Tesco
Very Online
Article

Very Online

Five journalists on covering the internet in search of meaning, not viral trends

Karen Maniraho
Columbia Journalism Review, 2022
Read the article

Read or listen offline

  • 0.5×
  • 0.75×
  • 1×
  • 1.25×
  • 1.5×
  • 1.75×
1×

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Overview
  • Concrete Examples
  • Insider's Take

Recommendation

The internet beat is culturally relevant, but the media has difficulty describing it accurately, reports Karen Maniraho, a fellow at the Columbia Journalism Review. She discusses how five journalists each approach writing about the internet. From outlets as varied as traditional news channels to internet-focused newsletters, these reporters delve into how they cover the web and why. One focuses on “Black Twitter” to provide a new perspective on a mainstream subject, while others take a more anthropological viewpoint. All five agree on the complexity and significance of reporting on the internet, its subcultures, and its impact on society, business and politics.

Take-Aways

  • Each journalist must define the internet beat for him or herself.
  • Internet reporters seek to relay something more meaningful than the latest trend.
  • Reporters should avoid promoting “hype cycles.”

About the Author

Karen Maniraho is a fellow at the Columbia Journalism Review. 

Comment on this summary or Diskussion beginnen