Internet changing journalism, but not as many expected

INTERNET CHANGING JOURNALISM, BUT NOT AS MANY EXPECTED
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Internet has profoundly changed journalism, but not necessarily in ways that were predicted even a few years ago, a study on the industry released Sunday found. It was believed at one point that the Net would democratize the media, offering many new voices, stories and perspectives. Yet the news agenda actually seems to be narrowing, with many Web sites primarily packaging news that is produced elsewhere, according to the Project for Excellence in Journalism's annual State of the News Media report. Two stories - the war in Iraq and the 2008 presidential election campaign - represented more than a quarter of the stories in newspapers, on television and online last year, the project found. Take away Iraq, Iran and Pakistan, and news from all of the other countries in the world combined filled up less than 6 percent of the American news hole, the project said. The news side of the business is dynamic, but the growing ability of news consumers to find what they want without being distracted by advertising is what's making the industry go through some tough times. "Although the audience for traditional news is maintaining itself, the staff for any of these news organizations tend to be shrinking," said Tom Rosenstiel, the project's director.
http://www.siliconvalley.com/latestheadlines/ci_8595228

* Study sees more overlap in U.S. news coverage
http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1650691320080317
* Are News Habits Really Changing?
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6540899.html

* State of the News Media 2008
[SOURCE: Project for Excellence in Journalism, AUTHOR: Mark Jurkowitz]
http://www.journalism.org/node/10168