The Future of journalism

1) Why does Clay Shirky argue that 'accountability journalism' is so important and what example does he give of this?

Accountability journalism is important as Shirky argues it's the journalism that can call out the illegal journalism that occurs.He uses the story of Father George Geoghan as an example here.

2) What does Shirky say about the relationship between newspapers and advertisers? Which websites does he mention as having replaced major revenue-generators for newspapers (e.g. jobs, personal ads etc.)?

He suggests that some newspapers used advertising but also have accountability journalism. However it does co,e at a price as some advertisers are forced to over pay.

3) Shirky talks about the 'unbundling of content'. This means people are reading newspapers in a different way. How does he suggest audiences are consuming news stories in the digital age?

Shirks suggests that the rise of social media has Miao ted readers and how they read news stories.

4) Shirky also talks about the power of shareable media. How does he suggest the child abuse scandal with the Catholic Church may have been different if the internet had been widespread in 1992?

If the Internet was around ant the time of the incident it. Would have been more widespread as auidiences would have shared and allowed it to become international.

5) Why does Shirky argue against paywalls? 

He suggests that paywall's are limiting to the amount readers can consume which therefore prevents news from spreading.

6) What is a 'social good'? In what way is journalism a 'social good'?

Social good refers to the fact that internet makes commercial journalism difficult to remain sustainable and therefore makes the public’s journalism eaiser as it costs less as a result of the internet and social media.
7) Shirky says newspapers are in terminal decline. How does he suggest we can replace the important role in society newspapers play? What is the short-term danger to this solution that he describes?

Shirley argues that “ we need a class of institutions or models” some that have accountability journalism. However there will be nothing that will replace newspapers.


8) Look at the first question and answer regarding institutional power. Give us your own opinion: how important is it that major media brands such as the New York Times or the Guardian continue to stay in business and provide news?

 Think it’s very important for newspapers to continue and provide news as people have this internalised trust in print that makes it seem more reliable and I think it’s important in our culture to have it