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1: Introduction

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    305486

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    This is a book about people, not technology. Sure, there’s a lot of technology in the pages to follow, but if you boil it all down to its core, its essence, you’ll find people trying to extend a noble and grounded craft into a new and unpredictable landscape. And it’s the people who matter, not the latest software or Web site. If the people in this equation learn how make technology work for them, the rest is just details.

    As journalists, we need to change our practices to adapt, but not our values. We’re like sailors in the English proverb I chose for the title to this introduction: No amount of wishing for a return to smooth seas will calm the water around us.

    To carry the sailing metaphor even further: It’s time to tack. It’s time to turn the bow of our ship and make the wind in this new sea work for us, not against us.

    We’ll use the best practices of other working journalists to point the way. We’ll draw from the groundbreaking and innovative work being done at newspapers, radio and television stations and Web sites around the U.S. We can learn from their experiences.

    As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”

    • 1.1: The future is now
      This page highlights the challenges in journalism due to job losses and declining print sales, yet presents an opportunity for growth through advanced storytelling tools and enhanced audience engagement. It advocates for transforming news organizations into technology-focused entities and emphasizes the importance of innovative thinking among journalists. Adapting to the digital landscape while maintaining core journalistic values is essential for thriving in this evolving marketplace.
    • 1.2: You can do this
      This page highlights the importance of digital journalism skills for reporters, emphasizing the value of basic tech abilities for blogging and organizational success. It notes that many journalists self-learn rather than rely on formal education, aiming to provide practical, manageable lessons in essential skills. The content stresses the necessity of adapting to the digital landscape, underlining that current journalism requires active engagement with online platforms.

    This page titled 1: Introduction is shared under a CC BY-ND 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Mark Briggs via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.