- Walter Cronkite's job as a broadcast journalist was to hold up a mirror and tell the public what happened, without bias or personal commentary. - Today's audiences are empowered in new ways through technologies like social media and can participate in the gathering and sharing of news. - Journalists must understand how information flows simultaneously to audiences from both professional and non-professional sources, and add original reporting to the evolving conversation.

1. 1.

2. “Our job is only to hold up the mirror – to
tell and show the public what has
happened.”
-- Walter Cronkite
Broadcast Journalist
CBS News Anchor, 1962-1981
2.

3. News Judgment
Journalists determine what is news by evaluating
whether it is:
 Important
 Timely
 Interesting
 Relevant
What do each of these news values mean to you?
3.

4. News judgment
As a class: Review the freeway crash scenario on P. 2.
Evaluate it according to the major news values and the
News Meter.
4

5. The people formerly
known as the audience
Traditionally, professional news organizations
defined, reported and disseminated news.
Today, audiences are empowered in new ways
that have altered journalism.
In your opinion, what are some of those ways?
5.

6. The web changes everything
Web 2.0 has helped transform the relationship
between journalists and their audiences.
Consider the following evolution from the 1990s to
today:
6

7. The web changes everything
Emerging technologies
Your audience now has access to a customized
news and information feed based on individual
attributes.
Consumers exercise much more control, and can
take part in the gathering and production of
news.
Social media networks enable news consumers to
quickly spread comments and critiques to
others.
7

8. The web changes everything
In small groups:
Review the graphic on P. 7.
Consider how today’s news
is:
 Personal
 Social
 Local
 Mobile
Share your findings with the
class, using examples from
your own lives.
8

9. Understanding the flow of information
As a professional journalist, you should
understand:
 How multiple, simultaneous streams of
information flow to your audience as well as
you.
 That information will be available from both
professional and nonprofessional sources.
 How to use technology to add your original
reporting to the information stream that flows to
consumers.
9

10. Understanding the flow of information
Today’s audiences
receive information
from many different
sources
simultaneously.
They also use tools and
networks to share
large amounts of
information.
10

11. Evolving stories and topics
In today’s newsrooms, coverage is built piece by
piece as information and context become available.
Stories are like evolving “topic pages” that resemble:
 A blog
 A wiki
 An aggregator
 A discussion
Think of it as “being inside a beat reporter’s head.”
What does this metaphor mean to you?
11

12. How a newsroom works
In small groups:
Review “How a Newsroom Works” on PP. 10-11 of
your text. Consider:
 How has Web 2.0 impacted the news gathering and
reporting process?
 How does today’s newsroom empower the
consumer in new ways?
12.

13. Finding news to report
How do you find news for your audience?
Consider:
 Major events
 Sources
 The audience
 All media
What do each of these mean? Provide a few
examples.
13

14. Rules for digital and social media
Key questions:
1. What will be the nature of your communication
with the audience?
2. Will conversations with your audience
translate to solid content and coverage
decisions?
3. Which technologies will give your journalism
the greatest reach and impact?
4. What technologies does your audience use to
access your content?
5. What format does your audience find most
effective?
14

15. Measuring news consumption
Television
Nielsen uses “people meters” and “TV meters” to
measure who watches particular programs.
Nielsen gathers demographic information to
determine what programming appeals to
certain segments.
Nielsen then assigns “rating points” and “share
points” to TV programs.
15

16. Measuring news consumption
Radio
Arbitron Inc. is the primary ratings service in the
U.S.
It uses daily diaries filled out by listeners and
“Personal People Meters” to track listening
habits.
As a class: review the Arbitron ratings system on
P. 16. What does each term mean, and how
might these become important to a radio news
journalist?
16

17. Measuring news consumption
Web
The media use measurement programs such as
Google Analytics to track website usage.
They want to know:
 How many users visit in a given period
 Which pages receive the most views
 How much time users spend on pages
 How users navigate through the site
17

18. Objectivity, bias and transparency
Objectivity means that the reporting seeks to give
fair treatment to all important and viable
arguments surrounding a particular issue.
Even though total objectivity is unattainable,
journalists should be transparent about their
backgrounds, beliefs and biases.
18

19. Objectivity, bias
and transparency
19.

20. A newsroom that fits you
Look for a news organization whose approach to
the news, reporting style and ethical guidelines
fit your own beliefs and personality.
Ask yourself whether their ethical and journalistic
standards match your own.
Finding a newsroom that fits you will help you find
fulfillment and success as a journalist.
20.