The Answer to Staying Current in a Forever Changing Industry

Week 5 - Fairfax Reading

If there is one thing I have learnt over the past 2 years whilst studying Journalism it is that to keep up with a field that is ever changing, fast paced and extremely competitive it is that you must stay current. You must stay new. You must constantly be re-inventing yourself and moving forward. You have to learning new things. Adopt new skills. New techniques. New ways of looking at things. You've got to be on your toes and able to keep up!  Create in an industry that never stops creating!

Basically innovate or die. Learn how to adapt. Before, news delivery was limited mostly to print, radio and television. Since the introduction of the internet journalists have had to learn how to re purpose news content for online and how to write for multi new audiences who are now present on these platforms.

Journalists from 10 years ago have learnt to adapt. Journalists from 5 years ago have done the same. I'm sure that in the next few years I will look back at what I'm learning now and see a massive change as well - I'll have to adapt to.

Some people curse online media and the introduction now of 'internet trolls' and cyber bullies  who leave disgusting, hate filled messages on any comment box left open. They say online journalism is to too quick - trying to keep up with the story as it breaks and as a consequence journalists stories now lacks substantial editing, fact checking and validation and therefore overall credit.

Regardless of how it’s seen, "innovation is about being part of the change, creating ways of telling stories which will best embrace new and available technologies as they emerge". This means presenting a story in the most effective way possible by engaging audiences with images, videos, podcasts, info graphics or apps. As a journalist it is our responsibility to keep up with society as it changes.

Journalists from years ago did not present news content in such a way they are now. They learnt to innovate. I wonder what changes I will have to make in 10 years? How will I be innovative?