Will Newser.com and news aggregators be the end of traditional print newspapers? This is the question print journalists from all platforms of print media are asking. The answer is simple: maybe…

After watching the video of Newser.com’s founder, Michael Wolff speak about how he wants to put an end to print media, there are many concerns as to if this doomsday scenario for print media is possible.

Paper or Plastic?

I do not completely agree with Wolff’s comments and I do not believe  news aggregators such as Newser.com will drive the stake through the nocturnal heart of newspapers. Joesph Curl reports how the government is trying to save newspapers and that President Obama agrees not all news can circulate from just online content.

I believe that newspapers, as organizations will always exist and that they will evolve into a hybrid form of media that can engage readers both online and in print form. The most likely scenario is that bigger newspapers will begin to purchase news aggregation sites and start using them for both print and online content.

The Shape of Things to Come

A stunning example of this was MSNBC.com’s recent purchase of everyblock.com. As journalism moves forward towards the future more acquisitions such as these will be necessary for traditional news outlets to stay viable. Brad Forrest discusses how important data is to the newsroom as he comments on MSNBC.om’s purchase.

Reporting and news writing has always been about resources and information. In the future reporters will be using different methods to posses this data but the application of this information should continue to be the same.

Tim Luckhurst’s reports that even as more people get their news from less traditional means the need for large media organizations are essential in the process of democracy. He concludes that a stable and authoritative journalistic system will always be in place.

All the victims were males in their 20s who were walking alone. The city flag below is a link to the map that outlines the locations and times of these attacks, and two additional attacks that police suspect could be related to the DePaul muggings. Anyone that has any information about these crimes should contact the Chicago Police Department (312) 742-5870.

The recent downfall of print media has had a large impact on the medium of magazines. Hard copies of magazine giants like The New Yorker, Newsweek and Playboy -yes, even Playboy might be a thing of the past. As print magazines quickly go the way of the Dinosaurs, (do not pass extinction, do not collect $200 dollars) contemporary on-line magazines such as FLYP are slowly climbing atop the multimedia food-chain.

FLYP For It…
FLYP has simply taken the template of magazine-style publication and created a virtual version for the digital consumers of today’s mass media market. The layout of the site is cleverly designed to replicate the experience of reading a magazine. As you read the articles and tick the page arrow button, a simulated page flips over, which is accompanied by the familiar sound of an actual page turning. This is one of the little style features that makes FLYP stand out.

More Than Magazines
The overall content was entertaining and informative just like a print magazine. FLYP brings their content together in such a way that each story displays a multi-layered, multimedia attack on the senses. The best example of this is the “ballhawk” story on Zack Hample. The story’s lead is a simple feature write-up about 500 words long, but as the reader continues to flip the fabricated pages the story gets more complex. This particular story includes video, charts, graphs, audio, links and pictures, which are easily accessible and interactive allowing the reader to scroll through and share the experience of the story while reading along.

The FLYP method explores almost every aspect of the 10 Laws of Interactive Storytelling. There are a few laws that do not apply to FLYP, such as number seven and nine. The site could try to figure out ways to make their stories more viral and work on a few minor page navigation issues, but overall FLYP is truly more than a magazine.

One way journalists can accomplish this is by seeking their audience on-line and actively perusing this readership and embracing new techniques in order to locate people that are willing to read what the journalist is passionate about writing. The journalist of today will need an increase ability in the social media platform in order to achieve his/her goal.

Newer, New Journalism
By using social media sites and proactively searching for readers and communities involved in the authors niche will increase the scope and breadth of the newer, new journalist to his/her community. It seems that the notion in today’s press is that the readers will seek out the journalist, but with the infinite sea of information on the Web this theory will eventually be discredited.

The Mashable list has touched on some very important themes but it seemed to overlook the idea of niche journalism slightly. The future of journalism is almost certain to head into a renaissance of niche journalism. As blogs become more popular and credible in the eyes of the reader it’s imperative for journalists to embrace what they know and become experts on their particular genre.

Through the refining and specificity of their content, and the proactive use of social media and networking skills journalist will be able to carve out a domain for their voice while drawing more readers to them through