Frank Sesno and the New Media After attending the 2007 Sammons Media Ethics Lecture, the lecturer, Frank Sesno, has opened my eyes to many of the changes in the journalism world. Sesno delivered an engaging and intelligent lecture detailing many of these changes, starting with the beginning of his career as an Associated Press Radio White House correspondent.

The most significant change Sesno touched on was new technologies. He jokingly asked an audience member what a newsroom used to sound like and was met with blank stares across the audience. With much reluctance, someone finally mumbled "Typewriters?" which was the answer Sesno was expecting.

Besides the obvious advances in technology - the switch from typewriters to computer, from film to digital, etc. - Sesno has also noted a distinct change in the public. He believes that all of the new media has resulted in what he referred to as a fragmented public, meaning that the public receives its news from many different sources. Whereas you read CNN.com to get your news, it is likely that your grandparents still may receive a hard copy of the Dallas Morning News on their doorstep every morning.

Sesno also mentioned a new fascination with ratings that wasn't prevalent in his early days as a journalist. Our class has also discussed this phenomena when we've talked about the attention that particular celebrities receive from the media for their often unsavory actions.

Also important to Sesno is the change in audience that has occurred. Today's audience is younger and wants more news accessible at their fingertips.

I feel that Sesno is the journalist that we should all strive to be. He is well aware of what his audience wants and needs to know, but also has a well-balanced ethical foundation when it comes to what is and isn't right.  ¶ posted by L.O. Ratliff at 8:25 PM •