Seeking to expand the dialogue on the future of journalism, The Contemporary, a public affairs community for undergraduate students, invited five Texas journalists to Trinity University’s Chapman Auditorium for a public dialogue in April.
Benjamin Collinger, a junior history and international studies major and The Contemporary editor-in-chief, addressed the problems facing the industry in the 21st Century and the need to spur dialogue on the issue. “Journalism is fundamentally in crisis,” he says. “Local publications across the country that depend on advertising revenue are closing, readers are turning to partisan coverage that reflects their views, and technological innovations are disrupting the industry.”
This topic is of particular interest to The Contemporary, an organization founded at Trinity with the goal to empower college journalists to report on the intersection of important local and national issues with campus concerns. The team has confronted and adapted to the challenges posed by journalism in the age of digital innovations and hyperpolarization. The Contemporary has substantially pivoted but has maintained the same mission, moving from a print public affairs research magazine to a focus on digital student-led investigative reporting. The organization has found its market niche of collegiate journalists from liberal arts colleges who are passionate about local politics and longform journalism.
Because mainstream news organizations are similarly adapting, The Contemporary sought to enrich the conversation on the future of journalism by gaining the perspective and insight of leading Texas’ journalists.
Collinger mentioned the importance of communities being aware of how the changing industry will impact them. “We organized the event in order to engage students and community members in a discussion about what the future of journalism means for their lives, and the implications for their communities,” Collinger says.
The conversation, moderated by Collinger, addressed the panelists with questions on the changes of journalism, their organization’s guiding philosophy, the effects of social media, the sustainability of the industry, and advice for aspiring journalists. Overall, Texas journalists have confronted this new world by recognizing the value and importance of being a voice for their communities. They also highlighted the faster pace of news, increased expectations, and the overwhelming immediate responses of readers.
Beth Frerking, editor-in-chief of the Rivard Report, emphasized the importance of providing a platform where people’s voices can be heard. “Because of Facebook and Twitter, people love to have their voices heard. We encourage people from the community to write for us,” Frerking says.
Ayan Mittra, editor of the Texas Tribune, addressed how its strong membership program and community presence has enabled the publication to stay connected with Texas people. He also discussed how to better confront a divided media. “Polling is not an exact science, but it has value. It’s not meant to be a predictor, but rather a snapshot,” Mittra says. “Yet, I agree on the fail of the media. It is a call to action on to be better what we do and to be on the ground, in touch with our community.”
Greg Jefferson, editor-in-chief of the San Antonio Current, commented on the power of new digital technology such as Google Analytics to shape a robust online strategy. He also addressed the many opportunities awaiting hard-working journalists.“We have many more opportunities today. In my age, there weren’t as many political reporters. Now there are and there is a lot of great and intriguing work to be done,” Jefferson says.
Jasper Scherer, political reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, shared his experience as a recently graduated journalist in the newsroom. “The S.A. Express-News has had great coverage on the border, cartels, immigration, DACA, and NAFTA. Our philosophy is that we try to be at the forefront of every issue in S.A, specifically, how issues affect people in S.A.,” Scherer says.
David Martin Davies, host of "The Source" on Texas Public Radio, emphasized the value of narrative journalism and staying engaged with your audience. “At Texas Public Radio, I’m trying to create a forum to talk about their lives—a two-way street, a platform (for guests) to tell their stories and challenges,” Davies says. “I’m very much into narrative journalism and to be a resource for our community.”
Drew Sposeep, a Trinity junior majoring in computer science and Chinese, shared his experience of the event. “I enjoyed listening to the panelists' reflections on journalism,” Sposeep says. “They balanced concern with a healthy sense of humor when confronting serious topics like fake stories and the decline of local news. They spouted off a number of journalism-related aphorisms that made me laugh and appreciate the insights they had to offer.”
Soleil Gaffner, a junior majoring in communication and Spanish with a minor on international studies, reflected on the advice and shared experiences of the speakers. "This event truly helped me envision the turbulent future that awaits journalism,” Gaffner says. “As a journalist for the Trinitonian, I gained valuable insight into how journalism was, and how quickly it has changed and will change in the future. This industry will forever be changing to adapt to the culture, and journalists will always be needed for that.”
The recording of the event can be found on YouTube as well as on The Contemporary’s Facebook page. You can also find a curated post on the specific advice that each panelist gave to aspiring student journalists.
The Contemporary is looking forward to hosting similar events in the future. For now, the team is focusing on their recently launched campaign aimed at student journalists nationwide. The organization has collaborated with more than 25 universities and publications to present unique reporting and insights to readers across the world. The Contemporary’s reporting is at thecontemporarygroup.com
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