Sarah de Crescenzo on why there won't be one new business model for journalism

Writing at the University of California, San Diego's 'The Guardian', Sarah de Crescenzo discusses why there won't be one answer to the major problem faced by the media: what a new business model will be.

An extract:

"Proponents of specific business models — whether it be citizen journalists, or nonprofits — must recognize printed newspapers will not be replaced by another, single model. We saw citizen journalism in play when a plane crash-landed in the Hudson River, which was first reported by a local man on Twitter. While this can’t be a replacement for traditional newspapers, it does provide useful supplementary, firsthand information."

When we discuss the 'business model' problem faced by the media, we are referring to a universal problem. Namely: declining advertising revenues, the inability of most news organisations to make money online, the drive away from the print platform, the appeal of new media and the fact that this is exacerbated by the economic recession.

Considering however, the unique geographic, financial and societal position of each media organisation, it should come as no surprise that there cannot be a universal business solution.

de Crescenzo also dampens what can sometimes be the over-zealotory of new media advocates (which is in itself an absurd phrase - I don't think there is that clear a distinction to be made is there?):

"Do you want someone to monitor your politicians? Or, would you rather do it yourself? In choosing a new business model, you should ask yourself why journalism exists in the first place. Even if you live in Washington D.C., your nine-to-five probably doesn’t come with days off to explore exactly what those guys in the White House are doing. Thanks to journalists, you don’t have to."

Despite my enthusiasm for new media, this is an unavoidable analysis. As one my tutors pointed out to me, without the media who would, truly, go along to the local council meeting on a wet, dark Thursday evening in November? This presumes the media are fulfilling this role already and digging deep, which is obviously debatable.

The full article, at least as a general and sensible summary on the issues, is worth a look.

Hat tip: Nikhil Moro at Civic & Citizen Journalism Interest Group

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