Risky, but profitable

Technology is prevailing. It can be foreseen that Backpack Journalism, or Convergence Journalism, will become one of the mainstreams in news reporting, although whether it can rule the kingdom is a question to be decided. New technologies, including the Internet, create a powerful platform for news delivery and integrate all elements such as video, audio, text, photo, Flash, etc, allowing reporters to tell the most accurate stories possible. This new platform is interactive, going beyond one-way story telling. People can comment and receive feedback from the others, an area where traditional media fails. Neither Martha Stone nor Jane Stevens denied the trend of multimedia in news reporting. With no doubt, Backpack Journalism will pass the test of time and get a good grade.

While for Backpack Journalists, the two writers hold opposite opinions. Personally speaking, I believe that backpack journalists will be in demand in the near future. These multimedia-oriented journalists are more job-efficient, cost-saving, and can do richer journalistic storytelling. One report that I read about backpack journalists mentioned that they are in a great demand in local media and correspondent post overseas. Yet I agree with some of Martha Stone’s points: backpack journalists should be well trained and multimedia companies should create long-tern strategic plans for the training. Otherwise, there will likely be a lot of mediocre backpack journalists – the “Jack of all trades, and master of none”. Although convergence journalism is a great challenge to the financial resources and management of media companies, I think that it would be a good investment – risky, but profitable.