Journalists have been fighting for free speech and the right to print the truth for decades.So says Alberto Ibarguen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation who spoke to journalists and journalism students in the Ayers Lecture Series at Jacksonville State’s Houston Cole Library last Wednesday.
Ibarguen, a former attorney and journalist, shared his passion for getting larger newspapers back- to- basics with community journalism — connecting communities that are held together by a bond they call information.
According to Ibarguen, community journalism is the future — the way newspapers will survive through the new media age where one might find themselves surrounded by technological advances that threaten to force out human contact.
Journalism makes its move into the future.
“This is an explosively great time to be in journalism if you aren’t seeking the past,” Ibarguen said.
According to Ibarguen, readers want journalists who can organize experiences so they can make sense out of their lives and journalists want to write something that will inspire people to take action in their cause.
“To make it all happen, a journalist must aspire to the qualities of discovery, vision, courage, and tenacity Ibarguen said.
