feel any guilt? Any responsibility? All are questions we must ask ourselves.

Effects on online journalism.

So what does all of this mean? 

We live in a new era of media. Instead of turning to the television for our news, many of us flock to our cellphones or computers for a quick fix. This media - like all media - is heavily dependent on traffic, leading many organizations to focus on "click-bait" stories. In the case of President Trump, this is extremely dangerous.

Both anti and pro Trump media exists and while both attract different audiences, they serve the same purpose: to muddy the transparent waters of fact and fiction. This issue isn't exclusive to Trump, it encompasses all media in today's world.

Whether it's a Facebook post, YouTube video or a tweet, we must be able to interpret and understand what we consume. Are we reading someone's opinion? Or are we reading fact?