At a time when blogging is taking off and seems to be a practice many are partaking in, the opportunity to join in on this trend was greatly appreciated. Across the campus of USC, many students are using blogs to supplement or enhance their academic experience in the classroom. The use of a blog to showcase one’s work in Writing 340 was a wonderful idea. It not only allowed students to express themselves in a way that most had never done but also introduced them to a growing form of communication. In addition to having students develop their thoughts in a newer medium, they were pushed to go beyond a well crafted argument. Excellent prose became only part of the equation as support would need to be enhanced by links and photographs. This is an opportunity that should be afforded to more students, especially those hoping to enter the field that this blog chose to discuss, broadcast journalism.
Broadcast Journalism, and journalism in general, has embraced the blogsphere and allowed it to leave its mark on the industry well into its infancy. Most news organizations have a blog for various different programs or divisions that make up their company. Networks like MSNBC have created a blog for almost every show on their air. Even more traditional outlets, like the evening news have blogs for their programs. While the acknowledgment from the industry’s best is significant perhaps the more revealing aspect of the blogging phenomenon is how it has leveled the playing field and offers much more depth than before. The blog TVNewser has reached the status of a trade paper for the latest in the field of broadcast journalism. On many occasions it has been the first to report on the happenings of the TV news business, breaking the story before any established news outlet. While that is impressive for any blog, this one stands out even more because its editor is a college senior. As for focus, some blogs are able to choose topics for truly niche audiences like LAObserved, which exclusively covers the second largest media market in the country.
The obvious lesson here, anyone planning on entering the profession that has been this blog’s focus, will need to be comfortable with this medium. Many more will be asked to maintain or contribute to a blog on a regular basis. As someone who is a part of the above mentioned group, the opportunity provided over the last semester will definitely open doors in the years to come. So while the door may be closing on this blog, at least initially, it will always be remembered as crucial point in the training of this broadcast journalist.
