AUDIENCE
DIRECT
CONTRIBUTION
A huge aspect of what is shifting Journalism is the public’s newfound influence over the news through the internet. As mentioned in the gatekeeping section, the internet has allowed for people to have access to the news and share it with others worldwide, an ability that was once restricted to journalists. Before the public was subjected to the newspaper delivered to your doorstep, subject to the news reporting of your state or town. Now, within seconds of tapping your fingertip to a miniature screen, anyone can read the Washington Post as they sip a cold lemonade in the hot sands of Miami Beach .
The article “What is the role of gatekeeping journalist’s in today’s media environment?” by Gabrielle Tutheridge best encapsulates this new dynamic in the journalism realm. Because of the increase of options that the public has to gather their news, they are able to now create a preference of news content (Tutheridge, par.10). In order to attract the public’s attention, some new sources like Stuff.co.nz, are attempting to tailor their content and overall design to their audiences’ needs through “polls and a comments section” on their published articles (Tutheridge, par.10).
Another example of the audience’s new influence over news through their direct contribution is the news age of clickbait, where news cites create outrages and click worthy titles to attack consumer attention onto their websites (Tutheridge, par.15). Buzzfeed is a website that is none for displaying outrageous articles, the danger lies in the fact that these articles can be viewed “… as relevant and reliable news sources when they are most likely not” (Tutheridge, par.15).
Audience Direct Contribution is seen everywhere. This ease and accessibility have allowed for the consumer to become news sources online as write blogs or post videos of some interesting news on YouTube. YouTube channels and other social media accounts have even been created with the purpose of divulging information they have collected and found interesting. Now anyone can be a reporter, even without the proper credentials.
Work Cited
Tutheridge, Gabrielle. “Body Language Learning: Non-Verbal Communication in the Writing Center Tutorial.” UCWbLing, 1 Apr. 2015, ucwbling.chicagolandwritingcenters.org/body-language-learning-non-verbal-communication-in-the-writing-center-tutorial/.