2.4 Cultural and technological influences on literary journalism

Literary journalism evolved with cultural shifts and tech advancements. The Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement sparked skepticism, leading to more investigative reporting. Journalists began questioning authority and giving voice to marginalized perspectives.

New tech like TV and the internet changed how stories were told and shared. Online platforms and social media democratized publishing, while multimedia storytelling and podcasts opened up fresh ways to engage audiences with in-depth narratives.

Cultural Influences

Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement

Top images from around the web for Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding the Civil Rights Movement | Boundless US History View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Challenging the Status Quo | United States History II: Since 1865 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding the Civil Rights Movement | Boundless US History View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding the Civil Rights Movement | Boundless US History View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Challenging the Status Quo | United States History II: Since 1865 View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  The Civil Rights Movement Continues | US History II (American Yawp) View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Expanding the Civil Rights Movement | Boundless US History View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Vietnam War sparked public skepticism of government narratives
  • Journalists challenged official accounts of the conflict
  • Increased focus on investigative reporting and exposing hidden truths
• Civil Rights Movement brought attention to systemic inequalities
  • Literary journalists documented protests, violence, and social change
  • Empowered marginalized voices and perspectives in reporting
• Both events fostered a culture of questioning authority and institutions
  • Journalists adopted more critical and analytical approaches
  • Readers demanded more in-depth and nuanced coverage of complex issues

Counterculture and Social Change

• Counterculture movement of the 1960s influenced literary journalism styles
  • New Journalism emerged, blending literary techniques with factual reporting
  • Writers like Tom Wolfe and Hunter S. Thompson pioneered immersive, subjective approaches
• Shift towards more personal and experiential forms of storytelling
  • Journalists began inserting themselves into narratives as active participants
  • Emphasis on capturing the mood and atmosphere of events, not just facts
• Exploration of alternative lifestyles and subcultures in reporting
  • Coverage of hippie communities, drug culture, and social experiments
  • Challenged traditional notions of objectivity in journalism

Technological Developments

Television News and Broadcast Media

• Television news revolutionized information dissemination
  • Visual medium brought events directly into people's homes
  • Accelerated news cycles and demand for immediate coverage
• Broadcast journalism influenced print media techniques
  • Writers adopted more concise, impactful language to compete with TV
  • Increased emphasis on vivid descriptions and scene-setting in print
• Television personalities became influential figures in journalism
  • Anchors like Walter Cronkite shaped public opinion and trust in media
  • Blurred lines between reporting and commentary in some cases

Digital Media and Online Platforms

• Internet transformed access to and distribution of information
  • Online news outlets provided 24/7 coverage and real-time updates
  • Democratized publishing, allowing anyone to become a content creator
• Blogs emerged as a new form of personal journalism
  • Offered unfiltered, opinionated perspectives on current events
  • Challenged traditional gatekeeping roles of established media
• Online platforms enabled multimedia integration in storytelling
  • Journalists could combine text, images, video, and interactive elements
  • Enhanced ability to present complex narratives in engaging formats

Social Media and Citizen Journalism

• Social media platforms revolutionized information sharing
  • Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram became sources of breaking news
  • Enabled direct communication between journalists and audiences
• Rise of citizen journalism and user-generated content
  • Eyewitness accounts and amateur footage became valuable news sources
  • Challenged professional journalists to verify and contextualize information
• Social media amplified voices and movements
  • Hashtags (BlackLivesMatter) mobilized communities and drove narratives
  • Journalists adapted to cover viral stories and online phenomena

Emerging Formats

Multimedia Storytelling and Interactive Journalism

• Multimedia storytelling combined various media forms
  • Integrated text, photos, videos, audio, and graphics in single narratives
  • New York Times' "Snow Fall" project showcased potential of multimedia journalism
• Interactive elements engaged readers in new ways
  • Data visualizations allowed exploration of complex information
  • Choose-your-own-adventure style stories personalized reading experiences
• Virtual and augmented reality expanded immersive journalism
  • VR documentaries transported viewers to distant locations or historical events
  • AR applications added layers of information to real-world environments

Long-form Journalism and Digital Longreads

• Resurgence of long-form journalism in digital age
  • Platforms like Medium and Longreads catered to in-depth storytelling
  • Challenged notion that online readers only want short, quick content
• Digital longread format combined depth with interactive elements
  • Allowed for seamless integration of multimedia within long-form articles
  • Enhanced reader engagement through scrollytelling techniques
• Subscription-based models supported quality long-form content
  • Publications like The Atlantic and The New Yorker invested in extensive features
  • Readers showed willingness to pay for well-researched, in-depth journalism

Podcasting and Audio Storytelling

• Podcasting revolutionized audio journalism and storytelling
  • Serial podcast popularized long-form audio narratives
  • Enabled niche topics and perspectives to find dedicated audiences
• Audio format allowed for intimate, conversational storytelling
  • Hosts developed personal connections with listeners
  • Interviews and discussions could delve deeper into subjects
• Investigative journalism found new life in podcast format
  • Shows like "In the Dark" reopened cold cases and influenced legal outcomes
  • Audio documentaries explored complex issues over multiple episodes
• Podcasting lowered barriers to entry for independent journalists
  • Affordable recording equipment and hosting platforms democratized audio production
  • Allowed for experimentation with new narrative styles and formats