“Journalism Today”

October 7th 2008: Andy Brack introduced our speaker today and it was very timely due to the current interest in the elections. We were honored to have Charles Bierbauer, an esteemed Television Journalist with over 20 years experience with networks, such as CNN, with assignments covering the White House and spanning five presidential elections. Currently, the Dean of Journalism and Mass Communications at The University of South Carolina, Bierbauer shared his insight about not only the state of journalism, but he also gave us great insight into USC’s journalism school and how journalists cover the election.

Since 1996 Bierbauer has guided his department and had the opportunity to influence many future journalists. He was careful to reiterate that USC focuses statewide and addresses the needs of the entire state, not just Columbia its graduates.

According to Bierbauer, “today newspapers are shrinking, the number of newsroom jobs diminishing, and as a result newspapers must respond to a challenge of adapt or die.” Newspapers are but one area of journalism that is changing. TV is being forced to adapt its “one voice” to many voices and mediums such as the Internet and iPods, which quickly deliver the next generation of communication. These changes are signified by Visual Communication becoming the fastest growing major at the journalism school; replacing what we knew as photojournalism. The challenge is to stay relevant and keep the audience engaged, especially in a medium such as television where people multitask while they watch.

In terms of objectivity Bierbauer stated “the media doesn’t tell us what to think- it tells us what to think about.” In a time where the lines between journalism and editorial are increasingly blurred, it’s critical to maintain a distinction between journalism and editorial.

During the question-and-answer period, Bierbauer provided excellent insight as to how journalists may not be able to separate themselves from their biases, but it is important they be aware of it and understand how it affects them.

With only 28 days until the election, he pointed out that the pace of the news will continue to quicken and go beyond traditional media. He stated that there were 112 million blogs on the Internet sharing information, which in the past would be transmitted through the traditional media. This medium certainly will carry a message that many will receive.

Reported by Wayne Outlaw, Keyway Committee