The study of words as communicators... every single word written on a page influences what the reader thinks and how they react. In this afternoons lecture by Skye Doherty, TEXT was addressed as THE most important element of journalism. Brief is the key, and if it doesn't interest the public then what is the point?
Journalism seems to be an ever evolving industry, and what interests the public defines what we as journalists do. NEWS VALUES refine what is broadcast around the world, and what we can say about current events is dependant upon the WAY we say it.
Rhetoric is important, efficiency and flare are important: why write 10 words when you can write 5 super exciting, informative words?
Especially on-line, journalism is evolving. As journalist T.S.Elliot comments, we are constantly "distracted from distraction by distraction", meaning no one wants to read great chunks of information on the internet when there are so many other things they could be doing.
http://newsstore.fairfax.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=5485FF4AF7A523513F1A2E214818370B?page=1&sy=nstore&kw=digital&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=100&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SMH11040227D6R231Q8J
In discussing the relevance of written journalism, one question springs to my mind: If our duty as journalists is to produce what people want, what will happen to linear journalism in the future if we continue to condense what we have to say in order to please the masses? Are we revolutionizing or crippling journalism?
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