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Investigative journalism has always been a crucial element of a free and democratic society, and in the digital age, it has become more accessible than ever before. However, while the digital age has presented many opportunities for journalists, it has also brought numerous challenges.
In this article, we will examine the pros and cons of investigative journalism in the digital age. What has today’s technology and media landscape allowed investigative journalism to do better, and what have those advancements meant in terms of challenges or threats to the field, both in terms of quality and quantity?
Opportunities
Technology has made journalism mobile.
One of the most significant advantages of the digital age for investigative journalism is the ubiquity of smartphones. Almost everyone has one!
With smartphones, journalists can easily record interviews, take pictures and videos, and share them with the world in real-time – and away from journalism, phones have made it easy to keep up to date with sports and financial markets trends or even flip a profit via Bovada NBA lines.
Not only that, but the simple factor that these devices are so small compared to what used to require an entire TV crew is a remarkable advancement in modern technology. This means that journalists can now move more freely, report on the scene more easily, and do so all with one device. This makes journalism much more accessible and mobile than ever before. Journalists can now report on events as they happen from anywhere in the world and share their stories with a global audience.
The benefits of social media
Whilst there are no doubt some negatives of the format, which we will delve into later, thanks to social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, journalists have access to a vast range of sources and opinions.
They can quickly find and follow breaking news stories, connect with sources, and embed tweets and posts in their reporting. Social media has made it easier than ever before for journalists to connect with their audience and get their stories in front of a broader range of people.
Less goes unseen than ever before
Another double-edged sword, perhaps, but the rise in the number of people with cameras, CCTV, and smartphones and the advancements in the technology of hidden cameras, microphones and more means that those being investigated will find it even harder to hide the truth.
At the very top of the field, investigative journalism can challenge governments, expose inequalities, and genuinely improve society – and so the fantastic technology that is out there right now can only be seen as a good thing when it comes to equipping the very best journalists with all the equipment they could need.
Challenges
The Dangers of social media’s echo chamber
However, with the benefits of the digital age come some challenges as well.
One of the biggest challenges is the question of trust. Social media, at its best, is a fantastic tool with so many voices in one place and sources close to the action that journalists want to cover. However, at its worst, it is a space where so-called unsolicited facts can circulate, repeat, and retweet until false information has spread like wildfire.
It is important for journalists to be diligent in their fact-checking and to always strive for accuracy, even in the face of the pressure to be first. This is something that should not have changed since the days when print media was king, but pressures that come with new technology and digital media have made the aspect of time-relevant reporting really important for journalists trying to earn a living.
Too much information
Another challenge is the over-saturation of media in the digital age. With so many news outlets and sources available, it can take time for investigative journalism to stand out. Unfortunately, this means that even important stories may be overlooked or ignored by the public. This is a problem because investigative journalism plays a vital role in holding those in power accountable, and without an audience, its impact is limited.
The challenge to funding journalism
The abundance of free online content has made it challenging for publishers to monetize their work. Additionally, as readers have become accustomed to accessing news for free, it has become difficult for media outlets to charge for their content, and paywalls need to be proving to be an easy solution to the issue.
Many people believe that digital advertising revenues are insufficient to support the level of journalism needed to maintain a healthy democracy, and yet advertisers are often drawn to click-bait articles or sensationalized headlines, which do not necessarily represent quality journalism. This creates a structure that can lead to a race to the bottom in terms of journalistic standards and ethics.
Elsewhere, the dominance of big tech platforms like Google and Facebook in the digital advertising market makes it almost impossible for small, independent publishers to compete. These platforms control much of the digital advertising ecosystem, giving them tremendous power over the media industry.
