How can multimedia journalism save new deserts?

What role do multimedia journalist play in local news?/Source: Wix Media

A multimedia journalist is a journalist who can report across a variety of platforms, using multiple formats, including visuals like video and photography. Multimedia journalists have to have strong reporting skills to be able to produce high-quality content across this variety of forms, as well as the flexibility to cover articles in different ways, usually all at once.

Technology has made this a form and career for journalists, as it provides them the ability to be independent, reporting, taking photographs and editing videos all at once. It also provided journalists the ability to use social media, both to find stories, as well as to build their audience and platform to tell stories. Many college journalism programs have been shifting more toward this model, teaching students about a variety of formats of journalism and reporting, while shifting away from just reporting for print.

This format fits into the changing media landscape, as more and more outlets turn to digital production and publications. It also allows for areas that are “news deserts” to have some coverage of local news, as freelance multimedia journalists can provide that coverage without having to hire and pay an entire newsroom.

Multimedia journalists might be asked to shoot their own video for a package, while reporting at the same time/Source: Wix Media

There are pros to this model however, as it forces younger journalists to become independent on their own, and fast. Independence for journalists is never a bad thing, but it’s also crucial for early career journalists to gain skills by being mentored by editors and other colleagues, not just spending all of their time in the field on their own. A large part of journalism is learning by doing, but reporters can also learn from collaboration and teamwork.

While multimedia journalists can help provide crucial coverage to news deserts, it speaks to the larger problem at stake with the growing lack of local news and reporters. This lack of local news has devastating impacts on local communities, something that Margaret Sullivan addresses in her book, “Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy.” Sullivan writes that “the newspaper ties a region together, helps it make sense of itself, fosters a sense of community, serves as a village square whose boundaries transcend Facebook’s filter bubble.”

Overall, multimedia journalists do play an important role in journalism today, especially with the digital direction the industry continues to shift into. While their role helps to elevate certain issues, it’s important that people don’t lose track of the larger issues that continue to impact journalism and specifically local news.