I don’t think all people with iPhones are competent enough to report a story. Simple as that. I think they can sometimes contribute, but reporting is a skill that must be learned, presenting information in an unbiased, clear way is not something that you can just decide to type up on a note in your phone one day. You need facts, sources, and credibility. If the world believed every story posted by some loser on the internet who knows what would have happened to us.

We probably all would have died from not forwarded some chain email had we believed what every John Doe “reported,” that’s what would have happened to us. 

I think that journalism is evolving; technology is both helping and hurting journalists. It makes gathering information easier but at the same time the competition is that much more fierce, because practically everyone has access to the same information as you as quickly as you do. That’s where having skills come in. Whether it’s writing or people skills having a talent for journalism is definitely something that puts you ahead in the business.

Online is really the basis for the future of journalism, in my opinion. We have spoke to bloggers, fact checkers, political enthusiasts and classic reporters on this study abroad trip who have all found their niche in the social media world. And that is because they adapt to social media constantly changing.  I think as long as people are willing to adapt to their profession, journalism will always be a necessary staple in society.