The Future of Journalism:

 The Future of Journalism: Blog tasks

Part 1: Clay Shirky lecture

Go to the Nieman Lab webpage (part of Harvard university) and watch the video of Clay Shirky presenting to Harvard students. The video is also available on YouTube below but the Nieman Lab website has a written transcript of everything Shirky says. 


Play the clip AND read along with the transcript below to ensure you are following the argument. You need to watch from the beginning to 29.35 (the end of Shirky's presentation). Once you've watched and read the presentation and made notes (you may want to copy and paste key quotes from the transcript which is absolutely fine), answer the questions below:

1) Why does Shirky argue that accountability journalism is important and what example does he give?

Shirky says accountability journalism is important because it investigates powerful institutions and holds them responsible for wrongdoing. Without it, governments and corporations could act without scrutiny. He uses the example of the investigation into the Catholic Church abuse scandal, where journalists exposed abuse and cover-ups by church officials.

2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites replaced these revenue sources?

Shirky explains that newspapers used to rely heavily on advertising revenue. Advertisers paid for sections such as job listings, property listings and personal ads. The internet has taken this revenue away. Websites like Craigslist and Monster.com replaced these services and reduced the income newspapers depended on

3) What does Shirky mean by the “unbundling of content”?

Shirky explains that newspapers used to sell many types of content together in one package. In the digital age this content is separated. People no longer read the whole newspaper. Instead they read individual articles online, often found through links, search engines or social media.

4) How might the Catholic Church abuse scandal have been different if the internet existed in 1992?

Shirky suggests the scandal might have spread more quickly and widely. Victims could have shared their experiences online and connected with others. Information could have been shared globally through the internet instead of relying only on traditional media.

5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls?

Shirky argues that paywalls limit the spread of information. When articles are locked behind payment, fewer people can read or share them. This reduces the public impact of journalism and makes it harder for stories to spread widely online.

6) What is a “social good”? How might journalism be a social good?

A social good is something that benefits society as a whole. Journalism can be considered a social good because it informs citizens, supports democracy and holds powerful institutions accountable.

7) If newspapers are in decline, how can their role be replaced? What is the short-term danger?

Shirky suggests that new digital models of journalism will eventually replace traditional newspapers. These could include nonprofit journalism, independent journalists and digital news organisations. The short-term danger is that newspapers may collapse before new systems are strong enough to replace their role.

8) Your opinion: How important is it that major media brands stay in business?

I think it is very important that major news organisations continue to exist. Established brands such as The New York Times and The Guardian have the resources to carry out major investigations. Without them, it could be harder to hold powerful institutions accountable and provide reliable information to the public.

Part 2: MM55 - Media, Publics, Protest and Power

Media Magazine 55 has an excellent feature on power and the media. Go to our Media Magazine archive, click on MM55 and scroll to page 38 to read the article Media, Publics, Protest and Power', a summary of Media academic Natalie Fenton’s talk to a previous Media Magazine conference. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the three overlapping fields that influence media and democracy?

The three fields are media systems, politics, and civil society. These areas interact with each other and influence how information is shared and how democracy functions.

2) What is “churnalism” and what issues are there in journalism today?

Churnalism refers to the practice of journalists reusing press releases or pre-written material instead of conducting original reporting. This happens because of time pressure, fewer journalists and reduced budgets in news organisations.

3) What statistics demonstrate corporate dominance of media companies?

Fenton explains that a small number of global media corporations control a large share of the media industry. A few conglomerates dominate large parts of global media production and distribution, showing how concentrated media ownership has become.

4) What is the “climate of fear” described in politics and media?

The climate of fear refers to how political and media narratives often focus on threats such as terrorism, immigration or economic insecurity. This can influence public opinion and shape political decisions.

5) Your opinion: Has the internet empowered audiences or concentrated power?

The internet has empowered audiences in some ways because people can now share information, create content and access news easily. However, power is also concentrated in large technology companies such as Google, Meta and X. These companies control major platforms where information is shared, which means they still have a lot of influence over public communication.