Last weekend I was lucky enough to spend time in the Italian city of Perugia for its annual international journalism festival.
The center of Perugia
Not only was it a chance to visit a beautiful Medieval city, it was an opportunity to attend a number of lectures and panel discussions focusing on some of the key issues and challenges facing the profession of journalism today. Familiar topics discussed included:
- What business models exist or can be developed to ensure that journalism and news organizations generate enough revenue to sustain the industry?
- How can journalism overcome the challenges faced with the decline of print and the growth of digital media?
- What are the skills and training that modern journalists need to have for the digital world?
- How are new technologies impacting and changing journalism?
- How can journalism use and encourage greater audience participation, engagement and collaboration in the news gathering process?
- How can journalism innovate and experiment to producing better journalism?
- How will journalism evolve and survive in the future?
There’s probably other points I’ve missed off, so feel free to add your own thoughts.
A lot of questions there – but very few answers. There’s plenty of people more qualified and knowledgeable about journalism then me, who are struggling to answer these questions.
In saying this, it’s a an exciting time for journalism. The industry is in a state of flux, we’re leaving the old journalism world behind, and entering new territories. You might as well try and embrace and look forward to this new world, rather than desperately trying to cling to the past.
I’ve returned to England with lots of new ideas and thoughts on journalism, which I know are going to help me with my future career.
The festival reminded me how important it is to get out there meeting and listening to other journalists, writers and media professionals. Hearing their thoughts, opinions and experiences is so valuable.
During my own journalism training, I completed an online distance course. I became used to working by myself and having online discussions with my tutor. I certainly learned a lot during my training, but you still need to meet and surround yourself with like minded individuals as there’s so much you can learn from them.
It’s all about collaboration. That’s a real buzz word within journalism circles, but an important one that shouldn’t be ignored. It’s festivals like this allow people to meet and talk and its that collaboration between people that will help develop and sustain the industry.