The inevitability of multimedia journalism

I would argue that, in today’s shifting media landscape, more journalists are multimedia-oriented than not. A multimedia journalist is a journalist that melds “old school” and “new school” skills, as detailed by Anthony Adornato. The MMJ allows for holistic storytelling across platforms, which not only makes journalism more accessible in our smartphone-driven world, but also reaches multiple audiences in different ways. While traditional news media may work for someone with time and resources to obtain a paper, or peruse the web, MMJs can use various social media apps or mediums like video and podcast to convey information and keep a story rolling. 

While there are positive and negative attributes to this type of media, it is important to know how to work within its strengths and weaknesses to both deliver quality journalism, but to also cultivate community relationships and credibility as a journalist. The question of multimedia journalists and a shifting digitized platform is not a question of if, but when. As this chapter emphasizes, social media skills and the ability to cultivate and manage an online identity for both the individual journalist and as a piece of a larger outlet is becoming of equal importance with actual writing skills.

While alternative mediums and platforms can increase accessibility and outreach in journalism, as well as aid in richer, real-time storytelling and reporting, the idea of social media savviness replacing or even being on-par with some “old school” skills, or traditional journalistic skills, does concern me. While the ability to adapt is an essential one to any journalist, I think that such a heavy emphasis on social media skills, immediate reporting, and personal branding can lead to an environment that encourages or even glamorizes media manipulation more than the use of media as a tool. While sensationalistic and clickbait media has always existed to some degree, the immediate and self-advertising nature of social media has definitely bolstered disinformation and misinformation, which increases both shady practices and tired, susceptible  journalists working in a competitive, break-neck atmosphere online and in newsrooms.

Something positive and interesting to note that has come out of the inevitable multimedia boom is that nearly all journalists have had to learn or fine-tune skills like video and audio editing, photography, and other digital skills. It is exciting to see how more visual mediums can make journalism transcend boundaries, and make people pay attention to stories that may have been ignored in a print setting. It’s interesting to see how generations like mine also often have these sought-after skills “built-in” due to our upbringing —- something that is a little more uncommon, as many industries seek experience and seniority over new and emerging skills.