A lot of citizens, journalists, and even news outlets may be asking themselves is journalism dying? After all take a look at these statistics:

Over 25% of newsroom employees have lost their jobs since 2008, according to the Pew Research Center. Shrinking revenues & budgets have forced newsrooms to become more efficient.

Meanwhile, a growing number of freelance and independent journalists are losing the newsroom resources they once relied on.

Lastly, PR and the media are increasingly out-of-sync, with 93% of journalists reporting that the vast majority of pitches they receive are “irrelevant,” according to Meltwater.

But I am confident that journalism isn't dying, journalism is just changing.

In this blog post we are going to take a look at some of the things that are leading to these changes and what resources are available for professionals in the field.
 

Is the rise of social media harming the news industry?


Despite the power of the press, the media landscape is changing due to the internet age, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for local journalists to do their jobs in a manner that can lead to meaningful social change.

Social media has stolen the spotlight from local news, as more people spend time on their phones and watch less and less cable television. This has led to a loss in ad revenue and as mentioned above, shrinking budgets and newsrooms.

Social media platforms where pieces of un-checked or non-factual news stories can be published and go viral in seconds are a hotbed for disinformation and misinformation. This sows a general distrust in the public and confusion about what is fact and what is fiction, who is reporting truthful information and who is not.

Additionally, unsavory individuals, organizations and government officials can sometimes use these tools to their advantage, spreading fake news. This can be extremely harmful for journalism at large and a representative democracy.

In a previous blog we explored why journalism is important for a functioning democracy. We encourage you to check it out.

How does fake news affect journalism?


In a world where the lines between opinion and fact seem to increasingly get more blurred, it is essential for journalists to be able to distinguish between opinion and factual evidence to publish stories. To do this, a journalist needs to speak with story subjects, confirm facts and obtain a comprehensive understanding of the material.

This is why journalism requires speaking with subject-matter experts and verifying the accuracy of data.

When done properly, a journalist is able to form insightful reporting which can lead to a well-informed public, stimulate debate, or start a conversation on an important issue.

In a democracy, fake news can be highly damaging to a civil society. Fake news misinforms citizens and can lead to deep mistrust in other people and the government.

Therefore, it is essential for news media outlets to always fact-check their stories, ensure accuracy, report, and to be alert for false information that could be spread.

Resources For Journalists


There are quite a few news non-profits, journalism clubs and start-ups trying to help new journalists and professional journalists navigate the changing media industry.

Journalists spend up to 50% of their work time looking for sources for their stories, according to the Society of Professional Journalists. In this digital age of staff cuts and demands for more content, journalists can use the help of journalism tools in order to succeed at work without burning out.

While HARO or Help a Reporter Out known as well as: help a journalist out, or help a writer out, is one tool that some print journalists use, Rolli (rolliapp.com) is the preferred tool among journalists. Rolli helps journalists find experts, stories, and events to cover quickly and easily.

Rolli's searchable platform empowers all journalists with the resources and research of a state-of-the-art newsroom. Journalists can search a vetted database of thousands of experts across hundreds of topics to quickly and easily find the expert they need for their story or segment. Here is an example of what it looks like below:


Rolli solves widespread resource and efficiency issues while contributing to fact-based journalism through the first and only Newsroom as a Service™ platform. Rolli was created for journalists, by journalists and there are no agents or booking fees.

Rolli's state-of-the-art platform includes the industry’s first shared news calendar and an artificial intelligence-fueled News Desk which identifies trending local news stories and recommends relevant experts based on their credentials.

Can journalism survive?


Journalism has taken many forms over the years, from the printing press, to radio, broadcast television and now social media.

And so although some traditional news outlets might not survive, I am confident that journalism certainly will, because someone will always have to speak truth to power and bring governments to account.

About the Author


Nick Toso is a former CNN television producer, editor and journalist. He worked in the Washington DC Bureau for nearly a decade, during his time, he helped produce interviews with dozens of presidents and world leaders, including President Obama, Clinton, and more.


During his time in the newsroom, Nick saw the impact that having vetted and diverse subject matter experts had on the quality and depth of news coverage– and how it led to more equitable representation in the mainstream media, and meaningful public discourse. Nick wanted to provide reporters and his team with better tools to accomplish this goal, but few existed so Nick created Rolli (Rolliapp.com).


Rolli's searchable Newsroom as a Service™ platform empowers all journalists with the resources of a state-of-the-art newsroom.