Journalists Now Carry Everything They Need – In a Backpack!

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Journalism was a powerful tool in the growing years of our country. It inspired thought and influenced political matters. What was just 100 or so papers and printers has progressed into a far more complex institution and idea. It is not simply a printer, editor, or writers per se. It includes photographers, graphic designers, copy editors, printers. layout designers, etc.

The last decade has introduced a technological era that has altered the approaches of journalism. There are more ways to gather information and sources for stories, advancement to the style and mechanics of print, and a broader field of information and “scoops” available.

Journalists have also changed along with the technology. Their practice and range of knowledge in the field has expanded dramatically. Reporters must be photographers. Layout editors must also act as copy editors. When you become a journalist, it isn’t just a job title anymore.

Backpack journalism describes those who are “Jacks-of-all-Trades.” They can not only write professionally and in agreement to the Stylebook, but they also possess simple photography skills, offer a web publishing background, and can work with any basic editing program.

This idea of having a vast knowledge of it all in journalism creates a struggle for students and beginners at first. But if they can master different aspects of multiple mediums, it will give them a fast pass into the limited career field. Many in the journalism and media field today support this idea and theory for upcoming generations. One such person is considered one of the pioneers of backpack journalism, having decades of experience in many different mediums, Bill Gentile. He is the founder and leader of an organization based in American University called the Backpack Journalism Project, which promotes and teaches the new methods and modes of the evolving journalism world. 

Bill Gentile, American University www.billgentile.com

However, not everyone in the field is open to this new style of teaching and practice. Many publications and broadcasts are uncertain on the quality of work through backpack journalism. In a story by Gail Shister on MediaBistro.com, some editors and others claim that this style ultimately is holding back journalism. Shister quoted Boston University’s journalism department chairman Lou Ureneck, who said that “multitasking has had ‘a flattening effect’ on the quality of reporting.” Ureneck and the others feel that when the reporters are producing many different forms of media for the same story, their original job of writing the story is hindered.

So what will be the final decision for the practice of journalism? The constant speed and movement in media today effects every form and medium and how they produce their works. We can’t hide from the upgrade in society, yet are concerned with the consequences of our embracing this new style. We need to either hope the economy recovers so we have jobs for all the positions found in backpack journalism, or start building our tool boxes. 

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