Introduction

The advent of the Internet has fundamentally transformed news reporting practices and what is even considered news. With websites attracting millions of viewers each day, newspapers have begun to experience the impact as well. Yet, in Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age by George Brock, Brock contends that journalism can survive in today’s digital age by reinventing itself. Journalism must take the best practices of the past and integrate them into the digital communications of the future. As he explores the past, present and future of journalism, Brock explains that journalism has reinvented itself throughout history and will continue to do so. By looking at the definition of journalism itself, the future of news reporting may be as promising as Brock argues. Brock defines journalism as “the systematic, independent attempt to establish the truth of events and issues that matter to a society in a timely way” (8). There is undoubtedly more independence in reporting, as million of niche websites and blogs are created everyday, each with different opinions and styles. Reporting is also more timely as first-hand accounts and live video are increasingly possible due to websites such as Twitter and YouTube. George Brock thus provides a strong argument that journalism will remain viable in today’s digital age as it begins to utilize social networking sites for credible reporting and tailors content to niche audiences.